Far from the tourist-thronged islands of Ambergris Caye and Caye Caulker, southern Belize offers visitors a chance to experience an idyllic village life little unchanged over the decades.
There are only two significant urban areas in southern Belize: Dangriga and Punta Gorda, both easily reachable via domestic flights or via ground transportation using the well-named Hummingbird Highway, the most scenic roadway in the country.
Dangriga is known as the cultural capital of Belize and is home to a large population of Garifuna. An Afro-Caribbean people, the Garifuna are renowned for their music, dance, and traditional drumming.
Punta Gorda, despite its Spanish name, is also home to many Garifuna. Punta Gorda is also the gateway to the deep south, a land of fertile cacao (the main ingredient in chocolate) plantations, ancient Maya sites, and small jungle villages that are completely self-sustaining.
Other popular destinations in southern Belize include Hopkins, a picturesque coastal village that is known as the friendliest village in the country. Home to the Garifuna people, Hopkins is situated on the edge of a lovely bay that commands a fantastic view of the Caribbean.
Another popular choice in southern Belize is Placencia, sometimes called the "island you can walk to" because it is connected to the mainland by a narrow isthmus. Measuring 16 miles from north to south yet just half a mile wide, Placencia has some of the most beautiful beaches in the country. And Placencia Village at the southern tip of the peninsula is a funky, charming village home to colorful street murals, sidewalk cafes, and artisan's workshops.
Untame Belize is the country's leading authority on organized tours in southern Belize. Untame Belize leads tours to all of the most popular sites and can also arrange for private ground transportation or shuttle service to and from anywhere in the country.
