Belize was a  keystone empire of the ancient Maya for about 4000 years, until the end of the first millennium A.D. During the 17thv and 18th century the British and Spanish had conflict over the region.

In 1854 Belize finally formed the colony of British Honduras. It was known as British Honduras for more than 100 years and then name Belize – was restored in 1973.

Belize remained a British Crown Colony; and territorial disputes between the UK and Guatemala delayed the independence of the country until 1981 when Belize received complete independence from Britain in.  Guatemala only would acknowledge Belize as a new nation in 1992.

Currently Belize is a Commonwealth Country and a member the Caribbean Common Market (CARICOM), and is considered a Caribbean country.

Today Belmopan is home to University of Belize and you can walk pretty much anywhere, the people are friendly its easy to find their way around the city. Make sure you check out the market, where there’s an abundance of tropical treats!

Belize City has had endured many tribulations between the fires and hurricanes that have taken their toll. Finally in 1965 Premier George Cadle Price, realized the only option was to re-locate the capital of Belize to higher ground, keeping it safe from future Hurricanes and tidal waves. To raise funds to complete the job, Premier Price invited Anthony Greenwood, Secretary of State for the Commonwealth to visit Belize, where he unveiled a monument at mile 49 on the Western Highway recording that Lord Greenwood dedicated the site for the new capital on 9 October 1965.

This sealed the deal and in 1967, the work began and the new Capital Belmopan,  was completed in 1970 at a cost of over 22 million Belize dollars. The name Belmopan was derived from the word Belize, and Mopan, name of the longest river.