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Belize City is defined by the water around it. The main part of the city is at the end of a small peninsula, jutting out into the Caribbean Sea. Haulover Creek, an extension of the Belize River, running roughly west to east, divides the city into the North Side and the South Side. The North Side is, to generalize, more affluent than the South Side. The venerable Swing Bridge connects the two sides, although in modern times other bridges over Haulover Creek, especially the Belcan Bridge northwest of the city center, carry more traffic. At the mouth of the river, just beyond Swing Bridge, is the Belize Harbor (or Harbour, as it's written locally, in the English style).
Your stop for snapping a “Look where I am!” photo to post on Facebook or Instagram could be these large block letters by the shore that spell out BELIZE. Each colorful letter is a painted mural unto itself, and the letters are periodically repainted. Early morning sees the fewest visitors, the ideal light, and the best opportunity for you and/or your traveling companions to get the shot you want. (You'll see people stand atop the two Es. We don’t recommend that.)
At Monkey Bay you can canoe on the Sibun River, hike a 16-mile (31-km) nature trail along Indian Creek (only partly within Monkey Bay lands), or go bird-watching—some 250 bird species have been identified in the area. It has a natural history library with some 500 books and other reference materials, which visitors can use. The sanctuary also has educational and internship programs. Overnight accommodations for visitors are available if not occupied by students or interns. The nine private cabins and rooms run from BZ$200 to BZ$250. Dorm-like accommodation with shared bath is available in the field station bunkhouse for BZ$80. Meals are also available at times, if an educational group is in residence. Otherwise you'll have to make your own meals. Monkey Bay accepts short-term volunteers (minimum stay one week). Internships also are available, usually with a minimum stay of one month. Most programs are geared to overnight or multinight visits, but day visitors are welcome, too. Contact them in advance to see what activities or facilities may be available when you want to visit.
Many of the visitors here are on cruise-ship excursions, but you can also visit Old Belize on your own (it's a BZ$30 taxi ride each way from downtown Belize City). A 15-minute train ride takes you through exhibits devoted to the rainforest and the Maya and Garifuna cultures, as well as displays on logging, chicle harvesting, and sugar production. Also at the site are a large marina; a restaurant and bar where you can get a decent hamburger and other American-style dishes; a gift shop; and Kukumba Beach, a small artificial beach with an 80-foot waterslide.
Across the highway from the Belize Zoo is the 84-acre Tropical Education Center, where you can hike or canoe. There are boardwalk trails through the savanna with wildlife viewing platforms and a deck for bird-watching. Rustic accommodations are available at the Tropical Education Center at the Belize Zoo Jungle Lodge, which include a 30-person dorm and four spartan cabanas. Nighttime tours of the Belize Zoo are offered.
