Belize City and Belmopan

Hardly large enough to warrant the title 'city', in any other country Belize City would be a dusty backwater, but in Belize it is the centre of the country, a blend of Latin American and Caribbean influences. Clapboard houses line dusty streets while people huddle in groups as the world drifts idly by. Born of the Belize River when the logs used to float downstream, it is still the main hub for maritime communications with boat services to the cayes. Nearby Belize Zoo is a model for zoos throughout the world. The capital, Belmopan, enjoys the cursed pleasure of being a planned city. Founded after a devastating hurricane struck Belize City, it has survived as the country's political centre, and has recently grown after several hurricanes have hit the country.