When you travel to enough places, you realize some locations hold a magic that can’t be replicated. Belize, initially inconspicuous on my list of places to travel, is a Narnia containing said magic. I recently visited this small but mighty place, and what I thought would be a decent trip turned into a spiritual escape.
Considering my word for 2025 is “divinity,” there isn’t a better place I could have visited to get the spiritual nourishment and grounding I needed. Belize reminded me that sometimes the most spiritual things you can do are to play and explore nature. Belize offers both, creating opportunities for adventure, cultural immersion, community, and connection.
Located in Central America and home to over 400,000 people, the destination was a nod to my ancestral roots and a reminder that there are still many places in the world where Black women belong. Here are ways this country can serve as your own refuge.
It’s a Cultural Melting Pot
Pre-colonial Belize was home to the Maya people. They’re known as the first inhabitants of the land, and some of their descendants are still present today. When I visited the Xunantunich Archaeological Site, a classic Maya archaeological zone in the Cayo District, I saw ancient structures built by this group. It was a tangible testament to their progressive and innovative spirit.
Belize has a noticeable Afro-Caribbean community, a result of British colonizers who introduced both enslaved and free people of African and Caribbean descent to the country. Consequently, Maya people aside, the Belizean people also include Kriol (descendants of enslaved Africans) and Garifuna (descendants of an Afro-indigenous population from the Caribbean island of St Vincent). You’ll also notice Mestizo, East Indian, Mennonite, Arab, and Chinese people spread throughout.
I was able to connect with the West African influences, considering I’m Nigerian. It was insightful to learn that some words they use in the Kriol and Garfuna languages are of West African origin. And if you visit Belize in September, you may get the chance to attend the Belize Soca and Culture Festival, which celebrates the nation’s customs.
Plants Are Medicine
There was something numinous about Belize, and I can partially attribute it to the way the people lean on plants as medicine. They call it “bush medicine,” which is the traditional use of native plants to treat a range of ailments. It felt like an introduction to plant medicine and the ways nature often provides most of what we need to survive.
My introduction to bush medicine was at the Museum of Belize in Belize City, once the capital of the former British Honduras. I passed there briefly during a Tuktuk Belize sightseeing tour. I learned that Belizeans use moringa leaves for energy and diabetes; senna leaves for constipation; gumbo limbo for skin conditions and fevers; and cedar bark for cough and inflammation. The list goes on, but there seemed to be a plant for just about everything.
Learning about how plants are used was empowering for me as a Black woman who is often vulnerable to marginalization and discrimination within Western healthcare systems. While modern medicine has its uses, I also believe it’s important to understand how to use what grows from the ground to maintain optimal health.
Flavorful Farm-to-Table Food
What you put into your body can affect your physical and spiritual health. Thankfully, Belize is full of wholesome, flavorful, and healthy fare. Many of the dishes I enjoyed were farm-to-table, leaving me dreaming about the meals weeks later. Although Belize is culturally diverse, dominant dishes that are widely enjoyed include rice and beans, stew chicken and salad, and boil up, which is a mix of fish, cassava, eggs, pigtails, ripe bananas, and more.
One of my favorite activities was going to a cooking class with a woman named Darla who runs a food business alongside her husband. We learned to make Belizean-style rice, beans, and chicken over an open flame.
If you’re ever in Belize, visiting Midpoint Bar & Grill in Belize City is also a must. I had the most delectable grilled fish, rice, and plantain I’ve had in years. The portions are generous, the food was fresh and flavorful, and the ambiance is unmatched.
Experience Nature As Wonder
One of the most ineffable aspects of Belize is the outdoors. I had two unforgettable experiences: the Dark Knight Cave Tubing Adventure and snorkeling at Mexico Rocks. Both activities gave me the space to be adventurous while learning about plants and the Maya culture.
During the former, I traveled to a secluded location in the jungle, filled with lush greenery and some of the most mysterious and enchanting caves I’ve seen. The ziplining adventure was one for the books—I went on a total of seven, and the most exhilarating one zipped me into a cave where we found some artwork by the Maya people.
During the tour, I was impressed by the guide’s knowledge of the various plants and trees in the jungle. I chewed the stems of a wild begonia for the first time, and never would I imagine it would be so refreshing. I also learned people eat termites as a source of protein (the tour guide ate some straight off the tree!) and that Milky Way trees can be used as a substitute for glue.
The adventure ended with a 45-minute float through Darknight Cave, and it was unexpectedly serene. As bizarre as it may sound, there was something calming about floating in a pitch black cave filled with fruit bats, hearing the tour guide tell the story of the Maya underworld, and then drifting into a state of meditation and gratitude.
Another nature adventure I engaged in was traveling to Caye Caulker, a small limestone coral island off the coast of Belize. I stayed at Weezies Oceanfront Hotel & Garden Cottages, a property located on Caye Caulker, and a stone’s throw away from Mexico City. We had to take a small plane from Philip S.W. Goldson International Airport, but it was only about a 10-minute flight.
While at Caye Caulker, I snorkelled at Mexico Rocks with Anda De Watas Tours, giving me a chance to explore the wet side of Belize. It was my second and favorite time snorkeling, not only because I didn’t puke this time, but also because I saw colorful coral, bright fish, and nurse sharks for the first time. Belize is known for its extreme biodiversity and distinctive ecosystems, making it a highly sought-after destination for snorkeling.
Everything about Belize gently reminded me that I’m a living being and deserve to experience all of the wonder life has to offer. I came home rejuvenated, more deeply connected with myself, and with a deep understanding that all things are working together for my good.