Stann Creek District is made up of a wide a range habitats. To the east: underwater worlds surrounding scores of Caribbean cayes, or islets. To the west: Wildlife, birds galore, rivers, and ruins in the shadow of Belize’s highest peaks. Between them: miles of beaches, swamps, citrus plantations, and shrimp farms, and—in a few areas—condominium developments aimed at rich foreigners.

The seaside town of Dangriga is home to a third of Stann Creek District’s 36,000 inhabitants. Stann Creek’s economy is as varied as its culture and geography, with tourism being as important as the orange, banana, and shrimp industries.

In Dangriga town and the surrounding villages, the Garinagu (or Garifuna) people survive and thrive as they confront the challenges of maintaining their unique culture. Spanish-speaking fishers paddle through the cayes, diving for lobster and conch for days on end.

And this region includes a few full-on tourist destinations like Placencia, with its pleasant village and handful of upscale resorts, or low-key, slack-paced settlements like Hopkins and Sittee River.

All of these areas serve the traveler as bases from which to explore nearby cayes, coral, and the Cockscomb Basin and Jaguar Reserve.

The Best of Belize’s Southern Coast

Gulisi Garifuna Museum
• Tobacco Caye
• Hopkins
• Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary
• The Sidewalk Strip
• Laughing Bird Caye