Stann Creek District - Stann Creek District

Division of Belize by districts
Macaws in Red Bank

The Stann Creek District located in Belize

Regions

Sunset in Placencia

The Stann Creek District borders the to the north Belize District, in the west to the Cayo District and in the south to the Toledo District. In the west lies the Caribbean coast with many small islands and atolls and the Southern Highway runs from north to south as the central traffic artery. In addition to a lot of Caribbean flair under the influence of the Garifuna culture, there are of course numerous swimming and diving opportunities on the coast. In addition, it has in the greater area Placencia There has been a regular building boom in the tourism industry in recent years. There is also the only deep sea port Big Creek in this region. In the southwest the landscape stretches up into the Maya Mountains and is an ancient settlement area of ​​the Maya. The diverse Maya villages to be found here come largely from the Mayans from Guatemala and Honduras who have settled here in the last few decades. Mainly oranges, pineapples and bananas are grown here.

places

  • Big Creek - Largest ocean port facility in Belize
  • Dangriga - Secret capital of the Garifuna culture, which was still called Stan Creek Town in the 1980s
  • Hopkins - Dropout village with a drum school
  • Independence -
  • Maya Center -
  • Placencia - Towns with a fantastic location and fantastic growth
  • Red Bank - Mayan village near a macaw observation point

Other goals

Underwater world in South Water Caye Marine Reserve

background

The history of human activities also begins here in the Mayan period. But when and to what extent is currently unclear. Some cities from the Classical period have also been discovered here. But the time of the first settlements and the importance of the cities in this district are in the dark. Only in Mayflower Bocawina National Park archaeological investigations are currently being undertaken. But it is certain that all cities here were abandoned at the end of the Classical period and that the first settlements only emerged here again with the British. However, from 1832 this region was decisively shaped by the Garifuna culture. This culture, which emerged from a mixture of Caribs and shipwrecked slaves, increasingly fled the chaos of war between England and France to Belize and settled in Toledo District and Stann Creek District low. The capital of the district then became the Garifuna name in the 80s Dangriga renamed. In recent years, Mayans have increasingly left the south El Salvador and Guatemala and on the coast in the towns Hopkins and Placencia Dropouts from Europe and North America.

climate

Most of the rain falls in the rainy season between June and November. It is mostly dry between February and May.

JanFebMarchAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec  
Mean highest air temperature in ° C282931333432323232312928O30.9
Mean lowest air temperature in ° C181819202122222222212019O20.3
Precipitation in mm12080505080250250300250210200180Σ2020

language

The official language here is of course English. The Garifuna and Ibo languages ​​are also widely spoken on the coast. In the hinterland you can often find different Mayan languages ​​such as Mopan or Kekchi.

getting there

The traffic axis of the district is the Southern Highway. The Himmigbird Highway and the Costal Highway continue to lead to the north, but they no longer deserve this name. Most of the cities are not directly on the highway and can only be reached via roads going off the highways. Only some have a bus connection.

The larger coastal cities can be reached via the regional airlines.

mobility

Larger towns like Placencia or Dangriga are hit by buses or by airplanes. But the main mode of transport is the car. Especially those who want to drive to destinations off the Western and Hummingbird highways cannot avoid a car. It should be noted that many roads are more like an off-road slope and should only be driven on with an off-road vehicle.

Since a lot here has not yet been developed for tourism, you should often not do without a local guide. These can often be found at the sights. If you want to be on the safe side, it is well advised to organize this beforehand through the Belize Travel Guides Association. Especially for the south, the only official German-speaking guide in Belize, Bruno Kuppinger, is a recommendation. They can also arrange a car through their own car rental company. Contact: Sun Creek Lodge [1] (Tel: (501) 614-2080)

Tourist Attractions

  • nature - Here there are good opportunities to experience not only an exciting world of birds but also large mammals in the wild.
  • Caribbean - Fantastic beaches on the coast and on the islands and the reef invite you to swim, dive and snorkel, are on the doorstep and leave nothing to be desired. Fishing enthusiasts will also get their money's worth here.
  • Mayan ruins - Rather unspectacular and not yet explored. But they are definitely worth a visit.
  • caves - They are also available here, but they are measured against those in the West Cayo District or in the south Toledo District rather unspectacular.

activities

  • Relax - Especially the coasts of this district are characterized by a Caribbean flair. The locations Hopkins and Placencia have mainly owed their growth in recent years to those who have left the company in need of relaxation. But while these are rather wealthy in Placencia, Hopkins likes to be alternative and multicultural
  • Diving and snorkeling - Whether with a bottle or with a snorkel. The diving paradise Belize is also reflected here. Numerous destinations on the doorstep or in the immediate vicinity make every diver's heart beat faster. With the South Water Caye Marine Reserve and the Glover's Reef Marine Reserve there are two world-famous diving areas where you can do everything from reef snorkeling to whale shark watching.
  • Wildlife observation - The Cayes offer varied life under water and turtle nests and bird breeding colonies above water. But also on the mainland there are numerous opportunities to watch macaws in Red Bank up to the jaguar observation in the Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary.
  • Trekking - In the Mayflower Bocawina National Park and Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary There are several signposted hiking trails on which you can roam through the rainforest to enjoy the flora and fauna. For those who love a challenge, there is the Victoria Peak Trail to the second highest mountain in Belize. In five days you climb through that Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary across the rainforest to this mountain. You will be compensated with a lot of wildlife, a Mayan ruin and a fantastic view.
  • Boat tours - In the harbors or on large islands, this is always offered for diving, animal watching, fishing, swimming or for relaxing on the Caribbean Sea.
  • Culture - Especially the African and Caribbean cultures like the Garifuna culture have shaped this district. You can not only see and feel this but also learn. In the strongholds Dangriga and Hopkins one can learn to drum and dance.

kitchen

The restaurants are usually simple and only differentiate between fish, chicken or meat, but this does not reduce the quality as a rule. On the contrary, especially in small towns, real delicacies are served here at good prices. Marie Sharp's Habanero Pepper Sauce is not missing on any table in Belize. This extremely hot sauce has eloquent names such as "No Wimps Allowed" (roughly "forbidden for wimps") or "Beware" (caution). Fish is recommended.

nightlife

If you are looking for nightlife in the Stann Creek District, you will only find it here and there in the larger coastal towns. But if you really want to let it rip, you should go to Belize City or San Pedro (Belize) do.

security

The crime rate is negligibly low, especially in the smaller towns.

There are also crocodiles and poisonous snakes here, so careless handling is certainly not appropriate. But in view of the fact that humans are not on the menu of these animals, careful behavior appropriate to the rainforest and appropriate clothing should guarantee sufficient protection. The "most dangerous" here are almost the mosquitoes, so mosquito repellent should not be dispensed with. Dengue fever, which is occasionally transmitted by mosquitoes, cannot be prevented by vaccination. However, other diseases can be prevented:

  • A malaria stand-by preparation should be carried at least in case of an emergency.
  • A typhoid vaccination should be carried out beforehand.
  • The hepatitis A, B, tetanus and rabies vaccination should be refreshed.

Web links

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