Toldeo and the South Part of Belize

This is Maya country. Toledo, half of whose people are Maya, is located in the southern part of Belize, which has heavier rainfall than the rest of the country. New improvements in the Southern Highway have made Toledo newly accessible to tourists, but it's still one of the wildest, most lush places you can go in Belize. The rain forest is genuine here, and there are live and ongoing archaeological digs going on at the moment, some of the largest ever in the area. The Gulf of Honduras, on which Toledo rests, has muddy waters so the beaches aren't that great. The cayes are good, though. 13,000 Mayan people were left homeless in 2001 after Hurricane Iris barrelled through. Crops and trees were destroyed, too. The government has helped to rebuild.

Punta Gorda

Ex Civil War soldiers from the USA settled Punta Gorda in the 1800's, and there's not much to see here today. The settlement of US people didn't quite prosper, and the town has never really taken off as a tourist destination. There are a few resorts and restaurants and guest houses, but mainly it's worth visitiing simply because it's in the Toledo area and therefore is a good base for exploring the jungle and Maya culture on day trips from town.

If you're flying to the Toledo area from other parts of Belize or Central America, you'll fly into Punta Gorda. Maya Island Air has five flights a day to Punta Gorda. For trips beyond Belize and the Punta Gorda area, you can also take a ferry from Punta Gorda to Guatemala.