It’s March in Belize again, and it is the best time to visit! Why…you may wonder. Well, for one, the weather is ideal for the outdoors. You have warm temperatures of 80 degrees or higher and the cool breeze appropriately called “March breeze”, that refreshes you when you’re out in the sun. This month is also a popular time for locals with various public holidays coming up. This means free time to enjoy the festivities and amazing weather! It begins with National Benefactors days or Baron Bliss day followed by the Easter break. These public holidays bring droves of locals out to the Cayes and other coastal and inland vacation spots. To complement the holidays, special events are scheduled to optimize the downtime!
Here are the festivities to look forward to:
La Ruta Maya – March 06th – 09th, 2020
A titillating four-day canoe race that runs 180 miles from the San Ignacio Hawksworth Bridge to the Belize City’s Swing Bridge. It is the highlight of the National Benefactor’s holiday weekend and a sure-fire attraction to experience! Above all, La Ruta Maya River Challenge is a dream that exceeded its reality for racers. Additionally, it is one of the longest canoe races in Central America. Comprised of four legs, the marathon begins with an approximate 50-mile stretch to Banana Bank. Followed by a 60-mile journey to Double Head Cabbage, then includes two shorter dashes to Burrell Boom. Finally ending with the finish line at Belize City. The entire journey is some 170 plus miles of grueling physical aptitude that is a feat to admire.
Reef Week – March 7th – 15th, 2020
The year of the reef and recent conservation success has prompted Oceana and some forty organizations to come together to celebrate “Reef Week” by hosting a series of events. The theme of reef week 2020 is “true reef love means yuh stay involved!”. Reef week has been on since 2013 and will continue to be celebrated for a week of the year. Organizations come together to celebrate “Reef Week” by hosting a series of events. This fun week is filled with activities ranging from intense to relaxing, guaranteeing an enjoyable time.
The Chiquibul Challenge Marathon 2020 – March 14, 2020
The Chiquibul Challenge Marathon (CCM) is an annual fundraiser event supporting the wildlife and conservation work by Belize Wildlife & Referral Clinic (BWRC) and Friends for Conservation and Development (FCD). Held at Las Cuevas Research Station (LCRS) in the Chiquibul Forest Reserve, one of the world’s most pristine and biodiverse locations. Run or walk and half or full marathon over logging roads in undulating terrain within the Chiquibul Forest Reserve. Breathtaking scenery combined with a friendly atmosphere makes this event magical.
The Garifuna Collective and Guests – March 14, 2020
Everyone is invited to an evening of entertainment by the Garifuna Collective on March 14, 2020 at Miss Tracey’s Guest House in Hopkins. The Garifuna Collective music fits into the traditional style of music known as Paranda. “Paranda is serenade music,” explains Denmark Flores, drummer with The Garifuna Collective. “It is soulful and relaxing, and each song carries a different story.” For the Garifuna, the music goes beyond entertainment, used for storytelling, stress relief, and healing. Most importantly, music for the Garifuna is a vehicle for community building.
The music starts at 8:00 pm and ends at 4:00 am. It will be a night of great music as guest artists include World Culture Band from Cayo, Mile 41 Reggae Band from Belmopan, Mohobub Flores from Dangriga and a mix of players from Paranda Blues and Zero Tolerance. Additionally, to keep the night going, MAC 90 SOUND CREW will be spinning the tracks between live sets.
You can learn more about the Story of the Garifuna Collective on our blog.
