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Garifuna Trail
Dangriga
- Chuluhadiwa Monument
2. Gulisi Museum
3. Guerrero House / Pen Cayetano Gallery
4. Y Park / Drums of our Fathers Monument
5. Havana Creek and Bridge
6. Alejo Beni Park
7. Main Bridge
8. North Stann Creek River
9. Epworth Methodist Church and School
10. Police Station
11. TV Ramos Monument and Park
12. Garden of Gethsemane Cemetery
13. Landing Field / Old Town Pier
14. Ignacio Cacho Library
15. Sacred Heart Church, School and Sisters of the Holy Family Convent
16. Carl Ramos Stadium
17. Christ the King Anglican Church
18. Princess Royal Telemedia Park
19. Dangriga Central Market
20. Old Hospital Grounds / Social Security Board
21. Dangriga Town Hall
22. Why Not Island
23. Wahima Beach
24. NGC Cassava Demonstration Centre
25. Tuani Garifuna Restaurant
26. Pablo Lambey Cultural Center / National Garifuna Council Headquarters - Tropical Wood Carving
- Sabai’s Cassava Factory
- Bishop O.P. Martin Residence
30. Dangriga Post Office
Hopkins
Mangrove / Freshwater Creek
Hawaii Beach / Estuary
Recibiwamutibu (We Welcome You) Sign
Dangriga
Dangriga, the largest town in Southern Belize, is considered both the spiritual capital of the country’s Garifuna people and the cultural capital of Belize, with excellent tourism potential. This unapologetically authentic and vibrant town is the birthplace of ‘Punta Rock’ a fusion of acoustic Garifuna and electric instruments – a true ‘diamond in the rough’. This charming town is home to cultural figures such as the well-known Garifuna doll maker, Mercy Sabal, the famous and eldest Garifuna drum maker, Austin Rodriquez, and home to Garifuna-owned and operated enterprises such as Tuani Garifuna restaurant and Sabals Cassava farm and factory.
1. Chuluhadiwa Monument
The history and story of the Garinagu is one of courage, resilience and survival, In 1797 the Garinagu were exiled from the Caribbean Island of St. Vincent. They eventually established communities along the Caribbean coastline of Honduras, Nicaragua, Guatemala and Belize. The Garifuna term Chuluhadiwa translates to ‘We have arrived’. The Chuluhadiwa monument memorializes the arrival, survival and prosperity of the Garifuna within Central America and Belize. The monument also identifies the site of a cultural park intended for the promotion of education, celebration and demonstration of Garifuna culture and identity. It is occasionally adorned with the various flags representing the different countries where the Garinagu now reside. Over the years, the Chuluhadiwa site has been used to host various community events including book launches, fairs and cultural performances.
2. Gulisi Museum
The Gulisi Garifuna Museum opened in 2004 under the management of the National Garifuna Council with support the National Institute of Culture and History and the Government of Taiwan. The name of the museum honours the prominent historical Garifuna figure and matriarch, Gulisi, the daughter of Paramount Chief Joseph Chatoyer. Gulisi migrated to Belize with her twelve children, being among the first Garinagu to settle at Dangriga, then known as Standing Creek or Stann Creek. The Gulisi Garifuna Museum documents the historical narrative of the Garinagu from St. Vincent to Central America and Belize. A wealth of information is presented on the rich living heritage of the Garinagu, including music and dance, rituals and customs, culinary practices and oral expressions. The contributions of prominent Garifuna such as Thomas Vincent Ramos, Andy Palacio and others are also highlighted in various exhibits. The Gulisi Garifuna Museum is a mandatory stop for anyone wishing to learn and explore all things Garifuna!
3. Guerrero House / Pen Cayetano Gallery
By the 1880s, the architecture of Dangriga began to include colonial-style timber structures such as the Courthouse, Magistrate Quarters, Police Station and officials’ residential houses. One of the few wooden historical buildings that still exist in Dangriga Town today houses the Pen Cayetano Studio Gallery. The house is believed to have been built in the early-to mid 1900s. It was the property of Peter and Angelina Guerrero and was previously located in the town center at #74 St. Vincent Street. The attic sheltered several residents during Hurricane Hattie in 1961. The building was purchased by Pen Cayetano and fully restored, keeping the original architecture and style. It was officially opened in 2009. Pen and his wife Ingrid Cayetano have used the building as an art studio for many years. Alongside Pen and Ingrid’s artwork is an original photo of the Guerrero on their wedding day. Today, visitors can find inside some of Pen popular paintings, prints, postcards, books, and textile art, jams and other souvenirs by Ingrid. The studio gallery has been integrated into an immersive cultural experience and tour offered by the Cayetano.
4. Y Park / Drums of our Fathers Monument
The Stann Creek Railway operated from 1908-1938 between Middlesex Village and Commerce Bight, the port south of Dangriga. The railway covered approximately 30 miles and transported timber, copra, grapefruit, bananas, coconuts, and cohune for export. In 1933, the railway was managed by 35 staff members. Three locomotives and 21 freight cars were used for transportation of crops and goods. The railway turntable was located at the main entrance of Dangriga, known as “The Y”. In the early 1970s, the Y functioned as a park in which the statue of a Junkunu dancer and a fountain were placed. These were eventually replaced by the Drums of Our Fathers monument created by Stephen Okeke and erected in 2004. It was inspired by the famous poem Drums of my Fathers written by E. Roy Cayetano. The monument pays homage to the ancestors of the Garifuna people. It consists of three Garifuna Dügü drums and a pair of Sísira or calabash rattles. The three drums symbolize the cycle of life: past, present and future.
5. Havana Creek and Bridge
The Havana Bridge was the site of the 1936 strike by Dangriga railway workers. The strike was part of a series of labor disturbances that began in 1934 in response to the poor working and living conditions of the working class in Belize. The appalling conditions were created through a series of events including the Great Depression (1929-1939) and the 1931 hurricane which altogether resulted in high unemployment rates. Like many other communities across the country, the people of Dangriga were also affected. It is from this site that labour leaders like Antonio Soberanis, Abraham Dolmo, Zachiaras Flores, James Barnett and Thomas Sabal urged labourers to demand an increase in wages and better working conditions. Today, the area is a part of the bustling business center of Dangriga Town.
6. Alejo Beni Park
Alejo Beni was a pioneer to the arrival of the Garinagu in Belize in 1823. Beni was a leader who assisted 40 Garinagu to flee from Honduras to Belize to avoid persecution. The park was dedicated in his honour for his contribution to the Garifuna culture and people.
7. Main Bridge
Main Bridge spans the North Stann Creek River and connects Commerce and St.
Vincent Streets, the main arteries of the town. By 1879, the first bridge was constructed being a 148-feet long Trestle Bridge. The current bridge is a recent replacement for the previous single-lane structure that served the town for the better part of the 20th century. Today, Main Bridge serves an important role connecting residents and visitors to businesses and neighbourhood on both sides of the North Stann Creek River. Many of the early family-run establishments in the town have disappeared over the decades. Early businesses included Genico and Bowman, the largest colonial-era general store. Harlem Square, adjacent to the Pablo Lambey Building was an open space for community-based social activities. South of the junction at Commerce St. and Pier Road was Kelsie Buller’s Grocery and Hardware Store. Thomas Vincent Ramos also operated a small grocery outlet on this route.
8. North Stann Creek River
The North Stann Creek River has historically played an important role in the development of Dangriga Town. Prior to the start of the town’s potable water supply scheme in 1964, most residents relied on the fresh, sweet waters of the North Stann Creek River for domestic uses. At the time, only a few persons owned water vats, therefore the river was the primary source of water for daily activities. Residents still recall the days when they would take their containers and make lines to fetch water at the river. Much like today, the banks of the North Stann Creek River was the scene of social gatherings. Today, one can observe the fresh catch of the day as fishermen gather to clean their haul. The river is also the site for the start of the yearly Garifuna Settlement Day celebrations on 19 November. At dawn, crowds gather on both banks of the river to witness the re-enactment of the arrival of the largest group of Garinagu to Belize. The North Stann Creek River continues to witness to the growth and development of Dangriga from a small fishing village to a bustling town.
9. Epworth Methodist Church and School
The Epworth Methodist Mission compound comprises Epworth Methodist Church, Epworth Methodist School and a rectory. The Methodist mission pioneered the establishment of primary school education in Dangriga. In 1834, a chapel and a day school were established. The school was opened by Thomas Jefferies and had an enrolment of seventy children. Between 1834 and 1850 the school had several headmasters including Mrs. Edney, Mr. Santiago Beni, Mr. Taylor and Mr. Humes. In 1851, a larger wooden church building was built. The church building met the unfortunate fate of many other colonial-era timber structures and was destroyed by Hurricane Hattie in 1961. The church building standing today was constructed the following year and officially rededicated on 23 March 1964 by Reverend D.A. Munnings, C.E. Goff and C.W. Cousins.
10. Police Station
The first organized police force in Belize was established in 1886 with the formation of the British Honduras Constabulary Force. In the early years of Dangriga, the affairs were administered by community leaders. It wasn’t until the mid-1860s that a police officer was appointed to uphold law and order in the community. He was assisted by the Garifuna Alcalde. In 1878, a tender was issued for the construction of a Police Station and Lock-up (jailhouse) in the village. With the reorganization of the Civil Police Force in 1894, the Police Station was upgraded. The administrative structure was one of several government timber houses that were built in Dangriga, and it included within its premises a flagstaff, outbuildings, and a water tank. In the 1920s, the Police Station was a two-storey concrete and timber building located in the center of town. The original clock had large Roman numerals which could be seen from afar. The clock-keeper’s weekly routine included oiling the clock’s dozen cog wheels, resetting the time and manually cranking its handle to keep the weight. Following damages caused by Hurricane Hattie, the tower was reconstructed in 1967. A new clock designed by Harry Longsworth was installed.
11. TV Ramos Monument and Park
One of the most prominent figures in Belize’s history is Garifuna leader Thomas Vincent Ramos. T.V. Ramos was born in Honduras and migrated to Dangriga in 1923, at age 36. A man of many talents, Ramos was a farmer, boxing manager, a grocer and a confectioner.
Shortly after his move to Belize, he established the Carib Development and Sick Aid Society which cared for the sick and elderly and safeguarded Garifuna culture.
His most notable accomplishment was the establishment of Carib embarkment Day on 19 November 1941. Ramos along with Domingo Ventura and Pantaleón Hernandéz convinced colonial authorities that the day should be a public holiday in Garifuna communities. The holiday was first granted for the Stann Creek district only and later extended to include the Toledo District. It was declared a national holiday in 1977. Today, 19 November is celebrated as Garifuna Settlement Day throughout the country.
The park was dedicated on 13 November 1990. The black, white yellow colours of the park reflect the elements of Garifuna heritage The bust memorializes the legacy of Thomas Vincent Ramos as the Father of Garifuna Settlement Day.
12. Garden of Gethsemane Cemetery
The Garden of Gethsemane is said to have been where Jesus prayed the night of his arrest before his crucifixion. The Garden of Gethsemane cemetery is the final resting place for some of the earliest settlers of Dangriga Town. Many of those buried here contributed to its development in one form or another throughout the decades. The area that grew into the cemetery was part of an early settlement identified in the 1870s as Scotland Town.
The settlement was bordered by Charles Creek in the north and John Creek in the south. A walk through the cemetery reveals inscriptions on tombstones dating as far back as the 1800s. Many prominent family names can still be found in the cemetery such as Bowman and Kuylen. While many early graves have deteriorated over the years several historic graves remain with distinct architectural styles. The Garden of Gethsemane is a historical resource for researchers, historians and those wishing to learn more about their family history.
13. Landing Field / Old Town Pier
During the early days of Dangriga Town, the old landing field provided access to sea and air travel connecting residents to other pans of the country. The area was previously a
swampland that was reclaimed in 1927. On 30 October 1929, the landing area became a makeshift airfield. The first plane to land in Dangriga was piloted by Mexican aviator, Col. P. L Sidar who flew from Guatemala City en route to Nenton Bamacks, Belize City. The aviator mistook the grassy landing field for Newton Barracks and instead landed in Dangriga. He stayed in town for about one hour before flying to Belize. By 1908, TACA operated a passenger and freight air service twice weekly to and from Belize City. By 1952, British Colonial Airways offered three daily flights between Stanley Field Airport in Belize City and Dangriga. A fixture at the landing field is the Town Pier. The current town pier is a replacement for the old pier which was located about 600 yards away. The new pier was built two years after the destruction of the old pier by Hurricane Hattie in 1961. The new pier was inaugurated in October 1965.
14. Ignacio Cacho Library
The Ignacia Cacho and the Allan Arthurs Libraries were dedicated to two outstanding members of the Government of Belize who donated books, funds, and land to construct and maintain a library in Dangriga.
15. Sacred Heart Church, School and Sisters of the Holy Family Convent
Catholicism is the predominant religion in the Stann Creek District and for most of Belize.
Records show that Catholic priests visited with Garifuna settlers in the 1830s. By the 1860s, Jesuit priests began to establish a catholic mission in the town. Fr. Brindisi was especially instrumental in the construction of the first rectory and church. In 1871, a statue of the Sacred Heart of Jesus was obtained from Europe by a brotherhood of parishioners also devoted to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. During the same year, the church building was reconstructed through the efforts of Belgian Jesuit, Fr. Augustine Lootejens. In June 1890, the Dangriga Church was rededicated to the Sacred Heart. On 3 April 1898, Mother Superior Mary Austin, Sisters Mary Ann, Mary Dominica, Mary Emmanuel, Mary Rita and Mary Stephen (The Four Marys) arrived aboard the steamer Stillwater to Dangriga to assist with the running of the primary school. Their neighbouring convent was one of the few two-storey timber-framed houses with zinc roofing in town at the time. On 26 January 1942, the church building and convent were completely destroyed by fire. The current Sacred Heart Church building was rebuilt in 1954.
16. Carl Ramos Stadium
The area occupied by the Carl Ramos Stadium has served as a recreational space for decades. Well before the stadium’s construction, the recreational space was part of the historic landing field and used to play various sports. While football dominates today, cricket was previously the main sporting event that drew out the residents of the town. Rival cricket teams included the Rovers, Wiltshire and Brilliant. The popularity of the sport was partially due to its promotion by colonial authorities. In the 1970s, the grounds were the venue for inter-primary field activities including sack race, high jump, and other track and field races.
As football became more the popular sport in town and across the country, the cricket field was eventually replaced by a football field. Since then, Dangriga has consistently produced some of the most formidable football players in Belize. On 10 December 2016, the Carl Ramos Stadium was officially inaugurated and held its first official football match. The project was carried as par the Municipal Development Project.
17. Christ the King Anglican Church
One of the oldest surviving structures in Dangriga belongs to Christ the King Anglican Episcopal Church (Christ Church). The Church of England or Anglican mission in Dangriga was established in the early 1800s. By 1894, the mission was led by Rev. J.F.
Laughton who resided at the parsonage located on the south side of the compound
Church and the inauguration of the school building were held on 24 August 1898. The original belltower and bell can still be seen today. The mission compound also houses Christ the King Anglican Primary School. However, the school building was first located on the property next to the Catholic Convent. The current location of the school was the former site of Stann Creek High School. The Stann Creek High School and Austin High School eventually amalgamated to form Ecumenical College. Today, part of the concrete foundations of the old high school have been reclaimed by the Caribbean Sea. Since its establishment, Christ the King Anglican School building has expanded to accommodate the growing population of Dangriga town.
18. Princess Royal Telemedia Park
The Princess Royal Telemedia Park was established in 1937 as Dangriga’s first children’s playground by businessman and philanthropist Hon. Henry T.A. Bowman, O.B.E, J.P. Bowman and his family resided in the house that later became Barclay’s Bank, across from the area that would become the park. In 1935, he contributed $700.00 towards the filling of the land and arrangement of the area. In 1953, the area was originally named the Queen Elizabeth playing field in honour of the ascension of Queen Elizabeth Il to the British throne.
The Queen Elizabeth Park was remodelled and renamed Princess Royal Park in honour of Her Royal Highness, Princess Anne who visited Belize in March 1960. She visited Dangriga on board the yacht The Britannia on 16 March. During her visit she unveiled a plaque and renamed the grounds the Princess Royal Children’s Playground. The park was later adopted by Belize Telemedia Limited under its Adopt-a-Park Program. The park was inaugurated as the Princess Royal Telemedia Park on 12 November 2008.
19. Dangriga Central Market
The marketplace serves an important role in communities for the provision of agricultural produce and goods, and as a social hub to catch up on the most recent happenings in town. The first market space was located along the banks of the estuary of the North Stan Creek River. By 1927, facilities for a market area were established and included a concrete floor and corridor with several wooden stalls, store cupboards and a boiler house. Following the devastation of the town by Hurricane Hattie in 1961, a new structure was built. In the late 1990s, a joint project by the towns private sector, the Dangriga Town Council and the Government of Belize led to the extension of the market area, inaugurated on 2 August 2001. In May 2012, a project for a new market was initiated under the Belize Municipal Development Project. The project was implemented by the Belize Social Investment Fund and financed through the World Bank. The project entailed the rehabilitation of the existing ferro-concrete of the market building including the fish section.
20. Old Hospital Grounds / Social Security Board
The offices of the Social Security Board, the Grace Ramirez Memorial Park and the Stann Creek District Education Centre sit on the grounds of the old Dangriga hospital. In the 1930s, a colonial-style timber structure was built on posts in order to avoid the seasonal floods which affected the area. It included spaces for the doctor’s office and male and female wards. Other buildings on the compound included a morgue, a kitchen and a matron’s quarter. In the 1950s and 1960s, renovations were carried out which included the expansion of the hospital and the purchase of an X-Ray unit in 1957. Like many other structures, the hospital was also damaged by Hurricane Hattie in 1961 and required further rehabilitation.
Construction of a new hospital began in 1994. On 30 October 1999, the new Southern Regional Hospital was inaugurated on George Price Drive.
21. Dangriga Town Hall
The land on which the Dangriga Town Hall sits has been the centre for governance for several decades. The current location was previously the site of several important buildings during the colonial era. These include the District Magistrate’s office, the Court House and the Sub-treasury. The Town Hall is also located next to the Carl Ramos Stadium and the Princess Royal Telemedia Park, both historic spaces. The destruction wrought by Hurricane Hattie on 31 October 1961 changed the face of several coastal communities, including Dangriga Town. As a result, the central government embarked on a reconstruction and development program that included the erection of an administrative building that was completed in 1964. However, by 1969 the building was reported to be in poor condition and a new building was constructed. The current Dangriga Town Hall was officially opened on 2 June 1973 at a cost of $60,000. The Town Council’s logo is meant to depict peace, hope, harmony and the major industries of the community including fishing, agriculture and tourism.
22. Why Not Island
In the 1930s, Mr. Sandy Carter owned a sailing lighter named Why Not which he used to transport commodities such as rice, sugar, pigtail and other goods to Dangriga.
According to community lore, one morning the lighter drifted with the tide and ran ashore near the market area. Community members assisted with the recovery of most of the
cargo, however salvaging the lighter proved difficult. Community members managed to pull it into a nearby brook off the North Stann Creek River. The lighter remained at the site and became covered by sedimentation and debris over the years. The area became known as Why-Not Island. Today, Why-Not is one of the towns popular recreational spaces. It is also home to chief Garifuna drum-maker, Austin Rodriguez. Originally born in Honduras to Belizean parents, Rodriguez moved to Belize at nine months old. He is a self-taught artist proficient in Garifuna and Creole drum-making. His drum-making business has expanded to a family affair along with his daughters. They combine traditional knowledge and skills of drum-making to craft Garifuna drums.
23. Wahima Beach
24. NGC Cassava Demonstration Centre
National Garifuna Council Cassava Demonstration Centre was inaugurated in 2018. The center provides training in the processing of cassava into cassava bread also known as ‘ereba’. Cassava is a staple food of the Garifuna culture.
25. Tuani Garifuna Restaurant
Tuani Garifuna restaurant is known for its expertise in preparing traditional Garifuna cuisine such as the Hudut and Sere.
26. Pablo Lambey Cultural Center / National Garifuna Council Headquarters
Pablo Lambey was a former president of the National Garifuna Council (NGC). He fought for legal rights to ensure the NGC had a parcel of land to construct their headquarters that would also act as a cultural center.
27. Tropical Wood Carving
Since 2000, Tropical Wood Carving has been dedicated to making beautiful, high-quality crafts in Dangriga. Tropical Wood Carving creates very unusual and unique woodwork. The wood works are all made of deep carving in Mahogany that will last you a lifetime.
28. Sabai’s Cassava Factory
For a quarter of a century, the Sabal’s have been operating the Sabal’s Cassava Factory in Dangriga. The factory produces various cassava products such as cassava bread and cassava chips.
29. Bishop O.P. Martin Residence
30. Dangriga post Office
Hopkins
Hopkins, traditionally an indigenous-Garifuna fishing village, stretches approximately 1.5 miles along the coast. It has a unique Garifuna-cultural charm with scenic beaches that attract travelers looking for an off-the-path destination from large crowds seeking authentic local culture and cuisine with sandy beaches. The low population density of Hopkins provides the added benefit of adequate physical distancing necessary while traveling during COVID-19. This project intends to present the communities as a significant, traditional indigenous cultural tourism destination for international and local tourists.
Some key cultural sites include:
Mangrove/Freshwater Creek
Mangrove forests have been an important part of the lives of coastal dwellers, like Garinagu. Mangroves protect coral reefs and sea grass nurseries by filtering pollutants and sediments that are produced when rivers flood; additionally, they protect from erosion caused by waves and currents and serve as protective habitat for fish and shellfish. Inland mangrove forests help in the preservation of biodiversity by creating habitat for nesting or migrating coastal birds and reduce the effects of climate change by absorbing carbon. Lastly, inland mangrove forests absorb large quantities of water in times of flooding, serving as a buffer and reducing the destruction of hurricanes as was observed after the Hurricane of 1941. At that time, the village was located North of the Silk Grass Creek in Yoton (New Town) and faming was done in the foothills of the mountains, present day Mayflower/Bocawina Park. A few persons also maintained farms in the current Hopkins area. These seemed to have functioned as “back-up”. When the area would flood, the Bocawina farms would become inaccessible, so the farms in the present Hopkins location would be used. After the 1941 hurricane, survivors noted that the current location of Hopkins had not been affected by the flooding. This was primarily the reason that Garinagu choose to relocate to the current location. Today, the Freshwater Lagoon continues to act as a buffer for the village, attracting remarkable wildlife, like the elusive Jabiru stork, which is sometimes spotted in the area.
Hawaii Beach /Estuary
The slow-moving waters of the Hopkins Freshwater Lagoon coyly approaches the rhythmic shallow waves of Caribbean Sea where the two rendezvous at the Hawaii Estuary. The beach is also a popular attraction for locals . It is lined with small resorts and guesthouses, as well as restaurants and bars where visitors can enjoy fresh seafood and tropical drinks. Beyond the photographic scene, however, the Hawaii estuary is a critical habitat that protects juvenile wildlife. Recognizing this purpose and their dependence on a healthy fish population, generations of Garinagu have maintained the Hawaii Beach Estuary undisturbed.
Recibiwamutibu (We Welcome You) Sign
If entering Hopkins Village by car, a four mile stretch of road extends Eastward from the TV Ramos Southern Highway. After crossing scenic savannah grasslands and observing the Freshwater Creek, visitors are greeted by a colourfully painted wall bearing the words “Recibiwamutibu”, literally translated as “We receive you”, meaning “We welcome You”.
How to get there
Belize’s main airport is the Phillip Goldson International Airport (PGIA), 70 miles away from Dangriga.
Dangriga has a small airport and daily 20-minute flights to and from Belize City are provided by Maya Island Air www.mayaislandair.com and Tropic Air www.tropicair.com
There are various land transport options.
Public transport:
James Bus Line (hourly), Dalmon Ritchie (twice daily), Floralia (twice daily) and Cecil Gil bus services all operate bus services between Belize City and Dangriga. The average duration is 3.5 hrs and prices range from US$ 6 – US$ 13.
Private transport
Private shuttles and charters are also available from the Phillip Goldson International Airport to Dangriga and Hopkins. The journey takes around 2 -2.5 hours and can cost anywhere from US$130 – US$200 per person depending on the number of passengers.
Some local transport providers are:
Ariola & Sons Transportation and Shuttle
Julian Transfers & Tours
tel:+0115016365601 (whatsapp)