7 things you must eat when in Belize

Get the Full StoryBelize, a small but diverse country of 350,000 inhabitants, is bordered on the north by Mexico, on the south and west by Guatemala, and on the east by the Caribbean Sea. While often overshadowed by its bigger and better-known neighbors, Belize shines thanks to its pristine beaches, untouched jungles and rich culinary scene.

Most inhabitants speak English, Maya, Creole and Spanish, and even Mandarin is common in certain communities.

This amalgamation of ethnicities is reflected in the Belizean kitchen, with dishes from all over the world reinterpreted the local way. They may sound familiar, but they will taste very different from the original creations. Here are some delicious dishes to try the Belizean way.

Ceviche

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Peruvian ceviche is found all over Mexico, Central America, and South America. However, Belizean ceviche is different. Typical ceviches in Mexico are sweeter and are heavily fish based. Belizean ceviche, though, is usually made with raw conch and shrimp. Conch is widely popular in Belize, even given today’s shortage. For real Belizean ceviche, head to the sophisticated restaurant Harbour View in Belize City. Since most planes land here, it’s an easy pit stop so you can fuel up for your adventure. Harbour View, Belize City. 501 223-6420

Pupusas

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Brought by refugees from El Salvador, pupusas are best bought from vendors at street stalls. But if you want to sit down for your meal, Waruguma comes close to authentic by keeping things very simple, very crisp and very saucy. The stuffed corn pancakes make for a just-right savory snack and always come with homemade hot sauce and coleslaw.Waruguma, Middle St. & Pescador Dr., San Pedro. facebook.com

Tamales Bollos

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Belizean tamales or bollos are a traditional Maya and Mestizo food; unlike the Mexican tamale, Belizean tamales are wrapped in plantain leaves instead of corn husks. A bollo is made with seasoned chicken or pork wrapped in soft house-made corn dough, and then steamed in plantain or banana leaves. Until recently, the best place to find them was Bertha’s Tamales, a small shack on the side of the road on Hummingbird Highway. Unfortunately, the shop burned down a couple of weeks ago. While we'll mourn its absence and hope for its return — not just for our sake, but for the family who runs it — in the meantime we'll hope to catch a glimpse of the guy who rides a beach cruiser, with a cooler strapped to the handlebars he rides from San Pedro to the northern part of Ambergris every single day . Don't want to leave things to chance? Try Martha's Guesthouse Restaurant.Martha's Guesthouse Restaurant, 10 West St, San Ignacio, Belize 501-804-3647

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