‘Mabuiga’ is the welcome sign that will greet you if you come by bus, announcing your arrival to the seaside town of Dangriga. If you travel by plane, you will be greeted by expanses of citrus orchards. Once called Stann Creek town, Dangriga is the district capital and the culture center of the Garifuna people who make up majority of the population at about 9,000. Wooden houses perched on stilts to catch the Caribbean breeze sit alongside mango trees and coconut palms, giving the place a dreamy, tranquil air about it.

Dangriga Has Many Things To Do And See

With rainforests and the Maya Mountains to its west, cayes and the reef in the Caribbean east, Dangriga is a beautiful spot to spend a few days of discovery. The commercial center of the own runs along St. Vincent and Commerce Streets, the same street with different names on either side of a bridge that spans the North Stann Creek River. The south bank is busy with boats that shuttle passengers to and from the surrounding cayes while a bustling market occupies the north bank where you can buy fruit, vegetables and fresh fish.

Dangriga is full of things to do and see for the culture hungry. The Gulisi Garifuna Museum houses permanent displays that highlight the culture and history of the Garifuna people while the Pen Cayetano Gallery showcases the artwork of musician and painter Pen Cayetano. Other stops of cultural interest include the “Drums of My Father Monument”, Thomas Vincent Ramos Monument, and the National Garifuna Council Headquarters. Several craftsmen and artists who live and work in the town, including drum maker Austin Rodriguez and painter Benjamin Nicholas, welcome visitors to their studios.

Food Adventure In Dangriga

For the plain hungry, there are restaurants in Dangriga that cater to tastes ranging from local fare to Chinese to fries and cheeseburgers. Big barrel barbeques appear on the street side in the evenings offering the most delicious fresh grilled chicken served with flour tortillas, coleslaw and beans, all for less than three dollars. For a more authentic experience, grab a seat on a rock or a wall near the river and watch Dangriga go by as you refill.

For the intrepid vultures among you, you can find a handful of nightclubs that are worth a visit. Karaoke with a distinctly country music flavor is popular in the bars while the nightclubs tend toward Punta rock. Upbeat rhythmic Caribbean music are dominated by the keyboards and drums. A modern interpretation of the Garifuna courting dance, punta dancers shake their hips with unhinged dexterity and even sometimes at incredible speeds.

Whole Nation Celebrates Garifuna Settlement Day

On November 19th on Garifuna Settlement Day, the town explodes in color and pomp. Belizeans all around the country and the world arrive in Dangriga for the festivities that include a reenactment of the historic Garifuna landing. The party actually starts in the evening before with traditional drumming, punta dancing, and some drinking throughout the night. Christmas and New Year are also celebrated in similar fashion with masked and costumed dancers parading the streets performing the Charikanari and the Wanaragu or Jonkunu dance.