What To Buy In Belize

what to buy in belize
Alecsandra
Alecsandra  
Updated
| 6 min read

One of the most important things when going on vacation is taking home a memento or a souvenir. It can be an item that holds memories like a photo or a shirt that says “I love this city”. It can also be something which you cannot find back home, such as local food and trinkets. In Belize, there’s a lot of experiences that await you such as snorkeling, diving, soft sand beaches, vibrant culture, and thrilling adventures. With all of these activities, you surely want to bring home some souvenirs to remember your amazing vacation. A majority of the items you’ll find in Belize when you go shopping are made locally and you won’t believe how big the variety of handicrafts and food they have are. You’ll have no worries finding gifts for your loved ones back home and for yourself. If you want to find the perfect keepsake from your trip to this wonderful country, here is our list to help you decide what to buy in Belize.

1. Conch jewelry

Belize - panoramio (111)
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Андрей Бобровский used under CC BY 3.0

Conch jewelry is in our list of must-buys in Belize, as it is a souvenir that you can wear and bring anywhere with you to remind you of your great vacation. The jewelry made from clean and preserved shells may come in different forms such as necklaces, bracelets, hairpins, or even just the conch shell itself that you can bring back as a home decor.

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2. Belizean rum

Belize rum
Source: Photo by Flickr user Craig Nagy used under CC BY-SA 2.0

One of the most iconic locally made drinks in Belize is their famous rum made from sugar cane crops. There is a vast variety of flavors for you to choose from and taste. Once you find the right one for you, you can take a few bottles with you home duty-free. You can also go for Belize’s rum cake if you want to avoid some heavy baggage.

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3. Mayan basket

Posted by Goodies from Belize on Thursday, August 5, 2021

Mayan basket weaving is a dominant part of Belizean lifestyle and culture. It is one of the oldest traditions of Mayan women, who spend several days to weave intricate designs and patterns on each basket. Show your support for their local artists and give your home an authentic Belizean touch by taking home one of these baskets that you can find in the local markets.

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4. Hammock

Caye Caulker, Belize
Source: Photo by Flickr user Samantha Beddoes used under CC BY 2.0

From sandy beaches to cozy cabañas, rest while you lay in a hammocks. What is more relaxing than doing nothing and laying in a hammock with a drink in hand? You can add this to your collection of Belizean souvenirs or hang it in your backyard or patio. Its colorful and soft features are perfect for your social media feed and your vacation needs.

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Belize Tour Guide

Lance Pelayo

Lance Pelayo

5. Wooden tableware

Carved out of Ziricote, one of the most popular exotic woods grown in Central America, Belize offers a variety of wooden bowls, spoons, cutting boards, and other kitchen accessories. Its wood is widely known for its “spiderweb” grain patterns and comes in medium to dark shades of brown, something uncommon to most types of wood. Bring home a complete set of tableware or a few pieces with you and reminisce your moments in Belize while you enjoy your lunch or dinner.

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6. Belizean chocolate

Making Chocolate Mayan Style Ixcacao Maya Belizean Chocolate Farm San Felipe Belize 2653
Source: Photo by Flickr user bobistraveling used under CC BY 2.0

Whether its white, milk, dark, with fruit or nuts, you can never go wrong with buying chocolate. Made from local organic cocoa which is very special to Mayan culture, Belizeans make some of the most delicious chocolate that come in many flavors. Belize is known for their huge cacao production and there are shops that allow you to see the production process before you buy some bars for yourself or for your loved ones.

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7. Marie Sharp hot sauce

Marie Sharp's Hot Sauces Belize
Source: Photo by user Kaldari used under CC0

Living up to their slogan, “Proud Products of Belize”, the family-owned business started in a small kitchen that has grown to over 20 employees. They have 13 different hot pepper sauce options that would suit your taste and spice tolerance. Marie Sharp’s offers not only hot sauce, but also a selection of jams, seasonings, and squash. Habanero and jalapeno peppers are widely grown in Belize so you’ll be able to add some heat to your food. Take home a few bottles with you and spice up your meal even after your Belize trip.

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8. Bumper stickers

ATX10
Source: Photo by Flickr user erikah used under CC BY 2.0

If you’re a sticker-loving person who also owns a car, you’ll probably find yourself in heaven in Belize with the number of bumper stickers you would see. Whether or not you keep bumper sticker collection on the back of your car, it still makes a great souvenir from your trip to Belize. You can choose which design or color to purchase at each location that has them. As this is unique to the destination, inexpensive, and easy to carry, you would want to not skip this when shopping around Belize. If you don’t want to stick them on your vehicle, you can always stick them onto a scrapbook of your Belize vacation and be able to associate it to a memory of where you bought the sticker.

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9. Mayan slate carvings

Maya slate carving is just one of the many ways the Mayan people is keeping the culture alive. You can find several...

Posted by Belize Vacation on Wednesday, January 6, 2021

Stopover at some shops in Belize that create amazing Mayan slate carvings, limestone statues, wood carvings, and clay pots. Belizean artisans make them all by hand and you can have custom pieces in a couple of days. These shops are great to put in your itinerary if you want to know more about the Mayan tradition that is handed down from generation after generation, and you get a more fair value than other stores in the tourist centers of Belize. These keepsakes make great decorations for your wall and they also make great gifts for your loved ones. It will surely be an amazing reminder of the culture you experience during your trip.

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10. Belizean beer

Belikin Dark
Source: Photo by Flickr user Russell Harrison ... used under CC BY-SA 2.0

Beer brewing in Belize has been going for a long time, and you’ll definitely want to savor a few ice-cold beers while enjoying your vacation in the country. The most famous beer brewer in Belize is Belikin Beer, which is the largest domestic producer of beer in the country, with over 450 bottles produced every minute. Rooting from the Mayan culture, the name “Belikin” was derived from the Belize River, meaning “road to the east”. They have eight beer offerings that include their lager and stout. You can choose to go home with a few bottles of these or bring a few items home in the form of a beer glass, koozie, or branded tote bag.

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11. Garifuna Drum

New Years party with Garifuna drummers
Source: Photo by user Ken Mayer used under CC BY 2.0

One rather quirky little piece of artifact and souvenir to take home from Belize is the iconic Garifuna Drum. This drum is no ordinary musical instrument as it holds the representation of the Garifuna people’s history. Music, song, and dance play a huge part in the Garifuna people’s culture and to date, it’s symbolic in their annual celebration, Garifuna Settlement Day.

The Garifuna drum can be found in various market stalls and comes in different shapes and sizes. It has a rope tied around the top part of the drum with a wooden base made out of mahogany, mayflower, or cedar. These are some of the most symbolic artifacts that represent Belize and is a great gift for your friends and family.

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12. Belizean Art

Ensaio sobre belize
Source: Photo by user Marcosmterra used under CC BY-SA 3.0

There are several pieces of art that are showcased throughout Belize. From museums, galleries, exhibits, to mall showcases and art festivals, Belizean Art is utmostly celebrated. Taking a piece or two home wouldn’t hurt your decorative streak and even support a good cause upon every purchase. Belizean art specializes in ethnic art with historic symbolism of the Caribbean, with many mediums used from oil paintings, ceramic pots, authentic sculptures and many more interesting memorabilia from the beautiful country of Belize.

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13. Belizean Coffee

Belize: coffee
Source: Photo by Flickr user Larnie & Bodil Fox used under CC BY 2.0

A great export from Belize is their coffee and when visiting this gorgeous country, best to have a taste of some of their finest beverages. Coffee culture is huge in Belize and with their local coffee being popular, many people in Central America have actually imported their coffee for its unique and freshly roasted coffee beans. Belizean coffee is grown organically and sourced by local farmers, a great way to support local products and also get your coffee fix satisfied right there and then.

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Browse through the beautiful souvenirs Belize has to offer

While you’re enjoying traveling around Belize, make sure to stop by their lovely souvenir shops and browse through the racks and shelves for the perfect item to take home. Ending a trip with souvenir shopping is the best way to wrap up your vacation.

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Any must-sees we missed? Tell us about them in the comments section or write a post here to help out fellow travelers!
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Alecs is a coffee-driven, matcha-loving writer and journalist from the Philippines, whose experience roots from business writing to music and pop culture articles. She dreams to be busy travelling...Read more

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