Dangriga

Dangriga is the centre of Garifuna Belize, the town most closely associated with the people who arrived on this coast from Roatan in 1832 after exile from St Vincent. Drum makers work here, punta rock came out of the town, and the Gulisi Garifuna Museum covers the history and language. Garifuna language, dance and music are recognised by UNESCO as intangible heritage across four countries. Settlement Day on 19 November, marking the arrival, is the biggest celebration of the year.

History

Garinagu, called Black Caribs by the British, came from Honduras and settled here before 1832, and the town was declared on 15 February 1895, long the second largest in the country. Its old name was Stann Creek Town, and from around 1975, with the revival of Garifuna culture since the early 1980s, the Garifuna name Dangriga, standing waters, came into wide use (Wikipedia, Dangriga).

What to look for

• The drum makers - workshops carving and skinning Garifuna drums.
• The Gulisi Garifuna Museum - history, language and material culture on the edge of town.
• Settlement Day - the 19 November arrival re-enactment and celebration.
• The punta rock scene - the music that came out of the town in the 1980s.

When to go

December to April is the dry season. Settlement Day on 19 November is the town's biggest event and accommodation fills well ahead. The museum keeps weekday hours.

What to expect

The town is workaday and has little to look at outside its cultural life. Accommodation is limited and fills completely around Settlement Day. The beach in town is not one to swim from.

Nearby

Hopkins is south, and Gales Point is north.

Key facts