Belize's Big Four: Exploring The Country's Major Highways

Belize has a vast network of roadways, thoroughfares, and streets that measure over 1,900 miles (3,000 kilometres) long. While the country has five major asphalt-paved two-lane roads, only four can be considered highways. These four major highways are:

- The Philip Goldson Highway, commonly known as the Northern Highway, connects Belize City to points north, including Corozal Town and the Mexican border at Chetumal.

- The George Price Highway, commonly known as the Western Highway, connects Belize City to points west, including Belmopan, San Ignacio, and the Guatemalan border.

- The Hummingbird Highway connects Belmopan in central Belize to Dangriga on the southeastern coast.

- The Southern Highway begins in Dangriga and connects to points south, including Punta Gorda and ancient Maya sites.

The Hummingbird Highway is 55 miles long and connects Belmopan to Dangriga

The Hummingbird Highway is a beautiful and scenic route in Belize. Named for the abundance of hummingbirds found in the country, the Hummingbird Highway connects central Belize to the southeastern coast. The highway is approximately 55 miles (89 kilometres) long and connects Belmopan in central Belize to Dangriga on the coast.

The Hummingbird Highway is a paved, two-lane road that is well-maintained and offers a fast route to the southeast coast from northern and western Belize. The highway passes through several villages and large orchards, and it takes approximately two hours to drive its entire length. The highway also skirts the edge of the Maya Mountains and passes by several top tourist destinations.

The Hummingbird Highway is known for its scenic beauty and is a favourite among visitors to Belize. The highway passes through a diverse landscape, including villages, orchards, and mountains. There are also several attractions along the way, such as St. Herman's Cave, the Inland Blue Hole, and the Bridge over the Sibun River. The highway also offers access to the Maya Mountains and other tourist destinations.

The highway first opened in 1994 and was fully paved by 2018. While it is called a highway, it is not a traditional highway as seen in the United States or Canada. Instead, it is a two-lane road similar to a county or provincial road. The Hummingbird Highway also features several one-lane bridges along its route.

The Hummingbird Highway is a popular route for tourists and locals alike, offering a scenic and convenient way to travel between central Belize and the southeastern coast. The highway's construction and maintenance have improved over the years, making it a safe and enjoyable drive for all who travel on it.

The George Price Highway is 81 miles long and connects Belize City to the Guatemalan border

Belize has a vast network of roadways, thoroughfares, and streets that measure over 1,900 miles (3,000 kilometres) long. The George Price Highway, commonly known as the Western Highway, is one of the country's three major thoroughfares. It is 81 miles (130 kilometres) long and connects Belize City to points west, including the capital, Belmopan, the town of San Ignacio, and the Guatemalan border at Benque Viejo del Carmen.

The George Price Highway was first constructed in the 1930s and was originally known as the Western Highway. In 2012, it was renamed in honour of George Cadle Price, the last head of state during the colonial era and the first prime minister of Belize after the country gained independence from Great Britain in 1981. Despite the official name change, many locals still refer to it as the Western Highway.

The highway begins in Belize City and runs west, passing through Hattieville, the Belize Zoo, and several villages and rolling hills before reaching Belmopan. From there, it continues to San Ignacio and the border crossing into Guatemala. Along the way, travellers can enjoy the many roadside restaurants, bars, and lodges that offer cold beer, hot meals, and comfortable accommodations.

The George Price Highway is a pleasant drive due to the scenic landscape and the many villages along the route. It is completely paved and features a two-lane roadway. However, drivers should be aware of the numerous speed bumps and slow-moving trucks, especially during the sugar cane harvest season.

The highway also provides access to several attractions, including the village of Burrell Boom, the access road to Hattieville, the intersection with the Hummingbird Highway and the entrance to Belmopan, and the town of San Ignacio and the border crossing into Guatemala.

The Philip Goldson Highway is 95 miles long and connects Belize City to the Mexican border

The Philip Goldson Highway, formerly known as the Northern Highway, is a major route in Belize. Spanning 95 miles (153 kilometres), it connects Belize City in the north of the country to the Mexican border. Along the way, it passes through Corozal Town and ends at the border crossing into the Mexican town of Chetumal City in Quintana Roo State.

The Philip Goldson Highway is one of only a few major highways in Belize that are completely paved. It is a two-lane roadway for most of its length and is known for its good condition. The highway was renamed in 2012 after Philip Stanley Wilberforce Goldson, a Belizean newspaper editor, politician, and activist. Belize City’s international airport is also named after Goldson, and the highway conveniently passes by the airport.

Starting in Belize City, notable landmarks and points of interest along the Philip Goldson Highway include the exit for the village of Burrell Boom at mile marker 12.4, the access road to the ancient Maya site of Altun Ha at mile marker 17.5, and the village of Crooked Tree at mile marker 29.7. Further north, travellers will pass through Orange Walk Town, the access road to Corozal Town, and the bridge over the Hondo River before reaching the Mexican border.

The Philip Goldson Highway is a popular route for tourists and locals alike, offering a glimpse of the pristine waters of Corozal Bay and providing access to ancient Maya sites and other attractions. It is an important transportation corridor in Belize, connecting the country's largest city to the northern regions and facilitating trade and movement across the Mexican border.

The highway is also known for its "sleeping policemen" or speed bumps in villages along the route, as well as slow-moving trucks during the sugar cane harvest season in the Orange Walk Town area. Despite these occasional slowdowns, the Philip Goldson Highway is generally considered a good and well-maintained road in Belize.

The Thomas Vincent Ramos Highway is 97 miles long and connects Dangriga to Punta Gorda

Belize has a vast network of roadways, thoroughfares, and streets that measure over 1,900 miles (3,000 kilometres) long. Of these, only approximately 350 miles (570 kilometres) are paved, but several gravel and dirt roadways are currently being upgraded. Even the biggest highways in Belize are two-lane roadways.

The Thomas Vincent Ramos Highway, formerly known as the Southern Highway, is one of the major highways in Belize. It is 97 miles (156 kilometres) long and connects Dangriga to Punta Gorda. The highway is entirely paved and was renamed in honour of Thomas Vincent Ramos, an iconic Garifuna figure who founded Garifuna Settlement Day, a public and bank holiday celebrating the arrival of the Garinagu people to Belize. The highway provides important access to Mayan archaeological sites such as Nim Li Punit and Lubantun, as well as to the Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary.

The Thomas Vincent Ramos Highway takes up where the Hummingbird Highway ends. The Hummingbird Highway, named for the abundance of hummingbirds in the country, is one of the most scenic routes in Belize. It is 55 miles (89 kilometres) long and connects Belmopan to Dangriga. The Hummingbird Highway passes through many villages and orchards, and it takes approximately two hours to drive its entire length.

Dangriga, where the Thomas Vincent Ramos Highway begins, is a significant town in the history of the Garinagu people in Belize. Thomas Vincent Ramos himself lived and worked in Dangriga as a farmer, businessman, candy maker, boxing manager, song composer, and writer. In 1924, he founded the Carib Development Society, which successfully obtained 800 acres of land at Sarawee Village, later designated as a Carib reserve.

Punta Gorda, where the Thomas Vincent Ramos Highway ends, is a town in the Toledo District of southern Belize. The highway's route through rugged terrain has made it far easier for travellers to access ancient Maya sites and traditional villages in this part of the country.

The Coastal Highway is also known as the Manatee Highway or the Shortcut

The Coastal Highway, also known as the Manatee Highway or the Shortcut, is a 36-mile (48-kilometre) gravel road that connects the village of La Democracia, near Mile 30 on the Western Highway, to the Stann Creek Valley Road near Melinda. It is a shortcut from points north to the Placencia Peninsula, saving time on trips to Dangriga or Placencia from Belize City.

The Coastal Highway is deeply rutted and difficult to traverse, even with a four-wheel-drive vehicle, and takes just as long to drive as the much longer Southern Highway. During heavy rains, bridges occasionally wash out. It is mainly used by heavy trucks transporting produce or freight. The Coastal Highway is not a particularly scenic route, especially when compared to the Hummingbird Highway, which passes through many villages and large orchards.

The government of Belize has committed to paving the Coastal Highway, signing a contract with an Italian engineering firm in 2017. The government has allocated 80 million dollars to upgrade the entire length of the highway. Construction was expected to begin at the end of 2018 or early 2019.

The Hummingbird Highway, which the Coastal Highway connects to, is one of the most beautiful and scenic routes in the country. Named for the abundance of hummingbirds in the country, the Hummingbird Highway is a paved, two-lane road that connects central Belize to the southeastern coast. It is the fastest way to travel from northern and western points in the country to the southeast coast. The Hummingbird Highway passes through many villages and large orchards, and skirts the edge of the Maya Mountains. It takes approximately two hours to drive the entire Hummingbird Highway.

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