southweast BELIZE ThenameBelizehasatleastthreepossibleorigins.ThefirstisfromtheMayawords beliz, whichmeansmuddy

BELIZE ThenameBelizehasatleastthreepossibleorigins.ThefirstisfromtheMayawords beliz, whichmeansmuddywater,or belekin, whichmeanstowardstheeast.ThesecondorigincouldbefromtheFrenchword balise, whichmeansbeacon.BecauseofitsimportancetothetraderoutesintheCaribbean,therewasalwaysabea- southweast cononornearthemouthoftheBelizeRiver.Thethirdpossibleorigin(andtheleastlikely)isthatthewordwasacorruptionofthenameWallace.Wallacewaseitheranotoriouspiratewholandedonthecity sshoresin1638, orPeterWallace,thefoundingfatherofthecity. DEVELOPMENT By 1790 there were 2,656 residents and Yarborough Cem

GETTING HERE Buses go to San Ignacio or Santa Elena from Belize City every day starting at 4 am. They run every half-hour until 9 pm and every 45 minutes during slack times. The cost is US $2.50. From San Ignacio, buses leave for Belize City every half- hour starting at 4 am. The last one leaves at 5 pm.