Shopping in Belize
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A
Back to My Roots
Offers cool handmade jewelry, including silver, amber and other semiprecious stones. The name of the place refers to the drums and other Rasta gear for sale.
reviewed
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B
Belize Tourist Village
This waterfront complex exists for the convenience of cruise-ship passengers, who disembark here on their land trips. Non-cruise tourists may enter from the street with a temporary pass, obtainable on presentation of an identity document such as a passport. Most of the stores are gift shops, liquor stores, jewelers or pharmacies offering Viagra without prescription. Some items are cheaper than elsewhere in the city; others are more expensive. You’ll know when it’s open from the crowds of hawkers, hustlers and tour agents thronging the street outside.
reviewed
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Elizabeth Bernadez
Granddaughter of Austin Rodriguez, Elizabeth sells handmade crafts from her home (next door to the Bonefish Hotel), including beautiful dolls dressed in traditional Garifuna outfits, and acrylic paintings featuring various cultural scenes of traditional Garifuna life. Elizabeth also makes jewelry from jadeite, tiger eye and other local materials. A native of Dangriga (‘born here, grown here’), Elizabeth has been doing artwork locally for over 15 years, and is happy to introduce visitors to Garifuna life and culture through the art of its people.
reviewed
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C
Garinagu Crafts
With the mission statement of 'keeping the black diaspora alive,' Dangriga native Francis M Swaso's shop is part crafts store, part museum. The shop sells a wide range of arts and handicrafts made by Garifuna artists, including drums, maracas, paintings and dolls, and displays a number of historical Garifuna artifacts as well.
reviewed
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D
Austin Rodriguez
This master artisan carves Garifuna drums from mahogany, cedar and mayflower wood in his thatched-roof workshop by the water's edge (southeast of Dangriga Central Market). Though Austin's drums are sold all over Belize, you can cut out the middleman by going straight to the maker himself. Mr Rodriguez will be happy to answer any questions you might have on the drum-making process.
reviewed
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E
Dangriga Central Market
It's in this old-school semi-enclosed market that you'll find a microcosm of Dangriga society. Traders selling shoes, clothing, crockery and Maya crafts operate on the market's outskirts, while in and around the main building farmers and fishmongers sell their wares (the latter pausing between deals to shoo away thieving pelicans). While the market is busiest in the morning (where it's a great place to get a cheap breakfast), most stalls stay open all day.
reviewed
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F
Belize Gifts
This place has an excellent selection of high-quality souvenirs, including beautiful salad bowls, jewelry boxes and other wooden items. There is also a small selection of books and guidebooks about Belize, including the useful Guide to the Maya Sites of Belize by Jaime Awe.
reviewed
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G
Caribbean Colors
This shop stocks a collection of silk-screened fabrics, jewelry and paintings by the owner and artist Lee Vanderwalker, as well as pieces by about a dozen other Belizean artists. While you browse you can treat yourself to a hot coffee or a cool smoothie at the on-site Coco Loco Cafe.
reviewed
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H
New Hope Woodworking
South of the center, this carpentry workshop is a worthwhile stop if you are in the market for wooden furniture, cabinetry or smaller items made from mahogany or native woods. Be prepared to check it in with your luggage, because it is prohibitively expensive to ship.
reviewed
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I
Coco Plum Giftshop
Sometimes a spa and sometimes a restaurant, the Coco Plum is also – sometimes – a gift shop. There is an eclectic assortment of tropical-themed paintings, unique jewelry, carved wood pieces and reference books on natural healing. If you don't want to trek all the way down here, check out the smaller branch store on Front St.
reviewed
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J
National Handicraft Center
This store carries the best stock of high-quality Belizean arts and crafts at fair prices. Attractive buys include shade-grown coffee and local chocolate, carvings in zericote and other native hardwoods, slate relief carvings of wildlife and Maya deities, and CDs of Belizean music.
reviewed
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K
Cooper's Art Gallery
Debbie Cooper's primitive painting style is a huge hit with tourists, who appreciate her colorful depictions of island life. The whimsical frames are designed and painted by her husband.
reviewed
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Augusto Quan Ltd
An excellent hardware store stocking tools, camping gear, sports gear and even the kitchen sink (really…they sell plumbing supplies). A good place to hit before heading into the bush.
reviewed
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Arts & Crafts of Central America
This little shop sells a wide variety of handmade jewelry, handbags and textiles, mostly from Guatemala. This is also the place to book your tours with Easy Rider.
reviewed
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Book Center
New and secondhand English literature, maps, guidebooks and books on Belizean history, society and natural history.
reviewed
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O
Belize Photo Lab
The best place in town for photographic supplies.
reviewed
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P
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Q
Viola's Shells and Jewelry
Jimmy sells handmade jewelry made from mother-of-pearl, conch and coconut as well as drums, shells and other souvenirs from his shop on the main drag. As long as you're here, check out the store just up the street from Jimmy's spot, which sells oils, candles, potions and other items used in Santeria rituals.
reviewed
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R
Tourist Village Flea Market
On the street outside the Tourist Village, local vendors set up tents and tables to sell their wares, which include T-shirts with snappy slogans, original jewelry, woven bags and blankets, and plenty of carved wooden items. Quality varies widely and prices are negotiable. This is one of the few places in Belize where vendors are not afraid to engage the hard sell. On noncruise days, the selection is limited, but you might find a few scattered tables.
reviewed
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S
Peek-A-Boo
reviewed
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Paradise Gallery & Frame
Although this place specializes in custom framing, it also showcases paintings and photography by local artists. It's a small but choice selection.
reviewed
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Pages
The biggest and best bookstore in Belize, with an excellent selection of travel books and reference books about Belizean history and culture. This is also the place to trade in your used paperbacks and pick up a new novel to peruse on the beach.
reviewed
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V
Orange Gifts
This is one of the biggest and best galleries in San Pedro (though it's a fraction of the size of the original location in Cayo, ). If you are into hand-carved wooden sculpture and furniture, paintings and ceramics by Belizean artists, and hand-woven textiles and handmade jewelry, you can do all of your shopping right here, in one place. There is another smaller location near the airstrip.
reviewed
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Orange Gifts
reviewed
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X
Marie Sharp's Factory Store
reviewed