After Belize gained independent from Great Britain in 1981, the country embarked on an ambitious program to help preserve their history as well as share their unique heritage with foreign visitors. Designed primarily for cruise ship passengers disembarking at the marine docks in Belize City, Old Belize is essentially an encapsulated version of the entire country.
Originally not much more than a beachfront bar and a place to buy souvenirs, Old Belize is now one of the top visitor destinations in the country and includes a giant water slide, museum, exhibitions on all the different cultures that make up Belize’s melting pot society, gift shops, a floating trampoline, restaurants, cafes, and even an enormous rope swing that arcs out over the tranquil azure waters of Cucumber (Kukumba) Beach.
In the 1950s, a man from Florida began farming vegetables (including cucumbers) for export to the United States. He used the area around what is now Old Belize to package his vegetables, giving rise to the name of the beach (spelled Kukumba in Belizean Creole).
Where in Belize is Old Belize Located?
Old Belize is located five miles outside the city limits of Belize City on the George Price Highway (still widely known as the Western Highway).
