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OPENING HOURS, FESTIVALS AND HOLIDAY |
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It's difficult to be specific about opening hours in Belize but in
general most shops are open 8am-noon and 1-8pm. The lunch hour - noon to
1pm - is almost universally observed and it's hopeless trying to get
anything done then. Some shops and businesses work a half-day on
Saturday, and everything is liable to close early on Friday. Banks (generally
Mon-Thurs 8am-2.30pm, Fri 8am-4.30pm) and government offices are only
open Monday to Friday. Watch out for Sundays, when everybody takes it
easy; shops, and sometimes restaurants, are closed, and fewer bus
services and internal flights operate. Archeological sites, however, are
open every day.
We've listed the main public holidays , when virtually everything will
be closed. In Belize it's only in the outlying areas, such as around San
Ignacio and Corozal, and in the Maya villages of the south, that you'll
find traditional village fiestas . Elsewhere, national celebrations are
the main excuse for a day-long party, and the rhythms of the Caribbean
dominate the proceedings. But here you'll feel less of an outsider and
will be welcome to dance and drink with the locals. Traditional dance is
still practised by two ethnic groups in Belize: the Maya and the
Garífuna. The best time to see Garífuna dances is November 19, Garífuna
Settlement Day, in either Dangriga or Hopkins. Maya dances are still
performed at fiestas in the south and west, and in many ways resemble
their counterparts in Guatemala. Dance is very much a part of Creole
culture and all national celebrations are marked by open-air dances.
Public holidays
January 1 New Year's Day March 9 Baron Bliss Day ... |
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January 1
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New Year's Day
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March 9
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Baron Bliss Day
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Good Friday
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Holy Saturday
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Easter Monday
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May 1
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Labour Day
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May 24
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Commonwealth Day
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September 10
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National Day
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September 21
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Independence Day
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October 12
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Columbus Day (Pan
America Day) |
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November 19
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Garífuna Settlement
Day |
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December 25 & 26
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Christmas
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