Today Belize is a melting pot of cultures that, over the centuries have combined to make this beautiful country a unique and fascinating place.
The Mayans
The Mayans were the first people to inhabit the territories now known as Mexico, Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador. It is estimated that at the peak of the Mayan Empire there were more than 1 million Mayan's living in Belize.
The Mestizos
The Mestizos are a people with a mixture of Mayan and Spanish Heritage and comprise around 48% of the Belizean population. The Mestizos arrived in Belize in 1840, trying to escape the Caste War; they now live all over Belize, but predominately in the northern regions of Orange Walk and Corozal.
The Creoles
The Creoles are another major ethnic group in Belize, comprising around 30% of the population. The Creole culture came about due to the mixing of British settlers and African slaves. Their descendants have created a fascinating culture all of their own.
Smaller percentages of the population of Belize are made up by various ethnic groups including the Garifuna, the Chinese, East Indians and Mennonnites.