With their wings beating so fast as to make them a blur of color, hummingbirds are one of nature’s most endearing creatures. Belize’s Hummingbird Highway is also a snapshot of local color at its finest, winding curves that pass through a varied landscape of idyllic villages, jungle, and orchards. Beginning at the northern edge of the Maya Mountain, the Hummingbird Highway connects the new capital of Belmopan in the west with Dangriga on the coast in the east.
Uncharted Jewel Belize, a locally-owned and operated company, offers shuttle and private transfer services up and down the length of the highway. Visitors to Belize can stop at a barn and enjoy a fresh glass of milk, sample local foods, or simply admire the scenic views along the Hummingbird Highway, a modern and paved road that is one of the principal cross-country arteries in Belize.
The Hummingbird Highway begins just outside of Belmopan where it connects with the George Price Highway (formerly known as the Western Highway) and continues eastward until it reaches its final destination in Dangriga. The Hummingbird Highway begins with an ascent into the hills, passing the popular tourist attractions of St. Herman’s Cave (12.2 miles outside of Belmopan) and the Inland Blue Hole (13.1 miles). The Hummingbird Highway then rises steeply to pass through a cleft in the Maya Mountains, passing St. Margeret’s Village and Five Blue Lake at mile marker 23. At mile marker 26, travelers reach the Hummingbird Gap with an elevation of almost 1,000 feet.
From there, the Hummingbird Highway begins a slow descent towards the sea, reaching Middlesex Village at mile marker 32. At this point, the Hummingbird Highway enters Stann Creek District where the roadway is also known as the Stann Creek District Highway. Reaching the rolling lowlands, the Hummingbird Highway passes through mile after mile of orange and grapefruit groves. At mile 48.7 comes the turn off to the Southern Highway for points further south. Travelers continuing onward will reach Dangriga at mile 54.5.
Gorgeous views and the wild beauty of the scenery along the way make the Hummingbird Highway one of the most beloved and popular roadways in Belize. Whether you’re traveling along its entire length or want to stop and admire the view, the Hummingbird Highway is an excellent way to catch a glimpse of local color and the pristine nature that makes Belize so special.
