September is when patriotic fervor sweeps the nation as Belizeans celebrate their independence from Great Britain in 1981. Belize City pulsates with a series of boisterous events that stretch over three weeks, leading up to Independence Day on September 21. The festivities include The Battle of St. George’s Caye Day on September 10, which commemorates a historic victory and Pan Yaad, a steel pan concert that sets the city humming with the sweet sounds of the Caribbean.

Goff’s Caye is a one-acre paradise that’s 12 nautical miles east of Belize City with just a few coco palms and inviting palapas. Located on the edge of the Belize Barrier Reef, it is a magnet for both cruise ship passengers and locals, who flock here for a dose of tropical bliss, especially during festive holidays like Easter. Many tours whisk visitors away to this tiny, uninhabited isle to witness the thriving marine life which includes stingrays and sea urchins, with convenient pickups from Belize City hotels or the Fort Street Tourism Village. Given its compact size and popularity, it’s wise to book ahead as Goff’s Caye has a snug maximum capacity of 200 people.

Belize’s cultural fabric is informed by various ethnic groups speaking a multitude of languages meaning that travelers are treated to a linguistic symphony as they journey through the day. Formerly known as British Honduras, Belize has English as its official language though you might start your morning in Belize City with a friendly "Buenos días" in Spanish. By midday, you might find yourself eavesdropping on animated conversations in Creole (or Kriol) which is spoken by Belizeans with mixed African blood. Garifuna—descendants of Carib, Arawak, and West African people—is another dominant culture in Belize while Mennonites who make up just under 4% of Belize’s population speak Plautdietsch. The Maya in Belize have three tongues: Kekchi, Mopan, and Yucatec Maya.

Pull up a chair at any restaurant in Belize City, and you’ll find that each table seems to have a bottle of Marie Sharp’s hot sauce. Whether it’s drizzled over a steaming bowl of stewed pigtail, a humble plate of rice and beans, or dabbed onto a crisp panade, no dish is complete without a dash of this legendary sauce. Marie Sharp, the spirited octogenarian behind this piquant potion, is fondly dubbed Belize's "Queen of Habanero" and the concoction was created in the 1980s due to an accidental surplus of habanero peppers. She transformed her peppery predicament into a zesty empire and each bottle—from mild to the tear-inducing "Beware"—is packed with locally sourced carrots and the choicest peppers.

Belize is divided into six administrative districts which are Toledo, Corozal, Orange Walk, Cayo, Stann Creek, and Belize, where Belize City, the former capital, is located. It is a good base for a few days but there are low and high-octane nature adventures, beaches, pre-Columbian ruins, rainforests, and eco-friendly pursuits further afield in the likes of Placencia, Caye Caulker, and Toledo, the country’s least visited district.