Garifuna Settlement Day

November 19

Be among the hundreds of onlookers lining the coast for a glimpse of the historical Garifuna Settlement Day reenactments. The day is filled with celebrations, honoring Garifuna cluture and the significance of their November 19th, 1802, canoe arrival onto the shorelines of Belize!

There is an interesting tale of how the Garinagu came to be… Hundreds of years ago, in the mid-1600s, a slave ship bound for the West Indies (carrying hundreds of Black Africans) shipwrecked near St. Vincent island. Survivors found refuge on St. Vincent island, where the Carib Indians had been residing. These two cultures then gave birth to the Garinagu. Decades later, the majority of the Garifuna retreated to the Caribbean shores of: Belize, Nicaragua, Honduras and Guatemala.

Witness this “Yurumein” (re-enactment) on the coast at 6:30 a.m., as Garifuna descendants arrive singing and drumming in canoes. Join the celebrations as the crowd parades through the principal streets singing and dancing to the captivating Garifuna drumming! There will be plenty of food, drinks and friendly people; this is definitely an event for solo travelers and families!

Where can I celebrate? Travel south of Belize in the heart of the Garifuna communities for a truly authentic experience! “Garifuna Settlement Day” celebrations will take place in various destinations around Belize, including: Baranco Village, Belize City, Belmopan, Dangriga Town, George Town, Hopkins Village, San Pedro Town, Seine Beight Village, Stann Creek District and Punta Gorda Town.

For more information, visit the Belize Tourism Board or call TOLL FREE at: 1-800-624-0686.