Garifuna Culture Experience Tour

Stann Creek District

Every culture has its history and since we can’t physically go back in time, these historic moments are being brought back through written stories, music, paintings and arts.

Belize Culture Travel will take you back in time as you experience The Pen Cayetano Arts Gallery & The Gulisi Museum in Dangriga Town, followed by a taste of Garifuna food.

Cultural tour (30 min): Visit the Art Gallery and Museum with artifacts and meet legendary Garifuna artist and musician Pen Cayetano and admire the extraordinary thread art by his wife, Ingrid. Listen to all kind of (hi) stories and the story of the Garifuna Journey followed by a Drum & dance workshop (45 min) that includes a  brief tour in the Gallery and Studio (10 minutes). Introduction to the four major Garifuna dances and rhythms: Jankunú, Punta, Hungu Hungu, Chumba.

As a personal guest, you can practice some basic drum rhythms and learn about Pen´s musical creation, Punta Rock. The traditional Garifuna delicacy of hudut, cooked on a fire hearth will be served with a natural juice of the season. A vegetarian dish can be ordered on request. Relax under shady coconut trees and listen to the sound of the Garifuna music.

After your short rest and experience, your tours continues to a final stop at The Gulisi Garifuna Museum where you will continue to be educated and learn about the traditions of The Garifuna people and their history. Shortly after gaining independence from Great Britain, The Gulisi Garifuna Museum is named for one of the heroes of the Garifuna’s flight across the Caribbean. Gulisi was the name of a single mother with 13 children who founded the village of Punta Negra (in today’s Toledo District) after escaping persecution from the British and a lengthy trek across the Caribbean.

Today, the museum has multiple interactive exhibits on the Garifuna culture, including traditional drumming, Garifuna spiritual beliefs, a living full-size garden with traditional herbs and plants, and traditional dancing. There is also a special exhibition dedicated to showcasing some of the most famous musicians in Belize who were of Garifuna descent. In 2001, UNESCO declared that the Garifuna language, music and dance were invaluable contributions to the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity.

Traveling in the month of Novembers? Belize Culture travel will arrange your itinerary for you to experience the reenactment of The Garifuna people’s arrival into Belize. This annual celebration takes place on November 19^th.

If you can’t make it for November but can make it for the month of June then let Belize Culture Travel plan your full itinerary to The annual Mango Fest that takes place just 30 minutes drive away from Dangriga Town and in the cultural Village of Hopkins that is also home to many Garifuna families. The Mango festival is celebrated to show all dishes made from The Mango Fruit including pastries, Jams, sauces and Mango drinks.