Belize consists of six districts; Stann Creek, Corozal, Belize,Toledo. Cayo, and Orange Walk.

Punta Gorda commonly called P.G is situated at the south end of the country and is the capital of the detached and sparsely inhabited Toledo district. Punta Gorda is a modest, easygoing town, with many colorful, fascinating people.  The town is inhabited by Lebanese, East Indian, Chinese, Garífuna, Maya and Creoles . The Creoles constitute more than half the population. Just as other regions of Belize, Punta Gorda was a port to take mahogany from the jungle to the sea for transport to Great Britain and the other British colonies. 

 English is the primary language, but there are local languages spoken among the residents. Although P.G. doesn’t have the beaches like Placencia, there are a lot of piers from which to swim out into the beautiful blue waters of the Gulf of Honduras. An exquisite town, a fine portion of Punta Gorda’s appeal is in its modest character. Punta Gorda is a harbor and fishing town. It was once a little fishing village prior to the arrival of Honduras Garifuna emigrants in 1823.

Once in Punta Gorda you’ll enjoy a wide range of natural beauty and an exciting cultural diversity. The surrounding jungle thrives on the moist climate, however one of the natural blessings is a tourist's nemesis; the rain. There's no running away from the city's wet weather because Punta Gorda is snuggled deeply in the wettest region of the whole country.

 Although transport joining the south end of Belize has developed, the Punta Gorda region is still lightly traveled. It is an incredible place, if you wish to conform to the rhythm of Belizean rural life.

Transportation

 The route to Punta Gorda is by means of the single Southern Highway. P. G. is approximately a four hour drive from Belize City and there's an express bus that operates daily. The only other options to reach P.G. are boat and plane. The airstrip also has regular flights from Belize City. Punta Gorda also has three water taxis from Puerto Barrios in Guatemala that run daily, or straight from Livingston on Tuesdays and Fridays. The boats won't operate if the weather is bad.

Punta Gorda is an easily toured town with only five main streets named Front, Main, Jose Maria Nunez, West, and Far West.

Day activity tends to focus on Central Park on Main Street. A few Punta Gorda Belize Hotels provide free bikes for their guests and there is also bike rental service available.

 Hotels

There are approximately twenty Punta Gorda Belize Hotels, inns, and guest houses in the Punta Gorda region and the majority of them are in the budgetary range. About half of these Punta Gorda Belize Hotels can be booked online. There are a couple of lodges and resorts in the region and also a lot of small and simple places to stay, at reasonable prices. It’s normally fine to just turn up and find places available at most of these Punta Gorda Belize Hotels, however during peak season this may turn out to be a problem, and since the city is very remote, there are no close alternative locations.

In the center of Toledo District, is the Lodge at Big Falls that provides fast access to the local attractions. The bird watcher's heaven clings to the calm Rio Grande, with modern amenities in exquisite thatched cabanas, in addition to gourmet food and pool.

The Machaca Hill Lodge rests high over the Rio Grande, with smashing scenes of the gorgeous rainforest and Port Honduras Marine Reserve. Here you will sleep in luxury cabanas; eat in the fabulous restaurant; go kayaking and hang around the swimming pool.

A small haven near to the town are the captivating new Caribbean style Cottages cuddle comfortably in the jungle, towards Boom Creek.

Soon, the 20-acre Orange Point Marina and Estates, south of Punta Gorda, will become the only high-end gated residential community and marina in southern Belize. Practically over the Moho River, on stilts and off the electrical grid, Cotton Tree Lodge has monkeys and birds, tours through Hokeb Ha Cave, and a thoroughly natural feel.

Comfortable rooms in town at the Sea Front Inn, enjoy a view of the Caribbean, source of a constant sea breeze. The seaside Coral House Inn is an old 1930s house, beautifully remodeled with custom furnishings by local artisans, at the quiet end of Main Street.

On the fringes of town, you will discover Sun Creek Tours and Lodge and the new Beya Suites. At the Cuxlin Ha Resort and in Maya Village, guests live with the native people and learn more about their way of life and culture.

 For those who love nature, there is fantastic scenery and wildlife just about everywhere, like Blue Creek, Blue Creek Cave or the Sarstoon Temash Delta Wildlife Sanctuary.

Lubaantun Mayan Ruin

Lubaantun is the biggest of the Mayan ruins close by, namely Lubaantun in Yucatec Maya, meaning "Place of the Fallen Stones", it is unique because the structures were constructed from cut and fitted limestone instead of the regular rock and mortar building technique. This place has five plazas and three ball courts. The old city's center, and the existing architecture and urban abstract hold a good feel of the once aura of this Mayan ceremonial center. Lubaantun is situated about twenty miles North West of Punta Gorda, and just about a mile away from the village of San Pedro Columbia Belize. This remote community of San Pedro on the Columbia River is the largest Kekchi Maya community in Belize.

San Antonio Falls

 Dining

Although there is little “fine dining” in and around Punta Gorda, there are many different restaurants that offer the normal Belizean, Caribbean and Garinagu dishes, including gibnut, a common rodent.

There is Marian's Seaview Restaurant located on the seafront of Punta Gorda, this restaurant has a view of the Gulf of Honduras and provides many East Indian dishes, like local curries and other dishes not offered anywhere in town.

Emery's Restaurant provides many quality local dishes such as baked chicken, pork, fresh fish and garlic shrimp. Beers and drinks are readily available in addition to orange juice.

Marenco's Ice Cream Parlor is a real spot to hang out for middle-class Belizeans, expatriates and travelers. You will be able to get local fry fish coming directly from Punta Gorda docks .The ice cream there is also wonderful. 

Mangrove Inn overlooks the sea and has some of the best tasting food in town plus the menu is always changing.

Earth Runnings is also good to try.  The menu there is interesting and nicely presented. Music from Bob Marley to Louis Armstrong to local songs is normally playing.  During the evenings, local musicians might show up to entertain.

For those with cordial stomachs, or have lived in Central America for a while can eat the local panades or salbutes garnaches.

Nightlife

Nightlife in Punta Gorda Belize is relaxing; however there are a few bars with pool tables on some nights. Although they occasionally show sporting events at the Punta Gorda Sports Bar, it is actually a general nightspot with live bands, DJs, and karaoke nights. Another alternative downtown is the Titanic Bar. If you prefer to go further out there is the funky Ocean View Bar, which has a big outside dock into the sea. Lastly, there is Waluco's which is north of town, here there are live music jam sessions, a local Punta Rock band, or a Garífuna drumming once in a while.

Shopping

Punta Gorda holds a lot of shops that mostly sell items such as pots, pans, a few articles of clothing, shoes and hammocks. A few shops sell hand-crafted arts as well. The Fajina Craft Centre sells traditional Maya crafts, jipijapa baskets, slate carvings and the traditional embroidered Maya blouses, shirts and wall hangings

The Jeweller on Main Street creates and sells traditional Maya earrings that they are rare in the world. Tienda La Indita Maya sells not just apparels and shoes, but some lovely wooden crafts such as bowls, jewelery and napkin rings.

Saturday, is the normal market day when villagers goes to town to sell their products. This is the perfect time to buy fresh fruits and veggies.

 Weather

Punta Gorda is located in the lee of the Maya mountains and so it gets a lot more rainfall than North Belize. However this isn't a problem because it is sporadic and comes in breaks during June to November which is the rainy season. The rain there is warm not like in London or Seattle, or even Vancouver. Rain and humidity are at their peak in the south and this occurs from June through to February. Once in Punta Gorda during this period be prepared for at least one brief downpour just about every day and some sensual weather condition in between. During the period of March to May is considered as the dry season since it is mostly warm and sunny. The temperature is normally in the range of 50°F to 95°F.