Garifuna Cultural Tour

The Garifuna Cultural Tour not only is this a cultural tour, it is a participation cultural experience.Start with dressing in Garifuna attire and get ready to work and learn. Tour the gallery of Garifuna artifacts and learn about the history and culture of the Garinagu. Then get ready for a special refreshing drink – pull your own coconut from the tree and chop it open. You can get a little help from your guide if you are not up to climbing coconut trees and not to handy with a machete! Add a straw and enjoy a delicious fresh coconut water drink. After the break, the fun continues with the husking of a dry coconut. This is the part of the coconut that will be grated and used to prepare the lunch – hudut! The cooking experience is like none other. In addition to sharing personal experiences, stories and history about the Garifuna people, Ms. Uwahnie gives very explicit instructions on how to prepare the hudut, which is one of the most popular Garifuna specialties. Hudut is easy to make. It is comprised of green and ripe mashed plantains called fu-fu, together with a creamy coconut fish stew. roll cloud This traditional dish represents their love for the sea and living on the coast. The kitchen stories continue, with lots of laughs. Once the meal is ready, guests sit together and eat in traditional plates, with glasses of natural juice, such as lime or watermelon.After lunch, the drumming lessons begin! Taught by a local musician of over 30 years, guests will learn three Garifuna rhythms. Additional drum lessons are available upon request. In 2001, UNESCO (the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) declared the Garifuna culture a “Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity” – in much the same way as various local marine areas (including several ranges of Cayes) in Belize were latterly classified as UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

The tour runs for about four hours. It is a very relaxing tour, and we recommend that you bring bottled water, bug repellent, a cap or hat, your camera and a sense of curiosity about this unique group of people.