Belmopan became Belize's capital in 1970, after Hurricane Hattie nearly destroyed Belize City in 1961. The government relocated inland to higher ground, but most of the population stayed put. The result is a small, quiet administrative town that still feels purpose-built rather than organically grown — centred on the National Assembly Building, which was deliberately styled to evoke a Mayan temple.
There's little reason to stay overnight, but Belmopan is a useful transit point — it sits at the junction of the Western and Hummingbird Highways, making it a natural stopover between Belize City and San Ignacio, or the southern coast. Bus services connect in all directions.
Guanacaste National Park, just outside town where the Roaring Creek meets the Belize River, is worth a stop for a swim or a short nature walk. The namesake guanacaste tree (also called tubroos in Belize) is impressive — look for the ceiba and fig trees as well. Further along the Hummingbird Highway, St. Herman's Blue Hole National Park combines cave exploration with a cold, clear jungle swimming hole used by Mayan priests centuries ago.