Let’s be real, there’s a stretch of the year in Belize that tests even the most seasoned islander. We call it hurricane season, but it’s also rainy, mosquito, sargassum season, and the slowest of the slow tourism seasons all rolled into one. The sun shines a little less, the streets get muddy, puddles get bigger, and the mosquitos? They throw their own kind of welcome party. Businesses slow down, some close completely, and we all sort of brace ourselves for whatever the tropics throw our way.
But just when you think it’s all doom and gloom, Belize shows up with a little wink and a whole lot of lobster and mangoes. It’s almost poetic how nature balances things out. Sure, your golf cart might get stuck in the mud, but you’ll likely end that same day with a plate of grilled lobster drenched in garlic butter, fresh off the fire at a beachside shack. The skies might open up in the afternoon, but come evening, you’re biting into the soft flesh of a golden mango brought over from the mainland, juice dripping down your fingers like sunshine in fruit form.
The Best Part of Hurricane Season
We don’t grow mangoes on Ambergris Caye, they come from our farmers in the mainland, it’s like love at first sight when they start popping up at the fruit stands. We eat them sliced with lime and pepper, in smoothies, dishes and desserts, or just straight from the peel while standing barefoot in the sand. There is even a Mango Festival that takes place in Hopkins, Stann Creek.
Restaurants like Tacos La Diosa and Elvi’s Kitchen have amazing lobster dishes during the season. Pictured above is La Diosa’s Lobster Aguachile and Elvi’s Mango & Lobster Ceviche, YUM!
And lobster? Well, lobster season hits right when we need a reason to celebrate. Belize throws full-blown festivals around it with music, food, laughter, and lots of melted butter. Lobster Fest in San Pedro, Caye Caulker and Placencia. You forget the storm clouds. You forget the sargassum. All you remember is how good it feels to live here, in the middle of it all. (Click Here for More on LobsterFest San Pedro!) So yes, it’s a messy, moody time of year. But it’s also flavorful, soulful, and strangely comforting. Because while the skies may be grey, Belize still brings the color in our food, our people, and the simple joys that carry us through.
Rain or shine, lobster and mango season is proof that even our “worst” season comes with something to celebrate.
