November is a wonderful month to visit Belize. Although the rainy season still lingers in early November, by the end of the month the dry season has often arrived.
Find out more about visiting Belize in November, including information on events, weather and some fascinating mythology on Huracan, the Mayan God of Storm.
November Events in Belize
November is a month of important celebrations in Belize. November 19th is when the entire country celebrates Garifuna Settlement Day. This celebration marks the arrival of the Garifuna people to the shores of Belize from 1832. The week prior to November 19th is filled with parades, live music, drumming and dancing as the rich culture of the Garifuna people is celebrated.
Weather in Belize During November and Huracan the Mayan God of Storm
The season of storms in the Caribbean is always a tense time. For Island Expeditions, September, October and November is the time of storm watch. We follow maps of sea surface temperatures and tropical disturbances as key indicators for the arrival of the ancient and powerful Mayan god, Huracan.
Sea surface temperature is a critical indicator, as heat held in the upper levels of the Caribbean is the ‘fuel’ which feeds the engine of the storm. Dark red on thermal maps is the color that keeps us on edge. The other factor we look for is the rotation. For hurricanes to form there needs to be a rotating air mass. This begins, often as an innocuous looking tropical disturbance, first forming somewhere in the Mid-Atlantic, far from any land. The path from here to a full-fledged hurricane can be swift. A disturbance grows to a depression, the rotation and pressure differential increases, first to a tropical storm, eventually developing into a hurricane.
Southwest Caye, Glover's Reef
Fortunately, the geography surrounding Belize keeps most of the storms from tracking to make landfall. Honduras to the south, and the large peninsula land mass of the Yucatan to the north often act to deflect and dampen the force of tropical storms and hurricanes that would otherwise threaten Belize.
In Mayan mythology, Huracan was a god of incomprehensible force. With the ying and yang of nature, Huracan was also instrumental in the Mayan Creation Story. In each of the first three attempts to create humans, Huracan was linked to creation as well as devastation. Disturbance in nature is inexorably tied with opportunity. Hurricanes in their destructive path create space for renewal and diversity. A foothold for new life to colonize what has been destroyed.
Huracan the Mayan God of Storm
Belize Adventure Trips in November and Early December:
Our first Paradise Islands trip of the season departs on November 17, 2018. This is the only lodge-to-lodge sea kayaking, snorkel and SUP trip in Belize, combining the adventure of a paddling journey along the Southern Barrier Reef with the comforts of staying in small island lodges.
Snorkel and paddle Glover’s Reef Atoll on this four-day safari-style Basecamp adventure. The first trip departure for the season is on December 2, 2018.
This trip combines an inland exploration of Mayan ruins and rainforest caves with the opportunity to explore and stay on a remote coral atoll. The first trip departure for the season is on December 3, 2018.
Join us on a 5 day reef-only Island Basecamp adventure. Paddle, snorkel and explore the reefs and white sand cayes of Glover’s Reef Atoll. The first trip departure for the season is on December 3, 2018.
Are you planning a Vacation to Belize?
Ready to start planning your Belize adventure vacation?
Call 1.800.667.1630 or email email@example.com and one of our trip planners will be happy to help!
Dr Jeff Masters: One of the pre-eminent meteorologists on Hurricane Storm behaviour and tracking.