natural wonder
Actun Tunichil Muknal (ATM Cave)
A sacred Maya cave with crystal-encrusted skeletons and ceremonial pottery, reached by swimming through an underground river.
23 km · about 25 min drive
North AmericaBelizeCayo District
Valley of Peace
Cayo District, Belize · North America
About Valley of Peace
Valley of Peace is worth a stop: 15 minutes from Roaring Creek, 23km from Actun Tunichil Muknal (ATM Cave).
Valley of Peace is in Cayo District, Belize, with about 3,200 people. The nearest town is Roaring Creek, about 9 km away.
Valley of Peace (Valle de Paz in original Spanish) is a village in the Cayo District of Belize that was founded on March 12, 1982. In 2000 Valley of Peace had a population of 1,809 people. The population in 2007 grew to 2,108.
Valley of Peace was created as a refugee community for immigrants fleeing from theRead more
Salvadoran Civil War. Other Central American immigrants, joined the community during the same time. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) implemented a project to assist the immigrants to find a peaceful and safe place to live. At that time, the Prime Minister of Belize was Rt. Hon. George Cadle Price. The project was taken to vote to the Senate and after debating, the majority voted in favor. It was agreed that for every three refugees families, one Belizean family was to be included in the project.
The funding for the project was paid for by UNHCR. They provided food supplies to each family for four months, while they settled. Most of the refugees were peasant farmers, so each family was given one acre of land to live in and fifty acres of land to farm. Throughout that time, the Mennonite Central Committee played a vital role in the survival of the village. They were responsible for taking food supplies to the refugees and distributing them evenly. They also provided the village with water that was transported from the river in a water truck. UNHCR also provided zinc for the roofing and cement for the floor of each house built in the community. By 1985, the villagers started a cooperative with 15 members which grew to 19 by the end of that year. It was the first local shop which provided the village with basic products. In 1992, Valley of Peace was officially registered as one of Belize's Villages.
When the project initiated, life in the community was simple. It only had one primary school, so students wishing to further their education had to travel to a high school in Belmopan on a tractor-pulled cart. Now, Valley of Peace has a strong education base. It has two pre-schools, two primary schools and a high school. Students are now able to do their research in the local library or in an internet café.
Most of the men in the community still engage in peasant farming for food and income. Now, the community is a predominant supplier of fruits and vegetables to the Belmopan Market. However, a large part of the younger generation is moving away from farming. Many young people are now going to high school and university to become skilled in various areas. People in the village engage in various activities that keep them busy. For recreation, the village has a complete park with a playground. It also has three major churches which have many practicing members who engage in spiritual-related functions. In 2003, Valley of Peace was considered by the UNHCR as the largest refugee community in Belize.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to see near Valley of Peace?
Within an hour or so of Valley of Peace: Actun Tunichil Muknal (ATM Cave) (23 km), Hummingbird Highway (26 km), Xunantunich (43 km), Lamanai (50 km).
Are there any good drives near Valley of Peace?
The nearest famous roads are Hummingbird Highway.
Where is Valley of Peace?
Valley of Peace is in Cayo District, Belize, about 9 km from Roaring Creek.
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Quick Information
- Population
- 3,246
- Continent
- North America
- Country
- Belize
- Region
- Cayo District
- Timezone
- America/Belize
- Coordinates
- 17.3347, -88.8347
Tags
Worth the detour from Valley of Peace
4 notable places within an hour's drive.
famous road
Hummingbird Highway
Belize's most beautiful road, winding 87 km from Belmopan to Dangriga past citrus groves, jungle karst hills and the swimmable St. Herman's Blue Hole right beside the tarmac.
26 km · about 30 min drive
ancient ruins
Xunantunich
An ancient Maya archaeological site featuring El Castillo pyramid with panoramic views across the jungle to Guatemala.
43 km · about 50 min drive
ancient ruins
Lamanai
A Maya site reached by river boat through jungle and lagoons, with the impressive Mask Temple and howler monkeys in the surrounding canopy.
50 km · about 60 min drive
Driving roads near Valley of Peace
- 26 kmHummingbird HighwayBelize's most beautiful road, winding 87 km from Belmopan to Dangriga past citrus groves, jungle karst hills and the swimmable St. Herman's Blue Hole right beside the tarmac.
When to drive here
Year-round
Tropical latitude: plan around the wet season rather than temperature.
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