Because it is so new, Belmopan is rather plain and ordinary with no historic buildings. The National Assembly and other government buildings are located in the city. The vendors in Market Square sell everything from fruits and vegetables to jewelry. The square is also a popular meeting place. Belmopan also has sports fields and ball courts. The Belize Department of Archaeology has a large collection of ancient Mayan artifacts.

Guanacaste National Park, north of Belmopan, is visited often by picnickers and swimmers. The scenic Maya Mountains are a short drive south of the city. Tourists wishing to see ancient Mayan ruins often stop off at San Ignacio, which is a larger town to the west of Belmopan.

The national government is the main source of jobs and investment in the capital. Belmopan has little else because Belize City is still the country's economic and cultural center.

People have lived in central Belize for thousands of years. The great Maya civilization built many cities and towns in the region until about 900 AD. A group of British sailors settled on the coast of Belize in the 17th century. Other British towns were later begun, and the area became a colony of Britain. Very few people moved to the interior of the colony, where Belmopan now stands.

In 1961 Hurricane Hattie caused a tidal wave and flood that damaged Belize City. The government, wishing to avoid such terrible events in the future, chose a safe place inland to build a new capital. The British paid much of the cost of building the new city. Work began in 1966, and the government moved there in 1970. Belmopan became the national capital when Belize was granted independence in 1981. Despite the government's plans, Belmopan did not grow quickly. Population (2000 estimate), 8,130.