Punta Gorda, Belize

Punta Gorda, known locally as PG, is the town of the Toledo District in southern Belize. Punta Gorda is the southernmost sizable town in the nation, with a population of about 6,000 people. Although the town bears a Spanish name, its inhabitants are mostly Kriol/English-speaking, primarily of Garifuna, East Indian, and Kriol descent.

Punta Gorda is a seaport and fishing town on the Caribbean Sea. It was a small fishing village before being settled by a number of Garifuna emigrants from Honduras in 1823. The town is about fifteen feet above sea level.

Punta Gorda is the main point of transportation for people visiting the Toledo District, and the offshore southern cayes. There is a small airport which serves domestic flights from Maya Island Air and Tropic Air. James Bus Line is based in Punta Gorda and offers a regular service to points north such as Independence, Dangriga, Belmopan, and Belize City. Water taxis offer daily crossings to Livingston and Puerto Barrios, Guatemala.

There are several nice hotels in PG with nice views of the ocean, including BlueBelize, Coral House Inn, Seafront Inn, Beya Suites, and Tropics Inn. Punta Gorda is also a gateway to several well-regarded jungle accommodations, including Cotton Tree Lodge, The Lodge at Big Falls, Machaca Hill Lodge, and Hickatee Cottages. Every May the town hosts the Toledo Cacao Festival, held over the Commonwealth Day Holiday weekend, which celebrates the District's ancient and modern-day links with cacao and chocolate.

Well-known people from Punta Gorda include paranda musician Paul Nabor and Belize's 'Queen of Brukdown', Leela Vernon.

The town is served by Punta Gorda Hospital.