Benque Viejo del Carmen

Benque Viejo del Carmen, often shortened to “Benque” by locals, is the nearest Belizean city to the border with Guatemala, located in the Cayo District in the very western region of the country. In 2012, it was home to about 6,000 people. Benque was established in the 19^th century, but didn’t gain real importance until the start of the last decade when there was a major population boom and the city became an important hub for the surrounding villages. Schools, supermarkets, and a vital border crossing to Guatemala are just some of the reasons that Benque Viejo del Carmen makes the list of places to see in Belize!

The closest Guatemalan city is Melchor de Mencos, which is approximately 1.3 miles (2 km) away, while San Ignacio is located about 8 miles (13 km) to the east.