From beaches and mangrove swamps to rainforests and mountains, Belize is known for its biodiversity. Ancient Mayan archeological sites, remote islands, waterfalls, and the world’s second largest barrier reef attract visitors to the country’s natural beauty.
“We offer visitors the best of both worlds, with the reef and the rainforest being in such close proximity, where you can spend your morning doing jungle adventures and by evening you are on the beach,” Jana Puga, the branding and hospitality specialist at the Belize Tourism Board, told GoTravelDaily. “We are a proud nation very committed to preserving our heritage and natural resources.”
Best Hotels and Resorts
Alaia Belize
This luxury property is set right on the water on Ambergris Caye and features spacious guest rooms, suites, and three-bedroom beachfront villas. Amenities include a full-service spa, six restaurants, four bars, and three pools, including a suspended rooftop pool and lounge with views over the ocean.
Cayo Espanto
Set on its own five-star, four-acre island off San Pedro on Ambergris Caye, Cayo Espanto offers luxury beachfront one- and two-bedroom villas as well as a spacious 1,100-square-foot overwater bungalow with a private dock. The cuisine is all-inclusive and comes paired with world-class wines. The quiet, private island is also outfitted with its own spa and operates daily trips and tours, including fishing, scuba diving, and birdwatching.
Chaa Creek
This eco-lodge is located along the Macal River in the foothills of the Maya Mountains about two hours southwest of Belize City. The hotel is set on a private 400-acre nature preserve, which boasts its own butterfly farm, emphasizing the motto, “Wildly civilized.” Guests are encouraged to coexist with nature during their stay, with accommodations that include eco-pods, tree-top suites, and villas with private plunge pools.
Turneffe Island Resort
One of the best all-inclusive resorts in Belize is set on a 14-acre private island just 30 miles southeast of Belize City. The luxurious Turneffe Island Resort is a favorite with travelers who love fishing, diving, and snorkeling. Guests arrive by boat or helicopter from the international airport where they’re met by a resort representative. A variety of guest rooms and beachfront villas are available.
Blancaneaux Lodge
This luxury boutique hideaway hotel is set in western Belize in the 107,000-acre Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve among tropical trees, shrubs, waterfalls, and jungle. Twenty elegant accommodations include cabanas, villas, and the ultra-luxe Francis Ford Coppola’s Villa, which has two bedrooms, a private plunge pool, and a spacious hardwood deck set in a lush tropical garden. Montagna Ristorante features Italian cuisine, and poolside and garden dining are also available.
Best Things to Do
Great Blue Hole
Known to divers worldwide, the Great Blue Hole is part of the Belize Barrier Reef, a protected UNESCO World Heritage Site. The circular-shaped Blue Hole gets its rich color from its depth—at its deepest, it reaches more than 400 feet. Geological formations and a variety of coral, tropical fish, sharks, shrimp, and unique marine life are the primary attractions. French explorer Jacques Cousteau regarded it as one of the top 10 dive sites globally, making it a prime location for divers visiting Belize.
Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary
Puga noted that “Belize has the world’s first jaguar preserve,” which is part of the Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary in south-central Belize. The sanctuary protects 122,260 acres of subtropical forest in the Maya Mountains, a habitat for the mighty jaguar. While your chances of spotting a jaguar are slim, you may catch glimpses of howler monkeys, jaguarundi (a small wildcat), the pig-like peccary, and over 300 bird species.
Altun Ha
There are many Mayan archaeological sites in Belize, but Altun Ha is easily the most accessible. Numerous tours depart from Belize City and San Pedro, with the site located less than an hour’s drive from the capital. However, due to its accessibility, Altun Ha tends to be busier than other sites, so if time permits, consider visiting Caracol, the largest site, Lamanai in the jungle, or Xunantunich, famous for its Mayan hieroglyphics.
Secret Beach on Ambergris Caye
Belize boasts over 200 miles of Caribbean coastline, providing ample beach space for those looking to relax. Among the most iconic beaches—ironically the most well-known—is Secret Beach on Ambergris Caye. This idyllic beach features all-day music, food, and drinks, along with white sand and crystal-clear waters.
Best Restaurants
Vino Tinto Restaurant & Bar (Belize City)
As Puga confirmed, this rooftop restaurant offers an “amazing view of the city, coastline, and sunsets.” The restaurant and bar is situated atop the Golden Bay Belize Hotel, serving a Caribbean-inspired menu accompanied by a wide variety of cocktails, beer, and wine. It’s an ideal spot on Sundays for breakfast with a view.
El Fogon Restaurant (San Pedro)
This popular San Pedro eatery is celebrated for its unique style of cooking: each dish is prepared over an open fire. El Fogon is a favorite of Puga, who appreciates the “authentic Belizean food prepared on a traditional fire hearth.” Dishes include Belikin fried chicken, beef soup, ceviche, and lobster.
Hobbs Brew Barge (Placencia)
Known simply as “The Brew Barge,” this restaurant on Punta Placencia is uniquely located on a barge, which Puga described as “sitting on the lagoon of the peninsula.” This distinctive dining experience is complemented by a creative cocktail list, beer flights, and ongoing live music.
Love On The Rocks (Hopkins)
This is oceanfront dining at its finest. The views and breeze are unbeatable, and the menu is uniquely crafted. Love On The Rocks uses lava stones to cook food, a method that traces back to the ancient Mayans of Belize. Beyond the stone-cooked offerings, the menu features beach-perfect cocktails.
Best Times to Visit
The best time to visit Belize is between late November and May. While the climate is generally comfortable year-round, weather varies significantly by region. Rain is generally heaviest in southern Belize and the jungle areas, lightest in northern Belize and on the many cays or islands. The driest months are typically from February through May, whereas the rainiest months fall between August and October. Visitors willing to travel during the rainy season will enjoy lower prices, abundant wildlife, and blooming flowers.
How to Get There
Most international flights arrive at Philip S. W. Goldson International Airport (BZE), located just 15 miles northwest of Belize City, the country’s capital. From the international airport, visitors can take a taxi into the city, head to the ferry, or board a connecting local flight to their final destination.
Islands to Visit
Ambergris Caye
If you’re planning to visit an island off the mainland of Belize, your journey will likely start in San Pedro Town in the southern part of Ambergris Caye. Regardless of whether it is your final destination or simply a stopover, make sure to stroll through the sandy streets, visit numerous beach bars, and explore the nearby Hol Chan Marine Reserve, which is home to parrot fish, nurse sharks, and eels. As Puga suggests, “If you’re searching for an island vacation with various nightlife and dining options, San Pedro is a must-visit.”
Caye Caulker
Located between Belize City and San Pedro is Caye Caulker, a small coral island famous for its diving and snorkeling opportunities, alongside a celebrated manatee population. As Puga suggests, “If you’re not staying there, a day trip to Caye Caulker will offer activities at ‘The Split,’ tarpon viewing, and other family-friendly experiences.”
How to Get Around
Traveling around Belize is quite straightforward, according to Puga. If you’re based on the mainland and wish to explore freely, she recommends renting a car, noting that “it is very easy to get around, as we only have five major highways.”
For those headed to the islands, “golf carts and bicycles are the preferred modes of transportation.” Additionally, if you intend to visit just a few spots during your stay in Belize, Puga mentions available options such as “public transport, transfer companies, puddle jumpers, and ferries.”
To reach the islands, check the San Pedro Belize Express Water Taxi schedule; the ferry system operates regularly from Belize City to San Pedro and Caye Caulker.
