Belize Travel Guide

The best things to do in Belize pack coral reef, rainforest and ancient Maya cities into a country of about 23,000 square kilometres, roughly the size of Wales. The Wikipedia overview notes it is part of both Central America and the Caribbean, and home to extensive coral reefs within the Mesoamerican Biological Corridor. The Belize Barrier Reef, the second-largest in the world after Australia’s, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Belize is the only country in mainland Central America where English is the official language, which makes it easy for first-time visitors. Creole, Spanish, Garifuna, Maya and Mennonite communities give it an unusually mixed culture. It suits divers, snorkellers, birdwatchers and adventurous families, while those who prefer large resorts, cheap prices or mass nightlife may find it expensive and low-key. Population is small, at under 450,000, and wildlife is easy to see.

The best places to visit in Belize divide into the cayes, the jungle interior and the south, and most visitors combine one island with one inland base.

Ambergris Caye and San Pedro

The largest island is a lively base for diving and snorkelling, with restaurants, golf carts and beach bars. Hol Chan Marine Reserve and Shark Ray Alley are a short boat ride away.

Caye Caulker

Smaller and more relaxed, Caye Caulker has sandy streets, a laid-back vibe and the Split swimming area. It is popular with budget travellers and reached by water taxi from Belize City.

San Ignacio and the Cayo district

The inland hub near the Guatemala border has Maya ruins at Xunantunich and Cahal Pech, caves, rivers and rainforest lodges. It is the main base for adventure activities.

Placencia and Hopkins

The south coast has long beaches, a Garifuna village at Hopkins and access to Glover’s Reef and Gladden Spit. Dangriga is the Garifuna cultural centre.

Belize City

The largest city is mainly a transport hub, with the swing bridge and the museum. Most visitors pass through quickly.

Northern Belize

Orange Walk, Lamanai and Crooked Tree offer river trips and birdwatching.

The top things to do in Belize centre on the reef, the Maya ruins and the jungle, and most are booked as day trips or guided tours.

• Snorkel Hol Chan and Shark Ray Alley: swim with nurse sharks and rays in shallow protected water.
• Dive or fly over the Great Blue Hole: a 300-metre-wide sinkhole that attracts experienced divers and scenic flights.
• Climb at Xunantunich: El Castillo gives a view over the jungle toward Guatemala.
• Visit Caracol: the largest Maya site in Belize has a huge pyramid deep in the Chiquibul forest.
• Boat to Lamanai: a river trip leads to temples among howler monkeys and jungle.
• Tube through caves: cave tubing at Caves Branch is a classic Cayo activity.
• Explore Actun Tunichil Muknal: a guided cave trip that includes Maya remains, and requires a licensed guide and good fitness.
• Watch birds at Crooked Tree: the wildlife sanctuary is best from December to May.
• Visit a cacao farm: Toledo district farms offer bean-to-bar tours.
• Relax in Hopkins: sample Garifuna food and drumming.

The best time to visit Belize is December to April, the dry season, when skies are sunny, humidity is lower and sea visibility is good. Peak season runs from mid-December to Easter, with the highest prices. May is hot, and the wet season from June to November brings heavy showers, more mosquitoes and rising rivers, but also lower prices and quieter sites.

The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June to November, and Belize can be affected, so buy flexible bookings and insurance. The Great Blue Hole is best dived in calm conditions, and boat trips may be cancelled in rough seas.

Is Belize safe?

Is Belize safe? For most visitors, yes, if they take sensible precautions, but it is not risk-free. Tourist areas on the cayes and in Cayo see millions of visitors without problems, yet Belize has one of the higher homicide rates in the region, largely in the south side of Belize City and linked to gangs. Check your government’s travel advice, such as the UK FCDO or US State Department, before you book.

Crime. Petty theft and muggings occur, including on beaches and in remote areas. Avoid walking at night, do not display jewellery or cash, and use official taxis. Stay out of the south side of Belize City.

Borders. Areas near the border with Guatemala have seen tension, and there have been past incidents involving illegal activity. Stay on main routes and use reputable guides for ruins and caves.

Nature. Hurricanes, strong sun, rip currents and venomous snakes are real hazards. Use licensed guides on cave and jungle trips, and follow dive operators’ safety rules.

Health. Mosquito-borne illnesses such as dengue occur, tap water is not reliably safe in all places, and medical facilities outside Belize City are limited. Carry insurance that includes evacuation.

Entry rules for Belize depend on nationality. Citizens of the US, Canada, the UK, EU countries and many other nations have historically been able to visit for tourism without a visa, typically for up to 30 days on arrival, with extensions available. Some nationalities need a visa in advance, and rules change, so check with the Belize Immigration Department or a Belizean embassy before you travel.

You should have a passport valid for at least six months, proof of onward travel and evidence of funds. Border officers may ask where you will stay, so keep hotel details handy. There are separate departure fees and a conservation fee when leaving by air or land, which are often included in airline tickets, but check before you go.

If you cross by land from Mexico or Guatemala, expect immigration checks on each side and allow extra time. The UNESCO page for Belize lists the barrier reef and other heritage sites, but not entry rules. Carry copies of your documents when exploring remote areas.

Most visitors fly into Philip S. W. Goldson International Airport near Belize City, with direct flights from several US cities, Toronto and Central American hubs. Some arrive overland from Mexico via Chetumal or from Guatemala at Benque Viejo near San Ignacio. Cruise ships anchor off Belize City.

Belize is small, but roads can be slow. Buses are cheap and serve the main highways, including routes from Belize City to San Ignacio in about two hours and to Dangriga and Placencia in the south. Shuttle services and private transfers are more comfortable. Water taxis link Belize City with Caye Caulker in around 45 minutes and with San Pedro in about 75 minutes, and small domestic planes link the cayes and the south.

Driving is on the right. Many roads are paved, but some inland routes and ruins are reached by rough tracks, so a high-clearance vehicle helps in the wet season. Rental cars are available, though cars and insurance cost more than in neighbouring countries. Golf carts are the usual way to move around the cayes, and bicycles are common on Caye Caulker.

Belize is not a cheap destination, because many goods are imported and tours are priced in US dollars. The Belize dollar (BZD) is pegged at two to one against the US dollar, and US dollars are widely accepted. These are rough 2026 per-person daily guides in US dollars.

• Budget: around USD 60 to 100 per day, with hostels or simple guesthouses, buses, local food and one tour every few days.
• Mid-range: around USD 120 to 250 per day, with comfortable hotels, restaurant meals, transfers and regular excursions.
• High-end: from around USD 350 per day, with island resorts, jungle lodges and private guides.

Tours are the biggest variable. A reef snorkelling day, a Maya site visit or a cave trip often costs USD 70 to 150 each, and the Great Blue Hole dive costs more. Accommodation on the cayes is dearer than inland, and prices fall in the wet season. Many menus add a 10 to 15 percent service charge, and there is a 12.5 percent general sales tax on hotels. Carry some cash for small places.

Belize food reflects its mixed cultures, with Creole, Mestizo, Garifuna, Maya and Caribbean influences. Rice and beans, stewed chicken, seafood and tropical fruit are staples, and prices at local places are low compared to resorts.

• Rice and beans with stew chicken: the national comfort meal, served with potato salad and plantain.
• Fry jacks: puffy fried dough served at breakfast with eggs, beans or jam.
• Hudut: a Garifuna dish of fish in coconut broth served with mashed plantain.
• Ceviche and conch fritters: fresh seafood snacks common on the cayes.
• Fresh lobster: available during open season, usually from July to February.
• Tamales and panades: corn-based and fried snacks from Mestizo kitchens.
• Belikin beer and rum punch: the national lager and the standard cocktail, plus cashew wine in some areas.

Belizean cacao and chocolate are also worth sampling, especially in Toledo. Vegetarians can eat well from beans, rice, fruit and tortillas, although many sauces use meat stock. Tap water is not always safe, so drink bottled or filtered water, and choose busy food stands.

English is the official language, but most Belizeans speak Belizean Creole, an English-based language, at home, and Spanish is common in the north and west. Garifuna, Maya languages and Plautdietsch, spoken by Mennonite communities, are also heard. Visitors will usually have no trouble being understood, and a friendly greeting goes a long way.

Belize was British Honduras until independence in 1981 and remains a Commonwealth realm, so British influence is visible in institutions and sport, although the culture is distinctly Caribbean and Central American. The Garifuna, descended from West African and Indigenous Caribbean people, mark Garifuna Settlement Day each 19 November in Dangriga, with drumming and dance.

Belizeans are generally relaxed and polite. Greet people before asking a question, dress modestly away from the beach, and ask before photographing people, especially Maya and Mennonite communities. Religion is important, with Catholic and Protestant churches widespread. Behave respectfully at Maya ruins and caves, which are sacred sites for many Maya people, and do not remove artefacts or touch protected remains.

This route combines the Cayo jungle with an island stay, avoids the south side of Belize City and uses shuttles and water taxis for the main legs.

1. Day 1, Belize City to San Ignacio: arrive, then take a shuttle of about two hours inland and settle into a lodge.
2. Day 2, Cayo ruins: visit Cahal Pech in the morning and Xunantunich in the afternoon, using the small hand-cranked ferry.
3. Day 3, caves and rivers: take a licensed-guide trip to Actun Tunichil Muknal or go cave tubing.
4. Day 4, Caracol: take an early guided day trip, with stops at Rio On Pools on the way back.
5. Day 5, to Caye Caulker: transfer to Belize City and take the water taxi, then swim at the Split.
6. Day 6, reef day: take a boat trip to Hol Chan and Shark Ray Alley or snorkel the local reef.
7. Day 7, return: take the water taxi to Belize City and onward to the airport, allowing at least three hours.

With extra days, add Lamanai in the north or Placencia in the south, and check the weather in hurricane season.

• Money: the Belize dollar is pegged at BZD 2 to USD 1, and US dollars are accepted nearly everywhere. Cards work in hotels and larger restaurants, with a fee sometimes added, so carry cash for small places and tips.
• SIM and eSIM: local prepaid SIMs from Digi or Smart are cheap, and eSIMs work on most modern phones. Coverage is good in towns and on the cayes, but patchy in the jungle.
• Plugs: types A, B and G are used, at 110 V in most places and 220 V in some. Check your devices and bring an adapter.
• Tipping: leave 10 to 15 percent if no service charge is added, and tip guides and boat captains.
• Health: use reef-safe sunscreen and insect repellent, drink bottled water and check vaccination advice with a travel clinic.
• Packing: lightweight quick-dry clothing, water shoes, a rain jacket, a dry bag and good walking shoes for ruins.
• Tours: book guides licensed by the Belize Tourism Board for caves and remote sites.

For wider background, see the Wikivoyage Belize guide.