Belize Travel Guide
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- Belmopan, Belize
Belize is literally a hidden gem. Being the smallest country in central america and nestled right under Mexico and Guatemala, people tend to forget all about this beautiful slice of heaven. When most think of Belize they immediately think of Ambergris Caye and pristine costal beaches but there is much more to this little country. In case you didn’t know Belize is also the only country in central america where the official language is English, making communications a breeze for Americans. If you have ever been to Belize I hope this travel guide will convince you to add it to your travel bucket list!
TRAVEL GUIDE
TABLE OF CONTENTS
2. Getting There
3. Language & Currency
4. Where to Stay
5. Where to Eat
6. What to Wear
7. Things to Do
8. Safety
Read the full post or use the links above to skip ahead to your favorite section!
“Sub umbra floreo - I flourish in the shade”
THE BEST TIME TO VISIT
If you ask seasoned travelers they may have a different answer than me. After all I have not traveled to many places but I think with any place it will depend on what your itinerary looks like. The rainy season runs June through December but don’t let this scare you. The rainy season can bring you lots of humidity but keep in mind this is a tropical climate so rains typically happen early morning and late in the day. This means you can still catch full days packed with sunshine! If you wait till the summer months are over you can also get better flight and hotel deals since its the off season.
If the humidity is a deal breaker for you ….the winter months are slightly “cooler” according to Belizeans. By cooler I mean lower 80’s as opposed to 100 degrees. The humidity eases up a bit too making travel to Belize a little more comfortable. The end of November and beginning of December marks the start of the dry season so you can expect a lot less rain too.
KNOW BEFORE YOU GO - covid/travel requirements
You will only need a valid passport to travel to Belize. No Visa is required. However, you will need a PCR test going in and back out of Belize. Also keep in mind we are still in a pandemic and the country has a strict mask mandate regardless of test or vaccination status. If you are caught without your mask on there is a $500 fine even for tourists and it is enforced. If you have an aversion to wearing a mask…especially in the tropical heat then I woudn’t suggest traveling there.
Getting there
Belize is a quick flight from most locations in the USA. If you have considered flying to Mexico for a quick trip you can fly to Belize. From Atlanta the flight was around 3 hours and was a direct flight so it’s easily doable if you are looking for a quick weekend getaway. The airport in Belize City is smaller though so there are less daily flights with each airline. That being said be careful not to miss your flight or you may not be able to catch another one on the same day!
Language & currency
Like I mentioned above, the official language of Belize is English so communication is very easy. Being that Belize though is a mix of many cultures you will also find many other languages spoken there. Many of the people there are of Mayan descent so in addition to English they also speak the native Mayan dialect of Quiché (pronounced “Kéh-Chee”). Spanish is also widely spoken as there are many people who emigrated from Mexico & surrounding Central American countries
The currency is 2 BZD/1 USD. So in other words $50 in Belize money is $25 USD. Many places take both USD and BZD. Also many places take cash and cards but some do not. You may be charged an extra fee to pay in USD in some places as well. I suggest getting plenty of cash to have on hand because if you are staying remote ATM’s are few and far between.
The Best Places to stay
AIRBNB: One of the Airbnb options we looked at was Suzie’s Hilltop Villa. Even though we ended up not staying here the reviews were great and the design and price looked amazing. Belize does have a large selection of Airbnb’s if you plan ahead whether you stay inland near the jungle or near the coast/islands
BUDGET-FRIENDLY: If you are on a budget there are many smaller-family owned hotels located in Belize that are a great option. Chaa Creek Hotel and Cahal Pech Resort are both more budget-friendly options.
LUXURY HOTELS: For travelers with an upscale taste an budget there are several options. I highly recommend checking out The Belize Collection hotel group. We stayed at their jungle hotel The Sleeping Giant but they also have several coastal properties. Ka’ana Resort and San Ignacio Hotel are also more on the Luxury side.
BOOK A STAY
want to hear more about our stay at the SLEEPING GIANT?
Check out my full review on this hotel including the location, accommodations, amenities and much more!
READ FULL POST
The Best Places to eat
THE GROVES: The main restaurant located at the Sleeping Giant is a 3 floor restaurant with an open-air concept and tropical vibe. The food here is about average in price and very delicious. The dishes are made with local ingredients grown on site and the drinks are fantastic too!
DON TONITO’S PIZZA: Located at the Sleeping Giant, this al fresco spot features a wood-fired outdoor pizza kitchen and the pizza is cooked to perfection. As mush as I loved the local food in Belize I will never say no to pizza and I was pleasantly suprised that Belizeans make REALLY GOOD pizza!
BENNY’S KITCHEN: This local restaurant is in the town of San Jose Succotz where Xunantunich is located. It is a favorite of locals and is a common spot for people to stop for lunch after visiting the ruins. The food here was delicious and cheap. I think I got 3 empanadas for $2! Very budget-friendly!
Be sure to wash down every meal with a light refreshing local Belikin Beer. Belikin is the national beer of Belize and we all loved it especially after a long hot day in the heat and humidity! Locals may also try convincing you to try a Belizean Rude Boy… but watch out! It’s a caffeinated alcoholic drink. Picture a BANG with alcohol…multiplied by 10. Limit yourself to one!
what to wear in Belize
Obviously bring your bikini. The beaches here are beautiful and if you are staying in the jungle you may not be near a beach but a dip in a river is a must. The climate is also extremely hot and humid so light and flowy outfits are your best bet. don’t even bother with jeans or anything tight. The sun is also blazing hot so be sure to bring a wide-brimmed hat to shade your face. If you travel during the rainy season you can expect 95% humidity once the sun comes out so bring some sort of dri-fit athleisure. In Belize the less you wear, the better.
things to see and do
MAYAN RUINS/CAVE EXPLORATION: Xunantunich and Cahal Pech are the most notable ruins and very easy to access. If you want to read more about our personal trip to Xunantunich you can check out THIS POST. You can also take a day trip into Guatemala to see the ruins of Tikal. Seeing these sacred and majestic places is an indescribable feeling and a must see when traveling in Belize. If you want to dive even deeper into the Mayan history and culture try venturing into one of the many caves for a day of underground exploration. Mayans were also people that believed caves were sacred places and many of the caves across Belize were found to have human sacrificial remains and traditional Mayan artifacts. Many of the tour companies that offer tours of the ruins offer cave tubing and exploration excursions as well.
CULTURAL TOURS: Cultural tours are a great way to immerse yourself in local cultures. In Belize there are lots of Mayan cultural tours from cooking classes to chocolate and coffee making. We were lucky enough to stop at Lamanai Chocolate on our way to the airport and you can learn how Mayans made chocolate and coffee in their traditional way. You can also try to grind your own beans from roasted cacao if you really want to get hands-on. The little shop also has lots of coffee and chocolate you can purchase!
The Garifuna are also group of people that make up 8% of the population of Belize and they welcome visitors to learn about their rich history and culture. In case you didn’t know the Garifuna people are a mix of African and Indigenous people. Their African ancestors were the only know boat to escape slavery due to shipwreck. The people who survived the wreck settled first in St. Vincent and then migrated to Belize where they mixed with local indigenous people and they have been there ever since.
BLUE HOLE (s): Belize is two beautiful Blue Holes you can visit. The major one is Belize’s Great Blue Hole off the coast but if you can’t make the trip or you are staying inland be sure to check out Belize’s small blue hole which is a natural cenote located at St. Herman’s Blue Hole National Park. Set beneath a rainforest canopy, this blue hole is a perfect spot to cool down after a long day but you will have to pay $10 to enter.
AYALA’S NATURAL POOLS – I’m really sad I didn’t find out about this place until after we left Belize. It’s a park built around several natural cenote type pools/springs. Ayala’s Natural pools looks like an amazing place to chill for the day. They are family-friendly and have BBQ grills for picnics and even several water slides are in the works. It’s definitely high on my list of things to do for my next trip to Belize! What I love about this place is that you have to make a reservation …even to use the grills and amenities but this keeps for over crowding so you really get to enjoy the natural surroundings without huge crowds!
Is it safe???
According to reports most crime is in Belize City and NOT committed against tourists or even expats living there. Our guide on one day explained to us that a lot of the crime there comes from incoming gangs that have moved in from Guatemala and El Salvador. However, that being said I never felt unsafe at any point in Belize. I definitely would not walk around at night in any of the local towns. We didn’t do much exploring of local towns but they seem pretty safe during the daytime at least. If you are staying at a local hotel or resort though you will be pretty safe. In fact the hotel we stayed at is owned by an expat from Canada who traveled to Belize in the 80’s. As an expat he mentioned Belize is actually a very safe place to travel and he loved it so much he never went back to Canada!
Belize is definitely a must visit for someone looking for a quick relaxing getaway whether you are a solo traveler, or traveling with kids or as a couple. This beautiful country offers something for everyone. I can’t wait to go back and visit the coast so I can see the other side of Belize and update this guide with even more of this Central American gem!
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Erica
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