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Travel and Tour World Belize Unveils a Rare Luxury Escape from Secret Maya Lands to Remote Caribbean ReefsTravel and Tour World Belize Unveils a Rare Luxury Escape from Secret Maya Lands to Remote Caribbean Reefs
Great Blue Hole – BelizeAmbergris Caye – BelizeCaye Caulker – BelizeSan Ignacio – BelizePlacencia – BelizeXunantunich – Belize
📍 Great Blue Hole📷 The TerraMar Project · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons
🌍 North America🗓️ Best: Dec–Apr

Belize ✓

Barrier reef islands, Maya temples and jungle adventures

🕒 –:– local time1 stories this week1 sources 6 top placesCapital Belmopan

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Belize📸 Photo album · 7 photos · Ultra-HD
Belize📜 History of Belize

The story of Belize

Belize sits at the heart of the ancient Maya world. From before 1000 BC Maya communities farmed its forests and rivers, and by the Classic period great cities such as Caracol, Lamanai and Xunantunich were raising temples, ball courts and plazas. Caracol grew into a regional power that rivalled Tikal in neighbouring Guatemala. Although many lowland cities declined after about AD 900, Maya people continued to live, trade and build here long after.

Spanish expeditions passed through in the 16th century but never firmly controlled the coast. Instead, British buccaneers and loggers known as Baymen settled from the 17th century, cutting logwood and later mahogany with the forced labour of enslaved Africans. In 1798 the settlers and their allies repelled a Spanish fleet at the Battle of St George's Caye, a victory still celebrated today. The settlement became the colony of British Honduras in 1862, while Garifuna people, refugees from Mexico's Caste War, Mestizos and Mennonites all added to its mix.

Read the full history

A labour and nationalist movement grew in the 20th century, led by figures such as George Price, and self-government came in 1964. Independence followed on 21 September 1981, under the name Belize, though Guatemala's long-standing territorial claim meant British troops stayed on for years to guarantee security. The dispute has since been taken to the International Court of Justice. Belize remains a parliamentary democracy and a member of the Commonwealth, with English as its official language.

That rich history gives travellers a remarkable variety in a small country: jungle-wrapped Maya ruins, Garifuna drumming and Kriol culture on the coast, colonial wooden houses in Belize City and, offshore, the longest barrier reef in the Western Hemisphere, protected as a World Heritage site.

Timeline

  1. c. 1000 BCMaya farming communities are established in the region
  2. c. AD 600Caracol reaches its height as one of the largest Maya cities
  3. 1638British Baymen begin settling the coast to harvest logwood
  4. 1798Settlers repel a Spanish fleet at the Battle of St George's Caye
  5. 1862The settlement becomes the colony of British Honduras
  6. 1964Self-government is granted
  7. 1973The colony is renamed Belize
  8. 1981Belize gains independence on 21 September
Belize 🛂 Visa & entry

Entry rules depend on your passport and change often.

  • CARICOM – CARICOM member – Caribbean Community citizens often have easier entry.
  • Commonwealth – Commonwealth member.

Before you book, check the official rules for your passport:

The latest visa and entry news for Belize appears below as soon as publishers report it.

Belize✨ 10 best things to do in Belize

Things to do in Belize

  1. Dive the Great Blue HoleDrop into the deep, perfectly round sinkhole at Lighthouse Reef, one of the world's most famous dive sites.
  2. Snorkel Hol Chan & Shark Ray AlleyFloat above coral gardens and glide alongside nurse sharks and stingrays off Ambergris Caye.
  3. Explore ATM CaveWade, swim and climb into Actun Tunichil Muknal to see ancient Maya pottery and remains deep underground.
  4. Climb XunantunichCross the river on a hand-cranked ferry and scale El Castillo for views into Guatemala.
  5. Go slow on Caye CaulkerLive by the island motto 'go slow' with hammocks, fresh lobster in season and swimming at the Split.
  6. Boat up to LamanaiCruise the New River past crocodiles and birds to reach jungle temples with masks carved in stone.
  7. Drum with the GarifunaLearn about Garifuna rhythms, cassava bread and history in Hopkins or Dangriga.
  8. Spot jaguar tracksHike the trails of Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary, a reserve set up to protect jaguars.
  9. Tube through cavesFloat on an inner tube through river caves in the Cayo or Caves Branch area.
  10. Eat rice and beansTry the national plate of rice and beans with stewed chicken, plus fry jacks for breakfast.
Belize🗺️ Where to visit in Belize

Where to go in Belize

  • Ambergris CayeNorthern cayes · reef & beachesBelize's largest island, with San Pedro town, easy reef access and plenty of water sports.
  • Caye CaulkerNorthern cayes · laid-back islandA small, car-free island popular with backpackers for snorkelling trips and a relaxed vibe.
  • San IgnacioCayo District · jungle baseA lively inland town for trips to ATM Cave, Xunantunich, Caracol and the Mountain Pine Ridge.
  • 📍
    CaracolChiquibul forest · Maya ruinsThe largest Maya site in Belize, with the towering Caana pyramid hidden deep in the forest.
  • PlacenciaSouthern coast · peninsulaA long sandy peninsula with beaches, seafood and boat trips to outer cayes and whale shark waters in season.
  • 📍
    HopkinsStann Creek · Garifuna villageA friendly beach village known for Garifuna drumming, food and culture.
  • 📍
    Lighthouse Reef & Great Blue HoleOffshore atoll · divingA remote atoll with world-class walls, the Blue Hole and red-footed boobies on Half Moon Caye.
  • LamanaiOrange Walk · Maya ruinsRiverside ruins reached by boat, where temples rise from the jungle and howler monkeys call.
Belize✨ Must-do experiences
  • Snorkel with nurse sharks and rays at Hol Chan Marine Reserve
  • Explore the ATM cave with its ancient Maya remains
  • Dive or fly over the Great Blue Hole
  • Climb Maya temples deep in the jungle
Belize🍽️ Taste of Belize
  • Rice and beans with stew chicken – the classic Belizean meal
  • Fry jacks – puffy fried dough for breakfast
  • Hudut – Garifuna fish stew in coconut broth with mashed plantain
  • Salbutes – small fried tortillas topped with chicken and cabbage
Belize🌦️ Weather & best time to visit Belize

Best time to visit Belize

Belize is tropical, hot and humid year-round, with a rainy season roughly June to November. The south is much wetter than the north, and inland hills like the Mountain Pine Ridge are a little cooler.

BestLate November-April - the dry season, with sunny days, calm seas and the best diving visibility.
ShoulderMay and November - warm, quieter and good value, with rains starting or ending.
AvoidSeptember-October - peak of the hurricane season and the wettest weeks, especially in the south.
27°💧Jan
28°💧Feb
29°☀️Mar
31°☀️Apr
31°💧May
31°💧💧Jun
31°💧💧Jul
31°💧💧Aug
31°💧💧💧Sep
30°💧💧💧Oct
28°💧💧Nov
27°💧💧Dec

Typical daytime highs and rain in Belize City (approximate averages).

Belize🎉 Festivals & events in Belize
  • November 19
    Garifuna Settlement DayRe-enactments of the Garifuna arrival by boat, with drumming and dancing, especially in Dangriga and Hopkins.
  • September
    September CelebrationsWeeks of parades and carnival culminating in St George's Caye Day (10th) and Independence Day (21st).
  • June-July
    LobsterfestCoastal towns such as Caye Caulker, San Pedro and Placencia celebrate the opening of lobster season.
  • March
    La Ruta Maya River ChallengeA multi-day canoe race along the Belize River from San Ignacio to Belize City.
Belize🧭 Belize itinerary ideas

How many days in Belize?

5 daysJungle & reef sampler

Days 1-2 base in San Ignacio for ATM Cave and Xunantunich. Days 3-5 head to Caye Caulker for snorkelling at Hol Chan and Shark Ray Alley.

10 daysClassic Belize

Days 1-3 explore the Cayo District including Caracol and the Mountain Pine Ridge. Days 4-6 relax in Hopkins and hike Cockscomb Basin, then Days 7-10 move to Caye Caulker or Ambergris Caye with a day trip to dive or fly over the Blue Hole.

Belize🎒 Backpacking Belize – tips & hacks

Backpacker budget: about $50–80 a day

  • Local buses, many of them old US school buses, are the cheapest way to travel along the main highways.
  • Caye Caulker and San Ignacio are the backpacker hubs, with hostels and good-value group tours.
  • Water taxis connect Belize City with Caye Caulker and Ambergris Caye several times a day.
  • Fill up on street food such as tacos, salbutes, panades and rice and beans, which are far cheaper than tourist restaurants.
  • Belize is pricier than its neighbours, so many backpackers combine it with Guatemala via the San Ignacio-Melchor border.
Belize🛡️ Safety & money in Belize

Stay safe

  • Most tourist areas are relaxed, but take extra care in parts of Belize City, especially at night, and use taxis after dark.
  • Use licensed guides for caves, ruins and border-area sites such as Caracol.
  • Follow hurricane-season forecasts from June to November and have flexible plans.
  • Use insect repellent to protect against mosquito-borne illness, and take care in strong sun on the water.

Money

  • The Belize dollar is pegged to the US dollar, and US dollars are widely accepted - check which currency prices are quoted in.
  • ATMs are found in towns and on the main cayes, but carry cash for smaller villages and buses.
  • Many hotels add a service charge; otherwise tipping around 10-15% in restaurants and tipping guides is customary.

Emergency: 911 police, fire & ambulance

Belize🛬 Getting to Belize

Most travellers fly into Philip S. W. Goldson International Airport near Belize City. Land borders connect with Mexico at Chetumal and Guatemala near Benque Viejo, and boats link southern Belize with Guatemala and Honduras.

✈️ Cheap flights to Belize: airports, flight times & best time to fly →

Belize💡 Did you know? 5 facts about Belize
  • Belize is the only country in Central America with English as its official language.
  • The Belize Barrier Reef is the longest barrier reef in the Western Hemisphere.
  • Cockscomb Basin was among the world's first protected areas set up specifically for jaguars.
  • The capital moved from Belize City to the planned inland town of Belmopan after a devastating hurricane in 1961.
  • Belize has more than one hundred ancient Maya sites, many still being excavated.
Belize❓ Belize travel FAQ

Belize travel questions

Is Belize safe for tourists?

Most visits are trouble-free, especially on the cayes and in tourist towns like San Ignacio and Placencia. Take normal precautions, avoid walking in unfamiliar parts of Belize City at night and keep valuables out of sight.

What is the best time to visit Belize?

The dry season from late November to April offers the most sunshine and calm seas. September and October are the wettest months and peak hurricane season.

How many days do you need in Belize?

A week lets you combine the jungle of Cayo with time on the cayes. Ten days or more allows you to add the south coast and remote atolls.

What language is spoken in Belize?

English is the official language, and Belizean Kriol and Spanish are very widely spoken, along with Garifuna, Maya languages and German among Mennonites.

Do I need a visa for Belize?

It depends on your passport. Check the official Belize government website or your nearest embassy before you travel.

Belize💰 What a trip costs
$$price level
$50–80backpacker / day
$120–220mid-range / day

Approximate daily cost per person (stay, food, local transport).

Belize🚌 Getting around

Water taxis connect the mainland to the cayes, and old school buses run between towns. Small domestic planes are a fast way to cover longer distances.

Belize🛕 Sacred & spiritual places
  • Xunantunich – Maya ceremonial centre with the tall El Castillo temple
  • Lamanai – Riverside Maya temples reached by a jungle boat ride
  • Altun Ha – Maya site where a famous carved jade head was found
Belize🤝 Local etiquette
  • English is the official language, with Kriol and Spanish also widely spoken
  • Never touch or stand on coral when snorkelling or diving
  • Ask before taking photos of people

📰 Older Belize stories Everything our agents ever found – keeps loading as you scroll

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