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Belize is currently one of only countries open to all travelers, including those from the United States. Airports are set to reopen in Belize on August 15th and travelers must register on a Belize health app before entering the country.
See all countries currently open to American travelers
Nestled in Central America just south of Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula, with an idyllic Caribbean coastline, Belize boasts the world's second largest barrier reef -- making it a prime spot for scuba divers and snorkelers -- as well as thick interior jungles and Mayan ruins to explore.
While it's a quick flight from the United States, Belize offers plenty in the way of exotic tropical attractions, outdoor adventure, and Mayan culture both old and new. A Belize tour will get you far beyond the beaches so you can discover the heart and soul of this beautiful and increasingly popular destination.
Belize boasts an idyllic locale in Central America, perched between Yucatan Mexico, Guatemala, and the Caribbean Sea. Despite it's small size, the country packs a punch when it comes to adventure and cultural offerings.
The long stretch of Caribbean coastline provides countless sandy cayes and beaches, many uninhabited for an island-hopping dream come true. The world's second longest barrier reef just offshore (home to the stunning Blue Hole) draws scuba divers and snorkelers worldwide.
The interior of Belize is a tangle of jungle, with all of the adventure activities and wildlife viewing opportunities such a rich tropical forest entails. In fact, 60% of the country is covered in forest and more than 36% of the country is under some form of protected status. Eco-travel is possible and encouraged, from the UNESCO World Heritage reef on the coast to surprisingly luxurious eco-lodges in the rainforest.
Aside from the varied microclimates and topography, Belize is also a melting pot of people and languages. Soak up Latin American culture and history alongside laid-back Caribbean hospitality, with a touch of post-colonial influence from the UK (Belize was a British territory until 1981).
The blend is intoxicating. English is the official language, but Belizean Creole, Garifuna, and Maya dialects are also widely spoken. The cuisine is a similar jumble of influence, brought to life with fresh seafood, salsas, rum, cacao, and tropical fruits.
Chiquibul National Park at 264,000 acres, is Belize’s largest National Park. This park surrounds the Mayan city of Caracol, the archeological site that is still being worked on. This is also home to Belize’s highest mountain, Doyle’s Delight.
On top of great archeological history and mountain hiking, there are waterfalls and riverpools. Species found in the park include Yucatan spider monkeys, jaguars, kinkajous, ocellated turkeys, and keel-billed motmots, to name a few.
Cockscomb Basin National Park is a reserve that protects the forest and the jaguar population. This is the world’s first Jaguar reserve. Don’t miss out on the waterfalls, mountain views, wildlife tracks, great nature trails, and diverse bird species found in the park.
Bacalar Chico National Park is 41 square miles of protected land and sea, and it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The park is only accessible via boat. This is an awesome place to snorkel because it is so protected, and because of the distance, very view visitors make the trip.
Expect to see extra colorful coral, plenty of fish, and potential opportunities to see manatees, turtles, crocodiles, pumas, and jaguars. While it’s a bit of a stretch to get there (a one-hour boat ride from San Pedro), it’s worth the visit.
The backbone of any trip to Belize is the extraordinary Mayan history of the area, once the epicenter of the ancient Maya civilization. Mayan influence courses throughout the country and is essential to its core. The captivating, crumbling ruin complexes spread throughout the interior are well worth a day trip - some of these mysterious cities and temples are said to be inspiration for the Indiana Jones films.
Belize is a multifaceted destination that offers something for everyone, from archeological splendors to cacao plantations. That aforementioned small size comes in handy - this compact country is easy to navigate, meaning a staggering variety experiences can be had in a relatively short amount of time.
Belize is a balmy island on the Caribbean with miles of white sand beaches, friendly weather, and over 400 tropical islands. Its calm, clear waters, and possession of an 185-mile long barrier reef also make it a prime scuba diving location. Here is our list of the top 4 places to dive in Belize:
On your group tour of Central America, or just of Belize, you are sure to run into some self-directed time. Here are some suggestions of what to do during these free periods.
Naturally grown fruits, vegetables, and herbs that are planted and harvested locally make up the Belizean food staples. A lot of family homes have fruit trees in their back yard to supply the family with fresh products to build their meals.
Here are some top dishes to try on your Belize tour:
Caracol is an archaeological site that is a work in progress, with digging still happening. It was one of the largest cities in the Mayan world, with a population of around 150,000. Make sure to visit the temples, reservoirs, and the ballcourts featured at the site.
Actun Tunichil Muknal makes for a great cultural activity with a fun outdoor experience. Start off trekking through the jungle to reach the beginning of the cave, and swim through onto the rock shelves The rock shelves have ollas and skulls scattered throughout. Climb the ladder to find the “crystal maiden” skeleton.
Churches were built on top of the Mayan monuments. The history itself is awesome, but this makes for another fun adventure as you get to see some amazing (and huge!) temples, and you take a boat through the rainforest.
Belize is a great travel destination for wildlife lovers. Here are just some of the species you can expect to spot (some easier than others!),
1. Jaguars are a common animal found in Belize, though previously, there was a concern for the population dwindling. Later, more jaguars were found than expected, meaning there is hope that the population will continue to grow. There is a jaguar reserve at the Cockscomb Basin National Park.
2. Scarlet Macaw is a large colorful bird, covered in brilliant red, blue and yellow feathers. The bird measure around 2.5-3 feet in length. If you go to the rainforest, you’re likely to find these beautiful birds flying through the air.
3. Belize’s national animal, the Baird’s Tapir is related to the rhinoceros and the horse. The Tapir has a large nose and loves to spend it’s time looking for food to snack on. They can reach up to three feet tall, and six feet long, weighing up to 600 pounds.
4. The ocelot is sometimes called the “dwarf leopard,” and has black spots on its fur, which help camouflage it while looking for prey. These small “big cats” can be up to three feet long, about a foot and a half tall, weighing in around 30 pounds. While the ocelot has great eyesight, they have white rings around their eyes which help their night vision by reflecting light into their eyes.
5. Howler monkeys, also known as baboons to the locals, are often found hanging around the tree tops. They love to make sure everyone is awake at sunrise, with their loud morning howl. They like to howl during sunset, and sometimes before a rainstorm comes in. They live in troops of four or more.
6. Kinkajous look like a combination of a cat and monkey, weighing between 4-10 pounds and ranging between 16-22 inches in height. They live in the tree tops and the swing from tree to tree using their tails. They are the raccoons of the rainforest, since they do similar roles that raccoons do in temperate forests.
Belize City is the most populous city in Belize, sitting right off the Caribbean Sea. This is the “principal port” of the country, as well as the financial and industrial capital of Belize. The city is a culture hub for the country and all the hustle work is done in Belize City. International Flights often fly into Belize City.
San Ignacio is the second biggest city in Belize, and is another culture hub for the country. This is a major tourist hotspot, as some major sites are located here. Popular attractions/activities include visiting Caracol and the Mayan ruins, the Mayan ruins of Cahal Pech, and cave tubing.
Many beach goers make their way to the city of San Pedro, located on Ambergris Caye. Travelers are met with Sandy beaches, incredible water, beach bars and awesome restaurants. This is a popular destination for tourists who are looking for a relaxing but fun vacation.
Already been to Belize or it doesn't sound as exciting for your next trip? Though the Central American region countries all share spectacular beaches, sunshine, jungle, and enough varied wildlife to please nature lovers everywhere, they all have distinct cultures, cuisines, and languages. Here are two other Central America destinations to consider that are similar to Belize:
Despite being about the size of Kentucky, there is tons to do in Guatemala. Known for the extensive Mayan ruins of Tikal (famously used as a filming location for Star Wars: Episode IV), Guatemala is a great place to travel for history buffs.
Guatemala has a bit of a reputation for uneasy political conditions and safety concerns have caused many tourists to turn to more traditionally safe Central American countries. Guided tours of Guatemala are a great way to experience the culture and history without needing to worry about traveling alone and figuring out where to go.
On the opposite coast and south to Belize, Costa Rica is known as one of the adventure travel capitals of the world. But there is so much more to this exciting country than just ziplines through the canopy. The best vacation packages to Costa Rica incorporate adventure as well as ample wildlife viewing to see hundreds of rare and beautiful birds and other nature wonders who live in the many distinct rainforests of Costa Rica.
A very exciting and educational trip. If you have Malo as your guide, you’re in very safe hands, as he is awesome! Activities not to miss are the ruins at Tikal, the...
Great trip good pace going from destination to destination, not too many...
Awesome, fast paced trip that has a great balance of culture, relaxing beaches and wildlife. The ATM caves and Tikal ruins are must do's, and Caye Caulker snorkeling...
This trip is a perfect introduction to Central America. We loved the variety of the itinerary, and especially enjoyed Guatemala & Belize! Such a shame that Caye ...
This trip is a good introduction to Central America, it's geography, history and culture. Although there are some long travel days the pace of this trip is quite rel...
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