This Tropical Paradise Has Mayan Ruins, Remote Islands, and One of the World's Largest Reefs — How to Visit

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 Travel + Leisure. "We are a proud nation very committed to preserving our heritage and natural resources."

Belize is located on Central America's northeastern coast just south of Mexico. It borders the Caribbean Sea and consists of a diverse mainland area and about 450 islands called "cays" or "cayes" (pronounced "keys"). Belize is also home to the longest cave system in Central America.

English is the official language of Belize, and visitors will also hear the local Kriol language spoken. “The country has a unique history because it is the only country in Central America that was colonized by the British, making English the official language," Puga said.

The use of English makes travel easy for Americans, as does the country’s use of U.S. dollars, along with Belizean Dollars.

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, and their motto, “Wildly civilized,” pretty much sums up the experience. 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 around the world, the Great Blue Hole is part of the Belize Barrier Reef, which is 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 make up the site’s main attractions. French explorer Jacques Cousteau called it one of the top 10 dive sites in the world. And since it is just 45 minutes from the mainland by boat, it’s a no-brainer for any diver who finds themselves in 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, which are home to the mighty jaguar. And while your chances of seeing a jaguar are extremely unlikely — although they may see you — you might catch glimpses of howler monkeys, jaguarundi (a small, wild cat), 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. There are plenty of tours running from Belize City and San Pedro, and the site is under 1 hour by car from the heart of the capital. That said, Altun Ha’s accessibility is also its curse. It is noticeably busier than the other Mayan sites, so if you have the time, consider visiting Caracol, which is the largest site; Lamanai, which is in the jungle; and Xunantunich, which is known for its Mayan hieroglyphics. 

Secret Beach on Ambergris Caye

Belize has over 200 miles of Caribbean coastline, providing more than enough beach space for those looking to throw down a towel, open a book, and chill. But one of the most iconic beaches — and ironically, the most well-known — is Secret Beach on Ambergris Caye. This island-bound beach has all-day music, food, and drinks in addition to white sand and clear water. 

Best Restaurants 

Vino Tinto Restaurant & Bar (Belize City)

As Puga confirmed, this rooftop restaurant has an “amazing view of the city, coastline, and sunsets.” The restaurant and bar is perched on top of the Golden Bay Belize Hotel and serves a Caribbean-inspired menu alongside a wide variety of cocktails, beer, and wine. On Sundays, it’s a great place to get breakfast with a view.

El Fogon Restaurant (San Pedro)

This eatery on San Pedro is known for its unique style of cooking: each dish is cooked over an open fire. El Fogon is a favorite of Puga’s, who noted that the “authentic Belizean food is prepared on traditional fire hearth.” Fare includes Belikin fried chicken, beef soup, ceviche, and lobster.

Hobbs Brew Barge (Placencia)

Also known simply as “The Brew Barge,” this restaurant on Punta Placencia is unique in that its located on a barge, which Puga said “sits on the lagoon of the peninsula.” The unique 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 best. The views and breeze are impossible to top (or replicate) and the food is wildly unique. The Love On The Rocks menu relies on lava stones to cook the food, a method used by the ancient Mayans of Belize. Beyond the stone-cooked menu, this eatery has a cocktail list that was made for the beach.

Best Times to Visit

The best time to visit Belize is between late November and May. The climate in this Central American country is comfortable year-round, but the weather varies greatly by region. Rain tends to be heaviest in southern Belize and the country’s jungle areas, and the lightest in northern Belize and on the many Belizean cays or islands. The driest months tend to be February through May and the rainiest months are August through October. Those willing to travel to Belize during the rainy season will be treated to lower prices, abundant wildlife, and flowers in bloom.

How to Get There

Most international flights arrive at Philip S. W. Goldson International Airport (BZE), which is just 15 miles northwest of Belize City, the country’s capital. From the international airport, visitors can hail a taxi into the city, head to the ferry, or hop on a connecting, local flight to their final destination.

Islands to Visit

Ambergris Caye

If you want to visit one of the islands off mainland Belize, chances are your journey will start in San Pedro Town in the southern part of Ambergris Caye. Whether it’s your final stop or a stopover, make sure to walk the sandy streets, visit one of the many beach bars, and explore the nearby Hol Chan Marine Reserve, which has diving among parrot fish, nurse sharks, and eels. "If you are someone looking for an island vacation and multiple options for nightlife and dining, San Pedro is a must-visit," said Puga.

Caye Caulker

Between Belize City and San Pedro is Caye Caulker, a tiny coral island with lots of diving, and snorkeling, and a famous manatee population. “If you’re not already staying there, a day trip to Caye Caulker to experience activities at ‘The Split,’ the tarpon viewing, and other family-friendly activities,” said Puga.

How to Get Around

Traveling around Belize is fairly easy, according to Puga. If you are staying on mainland Belize and want to travel at will, she recommended renting a car, noting that “it is very easy to move around, as we only have five major highways.”

Those who are headed to the islands will find that “golf carts and bicycles are the preferred means of transportation.” And if you plan to only visit a couple of places during your time in Belize, Puga said there is “public transportation, transfer companies, puddle jumpers, and ferries available.”

If you want to get to the islands, check the San Pedro Belize Express Water Taxi schedule. The ferry system runs regularly from Belize City to San Pedro and Caye Caulker.