Belize in brief
- English-speaking, with jungle, Maya cities and hundreds of cayes in a country a little bigger than Wales.
- Snorkel the Belize Barrier Reef at Hol Chan and Shark Ray Alley, and see the Great Blue Hole.
- In the Cayo District: Xunantunich, Caracol, the ATM cave and Tikal over the border.
- Best from December to April; no direct UK flights, so connect via the US or Cancun.
Belize is the small, English-speaking country on the Caribbean coast of Central America where the rainforest meets the reef. In one trip you can climb Maya temples in the jungle, look for toucans and howler monkeys, float through caves on an inner tube, then spend a week on an island snorkelling with rays and nurse sharks on the second-longest barrier reef in the world. It’s small enough to cover in ten days or two weeks, and it pairs easily with Tikal in Guatemala or Mexico’s Yucatan. This guide covers where Belize is, the regions and islands, the best things to do, wildlife, food, the weather month by month and best time to visit, how to get there from the UK, getting around, where to stay and sample routes.
Where is Belize?
Belize sits on the Caribbean coast of Central America, with Mexico’s Yucatan peninsula to the north and Guatemala to the west and south. It’s about 290 km from north to south and a little bigger than Wales, with a population of around 400,000.
It was British Honduras until independence in 1981, which is why English is the official language, cricket is played in a few villages and the King is still head of state.
The country divides neatly into three: the cayes (pronounced “keys”) and atolls out on the reef, the jungle and Maya sites of the west and north, and the quieter south, with Garifuna villages, beaches and rainforest. The capital is the small planned town of Belmopan; the airport is outside Belize City.
Regions and islands of Belize
Ambergris Caye
Belize’s largest island and most popular beach base, with the reef just offshore. Life centres on the small town of San Pedro, where people get around by golf cart and bicycle. North of town the island gets quieter, with secluded beach hotels reached by road or water taxi.
Caye Caulker
A tiny island of sandy lanes, painted wooden houses and docks, with the motto “Go slow”. There is little beach: people swim and sunbathe at the Split, a channel cut through the island by a hurricane. Good for a few relaxed nights and snorkel trips.
Cayo District
Belize’s adventure country, around the market town of San Ignacio near the Guatemalan border. Rivers, caves and forested hills, the Maya cities of Xunantunich and Caracol, the pine forests and waterfalls of the Mountain Pine Ridge, and jungle lodges along the rivers. It’s also the gateway to Tikal.
The north: Lamanai and Altun Ha
Flat farmland, lagoons and rivers. Lamanai is reached by boat up the New River, past crocodiles and birdlife, and Altun Ha is an easy half day from the airport. The wetlands of Crooked Tree are superb for birds in the dry season.
Placencia and Hopkins
A long, thin peninsula with the mainland’s best beaches and a relaxed village at the tip, famous for its narrow pedestrian sidewalk. Further north, Hopkins is a Garifuna fishing village with drumming and good local food. Both are close to the jaguar reserve of Cockscomb and boat trips to the southern cayes.
The atolls and outer cayes
Three coral atolls lie beyond the reef: Turneffe, Lighthouse Reef (home of the Great Blue Hole) and Glover’s Reef. A handful of tiny private-island stays and dive resorts sit out here, some of the most remote places to stay in the Caribbean.
Best things to do in Belize
Snorkel and dive the Belize Barrier Reef
The Belize Barrier Reef runs for about 300 km down the coast and, with the atolls, has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1996. Most of it is only a short boat ride from the cayes, so even beginners can snorkel it.
Hol Chan Marine Reserve, off the southern tip of Ambergris Caye, is the classic trip: a cut through the reef full of fish, turtles and eagle rays, combined with Shark Ray Alley, where harmless nurse sharks and southern stingrays gather around the boats. Trips run from both Ambergris Caye and Caye Caulker.
In the south, boats from Placencia and Hopkins go out to the Silk Cayes and to Laughing Bird Caye National Park. From roughly March to June, around the full moon, whale sharks come to feed at Gladden Spit off Placencia; trips are tightly controlled and sightings aren’t guaranteed.
The Great Blue Hole
The Great Blue Hole is a near-perfect circle of deep blue, about 300 m across and around 125 m deep, in the middle of Lighthouse Reef atoll. It’s a collapsed cave from the last ice age, with stalactites hanging from ledges 40 m down. Day trips leave Ambergris Caye and Caye Caulker very early and take about two to three hours each way by boat, often on choppy open water. Divers make one deep dive in the hole (for experienced, certified divers) and then dive the walls of the atoll; snorkellers swim the rim and the reef at Half Moon Caye, home to a colony of red-footed boobies. For the classic aerial view, take a scenic flight from San Pedro or Belize City: about an hour or two, and the best way to see its shape.
Maya ruins
Xunantunich, near San Ignacio, is reached by a hand-cranked ferry across the Mopan River. Climb El Castillo, its main pyramid, for views into Guatemala, and see the carved stucco frieze near the top.
Caracol, deep in the Chiquibul forest, was once a city larger than today’s Belize City and defeated Tikal in war. Its great pyramid, Caana, is still the tallest building in Belize. The drive through the Mountain Pine Ridge takes about two to three hours each way on rough roads, so go with a guide and combine it with the waterfalls on the way.
Lamanai, in the north, is reached by boat up the New River, and has temples rising out of the forest and howler monkeys in the trees. Altun Ha, close to the airport, is small but beautifully restored. Over the border, Tikal in Guatemala is about two to three hours from San Ignacio.
Caves and rivers
The Maya saw caves as entrances to the underworld, Xibalba, and Belize is full of them. Actun Tunichil Muknal (ATM) near San Ignacio is one of the most remarkable things you can do in Central America: you swim into the cave entrance, wade and scramble through the river inside, and climb up to chambers where Maya pottery and human remains still lie where they were left over a thousand years ago, including the calcified skeleton known as the Crystal Maiden. It can only be visited with a licensed guide, cameras aren’t allowed, and you need to be fit and comfortable in water. Gentler options: cave tubing near the Hummingbird Highway and canoeing the Macal River.
Wildlife in Belize
About 40 per cent of Belize is protected land and sea, and its wildlife is one of the biggest reasons to go. The keel-billed toucan is the national bird; the Baird’s tapir, a shy, large forest animal, is the national animal. You’ll often hear black howler monkeys at dawn around Lamanai and along the Belize River, where the Community Baboon Sanctuary protects them.
Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary in the south was the world’s first protected area for jaguars. You’re very unlikely to see one, but there are trails, waterfalls and plenty of birds. Belize is also one of the best places to see West Indian manatees, in sheltered lagoons and around the cayes, plus crocodiles, iguanas, scarlet macaws in the south in the dry season, and more than 500 species of birds.
At sea there are turtles, rays, nurse sharks, dolphins and, in spring, whale sharks.
Garifuna culture and Belize’s other towns
The Garifuna, of mixed West African and Caribbean descent, settled on Belize’s southern coast in the early 1800s; their language, dance and music are recognised by UNESCO. In Hopkins and Dangriga you can take a drumming lesson and eat hudut, fish in coconut broth with mashed plantain. Garifuna Settlement Day on 19 November is the big celebration, with re-enactments of the landing at dawn and drumming in the streets.
Food in Belize
Belizean food mixes Caribbean, Kriol, Mestizo, Maya and Garifuna cooking. The everyday meal is rice and beans (cooked together in coconut milk) with stewed chicken, plantain and potato salad. Breakfast is fry jacks, puffed fried dough, with beans, eggs and cheese. On the cayes the seafood is excellent: conch ceviche, grilled snapper and, in season, lobster (the closed season runs from mid-February to mid-June, so it’s off the menu then).
Best time to visit Belize
Belize is warm all year, at around 26°C to 30°C on the coast and hotter inland in spring. The dry season, from about December to April, is the best time to visit Belize: sunny, calmer seas for snorkelling and diving, and the best conditions for the Great Blue Hole and the roads to the Maya sites. March and April are the driest months, and the start of the whale shark season. May is hot inland, and the rains usually begin in late May or June. June to November is the rainy season, with short heavy downpours and lush forest; it’s also hurricane season, at its peak from August to October, and the south (Placencia, Toledo) is much wetter than the north. Many lodges close for a few weeks in September and October.
| Month | Ambergris Caye | San Ignacio (Cayo) | Placencia |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 26°C / 24°C · 95 mm | 27°C / 19°C · 70 mm | 26°C / 21°C · 100 mm |
| Feb | 26°C / 25°C · 40 mm | 29°C / 20°C · 50 mm | 27°C / 22°C · 80 mm |
| Mar | 27°C / 25°C · 40 mm | 31°C / 21°C · 50 mm | 28°C / 23°C · 85 mm |
| Apr | 28°C / 26°C · 35 mm | 34°C / 23°C · 35 mm | 30°C / 24°C · 60 mm |
| May | 28°C / 27°C · 85 mm | 34°C / 24°C · 80 mm | 30°C / 25°C · 140 mm |
| Jun | 29°C / 27°C · 195 mm | 31°C / 24°C · 150 mm | 30°C / 25°C · 295 mm |
| Jul | 29°C / 27°C · 105 mm | 32°C / 24°C · 75 mm | 29°C / 25°C · 235 mm |
| Aug | 29°C / 27°C · 150 mm | 33°C / 24°C · 105 mm | 30°C / 25°C · 250 mm |
| Sep | 29°C / 27°C · 210 mm | 32°C / 23°C · 140 mm | 30°C / 24°C · 280 mm |
| Oct | 29°C / 26°C · 245 mm | 30°C / 23°C · 195 mm | 29°C / 24°C · 290 mm |
| Nov | 28°C / 25°C · 245 mm | 28°C / 21°C · 165 mm | 28°C / 22°C · 250 mm |
| Dec | 27°C / 25°C · 125 mm | 28°C / 20°C · 105 mm | 27°C / 22°C · 145 mm |
Average daily high / low and monthly rainfall, 10-year ERA5 data. The sea is around 27°C to 29°C all year.
Weather in Belize in May: it’s the hottest month inland (often mid-30s in Cayo), still mostly dry on the cayes, with the first rains arriving late in the month or in June. It’s a good, quieter time for the coast and diving.
How to get to Belize from the UK
There are no direct flights from the UK to Belize. Most people fly via a US hub such as Miami, Houston, Atlanta or Dallas, connecting to Philip Goldson International Airport just outside Belize City; with a good connection the journey takes around 14 to 16 hours. You’ll need a US ESTA even if you’re only changing planes in the US.
The other way in is via Cancun in Mexico, which has direct flights from the UK. From there it’s a long day overland south to the Belize border, or a short connecting flight, and it’s a natural start if you’re combining Belize with the Yucatan. See our Mexico holiday guide for that side of the trip.
From the airport, small domestic planes fly on to the cayes and the south, and private transfers reach San Ignacio in about two hours.
Getting around Belize
- Small planes: domestic flights in small propeller planes link the airport with San Pedro (about 15 minutes), Caye Caulker, Dangriga, Placencia and Punta Gorda. Bags are weighed, so pack light.
- Water taxis: regular boats run from Belize City to Caye Caulker (about 45 minutes) and San Pedro (about 1.5 hours), and between the two islands.
- Private driver: the easiest way to get around the mainland, especially for Cayo, the Maya sites and the scenic Hummingbird Highway south to Hopkins and Placencia.
- Self-drive: possible on the main highways (driving is on the right), but many roads are unlit, side roads are rough and FCDO advises extra care at night and in rain.
- On the cayes: golf carts and bicycles on Ambergris Caye; on foot on Caye Caulker.
Where to stay in Belize
- A jungle lodge in Cayo, on the Macal or Mopan rivers or up in the Mountain Pine Ridge: cabanas in the forest, guided walks, birding and easy access to the caves and Maya sites.
- A beach hotel on Ambergris Caye: busier and more sociable near San Pedro, quieter and more secluded on the north of the island.
- Small guesthouses on Caye Caulker for a simple, barefoot few days.
- A private-island caye or atoll stay for divers and anyone wanting to get away from it all.
- Placencia or Hopkins for longer beaches, a quieter pace and access to Cockscomb and the southern reef.
- A riverside lodge near Lamanai for birds, howler monkeys and the ruins at dawn.
- Most people split their time: three or four nights in the jungle, then a week on the coast.
Sample routes
Jungle and reef
- Cayo jungle lodge (4 nights)
- Ambergris Caye (6)
Xunantunich, ATM cave and Caracol, then snorkelling at Hol Chan and a Great Blue Hole trip.
Belize and Tikal
- Cayo (3 nights)
- Tikal, Guatemala (1)
- Placencia or Hopkins (4)
- Caye Caulker or Ambergris Caye (6)
Maya cities on both sides of the border, Cockscomb, the south coast and the cayes.
Mexico, Belize and Guatemala
- Yucatan, Mexico (5 nights)
- Belize cayes (4)
- Cayo (3)
- Tikal and Flores (2)
- Return via Cancun or Guatemala City
The Maya world: cenotes and pyramids, the reef and the jungle.
Belize tours with us
See all our escorted tours of Belize, or ask about a tailor-made Belize holiday built around your dates, with lodges, island stays, guides and small-plane flights arranged for you.
Practical tips
- Entry: British visitors don’t need a visa for stays of up to 30 days; your passport should be valid for more than three months after you arrive. A departure tax is payable if you leave by land or sea to Mexico or Guatemala. Check the FCDO Belize advice before you travel.
- Safety: a State of Emergency announced on 1 November 2026 covers parts of Belize City and two villages in Cayo because of gang violence; tourists aren’t the target, but you may see extra police checkpoints, so carry photo ID. Most visitors pass straight through Belize City; avoid the Southside, and watch your valuables in San Pedro, Caye Caulker, Placencia and San Ignacio.
- Guides and operators: use a qualified guide for remote sites near the Guatemalan border, and only licensed boat, snorkel and dive operators. We arrange both.
- Money: the Belize dollar is fixed at two to one US dollar, and US dollars are accepted almost everywhere.
- Health: use insect repellent (there are mosquitoes and sandflies) and check TravelHealthPro for vaccinations.
- Sargassum: seaweed sometimes washes up on the beaches, especially from spring to autumn; it varies a lot by year and beach.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Belize?
Belize is on the Caribbean coast of Central America, south of Mexico's Yucatan peninsula and east of Guatemala. It was British Honduras until 1981, and English is the official language.
When is the best time to visit Belize?
December to April, in the dry season, when seas are calmer for snorkelling and diving and the roads to the Maya sites are easiest. June to November is the rainy and hurricane season, wettest in the south.
How do you get to Belize from the UK?
There are no direct flights. Most people fly via a US hub such as Miami, Houston, Atlanta or Dallas to Belize City, which needs a US ESTA, or fly direct to Cancun in Mexico and connect from there.
Is Ambergris Caye or Caye Caulker better?
Ambergris Caye is bigger, with more beaches, more choice of hotels and restaurants and quiet stretches in the north. Caye Caulker is tiny, simple and laid-back. Both have easy access to the reef.
Can you visit the Great Blue Hole without diving?
Yes. Snorkel trips go to the rim and the reefs of Lighthouse Reef atoll, and scenic flights from San Pedro or Belize City show its famous round shape from the air. Boat trips take about two to three hours each way.
What are the best Mayan ruins in Belize?
Caracol, the largest, with the Caana pyramid; Xunantunich, reached by a hand-cranked ferry; Lamanai, reached by boat; and Altun Ha, close to the airport. Tikal in Guatemala is about two to three hours from San Ignacio.
What wild animals live in Belize?
Jaguars, Baird's tapirs, black howler monkeys, manatees, crocodiles and keel-billed toucans on land and in the rivers and lagoons, and turtles, rays, nurse sharks and seasonal whale sharks on the reef.
Is Belize safe for tourists?
Gang violence is concentrated in parts of Belize City, which most visitors only pass through. Take normal care with valuables and use licensed guides and operators. Check the current FCDO Belize travel advice before you book and again before you travel.
Keep planning
- Cuba holiday guide
- Belize holidays
- Escorted tours of Belize
- Guatemala holidays
- Mexico holiday guide
- Costa Rica holiday guide
- Escorted tours of Guatemala
- Where to go in February
- Tailor-made holidays
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