Heading off to a part of the world as rich and as diverse as Belize?
If you’re already in Central America then you should definitely be looking to start planning a trip to Belize using the below ideas.
So, there are many reasons to visit Belize. It goes with saying that the country is a richly diverse and enjoyable place to spend your time.
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Planning a Trip to Belize
To start off this guide, we are going to start by looking at some of the things that you may consider before traveling to Belize.
Why Visit Belize?
When considering which country to visit in Central America, Belize is essentially the perfect place to come and relax.
Especially when you feel like you are spending too much time doing the ‘normal’ backpacking stuff. For a unique experience, come to Belize for:
- The amazingly friendly nature of the people.
- Awesome weather you can enjoy all year round.
- Traveling to Belize is Safe so long as you follow the right advice.
- The quality of the locations to visit and see.
If you are interested in visiting a part of America that very much breaks the norm, come to Belize!
Below, I’ll share some travel tips for Belize that can help save your hard-earned cash so you can reserve it for more important things.
When deciding where to stay in Belize, Caye Caulker has a great selection of hostels and hotels suited for all travelers. Expect to pay anything from 20-40USD for the most basic options. Also, check out San Ignacio or Belize City.
Belize has a rich cuisine because of its multiethnic population. Mayan, African and Caribbean dishes, international dinning too. To try the best, go to Caye Caulker, San Ignacio, and San Pedro in Caye Ambergris.
It’s really easy getting around Belize. You’ll find buses, boats-water taxis, taxis, private shuttes, and even golf carts. The cheaper way is to take the bus. And, it’s recommended to buy boat tickets ahead of time.
Snorkeling, diving and sailing at the Belize Barrier Reef are the most popular things to do. Also, hiking, visiting Mayan ruins and see wildlife are must! You can find incredible tours starting from US$70.
Whilst trip planning it’s good to keep an open mind. So, with that in mind, let’s look at some of the best places to visit in Belize!
Plan a trip to Belize
While trip planning I prefer to keep an open mind. That way I can consider many places and look for the locations that really speak to me.
Now, let us look at some of the best places to visit in Belize!
Actun Tunichil Munkal
This beautiful cave will immediately grab your interest if you’re a fan of exploring caves and caverns that feel like they go on forever.
Just do me a favor and hire a tour guide; going into a place like this alone would be an act of madness!
It is, though, a special place to spend time. If you can handle enclosed spaces, you’ll find memories in these caves to last an entire lifetime.
Ambergris Caye
If you are someone who gets to enjoy visiting places to shop and to spend, you will find plenty of that waiting for you here. When planning a trip to Belize, ensure you bring a few extra bucks to spend here.
Home to some of the most luxury hotels in Belize and not to mention, some of the best shopping locations.
But also, of course, some great experiences like seeing coral barrier reefs and also visiting underwater via scuba-diving/snorkeling.
Basically, make space for taking on fun and ambitious experiences!
Caracol Mayan Site
These Mayan ruins come with two rules 1. take amazing photos, and 2. be respectful of the amazement that you are standing in front of 🙂
As the largest Mayan site in Belize, it is a place that you should very much be looking to take your time looking around.
Respect the fact that this once held over 100,000 people, though. It’s an ancient place of great repute in Belize, so don’t disrespect the site in any way whatsoever.
Caye Caulker
This beautiful part of the world should be checked out when you want to enjoy a more creative evening.
Caye Caulker is small but it has a huge amount of fun packed into the area. See Club Caulker for the best budget beach-front experience.
It’s a slow living island, so if your plan for that particular day is just to relax, come here.
If you are planning a trip to Belize, get your most comfortable flip flops ready and make sure some R&R here is included!
Belize City
First off, when planning a trip to Belize, make sure that you book up for Belize City. Not only an ideal place to meet locals and learn from them, but just the local tours you can join alone will take your breath away.
Make sure you also book up a trip to the zoo. The zoo has a manner of rescued animals that are native to Belize itself.
They roam around in free environments, too, so make sure you’re respectful of the habitat of the animals that you’ve come to visit.
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St. Herman’s Cave
Another fine place to come and visit in terms of caves is this amazing site. It does feature animals, though, so come with a local guide.
They’ll show you where you might be going wrong and will ensure that any animals that approach you can be dealt with in the correct manner.
This is a truly special network of caves that need to be seen in person to be believed, so make sure you come on down and see them.
Xunantunich
A truly special sight to come and see, this should be a priority when planning a trip to Belize. It looks almost timeless when you see it up close and personal, despite the fact it has stood for centuries.
A special part of the culture of Cayo, it is a place that you must come and see for yourself. Just be sure to have plenty of space on your camera: you’ll want plenty of footage!
Hopkins
Hopkins is quite a strange place and will be very much different from what you would expect. It’s a place that totally changes the way you might look at how you live your life.
Come here and you could open up your eyes to the many ways of living that people enjoy in this world.
If you want to explore and enjoy a new kind of life, Hopkins can show you the way: expect to have your eyes opened here!
San Ignacio
The city of San Ignacio may not seem like much at first, but it’s the cultural hub of all of Cayo. The history of mahogany production means there is lots to see that relates to the history and culture of the locals.
Keep that in mind, as it is one of the best places to come and visit when you wish to learn about what has helped to fuel the Belize economy for decades, or longer.
Orange Walk
The Orange Walk is definitely a place that you should come and check out; a unique clash of cultures that makes a truly special place to spend your time.
It’s got some very interesting Spanish influences which were bought here during the Caste War.
You will get to enjoy a huge amount of culture along the walk, but just be sure to bring a guide: this can become a confusing place to spend your time and to lose your way.
So, always bring a guide, and you should be able to navigate here without any issues.
Belize Travel Tips
With every travel guide, I write on layer culture my aim is to give some practical travel tips that you can make use of right away.
Books about Belize
Interested in learning more about Belize and it’s culture? Here are some books that may interest you:
- Belize in Focus: A Guide to the People, Politics and Culture – Learn the basic history of Belize as well as the people, politics and culture
- Belize – An excellent background of Belize, once known as British Honduras. It decribes the rich culture and ethnicity of the Belizeans.
- A Natural History of Belize: Inside the Maya Forest – A great start for learning about Belize’s natural history with 390 well written and beautifully illustrated pages.
- How to Cook a Tapir: A Memoir of Belize – Not your typical cookbook. This is a story of Belize and the author’s journey through time and space.
- Ancient Maya Traders of Ambergris Caye – Learn all about the Mayan traders in the region of Ambergris Caye written by the president of Maya Research Program.
So there you have some great reads. If you wish to learn more about the Belizian culture before you head out on your adventure you can look at these books for inspiration.
Travel Insurance for Belize
Whenever you travel in Central America it is wise to ensure you are covered by a reliable insurer.
I always recommend backpackers and travelers (no matter who you are) use World Nomads Insurance for fully comprehensive cover.
If you are due to travel soon, you can get a Get A Free Quote by clicking the link or the image above and filling out your details – that way you’ll get instant cover from the exact date that you choose.
On many occasions World Nomads has provided me with reliable insurance cover for travel in Latin America and the rest of the world.
Planning a trip to Belize
When you are serious about planning a trip to Belize, then, you will want to keep all of the above ideas in mind.
See this guide on where to stay in Belize for accommodation ideas.
Each part of these ideas should be used to help make sure you can enjoy a more comprehensive tour of this interesting little part of America.
It might not be for everyone, but you’ll find at least one attraction above to be perfectly suited to your lifestyle!
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