Located on the eastern coast of Central America, the country is bordered on the northwest by Mexico and is surrounded by dense jungles on its west. Belize is spread over a total area of 9000 sq. mi (23310 sq. km). This beautiful country along the Caribbean Sea is a perfect holiday destination among travelers to indulge in a variety of activities. It is home to the massive Belize barrier reef with a tail of hundred low-lying islands, caves, the impressive blue waters and have the second-largest coral reef system in the world. The lush greenery, dense rainforest, historic ruins of the Mayan civilization and diverse species of wild animals are all worth a visit. With so many options to explore, there is never a shortage of adventure for travelers. Let’s have a look at the best things to do in Belize for a fantastic holiday.
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1. Experience the beauty of nature at Bacab Eco-Park
This Eco-Park in Belize offers you a unique experience to indulge in a host of activities ranging from horse riding, jungle biking, kayaking, bird watching, and many other house adventures to keep you occupied throughout the day. The park offers a perfect refreshment to enjoy a relaxing time in the pool, enjoy the beautiful waterfall and water slide along with delicious meals to make your day exciting and fun-filled.
Bacab Eco-Park
Address: ¼ Mile Burrell Boom Road, Burrell Boom, Belize
Website: Bacab Eco-Park
Opening hours: Wed: 10.30am - 5.30pm; Thu - Tue: 10am - 5.30pm
Price: 10 USD
2. Sign up for snorkeling at Laughingbird Caye National Park
Located along the coast of Placencia in Stann Creek District of Belize, this island has been named as the Laughing Bird Caye National Park after the laughing gull bird that breeds there every year. The island is spread over an area of 1.8 acres (0.72 hectares) and is home to a variety of coral habitat and rich marine life. This small island is a perfect adventure spot for snorkeling and scuba divers to explore the abundance of marine life in the region.
3. Visit the Altun Ha Ruins
The ancient Mayan city is located at a distance of 50 km (30 miles) north of the Belize City. The entire site is spread over a huge area and this historical landmark is a perfect escape from the crowd of the city. This historic tour of the ancient ruins of the city helps you acquire a lot of knowledge about the past and the cultural heritage of the city, and at the same time, it gives you an insight into the lifestyle of the Mayan people in the ancient period.
4. Enjoy the stunning Hol Chan Marine Reserve
Located off the coast of Belize, this Marine Reserve lies close to Ambergris Caye. A three hours’ sail to this Marine reserve lets you explore the rich marine life, seagrass beds, and dense mangrove forest. It’s a perfect place for adventure lovers to explore the beauty of this place and snorkel above the bright coral formations and watch out for the turtles, different variety of fish and feed the sardines as you enjoy the cold breeze of the Caribbean.
5. Experience snorkeling at Blue Hole National Park
The Blue Hole National Park in Belize is spread over an area of 500 acres (202 hectares) along the Hummingbird Highway in the Cayo District of Belize. The National Park derives its name from the two cave systems namely St. Hermans and Crystal; various trails and jungle pool. The Park is famous for its unique geographical features and rich wildlife. The Blue hole is a refreshing place to enjoy a nice peaceful swim in the crystal waters of this cave. You can experience further adventure hiking to the Crystal Cave and explore the spectacular limestone formations and the gateway to the Mayan Underworld known as Xibalba.
Book Tours : Day Trip To Crystal Cave and Blue Hole National Park
6. Take a tour of the Caracol Mayan Ruins
This ancient archaeological site in Caracol is located in the foothills of the Maya Mountains. The site lets you explore the ancient ruins of the classic Mayan Period. The large part of this area is covered with tropical rain and pine forests. A visit to this archaeological site also includes a stop at the Rio On Pools and Rio Frio Caves that are one among the other attractions in the Pine Ridge area. It’s a spectacular experience as you explore the archaeological site enjoying the splendid views of the jungle from the peak of Sky temple Pyramid and witness the hieroglyphic texts on the alters, capstones and wall facades.
7. Stroll around the Belize Botanic Gardens
Spreading over an area of 45 acres (18 hectares), this magnificent botanic garden lets you explore the diverse variety of plants grown out here and create awareness about the sustainable botanical conservation. You can walk through the long trails of the garden and explore the diverse variety of the ancient species of plants displayed in front of you. As you walk through the trail towards the Orchid House, you can learn how the Mayan people made use of the different medicinal plants that contain several healing properties to cure ailments.
Belize Botanic Gardens
Address: Southern Highway, Hellgate, Belize
Website: Belize Botanic Gardens
Opening hours: 8am - 5pm (daily)
Price: 15 USD
8. Explore the ancient Lamanai site
Located along the New River in the Orange Walk District, this archeological site was a major city of the Mayan Civilization. This archeological site can be reached by sea and is known for having the most ancient ruins in Belize. The region had a thriving crocodile population that named the place “Lamanai” meaning submerged crocodile. A short hike to the jungle will take you to the ancient temples, plazas and many stone carving that are buried deep inside the tropical rainforest. It is believed that out of the hundreds of ruins only five percent has been excavated
Book Tours : Lamanai and the New River Safari in Belize
9. Admire the marine world with Lil' Alphonse Snorkeling
Posted by Lil Alphonse Tours on Wednesday, 14 December 2016
The Lil’ Alphonse offers the most spectacular snorkeling experiences at Ambergris Caye along with the other popular areas including the Hol Chan Marine Reserve, Shark Ray Alley, and Mexico Rocks. The reefs in these areas are nearly 20 feet (6.1 meters) deep and you can float in the shallow waters as you snorkel from the surface. You will be mesmerized to experience the rich marine life diversity in that area. The calm waters of the reef make it an ideal place for snorkeling. The snorkeling trips are conducted every day for the duration of three hours. Your trip to Belize is incomplete without exploring these two spectacular places of snorkeling adventures.
Lil' Alphonse Snorkeling
Address: Coconut Dr, San Pedro, Belize
Website: Lil’ Alphonse Snorkeling
Opening hours: 9am - 2pm (daily)
Price: 45 USD
10. Try horse riding along with Belize Exotic Adventures
Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account
Posted by Belize Exotic Adventures Ltd. on Thursday, February 18, 2021
The Belize Exotic tours let you have the best adventure experiences with a host of options to choose from. The horse riding can offer you one of the spectacular experiences riding along the pristine trails of the dense tropical rainforest. This memorable horse ride in lush greenery will let you have a close encounter with nature as you listen to the whistles of parrots and dozens of other species of birds. The rainforest will make you curious to learn the deep secrets of the Mayan civilization that are buried inside the vast tropical forest.
Belize Exotic Adventures
Address: Old Northern Hwy, Belize
Website: Belize Exotic Adventures
Opening hours: Sun - Fri: 6am - 9pm (closed on Sat)
11. Go hiking along the Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary and Jaguar Preserve
This Wildlife reserve is an internationally recognized Jaguar preserve. The sanctuary is spread over an area of 150 sq. mi (388.5 sq. km) with beautiful mountains, nature trails and reservoir of rich biodiversity. Apart from the Jaguars, you can witness hundreds of species of plants, exotic flowers, furry mammals, colorful insects, reptiles; amphibians making this reserve a unique community in itself.
12. Explore the unique charm of Cahal Pech Mayan Ruins
Located in the small town of San Ignacio in Belize, this ancient Mayan site was the royal palace of an elite ruling family during the Mayan period. The site is spread over an area of 2 acres (.80 hectares) and consists of more than 30 structures including magnificent temples, ball-courts, alters and sweathouse. You can witness a variety of bone ornaments, blades, jade objects, and shell mosaic masks that mark the existence of the continuous habitation of the Mayan people during the early middle Formative period.
Cahal Pech Mayan Ruins
Address: San Ignacio Town, Cayo, Belize
Website: Cahal Pech Mayan Ruins
Opening hours: 8am - 5pm (daily)
Price: 5 - 10 USD
13. Pay a visit to the small Hopkins Village
Posted by Hopkins Village Visitors Page on Tuesday, 20 January 2015
The small coastal village in eastern Belize is known as the friendliest village in the country for its traditional livelihood and warm hospitality making it a popular hotspot among tourists. The Hopkin’s village is considered to be the cultural epicenter of the Garifuna population in Belize. The people of the village indulge in several cultural festivities including the Independence celebration as well as drum ceremonies. Presently, Hopkin’s Village is a vibrant community of almost 1000 villagers. The village is mostly inhabited by the Garifuna people who indulge in farming and fishing as their major source of living. The place also facilitates bars, gift shops, and restaurants and let you explore the cultural extravaganza that includes trying out the different traditional food and the local dance and music.
Hopkins Village
Address: Stann Creek District, Belize
Website: Hopkins Village
Opening hours: 24 hours (daily)
Price: 21 USD onwards
14. Let your kids see the various exhibits at Green Iguana Conservation Project
The Iguana conservation project aims at preserving the endangered green Iguana Species in Belize. The green Iguana population is threatened for being a local delicacy in Belize. To create awareness among the general public, the project organizes programs and exhibits for the visitors and also creates an opportunity to mingle with the different endangered species of reptiles and learn about their hatching, incubation and release process.
Green Iguana Conservation Project
Address: Buena Vista Street, San Ignacio, Belize
Website: Green Iguana Conservation Project
Opening hours: Sat - Sun: 8am - 4pm (closed from Mon- Fri)
Price: 10 USD
15. Book a scuba diving adventure at Shark Ray Alley
This scintillating little spot in the Hol Chan Marine Reserve is popularly known as the Shark Ray Alley. It is a popular diving hotspot among travelers to have a great time feeding baby sharks and rays. You can have a remarkable experience of a lifetime as the local divemaster let you get close and personal with these marine animals.
16. Checkout the Sip N’ Dip Restaurant
This beach bar and restaurant in Belize has been a popular hotspot among tourists and locals alike for its off-beat location. It is located at the far end of the Front Street, near the Split. The bar is located on the water offering an unrivaled experience of the island. The restaurant has a rooftop, stools and couches, and long docks. You can even enjoy a good swim, or lay down enjoying a sun-bath or play volleyball in the water. Alongside, the restaurant also has a separate playground area for the kids and picnic tables. The lovely locale with icy- refreshments and lip-smacking finger foods creates a unique ambiance for every traveler to stop by and enjoy the beauty and cool breeze of Caye Caulker.
Sip N’ Dip Restaurant
Address: #162, Newton Barracks Road, Belize City, Belize
Website: Sip N’ Dip Restaurant
Opening hours: Mon: 12am - 5pm; Tue: 8.30am - 5pm; Thu - Sat: 8.30am - 2am
Price: 7 - 10 USD
17. Pose at the Belize Sign Monument
A must visit attraction in Belize City is the Belize Sign Monument! See more here: https://bit.ly/2PlLty0 #Belize #BelizeResorts #BelizeTours #BelizeAdventures #BlackOrchidResort
Posted by Black Orchid Resort on Monday, 19 August 2019
This colorful Sign Monument in Belize is one of the favorite places in this historic city. It’s the perfect place to start your tour posing in front of this sign with a backdrop of the Caribbean Sea. Located adjacent to the Baron Bliss Lighthouse, this monument with vibrant big alphabets calls for attention. All you need to do is to pose in front of this iconic sign for a superb Insta-worthy picture.
Belize Sign Monument
Address: Sea Shore Drive Area, Belize City, Belize
Opening hours: 24 hours (daily)
Price: Free
18. Seek adventure at Altun Ha ruins
This is one of the most popular historical landmarks located in the Belize District. This small archaeological site features the ruins of the Mayan Civilization. Only a small significant part of the site is uncovered while the major part is still left to be excavated. Altun Ha is a recent name coined by the people of the nearby village in Yucatan Maya. The city was a major trade center because of the presence of Jade found in the site. This is the most accessible Mayan ruin from the city and a popular tourist attraction.
Book Tours : From Belize City: Altun Ha and Belize Zoo Adventure
19. Have a relaxing stay at Tobacco Caye
This tiny island in Belize is located 10 mi (16 km) across the east of Dangriga. This small Bezelean property resembles the shape of an egg and boasts six beach cabanas to ensure you have a perfect holiday enjoying the turquoise blue waters. All the cabanas face the Belize Barrier Reef offering a spectacular view of the Caribbean sea. The property makes use of solar power to produce electricity and boasts free Wi-Fi and ceiling fans in each room. Apart from enjoying the great scenic views of the surrounding place, you can enjoy delicious meals served at the on-site restaurants.
Tobacco Caye
Address: Dangriga, Stann Creek District, Belize, Central America
Website: Tobacco Caye
Opening hours: 24 hours (daily)
Price: 58 USD onwards
20. Bring your loved one to Celebrity Restaurant & Bar
Located around the corner of Marine Parade, this celebrity Restaurant and Bar is located close to the tourism village. The restaurant opened in the year 2005 by two friends. The restaurant caters in serving an assortment of fresh seafood, poultry, pasta, grilled meats, and delicious desserts. It ensures that all the meals are prepared with top-quality ingredients to offer an exclusive dining experience to the customers.
Celebrity Restaurant & Bar
Address: Marine Parade Blvd, Belize City, Belize
Website: Celebrity Restaurant & Bar
Opening hours: 11am - 11pm (daily)
Price: 20- 25 USD
21. Drop by the Community Baboon Sanctuary
Posted by Community Baboon Sanctuary on Thursday, 5 February 2015
This protected sanctuary in Belize was built in the year 1985 to preserve the population of the Yucatan black howler monkeys, an endangered species of animals found only in Belize, southern Mexico and in the larger part of America. The sanctuary is spread over an area of 20 sq. mi (51.8 sq. km) over the Creole Villages. The main objective of the sanctuary is to protect, conserve the endangered species of animals and educate the tourists and locals about the same.
Community Baboon Sanctuary
Address: Opposite Soccer Field, Bermudian Landing, Belize
Website: Community Baboon Sanctuary
Opening hours: 8am - 5pm (daily)
Price: 1.50 USD (per hour)
22. Have fun while bowling at Jaguar Lanes Bowling
Hey everyone starting this Friday and every Friday it's cosmic bowling so come on out to the alley dress in white.
Posted by Jaguar Lanes Bowling on Friday, 21 October 2016
This six-lane bowling alley is a great place to have some fun coupled with entertainment with your family and friends. It’s a great distraction from the beach to indulge yourself in fun gaming activity. Apart from bowling, visitors can also enjoy drinks at the bar and savor the delicious snacks in the cafe including pizzas, fries, burgers, etc.
Jaguar Lanes Bowling
Address: Maya Beach, Stann Creek, Belize
Website: Jaguar Lanes Bowling
Opening hours: 12pm - 9pm (daily)
Price: 2 - 5 USD
23. Check out the magnificent site of Xunantunich Maya Ruins
This ancient archaeological site is located around 70 mi (112 km) west of the Belize City. It is situated over the Mopan River at the top of a ridge. The place initially served as the civic ceremonial center of the Mayan people during the Late and terminal classic period. The site offers an impressive view of the entire river valley. Many excavations have been carried out over the years that uncovered the giant tall structure of El Castillo and over the structure, there are two temples. It is one of the most popular archaeological sites in Belize and attracts a lot of tourists every year.
24. Make an adventour tour to Mayflower Bocawina National Park
This beautiful National Park is located in the southern district of Belize. This park was established in 2001 and is spread over an area of 7000 acres (2832.79 hectares) of dense rainforest, waterfalls, mountains, swimming holes and witness a lot of evidence of the Mayan Civilization. As you walk through the long trails of the lush green forest, you will notice different species of animals including birds and black howler monkeys.
25. Shop to your heart's content at Belize Free Zone
This shopping mall is a commercial paradise located across the Rio Hondo Bridge in Belize. This shopping complex attracts a lot of foreigners and tourists every week because of the wide variety of products available here arriving from different exotic locations such as Hongkong, China, and Panama. Buyers can choose from a large variety of items ranging from clothes, electronics to cigarettes, alcohol, etc., and can avail great deals on each item because of zero taxes.
Belize Free Zone
Address: Freedom Av,Sta Elena, Belize
Website: Belize Free Zone
Opening hours: 8am - 6pm (daily)
Price: 37.50 USD
26. Invite your friends to snorkel at Caye Caulker
This small limestone coral island is located along the coast of the Caribbean sea. This small village town offers a perfect escape from the hustle and bustle of city life where traffic signals are only meant to slow down golf carts and bicycles. The beautiful atmosphere, azure waters and Great Barrier Reef makes this island the mecca of every travel enthusiast.
Book Tours : From Caye Caulker: Marine Reserve Snorkeling Tour
27. Explore the Belize Zoo
The Belize Zoo is spread over an area of 29 acres (11.73 hectares), having more than 140 species of animals including birds, reptiles and mammals. The zoo was founded in the year 1983 to offer refuge to animals that were abandoned. Some of the popular residents of the zoo include a jaguar, Panama (harpy eagle), Fuego and Baird’s Tapir (the national bird of Belize). A private tour of this zoo can offer you an experience to explore the diverse wildlife of the country.
Book Tours : Belize Zoo and Baboon Sanctuary Tour from Belize
28. Visit the Museum of Belize
Located in Belize City, this museum offers a rich collection of carvings, paintings, cultural artifacts of the Mayan Civilization. This iconic building was built between the periods of 1854- 1857 when Belize was still a British colony. This building was a replacement of the wooden prison located nearby. Till the year 1993, this building was a prison. It was in the year 2002 that this 150-year-old infrastructure was restored and renovated into a museum showcasing more than 3000 years of history. The museum also has a vast display of artifacts of the British Colonial period including postcards, victorian era-stamps, coins, locally produced bottles, etc.
Book Tours : Belize City Extended Tour
29. Dive in the mysterious Great Blue Hole
Located near the center of the Lighthouse Reef, this giant marine sinkhole is a popular destination among adventure lovers and scuba divers to explore the crystal clear waters of the Caribbean. The large circular hole is believed to be the world’s largest natural formation and has been identified as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. This deep blue hole has forged out of solid rock and is the breeding ground for colorful stalactites and stalagmites and rich marine life.
Book Tours : Great Blue Hole and Barrier Reef Helicopter Tour
30. Make time for cave rafting from Caye Ambergris
A trip to Belize is incomplete without experiencing the thrill of traversing through those muddy trails of the rainforest on your ATV. The cave rafting offers an ultimate adventure as you paddle through the historic landmarks and explore the large rock formations of the Mayan civilization before you head back to San Pedro.
Book Tours : Cave Rafting and ATV Tour from Ambergris Caye
Belize: the paradise of the Caribbean
This beautiful country on the eastern coast of Central America is a perfect place for adventure lovers to explore the rich cultural diversity coupled with great scenic views. This tropical country will entice you with its lush greenery of the tropical rainforest, Belize Barrier Reef, hundreds of islands, rich marine life and the ruins of the famous Mayan Civilization. The country has everything to let you have an adventure-filled vacation. Explore the above-recommended place to make your trip more exciting and memorable.
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