The Best Places to Visit in Belize

Belize is small but mighty. The country boasts gorgeous landscapes, fascinating history, incredible biodiversity, and a deep and diverse culture that will attract just about any type of traveler. Whatever your interest might be, Belize is bound to have it. With so much to do and see, it might be overwhelming to know where to go or even where to start. Well, look no further: This is your ultimate guide to Belize's best places to visit.

Ambergris Caye

Ambergris Caye is Belize’s buzziest locale. Visitors flock to the main town of San Pedro to relax on the beach by day and party it up by night. It's home to some of the best resorts, such as Alaia Belize.

Alaia is a luxurious resort that offers an inclusive package. This resort provides extra large, family accommodating suites, and an impressive culinary menu, and has the only molecular mixologist in the country. While many might be tempted to not leave the beautiful resort, the town of San Pedro is worth exploring during the day to experience local Belizean food. WTF Food Tours takes guests around the island to the best local spots, ordering for you so you can never go wrong.

Mountain Pine Ridge Forest

Located in Belize’s Cayo District, the Mountain Pine Ridge Forest is half pine forest and half jungle covering over 100,000 acres. This area is rich with wildlife, birds, and of course, plants. Only recently did the government begin building the first paved road into the area allowing travelers to explore this beautiful natural reserve. Hidden Valley Wilderness Lodge is a luxury eco-resort covering over 7,000 acres of the park. Guests can hike and explore the surrounding area, as well as nearby sites like the Mayan ruins of Caracol, which are still the largest human-made structures in Belize.

Placencia

This former fishing village is now a resort hot spot that has managed to hold on to its local Belizean flare. For a relaxing getaway stay at Naia Resort, where guests are given their private beachside villa. From delicious local dishes to a luxurious spa-like oasis, Naia has it all. Naia’s location is also ideal for exploring nearby neighborhoods to get a taste of local life.

Speaking of location, Placencia is on a peninsula in southern Belize this locale gives visitors equal opportunity to take tours into the rainforest and mainland Belize as well as to the nearby Silk Caye Marine Reserve. What's more, the nearby village of Hopkins offers opportunities for visitors to experience the unique Garifuna culture.

Ray Caye

If you want to get off the grid and have a private island experience then book a stay on Ray Caye. You can choose between beach cabanas or villas. The honeymoon suite even boasts a private plunge pool. You can borrow a kayak or snorkel equipment by day and enjoy the island’s blue light that shines at night to attract sea life ashore. The perfect spot for wildlife life lovers as Ray Caye is a sea turtle hatching location as well as attracts large birds of prey. If you can’t spend the night there is a smaller area for daytime visitors to enjoy a pool, a beach, and a restaurant where they grow the majority of the greens on the island.

Caye Caulker

Consider Caye Caulker Ambergris' smaller, chiller neighbor. If you're more interested in a good book by the beach than bar hopping then head to this more laid-back alternative. No cars are allowed on Caye Caulker and everyone gets around on bikes or golf carts. This forces a slower, more relaxed way of life. So lie in a hammock and enjoy an ocean view with a fruity drink. If you’re still looking for a bit of adventure Belize’s barrier reef is still only one mile away!

San Ignacio

San Ignacio is the capital of the Cayo District and is known as the adventure capital of Belize. It has a small-town charm, offering local food markets and an Iguana sanctuary. But San Ignacio’s true appeal is its location. It is the perfect jumping-off point for any in-land adventure Belize has to offer. The Cayo District is famous for rainforest excursions or a day trip to the Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve. There are also several Mayan ruin complexes around San Ignacio including Xunantunich and Cahal Pech. Travelers can enjoy cave tubing or the truly adventurous can venture out to the ATM Cave.

Belize City

Belize City holds the country’s only international airport and services the port for all visiting cruise ships. It’s a shame that the majority of travelers are just passing through as Belize City holds a massive amount of history as well as culture. The Historic Belize City Tour and the Museum of Belize help visitors understand Belize's past and present. Animal lovers will be interested in the Belize Zoo, which focuses on rescued native species and provides them with large open habitats to roam. There are also many nearby attractions like the Altun Ha Ruins or the Community Baboon Sanctuary.

Hummingbird Highway

The Hummingbird Highway is one of four highways in Belize. But it is by far the most scenic drive in the country. It stretches 53 miles from the capital Belmopan to the town of Dangriga. The highway cuts through gorgeous views of forested mountains and tries to find what the locals call the “sleeping giant” hidden in the landscape. Along the way, you can also enjoy pit stops at caves, cenotes, and tons of local food options.

Lighthouse Reef

The Great Blue is one of Belize’s most famous attractions. This UNESCO World Heritage site is the largest sinkhole in the world. Lighthouse Reef is made up of the surrounding cayes that border the sinkhole. You can visit the reef by boat or through a fly-over tour. Snorkelers and scuba divers flock to the great blue hole to see what they can find. The most visited Caye of Lighthouse Reef is Half Moon Caye, which is home to over 4,000 red-footed boobies.

ATM Cave

Getting to this cave is not for the faint of heart. The Actun Tunichil Muknal cave, better known as the ATM Cave, was discovered in 1989 and offers a unique look into ancient Mayan rituals. Within this cave, visitors will find the remains of several sacrifice victims as well as ancient utensils, pottery, and other artifacts. However, getting to the cave is not a walk in the park. Visitors must go with guides and will have to complete a somewhat strenuous hike, multiple river crossings, swimming through submerged caves, squeezing through very tight spaces within those caves, and traversing up rock faces. And that’s only one way! If you’re physically up for the challenge, this is an incredibly unique experience and look into the past.

Hol Chan Marine Reserve

Located near Ambergris Caye, Belize’s barrier reef is the second-largest coral reef structure in the world. While The Blue Hole is the most famous attraction in this barrier reef there is so much more to explore. Home to over 100 species of coral and 500 species of fish, you’ll also likely see nurse sharks, sea turtles, and sting rays. How Chan Marine Reserve welcomes visitors looking to snorkel, scuba dive, fish, or swim in sharks in its Shark Ray Alley.

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