Reasons to Visit Belize at Least Once

Getting around in Belize is easy, whether by car, boat, bus or plane – not least because English is the official language. There are two small airlines – Tropic Airways and Maya Island Air – that run shuttle flights between hubs like Belize City, San Pedro and Placencia, and there are multiple ferry routes between the mainland and the cayes too. If traveling by land, a bus network spans the whole country, and you’ll get to ride down the beautifully scenic Hummingbird Highway that connects central Belize to the southeastern coast, via citrus groves, rushing rivers and the Maya Mountains.

Belize is rich in cultural diversity, and its population is a vibrant medley of ethnic groups. From the Maya to the Mestizo, Garifuna, Creole and the Mennonite communities who came to Belize in the late 1950s, this melting pot creates a unique and beautiful cultural landscape. Many Belizeans are multilingual and might also speak Creole, Spanish and Mayan dialects depending on their heritage. Learn more by visiting the Museum of Belize in Belize City. If you can, definitely try to catch a live performance of Garifuna drumming, or even take a lesson at Warasa Garifuna Drum School in Punta Gorda.

The food in Belize is as bright and varied as its culture, with influences from Mexico, Guatemala and the Caribbean colliding with traditional Mayan cuisine. Eat fry jacks for breakfast: deep-fried pieces of dough served with refried beans and whichever tropical fruit is local, ripe and ready. Try stewed chicken or tamales (corn-based dough mixed with meats, or beans and cheese) for lunch from street sellers, or go on a fishing trip and catch some red snapper or barracuda. If you visit between June and February, Caribbean spiny lobster is in season and on menus everywhere. Fresh off the grill and served with a side of plantain chips, it’s to-die-for with some local Marie Sharp’s hot sauce and a frosty bottle of Belikin beer.

Belize is home to the second-largest reef system in the world, and the underwater sites rival those above sea level. The Belize Barrier Reef is a Unesco World Heritage Site and contains hundreds of species of fish and coral, including the endangered hawksbill turtle and several threatened species of shark. If you like diving or want to try, don’t miss a visit to the Great Blue Hole, a vast marine sinkhole over 400ft (125m) deep. It’s so big, it’s visible from space.

With the highest concentration of caves in Central America, Belize has a cave experience to suit everyone. The Rio Frio cave in the Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve has a yawning 65ft (20m) entrance and is small enough that you’ll never lose daylight, whilst the sprawling Actun Tunichil Muknal (or ATM) cave delivers a more thrilling adventure. You’ll venture underground and have to swim, scramble and wade through water for parts of the journey, but it’s well worth it. The ancient Maya believed caves to be portals to the underworld, and you’ll find relics from rituals and even skeletons that have become fused into the rocks over thousands of years.

Belize has an abundance of wildlife, all fiercely protected under the Wildlife Protection Act. Bird watchers have the opportunity to observe nearly 600 species, including the keel-billed toucan (the national bird of Belize) and the red-footed booby. Underwater, you’ll find the Belize Barrier Reef and the highest-known density of Antillean manatees anywhere in the world. Five species of big cat, including the jaguar, puma and ocelot, roam the jungle along with tapirs, rare frogs and crocodiles. Belize Zoo near Belize City is a fully accessible destination to view all 45 species that are native to the country.

Widely thought to have been the center of Mayan civilization – with over 600 Mayan sites and counting – Belize has a lot to explore when it comes to ancient history. Caracol is the largest archaeological site, spanning an area greater than Belize City and containing a caana (sky-palace) pyramid that is the highest man-made structure in the country. Wander among the ball courts, astronomic observatory, altars and reservoirs and admire the views of Chiquibul National Park from atop the pyramids. It’s well worth employing a guide who can offer extra insight into this ancient culture and enrich your experience.

Out of the hundreds of cayes (islands) in Belize, many are tiny, uninhabited dots of white sand, whilst others – like the much larger Ambergris Caye – are bustling hubs with hotels, bars and restaurants. Slower-paced Caye Caulker has a relaxed backpacker vibe and excellent snorkeling – plus the entire island is car-free, leaving you free to amble and enjoy island life. For a swashbuckling day out, head to King Lewey Island near Placencia. The entire island is a pirate-themed bar-resort, with a few private cabanas for visitors who overindulge on local rum or want to keep the party going.

Almost half of mainland Belize is covered in rainforest, and the best way to connect with the natural landscape is on a hike through this unspoilt wilderness. In addition to caves, the Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve contains wonders like the Thousand Foot Falls, a narrow waterfall that tumbles between the trees into a misty plunge pool, where you can take a refreshing dip to cool off. Nearer to the coast, a tour of Monkey River in the Toledo district takes you upstream and then for a walk into the jungle where you can hear the – alarmingly loud – howler monkeys screaming above you. Bring DEET-strength insect repellent.

A jaguar sighting in the wild is at the top of many a bucket list for travelers to Belize, and as one of the country’s largest protected areas, the Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary is the place to try and spot one. Home to an estimated 80 jaguars plus hundreds of other flora and fauna species, there is plenty to see besides the shy big cats – which you do have to be lucky to see. Come alone or in a small group and come early, as nothing frightens wildlife away more than noisy hikers and the hot midday sun. Afterwards, hike the Tiger Fern Trail and enjoy views across the Maya Mountains.