The Best Beach Hotels to Book in Belize

When you peer out of the window of your Tahitian-style, thatch-roofed cottage on the edge of the popular San Pedro village in Ambergris Caye – Belize’s La Isla Bonita – you see a pristine stretch of white-sand beach, shaded by coconut trees, and the azure waters that the country is justifiably famous for. Whether you prefer to spend your days underwater, exploring Belize’s world-class diving sites with the superb Ramon’s Village Divers outfit, day tripping to Mayan ruins or gobbling down fresh seafood at the on-site Pineapples on the Beach restaurant, you’ll wish you’d booked a longer vacation.

Put yourself at ease at Chabil Mar. Upon landing at the Placencia airstrip, staff will be waiting with cool towels, chilled water and a lemonade (rum optional). After a five-minute ride down Main Street, you’ll find your luggage, fresh flowers and clean robes laid out in your private villa with a view of the sea. Explore the peninsula by bike, kayak or paddleboard, all available from the resort.

Just at the southern tip of Placencia, the Belizean Nirvana resort feels more secluded than its counterparts up the road. You’ll have a choice of five fully equipped suites, each with its own veranda and beachside view. Enjoy the fresh sea air on your balcony, then dive into the deep blue with the help of Belizean Nirvana’s tours of the Gladden Spit coral reef (you might spot a shark or turtle). Alternatively, kayak through the mangroves, home to howler monkeys, on the Monkey River tour.

Cultures collide at filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola’s 25-room beachside hideaway. Your breezy cottage will be decked out with hand-carved Balinese furniture and a Japanese bath. Come nightfall, dine on locally caught seafood and Dutch-Indonesian rijsttafel (a banquet of rice-based dishes), paired with wine imported from Coppola’s wineries in Sonoma County, California. For the ultimate relaxing treat, book a traditional Thai massage and coconut hair rinse.

Halfway between Belize City and the Placencia Peninsula, you’ll find the Belizean Dreams Resort near the village of Hopkins. This all-inclusive hotel is ready to tend to your every need. With wall-to-wall windows, high ceilings and four-poster beds, the rooms make for a relaxing retreat with sea views. Check out the resort’s weekly tour schedule for cave tubing, waterfall climbs and island-hopping, all part of the package.

You’ll be tempted to go barefoot the whole time at Brisa Oceano Resort, where the condo-style rooms open directly out onto the pristine, white-sand beach. Choose between one and three bedrooms, perfect for both couples and families. Borrow a kayak or fishing rod from the front desk, or slip on your sandals and take a stroll down the Placencia sidewalk into the village. Back on site, there’s a swim-up bar and spa, if you’re in need of pampering.

After a short ferry ride from Belize City, you’ll land in San Pedro on Ambergris Caye. Tradewinds Paradise Villas is just a few feet from the ferry stop – although you will feel a world away from the bustling heart of the island that throngs with golf carts. All rooms come with a view, either of the pool or sea, and you can dive right off the dock into the water. Emanuel, Evy and Marely are on hand at the front desk to book golf trips or dive excursions.

Experience tranquil beachfront living at Maya Beach Hotel. The standard Hibiscus Room opens straight onto the sand with a hammock perfectly placed for an afternoon nap. Alternatively, upgrade to the king-size Flip Flop Palace. Head to the resort’s bistro for dinner, where cacao pork, bacon-wrapped grouper and octopus prepared eight different ways are all on the menu. The hotel is miles from downtown Placencia, but that much closer to marine hotspots like Glover’s Reef and South Water Caye.

Bright colors, breezy balconies and wood-lined ceilings abound at Laru Beya Resort, just up the road from Placencia marina. The all-inclusive resort pays homage to the local Garifuna community with its name (Garifuna for “on the beach”), and the on-site restaurant serves Belizean standards, like chicken with fried plantain and conch ceviche. If you choose to venture out, tours range from exploring the Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary to visiting the Mayan ruins of Nim Li Punit.

The Ellysian makes for a contemporary stay right in Placencia village. With just 13 rooms, floor-to-ceiling glass doors and furniture handpicked by Belize’s first lady, a stay here feels both intimate and exclusive. At Muna, the rooftop restaurant, stellar Belizean food steals the show. Expect coconut refried beans, fry jacks and house-smoked bacon for breakfast, while dinners consist of seafood curry pasta and passionfruit cheesecake for dessert.