25 Things to See and Do in Belize

by Alex Temblador
Last updated:: 6:00 AM ET, Sat January 11, 2020

Aerial of Boats and Reef in Belize (Photo via Velvetfish / iStock / Getty Images Plus) (Velvetfish / iStock / Getty Images Plus")

Snorkel with nurse sharks in Belize. (photo via Alex Temblador)

Zipline through the jungles of Belize at Calico Jack's. (photo via Alex Temblador)

People love to hang out and swim at The Split on Caye Caulker. (photo via Alex Temblador)

Fry Jacks are a tasty pastry in Belize. (photo via Belize Tourism Board)

Big Rock Falls is a beautiful waterfall in Belize. (photo via Alex Temblador)

The beach at Ramon's Village. (photo via Alex Temblador)

Marie Sharp's hot sauce is the most popular in Belize. (photo via Belize Tourism Board)

The Great Blue Hole of Belize. (Photo via Lomingen / iStock / Getty Images Plus)

Lamanai Ruins in Belize (Photo via SimonDannhauer / iStock / Getty Images Plus)

A man at the entrance of Barton Creek Cave. (photo via iStock / Getty Images Plus / Meredith Heil)

People eat fresh seafood from outdoor vendors on Caye Caulker. (photo via Alex Temblador)

Belize is known for having some fantastic chocolate farms. (photo via Belize Tourism Board)

Garifuna dancers at Laughing Bird Cay in Belize. (photo by Brian Major)

Belize Zoo is home to more than 175 animals. (photo via iStock / Getty Images Plus / LisaEPerkins)

PHOTO: Woman hiking through Bocawina National Park to a waterfall. (photo via iStock / Getty Images Plus / CampPhoto)

PHOTO: Small islands off the coast of Belize. (photo via Alex Temblador)

Fly Tropic Air between various destinations in Belize. (photo via Alex Temblador)

Woman kayaking on a river in Belize. (photo via iStock / Getty Images Plus / Roijoy)

Learn about the Mennonite community in Belize on a tour. (photo via Belize Tourism Board)

A man shopping through a market in Belize. (photo via iStock / Getty Images Plus / Jodi Jacobson)

Chaa Creek has 400 acres and multiple trails on-site to hike. (Photo via Alex Temblador)

A beach in Placencia, Belize. (photo via iStock / Getty Images Plus / Simon Dannhauer)

Go swimming in the blue hole of St. Herman's Blue Hole National Park. (photo via Belize Tourism Board)

Woman deep sea fishing in Belize. (photo via iStock / Getty Images Plus / CoyStClair)

Try cashew wine when visiting Belize. (photo via Belize Tourism Board)

You Better Belize-it

1/26

Belize is a beautiful Central American country set on the Caribbean coast. It's location, great weather and kind locals make it a wonderful destination for all types of travelers. We've put together our top favorite things to see and do in Belize, because "Belize-it" or not, we want you to have the best trip to this tropical destination.

Swim With Nurse Sharks

2/26

Would you jump into shark-infested waters? That's exactly what snorkelers do every day in Belize. Book a boat tour and make your way to Shark Ray Alley in the Hol Chan Marine Reserve to swim with sharks and stingrays. Don't worry, these are nurse sharks, which are pretty harmless to humans.

Zipline Through the Jungle

3/26

Belize has plenty of jungles, making it the perfect place to go on a ziplining journey. We recommend Calico Jack's which offers zipline tours that run from 45 minutes to 1.5 hours with seven to 15 platforms, one of which is a hydraulic-powered lift you ride into the air before ziplining off. With a 500 foot run and opportunities to zipline at night, Calico Jack's is the ultimate ziplining destination.

Hang Out in Caye Caulker

4/26

Caye Caulker is a small island off the coast of Belize. With no cars, everyone walks on the island, and you can too! Shop among small boutiques, eat at seafood and Belizean restaurants with cute patios and enjoy a fun day and nightlife scene in an area called The Split.

Eat Fry Jacks

5/26

You can't have a Belizean breakfast without a fry jack or five! These deep-fried dough pastries are generally shaped in triangles. Add in some beans, cheese and eggs, or just lather them in butter, jam or honey. There is no wrong way to eat a fry jack.

Waterfalls Galore

6/26

Belize offers many natural wonders, and waterfalls are at the top of that list. Take time to visit the Thousand Foot Waterfalls, which are the tallest waterfalls in the country at 1,600 feet high. The picturesque Big Rock Waterfalls or Tiger Ferm Waterfall in Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary are two of our favorite Belizean waterfalls because they have areas in which you can swim.

Relax at a Resort in San Pedro

7/26

San Pedro is the most well-known seaside resort town in Belize. Locals and visitors get around the city by golf carts, and the food and nightlife scene is beloved by all. Relax at a resort along the ocean, such as Ramon's Village Resort, one of the few San Pedro hotels with a beach and direct ocean access.

Try All Flavors of Marie Sharp's Hot Sauce

8/26

Visit any restaurant in Belize and you'll find Marie Sharp's hot sauce on the table. Marie Sharp started her hot sauce business in 1980 and today offers a wide range of flavors including a variety of habanero-based sauces, like orange-pulp habanero, sweet habanero, smoked habanero and grapefruit pulp-habanero. If you can't choose, start out with "Belizean Hot" or "Original Fiery Hot" flavors.

Dive the Blue Hole

9/26

Scuba divers, make your way to the ultimate diving destination: Belize's famous Blue Hole. As the largest natural wonder of its kind in the world, it offers a unique experience to explore a cavern that's 410 feet deep and 984 feet wide. You'll see a variety of marine life, including sharks and turtles, as well as stalactites!

See Ancient Mayan Ruins

10/26

Belize was the center of the Mayan Empire for centuries and you can witness that in the gorgeous ruins throughout the land. Some of the best Mayan ruins include Caracol, Xunantunich, Lamanai, Nim Li Punit and Altun Ha. Each site offers a different story, but all showcase culture and community important to the civilization of the Americas.

Explore Belizean Caves

11/26

Caves were important places to Mayans, and Belize has plenty of them ripe for tourists to explore and learn the geology and history of those caves. You can swim into the Actun Tunichil Muknal cave, float through a cave in Caves Branch and hike through the impressive 65-foot opening of the Rio Frio Cave.

Eat Lots of Seafood

12/26

Belize knows a thing or two about good seafood. Many dishes feature fresh fish, octopus, shrimp, scallops, lobster and crab. Be sure to order a whole fried fish at some point during your trip, and if you need a snack, don't be surprised if you find stalls where locals sell freshly-cooked seafood along the road.

Visit a Chocolate Farm

13/26

Cacao beans have been used by Mayans and Belizeans for centuries to create delectable chocolate. Visit a cacao farm to learn about the cacao plant, how farmers harvest the bean, and often, how many of these farms use traditional Mayan practices to create chocolate. Lamanai Chocolate Company, Ixcacao Maya Belizean Chocolate and Che'il Mayan Chocolate are just a few chocolate farms and factories you should consider.

Experience Garifuna Culture

14/26

Belize has a very important cultural group called the Garifuna, who speak a certain dialect and are mixed-race people of West African, Island Carib and Arawak heritages. Learn about the Garifuna by visiting the Luba Garífuna Museum in Belize City, eating traditional food in Hopkins village, a Garifuna village and by taking a Garifuna drumming class at The Warasa Garifuna Drum Schoolin Punta Gorda. If you're in Belize on November 19, visit Dangriga to celebrate Garifuna Settlement Day.

See Belizean Animals at the Belize Zoo

15/26

Over 175 animals are on display at the Belize Zoo, and they're all native animals to Belize. The zoo only houses animals that were orphaned, rescued, born at the zoo or sent as donations from other zoos, and seeks to educate the public and visitors about animals native to Belize. Travelers should note that the Belize Zoo is the first accessible nature destination in the country, making it an inclusive experience for all.

Hike in Belize

16/26

Half of Belize is covered by rainforest, so it's no wonder the country has a wide array of national parks. Visitors should take the opportunity to hike through some of the top parks like Chiquibul National Park and the Billy Barquedier National Park. You'll find trails that take you to waterfalls, Mayan ruins, swimming holes, caves and through the habitats of some amazing animals.

Visit Uninhabited Islands

17/26

There are a variety of small islands off the coast of Belize, and you can visit them with Raggamuffin Tours. Their three-day sailing tour takes travelers island hopping between Goffs Caye, Tobacco Caye and South Water Caye. You'll also stay the night on the uninhabited islands of Rendezvous Caye and Ragga Cayes. In addition to camping on the islands, you'll experience amazing snorkeling and fishing, too.

Travel Across the Country in a 12-Seater Plane

18/26

The easiest way to get around Belize is by flight. Most travelers book small 12-seater airplanes with Belize airlines like Tropic Air to get between places like Belize City, Placencia, Dangriga and San Pedro, among many others. Not only is it quicker (most flights are less than 30 minutes), but it offers stunning views of Belize from above.

Spend the Day Kayaking

19/26

Kayaking and canoeing is a popular activity in Belize. Some take the kayaks out on the ocean in the morning, while others opt for adventures down Belize's beautiful rivers like the Belize or Macal Rivers. This active activity will show you a side of Belize's natural environment you won't want to miss.

Tour a Mennonite Community

20/26

Surprisingly enough, there are about 10,000 Mennonites living in Belize. They live and work in remote communities, without modern machinery or technology, using horse and buggy as their main source of transportation. As people born and raised in Belize, they have a unique culture and one you can experience by touring one of their farms such as Spanish Lookout.

Visit a Market

21/26

While in Belize, visit a local market to get a taste of everyday life of Belizeans. You can shop among such items as fresh fruit and vegetables, natural herbal medicines, Mayan incense and crafts and products made by local artisans. Most all big cities in Belize will have a local market-don't be afraid to visit one!

Spend the Night in a Jungle

22/26

Want to wake up to the sound of Howler monkeys? Sure, it's a scary sound, but there's nothing more interesting than staying overnight in a Belizean jungle. Check out The Lodge at Chaa Creek in San Ignacio. This eco-lodge is one of Belize's most prized hotels, offering upscale accommodations in casitas with outdoor showers and budget-friendly casitas that include two meals and access to amenities for $65/night. At The Lodge at Chaa Creek, explore over 10 hiking trails on-site, see a butterfly farm, swim in a pool or canoe on the Macal River.

Stay in Placencia

23/26

Placencia offers the laid-back beach vacation you've been looking for. As a small fishing village, Placencia is known for offering more boutique-style accommodations, great beaches and some of the best restaurants in the country. Visit Placencia for its Lobsterfest in June or take a day tour to the nearby Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary Tours, the world's only jaguar preserve.

Swim in a Swimming Hole

24/26

If scuba diving the Blue Hole is not for you, don't worry. There is another "Blue Hole" in St. Hermans Blue Hole National Park. The Blue Hole in St. Hermans is a swimming hole in front of a cave. Most opt to take the 45-minute hike to the Blue Hole in St. Herman's Blue Hole National Park so they have an opportunity to see the local wildlife and nature.

Gone Fishing

25/26

Fishing is a popular activity in Belize, and many fly fishers visit the country because Belize's shallow waters have the only tarpon flats outside of Florida. Essentially, you can sight cast to tarpon 365 days per year, making Belize a fisherman's dream.

Try Cashew Wine

26/26

Even the biggest wine enthusiasts have probably not tasted cashew wine. This delicacy is a Belizean favorite made from the cashew fruit (not the nut). You'll find tons of this wine at the Crooked Tree Cashew Festival, as well as plenty of other cashew-inspired products. If you're feeling adventurous, you might also want to try Belize's orange wine and blackberry wine.

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