Belize holidays
Belize holidays at a glance
Our Belize holidays pack an extraordinary amount into a country no bigger than Wales. This is the only English-speaking nation in Central America, a cocktail of Creole, Garifuna, Maya and Mestizo cultures where you can climb a Mayan pyramid in the morning and snorkel a coral reef by the afternoon.
The coast beyond Belize City is unmistakably Caribbean. We’ll take you out to islands such as Ambergris Caye and Caye Caulker, where white-sand beaches meet the turquoise Caribbean Sea and the pace runs on island time. This is the place for fresh seafood and Belizean cuisine, a mix of Creole, Garifuna and Maya cooking. Offshore lies the Belize Barrier Reef, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the world’s second-largest reef, full of tropical fish, rays and turtles in crystal-clear waters. At its heart is the Great Blue Hole, a marine sinkhole on Lighthouse Reef that draws divers from across the world.
Inland, it’s forested highlands and jungle, from the waterfalls of Mountain Pine Ridge to the rivers and caves around San Ignacio. Wildlife is everywhere, with over 600 bird species, howler monkeys in the canopy and jaguars in the rainforest. The Mayan sites range from Caracol to Lamanai and Xunantunich, ancient cities once swallowed by jungle.
Why choose Journey Latin America for your holiday to Belize
We’ve been planning trips to Central and South America for over 45 years, longer than any other UK specialist. Every holiday is built around you by a Travel Expert who has been to the places they recommend, with support from your first enquiry to the day you fly home.
Add a few nights in the Cayo District before you head to the coast. And don’t skip the ATM Cave – it’s one of the most extraordinary experiences in Central America.
When to visit Belize
English-speaking Belize is rewarding year round, but the best weather runs from December to May, when it’s mostly dry with temperatures around 30°C. The cayes stay warm and sunny while the rainforest is hot and humid all year. For the wildlife calendar, whale sharks off Placencia are best from March to June and turtles nest from May to October.
This is the dry season and one of the best times to visit Belize with most places enjoying prolonged periods of warm sunshine; particularly in the north and central regions. Explore Mayan ruins, relax on the beach or head into the jungle. As this is peak season, plan early to enjoy the best choice of hotels and lodges especially around Christmas and New Year.
Carnival Week falls in February / March (with the exact date varying depending on Easter). Be prepared for lively festivities across the country, particularly in San Pedro.
During April and May it is mostly dry on the Cayes and in the Cayo District, but the heat and humidity gradually increases. If you’re visiting over Easter plan ahead as it’s a popular time to travel. This time of year is also the best time to snorkel with whale-sharks off the coast of Placencia.
At the end of May Belizeans in Punta Gorda in the Toledo district enjoy a week long Chocolate Festival celebrating the cacao bean, chocolate making and local crafts.
June sees the start of the rainy season characterised by short burst of rainfall falling mostly in the afternoon and at night. If you’re a gourmand, mid-June marks the beginning of lobster season – head to Ambergis Caye or Placencia for mouth-watering fresh lobster dishes.
From May – September turtles are nesting on the beaches particularly around Ambergis Gaye and Glovers Atoll.
As the season progresses rainfall and humidity increase as well as the chance of tropical storms. Independence Day is celebrated on 21 September and is the biggest festival in Belize, with musicians travelling from across the Americas to perform.
From November the heaviest rains finally begin to ease and humidity starts to ease.
Places to visit in Belize
Belize is compact enough to combine jungle, ruins and Caribbean coast in a single trip. Most holidays split their time between the interior’s Mayan sites and rainforest lodges and the cayes or Placencia on the coast. Here’s where we recommend spending your time.
Snorkel over coral gardens on the world’s second-largest barrier reef, dive the deep-blue sinkhole of the Great Blue Hole, and slow down on a palm-fringed caye with nothing to do but swim. On Belize’s Caribbean coast, the offshore islands and the mainland shore open onto a UNESCO-listed reef that runs the length of the country.
Dense jungle, ancient Maya cities, winding rivers and rugged mountain landscapes create one of Central America’s most rewarding adventure destinations in the wild heart of Belize. From hidden archaeological treasures to wildlife-rich forests and spectacular waterfalls, these Belize jungle holidays offer unforgettable experiences far beyond the Caribbean coast.
Southern Belize
Discover Belize’s most remote and least-visited region, where pristine rainforest, Maya culture, hidden caves and waterfalls combine to create an unforgettable off-the-beaten-track adventure. Toledo offers a rewarding blend of nature, heritage and authentic local culture far from the country’s better-known tourist areas.
Top Things to do in Belize
Whether you’re diving the barrier reef, exploring ancient Mayan caves or hiking to waterfalls in pristine rainforest, Belize offers hands-on adventures across a remarkably compact country. Here’s what we recommend.
Cruise through the emerald cayes of Belize’s Port Honduras Marine reserve and snorkel and swim in crystal clear Caribbean waters.
Scuba dive in the Caribbean waters of the Belizean Cayes, which shelter a vast barrier reef, coral atolls and the famous Blue Hole.
Float along in an inner tube as the Caves Branch River weaves in and out of a spectacular network of caves in Belize.
Accommodation in Belize
Our carefully selected Belize accommodation ranges from jungle lodges to Caribbean beach resorts. Lodges such as The Lodge at Chaa Creek and Chan Chich Lodge sit deep in the rainforest, with wildlife watching, horse riding and Mayan excursions on the doorstep. On the coast, properties like Victoria House on Ambergris Caye and the private-island Ray Caye Island Resort put the reef within easy reach. We’ll match the stay to your trip.
Chabil Mar Villas is a laid-back, service-orientated resort set on exclusive soft-sand beach on Belize’s Caribbean coast.
Glover’s Reef Basecamp is a permanent tented camp on a coral atoll off the coast of Belize, offering spectacular kayaking, snorkelling and diving.
A former Journey Latin America tour leader, Sally spent 7 years working, travelling and living throughout Latin America before returning to the UK to help people arrange their own adventures to this wonderful destination.
Holidays to Belize
From expertly designed Private Journeys to trail-blazing Escorted Group Tours, browse our range of carefully crafted holidays to Belize. Use the options below to filter by region, holiday style and duration.
Group Belize Tours
Our group tours follow expertly designed, well-planned routes with an experienced local guide throughout. Prefer to keep it to your own party? Book the same trips privately for four or more.
Kinkajou: Best of Guatemala and Belize
Places visited: Antigua and the highlands · Lake Atitlan and villages · Maya mountains and jungle
12 days from £3,217
Tropicbird: Highlights of Central America
Places visited: Granada · Leon · Suchitoto · Antigua and the highlands · Lake Atitlan and villages · Maya mountains and jungle
19 days from £4,804
Tailor-Made Belize Tours
Prefer to travel on your own terms? We’ll build a trip around your dates, your pace and the things you most want to see – whether that’s a first run at Machu Picchu, a family adventure mixing history and wildlife, or a food-focused journey through Lima and the Sacred Valley. Our Travel Experts can help shape it with you.
Active Belize: Jungle and reef adventure
Places visited: Maya mountains and jungle · Caribbean cayes and coast
11 days from £3,750
Luxury Belize: Nature, wildlife and Caribbean cayes
Places visited: Maya mountains and jungle · Caribbean cayes and coast
11 days from £3,885
Luxury Guatemala and Belize: Tikal and the Caribbean
Places visited: Antigua and the highlands · Maya mountains and jungle · Caribbean cayes and coast
15 days from £5,400
FAQs about visiting Belize
Belize is one of the most popular destinations, and there’s plenty to think about before you go. Here, our specialists share their best advice.
- When is the best time to visit Belize?
The best weather conditions are during the dry season Dec-May. It can be cool in the highlands in winter, while the jungle areas are hot and humid all year.
For more detailed information visit our When To Go section.
- What's the official language of Belize?
The official language of Belize is English but many of the population also speak a creole patois.
- How do I get local currency in Belize?
The Belizean dollar is the currency in Belize. Notes can be obtained from money exchanges and also from banks which will supply advances on a debit or credit card. There are ATMs in Belize City where you can use a UK credit or debit card. You may have to get authorisation from your bank first, and withdrawal amounts may be limited.
- What's the time difference between Belize and UK?
The time difference between the UK and Belize is GMT -6 hrs
- Do I need a visa to visit Belize?
Holders of a full British passport do not require a visa, although passports must be valid for at least 6 months after the trip begins. Anyone with a different nationality should enquire with us or check with the relevant consulate.
If flying to the US, or via the US you will need to fill in your online ESTA application. - What vaccinations do I need in Belize?
Please check Travel Health Pro for information on health recommendations and vaccinations for the destinations you are visiting. Please note that many Latin American countries require proof of vaccination against Yellow Fever if you have recently travelled to another country where Yellow Fever is present.
- What places combine well with Belize?
A visit to neighbouring Guatemala, with its Latin and Maya cultural heritage, is good to pair with a Belize holiday as there’s a road link to the Mayan ruins at Tikal in the Petén jungle. Southern Mexico is also easy to visit from Belize, as you can cross the land border at Chetumal.
- What are the festivals and cultural and sporting events in Belize?
Belize Carnival, (Feb/Mar). Lively celebrations especially in San Pedro, on Ambergris Caye.
Lobster season: Lobster season starts Jun-Jul, with lobster on offer in all its forms, with drinking and partying.Belize Independence Day: throughout the country, 21 Sep. Parades, processions and parties.
Garifuna Settlement Day, Dangriga, 19 Nov. Includes parades, live music, drumming, dancing, and prayers in celebration of the first Garifuna Afro-Caribbean settlers.
- How long is the flight to Belize from UK?
There are flights via US and European hubs, the journey from London taking around 15.5 hours.
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Featured Articles
Caribbean Belize loves its lobster – so much so that a number of its towns even host annual festivals to celebrate it! If you can’t make it to LobsterFest in Placencia, Ambergris Caye or Caye Caulker, fear not, as we’ve brought you our own version of a classic Belizean dish.