If you’re looking for rainforests, coral reefs, Maya history, and Caribbean culture all rolled into one pint-sized destination, you’ll find everything – and more – in Belize. 

Less visited than its larger neighbors, like Mexico and Guatemala, Belize stands out as the only English-speaking country in Central America. Travelers can put away the Spanish phrasebook for a few weeks as they explore a country with Maya origins that’s been irrevocably shaped by British colonialism. 

You’ll be struck first by the sheer natural beauty of Belize. Home to the Belize Barrier Reef (the second-largest barrier reef in the world), head to iconic destinations like Ambergris Caye and Caye Caulker and you can live the island life. Chill on white sand beaches, snorkel with sharks and stingrays, or brave the mysterious depths of the famous Great Blue Hole, which extends to a width of some 1,000 feet across the ocean and 400 feet below. 

There’s so much to see on your 2-week trip to Belize you won’t know where to begin. That’s why we’ve put together our ultimate 14-day Belize itinerary for you. Stick to this comprehensive vacation plan, and you’ll have an incredible time exploring this colorful corner of Central America! 

Two Weeks in Belize

When to Visit Belize

Located south of Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, and to the north and east of Guatemala, Belize has an extensive coastline extending along the Caribbean Sea that’s home to reefs, islands, cayes, and atolls. This southerly location in the Northern Hemisphere has given Belize a tropical climate that’s split into distinctive wet and dry seasons, and inland, the expansive rainforests thrive off the rainfall.

For travelers, the best time to visit is in the dry season, when the chance of rain is limited. This season generally falls between December and May, although the shoulder months on either side can sometimes offer equally dry weather and lower prices (but not always!). As you might expect, December and January tend to be the busiest months in Belize, with tourists flocking here for winter sun over the holiday season. 

We recommend holding off until February or March to escape the crowds and higher prices, particularly if you’re looking to spend time on the islands where accommodation is always limited. February and March are still relatively cool, with temperatures ranging through the 70s. The heat starts to ramp up from April onwards, with daily highs often exceeding 85°F.

You’ll want to avoid the wet season, not only for the rain, but for the danger of hurricanes. June to November is officially hurricane season, and there’s every chance the Caribbean Coast will be hit by fierce storms. This season is best avoided for obvious reasons. 

Things to Know Before You Go

Belize has a liberal visa policy for many nationalities. If you’re from the US, UK, Canada, the EU, and many other countries, you’ll be visa-exempt for 30 days. This means that if you’re visiting for tourism purposes, you’ll get a 30-day stamp on arrival. If you’re staying longer, then this can be extended, or you can hop over the border to Guatemala or Mexico, and then hop back for another 30 days in Belize. 

The local currency is the Belize Dollar, which is pegged to the US Dollar at a fixed rate of 2 BZD to 1 USD. If you’re traveling overland, you’ll be able to exchange money (including Mexican Pesos and Guatemalan Quetzals) at the border, but you’ll also find that ATMs are widespread. 

Many businesses, including hotels and tour companies, also accept card transactions. In a pinch, many Belizeans will accept USD rather than Belizean dollars, giving the fixed exchange rate. 

Given its colonial history as a British colony since 1840, the official language in Belize is English. There are two variants, however. Official English, which is taught in schools (the Queen’s English so to speak), and Belizean English, which evolved as a Creole language among the slave communities that the British brought here. 

Spanish is widespread, while Garifuna communities – descended from mixed Arawak Indian and Afro-Caribbean communities that the British kicked off St. Vincent in the 18th century – speak Garifuna, while the Maya communities often still speak Maya languages. 

Belize is generally a safe country to visit, but as with anywhere in Central America, there are certain districts that are best avoided, especially in Belize City. You also need to keep in mind that Belize has been struck by deadly hurricanes in the past, so keep an eye out for weather warnings, even outside of hurricane season.

Getting Around Belize

Belize has one major international airport in Belize City, which is just a half-hour drive from the city center. The airport has daily connections to several major cities in the US and Canada, including New York and Toronto. 

There are also regular flights to other cities in North and Central America, including San Salvador and Mexico City. During the dry season, charter flights operate to many more US and Canadian destinations, as winter sun seekers ramp up demand. 

Unfortunately for anyone traveling from Europe, direct options are almost non-existent, so you will need to fly via the US, Canada, or Mexico. Another popular option is to arrive in Belize overland, traveling from either Guatemala or Mexico. This is a great option for anyone spending more time in Central America or Mexico, and you can tailor the itinerary below to best suit your direction of travel.

Getting around Belize is fairly straightforward, given there are only a few major roads in the entire country. However, you do need patience if you’re using public transport, as it can be difficult to find accurate bus timetables unless you visit the bus stations and ask for up-to-date information. 

From Belize City, you can travel to all major towns and destinations in the country, but be prepared for a Central American “chicken bus” experience. Belize has a fleet of old American school buses that ply the routes, and while cheap, they’re inevitably overcrowded, they leak when it rains, and are swelteringly hot the rest of the time. 

Factor in extra time in case of weather-related delays. You can speed things up by flying, as domestically, Belize is incredibly well-connected by local air shuttles. 

Belize Itinerary: 2 Weeks to Explore the Highlights of the Country

Belize City – 1 Night

Your 2 weeks in Belize start in Belize City. Despite being the country’s namesake city, you might be surprised to learn that Belize City is not, in fact, the capital. For many decades it was, until Hurricane Hattie smashed into the coastline, causing massive damage in 1961. 

Fearing that the city would eventually be lost to hurricanes and coastal erosion, the authorities decided it was time to build a new capital. Belmopan, which you can also visit later in your trip, was born in 1970, but Belize City still remains the largest city in the country. 

You don’t need too long to see the sights in Belize City, so we’ve only allocated a night here. You can learn more about local history at the Museum of Belize, visit the heritage-listed St. John Anglican Cathedral, which dates back to 1812, and take a selfie with the monumental Belize sign on the boardwalk overlooking the Caribbean Sea. 

Belize City is well located to many atolls and cayes just off the coast, including St. George Caye, where the British fought off the Spanish in 1798 to claim Belize, an event which is still celebrated every September as a defining moment in Belizean history. 

Caye Caulker – 2 Nights

Belize City is really just a transit point because the best sights await you out in the Caribbean Sea. The first real stop on our Belize itinerary is Caye Caulker, a paradisiacal island that’s just a 45-minute boat ride away from the city.

You can hop on the water taxi from Belize City, and when you arrive in Caye Caulker, be prepared to start your vacation the slow way. Time works differently on this island (the island motto is “Go Slow”), which measures just five miles in length and one mile across at its widest extent. 

Belize Barrier Reef 

Book yourself a beachside bungalow and rent a mask and snorkel, because Caye Caulker is all about the ocean. You’ll love the white sand beaches, which are perfect for doing nothing at all, or you can waltz into the warm water and snorkel directly on the Belize Barrier Reef. 

Caye Caulker Marine Reserve 

If you’re looking to be more active, we recommend joining a day tour of the Caye Caulker Marine Reserve, where you’ll be whisked away to the best snorkeling spots around the island.

The Lazy Lizard Bar & Grill 

Head over to the Split for sunset, where you can order cocktails or an ice-cold Belikin (the local beer) while you wait for your lobster dinner to arrive fresh from the ocean! The Lazy Lizard Bar & Grill is the place to go for stiff tropical cocktails and fresh seasonal seafood dinners.

Ambergris Caye – 2 Nights

If you can’t get enough of the slow life, then don’t worry because there are more island vibes at your next stop. Hop back on the water taxi and head north for another two nights in paradise on Ambergris Caye. 

At 25 miles long and one mile wide, it will feel like you’ve arrived back in the big city after your time on Caye Caulker. Ambergris Caye is just as relaxed, though, and again, you can stay in one of the beach hotels and spend the next two days drinking cold Belikins if you really want to vacation.

Hol Chan Marine Reserve

But there’s also much more to do in Ambergris Caye, especially if you love being in the water. This caye is fringed by the Belize Barrier Reef, and a day of diving or snorkeling in the Hol Chan Marine Reserve, which is home to the iconic Shark Alley, is arguably one of the best things to do in Belize. 

Great Blue Hole 

From San Pedro, the main settlement in Ambergris Caye, you’ll also find almost daily departures (in high season) to the equally iconic Great Blue Hole. Located around a four- to five-hour boat ride from the island, the 1,000-foot-wide Great Blue Hole is an unusual cave and coral formation that drops some 400 feet to the bottom of the sea. 

It was made famous by Jacques Cousteau, a marine biologist and the father of modern scuba diving, and it really is one of the most incredible places to snorkel or dive anywhere in the world. It’s a long day trip, so you could also opt to take a flightseeing tour in a small propellor plane or a helicopter from Ambergris Caye in order to see the Great Blue Hole in all its glory from above. 

San Ignacio – 3 Nights

If you can bear it, leave the white sands and turquoise waters of Ambergris Caye behind and hop on a water taxi back to Belize City. Now it’s time to travel inland as you make your way west toward the border with Guatemala. 

Your destination is San Ignacio, a small town that’s surprising in its diversity. Away from the Caribbean vibes of the coast, San Ignacio is the best place to immerse yourself in the multitude of cultures, communities, and people that call Belize home.

The country’s unusual colonial history sets it apart in this respect from the neighboring Central American countries. In San Ignacio, you can hear Spanish, Maya, English, Belizean English, Garifuna, and even old German dialects being spoken. 

San Ignacio Market 

The San Ignacio Market draws in all the different communities that live in the area, including Mennonites, Maya, and Mestizos. Held every day of the week, you can buy watermelons and cheese from the Mennonites, order pupusas from El Salvadorans, and buy clothes, chocolate, fruit, vegetables, and so much more from the different people who call themselves Belizean. 

Learn more by joining a dedicated cultural tour, which takes you to visit the Mennonite communities in nearby places like Barton Creek and Spanish Lookout as well, as to the San Antonio Women’s Co-operative, where predominantly Maya women are finding ways to preserve their culture through eco and culinary tourism.

Maya Ruins

A short walk from the town center where the market is held, you can visit the jungle-strewn ruins of Cahal Pech, an ancient Maya site dating back to 1200 BC. If you’re game for an adventure, then deep, deep in the jungle, you can visit the Caracol ruins. Once one of the most powerful Maya cities in Central America, the partially excavated ruins are only accessible after a bumpy 2-hour off-road drive from San Ignacio.

ATM Cave 

More Maya history awaits you at the ATM Cave, one of the best places to visit in Belize. Located just an hour’s drive south of San Ignacio, the Maya believed this vast cave system was the entrance to the underworld. 

Follow in the footsteps of Maya ghosts as you wade across rivers, swim through underwater lagoons, and climb past stalactites to reach the ancient ceremonial chambers. Inside, you’ll find yourself among the skeletons of sacrificial victims, including the infamous Crystal Maiden, which have lain undistributed for centuries.

Dangriga/Hopkins – 2 Nights

Next up is the Caribbean coastline, and you may need to change buses in Belmopan or Belize City when traveling from San Ignacio. There’s not much to do in Belmopan, despite it being the capital (it’s more like a large village), but if you have a few hours before the next bus, take a wander through the marketplace and dig into some local dishes like fry jacks (deep-fried dough).

Your next destination is Dangriga, a lovely coastal town where you can delve into the unique culture of the Garifuna. Visit the Gulisi Garifuna Museum, and you can learn more about this Belizean minority, who also have communities in Guatemala and Honduras. The Garifuna are descended from the survivors of Arawak Indians and African slaves who were exiled from the island of St. Vincent in the 18th century after losing a war with the British. 

The Garifuna speak a distinct language, and you can learn more about their music, dance, history, and cuisine on the new Garifuna Trail, which takes in the important sights in Dangriga and the nearby town of Hopkins. 

Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary – 2 Nights

Although Belize is best known for its coastline, cayes, and atolls, the mainland is almost entirely covered in rainforest, an estimated 50% of which is primary rainforest. 

You’ll have had a taste of the rainforest in San Ignacio, but we recommend spending one or two days hiking in the Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary for a more immersive experience.

Located between Hopkins and Placencia, the Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary covers an extensive area of some 136 square miles in the Maya Mountains. The reserve was established in 1984, and it’s become a vital preserve for the elusive jaguar, which is found in small numbers within its boundaries. 

There are several short day hikes to waterfalls you can follow from the visitors center, although you’ll need the expertise of a local guide if you want a chance of spotting a jaguar. You can find local homestays in Maya Central, a Maya community on the edge of the sanctuary. 

Placencia – 2 Nights

Your two weeks in Belize come to a close in traditional Belizean fashion, on the beach. Your final stop is Placencia, a small beach town at the end of the Placencia Peninsula. 

Here, you’ll find countless beach bars lining the white sands, and we won’t complain if you crash out at the end of the trip with a few more Belikins. You could even get a little cultural and join a Maya chocolate-making tour or a Garifuna cooking class.

If you’ve still got energy, though, Placencia is a great place for more snorkeling or diving. Just off the coast, you can visit Laughing Bird Caye National Park and see an incredible example of community conservation in action. 

In 2001, the reef here was almost entirely destroyed by Hurricane Iris, but thanks to the efforts of local NGO Fragments of Hope, the coral has been replanted and is now thriving. The NGO trains locals to lead tours and plant coral, offering a fantastic community-based tourism experience at the end of your 2-week trip to Belize! 

There you have it! That’s our perfect 2-week Belize itinerary. Where will you be traveling on your trip to Belize?

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