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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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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 ruinsinclude 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.
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.
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.
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.
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 School in Punta Gorda. If you're in Belize on November 19, visit Dangriga to celebrate Garifuna Settlement Day.
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.
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.
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.
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.
