Belize Unveiled: From Rainforest to Reef in 7 Days
- borderlesskate
- Jan 22
- 12 min read
Updated: Jan 25
Dreaming of turquoise waters and untouched rainforests? Belize offers the perfect balance of adventure and relaxation. With its welcoming culture, vibrant wildlife, and opportunities to explore ancient Mayan ruins and lively coral reefs, this destination will captivate your heart.
BELIZE OVERVIEW
Safety ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Affordability ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Public transportation ⭐
Easy to reach ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Adventure ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Number of days recommended: 6 - 9
Car recommended: 🚫
Visa required for Americans: 🚫
BLOG CONTENTS OVERVIEW
Table of Contents
Where is Belize?
Belize is a country in Central America, directly south of Mexico and east of Guatemala on the Caribbean Sea. It is a small country, roughly the size of New Hampshire, with a population of just over 400,000 people. Don’t let its size fool you, though. Belize’s incredible diversity offers something for every kind of traveler.
Language and Culture
Belize’s diversity extends far beyond its landscapes—it’s woven into the very fabric of its people and language. While English is the official language, the sounds of Belize shift depending on where you are. Along the coast, Creole is widely spoken, while near the Guatemalan border, Spanish dominates. Although English is enough to navigate the country, speaking Spanish during my stay in the rainforest near Guatemala added a richer dimension to my experience. Locals’ faces lit up when I switched to Spanish, creating moments of connection that deepened my cultural appreciation.
This linguistic diversity reflects Belize’s unique history as the only Central American country where English is the official language—a legacy of its time as a British colony and its continued membership in the Commonwealth. Reminders of its colonial ties remain visible, such as the Queen’s portrait on the currency. But Belize’s identity is also deeply tied to its natural environment, with 65% of its land undeveloped and 35% designated as national parks or protected areas. This commitment to conservation is striking, particularly in a world where pristine wilderness is increasingly rare. Belize promotes ecotourism and reforestation efforts to safeguard its natural beauty, though challenges persist. For example, while logging laws require two trees to be planted for every one cut down, skepticism abounds about whether this policy is enforced. Issues of corruption and enforcement, common in many countries, complicate these efforts. Still, eco-lodges and guided rainforest tours are increasingly emphasizing sustainability, and I hope Belize continues prioritizing its environmental stewardship as its tourism industry grows.
These historical and cultural influences also play a role in shaping Belize’s geopolitical relationships, particularly with Guatemala and the British Commonwealth. Belize and Guatemala have a long-standing border dispute, with Guatemala claiming over half of Belizean territory. In Guatemala, maps often depict borders that differ dramatically from those recognized internationally. I asked a Belizean man if he was glad Belize remained part of the Commonwealth. “Yes,” he replied, “because the minute we aren’t, Guatemala would invade, and we’d be at war. We are too small of a country to defend ourselves.” Despite this geopolitical tension, the everyday relationships between Belizeans and Guatemalans are surprisingly friendly. One man explained, “I go into Guatemala almost every day. It’s so expensive here in Belize, and everything there is way more affordable. But most importantly, they are my friends.”
Cultural Insights
Below are some things I learned about Belizean culture through many conversations that helped me better understand the people and culture. They may enhance your appreciation of the country:
Homes: Many Belizeans build their own homes because they don’t trust government-built housing. A local explained, “If it collapses, the only people to blame are ourselves.” Homes on stilts are common, even in jungle areas. This design:
Protects homes from flooding during the rainy season.
Helps detect termites early, as families can see them climbing the stilts before reaching the house. Termites are pervasive in the humid climate.
Provides a covered area for cars or laundry during rain.
License Plates: The color of a car’s license plate indicates its use:
Blue: Government vehicles.
Green: Taxis. If you’re looking for a taxi, ensure it has a green license plate for safety. If you don’t see a green license plate and the person is claiming they are a taxi driver, don’t get in.
White with red letters: Diplomatic vehicles.
Example of a green taxi license plate
Taxis and Uber: Uber doesn’t operate in Belize, and most taxi drivers won’t take locals after 6 p.m. after some dangerous encounters over the last few years where cars were hijacked and sold over the border. They don’t mind taking tourists, however, you just might need to arrange a ride ahead of time for late evenings.
Location Overviews
San Ignacio
San Ignacio serves as a hub for exploring the jungle region of Western Belize. Instead of staying
in town, we opted for an eco-lodge about 10 minutes away. The town itself has cute corners with
restaurants and shops lining its main streets, but I preferred the tranquility of the jungle. If you visit, I would recommend staying nearby and venturing into town for a meal or a stroll.
Caye Caulker
There are two main Cayes that travelers often decide between when visiting Belize: Caye Caulker and Caye Ambergris (San Pedro). Caye Caulker is a small island paradise where no cars are allowed. Locals divide the island into three streets: Front Street, Middle Street, and Back Street. Front Street, on the eastern side, is the busiest, lined with shops, restaurants, and tour offices. Transportation options include golf cart taxis or bike rentals, which I highly recommend. You can bike the length of the island in about 20 minutes, enjoying coastal views along Avenida Hicaco.
The island has a laid-back, backpacker vibe. However, depending on where you are and the time of day, you might also encounter a “retired spring breakers” atmosphere. Despite this, Caye Caulker’s charm and relaxed pace make it a delightful getaway.
DEEPER DIVE
🦺 Safety
I felt extremely safe throughout Belize. The people were so kind and friendly.
Belize City felt less safe. It’s best to avoid spending time there; use it as a transit hub to fly in or out and move on to other destinations.
San Ignacio / rainforest | Caye Caulker/ coast |
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💵 Affordability
Belize can cater to various budgets. It’s not the cheapest destination in Central America, but prices are moderate:
Beer: ~$4
Breakfast with coffee: ~$10
Dinner entrée: ~$15
Many activities, such as caving, Mayan ruin tours, and snorkeling, require organized tours, increasing costs. If you are visiting just to relax and not do any of the tours then it will be more budget friendly. But then you are missing out on so much beauty!
Lodging ranges from budget-friendly hostels and Airbnbs to more expensive eco-resorts. For example:
Ecolodge in San Ignacio: ~$140 per person/night
High-end eco-resort: ~$250 per person/night
I preferred eco-accommodations for their unique experiences and connection to the jungle.
🚌 Public Transportation
Public transportation on the mainland is limited and not easy to navigate. While bus stops exist, they are not ideal for tourists.
Instead of renting a car, we arranged private transfers, which were more cost-effective given that most tours included transportation.
Caye Caulker is car-free, with golf cart taxis and bikes serving as the primary means of transportation.
🧗♀️ Adventure
Belize is an adventurer’s paradise. Activities include hiking, caving, snorkeling, and forest exploration.
If relaxation is your goal, Belize’s islands and resorts also offer a more tranquil experience.
VISA REQUIREMENTS
If you are have an American passport you do NOT need a visa to enter Belize. For foreign nationals exempt from the visa requirements, all you will need is a valid passport with a blank page for the entry stamp. You can stay in the country for 90 days. If you are not sure if you are exempt from the visa requirements, check here.
LOGISTICS FOR SAN IGNACIO
How to get there
Fly into Belize City, then drive ~1.5 hours to San Ignacio. Arrange a transfer through your hotel for convenience and safety.
If waiting for someone at the airport, remain in the baggage claim area past passport control, as the terminal exit has limited facilities and many taxi drivers offering rides.
Food options in the airport are very limited, but there are duty-free shops with rum and cigars.
Should I rent a car? For our itinerary, renting a car wasn’t necessary. Organized transfers were more affordable, especially since most tours included transportation.
Driving in Belize felt safe and straightforward, with well-paved main roads.
I would have felt safe driving – the main road was well paved, not too crowded, and easy to navigate. For us, it was a cost effective decision. If you want to make a lot of stops as you drive or you aren’t doing a lot of tours with organized transfers then you might want to consider it.
Where to stay?
Stay in an ecolodge near San Ignacio to experience the jungle’s beauty. Our stay at Vanilla Hills Lodge ecolodge was exceptional, with stunning grounds, helpful staff, and seamless tour arrangements.
LOGISTICS FOR CAYE CAULKER
How to get there
Take the Belize Express ferry from Belize City to Caye Caulker (45 minutes). If flying into Belize City, you can organize a transfer to the port.
Avoid booking transfers through the ferry company due to infrequent schedules; arrange private transport instead. NOTE: We did this on our return and booked it through the ferry company but it ended up being a disaster, so I would recommend NOT doing that. The transfer runs very infrequently. If coming from the mainland you can ask your transfer to drop you at the port.
Where to stay?
A common question is "which island should I stay on? Caye Caulker or Caye Ambergris?" I did a lot of research on this and was very happy with my decision to stay on Caye Caulker. It was a super friendly, fun community and pretty affordable. Note that I did not stay or visit Caye Ambergris so this is what I have read or heard from friends who stayed there - who also loved it! You can't go wrong. We stayed at a great AirBNB on the island.
San Ignacio / rainforest | Caye Caulker/ coast |
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CASH vs. CREDIT
Currency: Belize Dollar (BZ) and USD.
Exchange rate: 1 USD = 2 BZ.
USD is widely accepted, but it’s useful to carry cash, especially in remote areas or on islands.
Expect change in a mix of USD and BZ when paying in cash.
Have small denominations for convenience, as some shops and golf cart taxis are cash-only.
ITINERARY
Our 6 days play--by--play
Day 1: Arrival in Belize City > San Ignacio
Landed in Belize City, met my sister and transfer, and drove to San Ignacio (~2 hours).
Explored the jungle lodge and relaxed after dinner. Since Belize is near the equator the sun sets consistently around 6 pm.
NOTE: you are in the rainforest – there are critters all around! We had a wolf spider friend in our bathroom for the duration of our stay. And many mosquitos.
Tip: Bring bug repellant and long-sleeved clothing to protect against mosquitoes.
Day 2: Day Trip to Tikal, Guatemala
Departed at 7:30 a.m. for Tikal, one of the most important Mayan ruins. To get there we had to cross the border, which is only about 25 minutes from San Ignacio. Customs took 40 minutes. Navigating this process was covered by the tour guide, so I can’t give specific details but do know that there is a fee you have to pay to cross. If you decide to do this on your own I would recommend doing more research on what you need.
From the border to Tikal was a 1.5 hour drive. We explored Tikal’s Mayan ruins and wildlife
for ~5 hours. In terms of pop culture, Tikal is perhaps most well known as a filming location for Star Wars. The wildlife is amazing - you'll see coati, monkeys, toucans, parrots and more.
We returned to our lodge around 7 p.m.
Day 3: Day tour - ATM Cave
Started the day early for the famous ATM Cave Tour, one of the most unique adventures in Belize. This experience includes a jungle hike, swimming into the cave, and exploring one of the most significant archeological sites in Mesoamerica and its ancient Mayan artifacts.
Note: If you’re claustrophobic, this tour may not be for you due to tight spaces and water crossings. However, even my sister, who does not like caves, loved this tour.
The tour lasted ~5 hours and included lunch before returning to our hotel.
In the evening, we ventured into San Ignacio for dinner. I'm glad we saw the town but did not want to stay long after dark.
Day 4: San Ignacio > Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve
We departed early for Gaia River Lodge, our splurge of the trip, via private transfer.
Located in the Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve, Gaia is surrounded by lush pine forests and waterfalls, offering a stark contrast to the rainforest just an hour away.
We spent the day enjoying the property’s stunning views and private beach at the base of a waterfall. Gaia River Lodge is a gem, and I highly recommend it. The rapid change in climate and scenery between regions was fascinating.
Day 5: Gaia > Caye Caulker
Checked out of Gaia and took a transfer back to Belize City to catch the ferry to Caye Caulker.
Arrived 30 minutes early at the ferry terminal to check in and line up.
Despite the ferry starting to sink due to it being overcrowded (what is travel without stories like these!), we safely made it to Caye Caulker.
After arriving, we booked a snorkeling tour directly at the company's local location—most tours have availability even if websites say otherwise.
Our Airbnb host, a friendly local, gave us a tour of the island, pointing out must-visit spots.
We ended the day with sunset drinks at Stingray Beach and a delicious dinner at Hibisca by Habanero, followed by a 'golf cart taxi' ride home.
Day 6: Full day Caye Caulker - Snorkeling
We started with coffee and breakfast at Ice and Beans Cafe, a beachside cafe with hammocks and ocean views.
Then we headed to our snorkeling meeting point for E - Z Boy Tours for our group tour (~8
people). Our guides were awesome - very knowledgable about the reef and very eco-conscious.
This tour took us to 4 different spots including a ship wreck and the famous Hol Chan Marine Reserve. Highlights of the day included spotting turtles, sharks, eagle rays, and so many fish.
We ate a late lunch on the boat and returned home happy and sunburned, enjoying a late dinner at local favorite restaurant The Pelican Sunset Bar. It has an amazing sunset and the best ceviche in town!
Day 7: Full day Caye Caulker - Relaxing
Spent the morning wandering the island and browsing shops after grabbing coffee at Ice and Beans again.
An afternoon storm blew in so we read on the rooftop of our AirBNB.
Once the storm passed, we visited The Lazy Lizard bar for a drink and swim. It wasn't my favorite, so we went back to Stingray Bay.
We enjoyed a lovely dinner at Il Pellicano Cucina Italiana to wrap up our last full day in Belize.
Day 8: Return home
We savored one last coffee on the beach before catching the 11 a.m. ferry back to Belize City.
Plan your port - to - airport transfer carefully! The ferry company's transfer service is infrequent and runs on a particular schedule, which they do not advertise on the website when booking. After realizing we'd miss our flight if we waited, but fought to find a taxi. Another boat had just docked so no taxis were available but a kind police woman flagged down someone to take us.
MORE IMPORTANT TIPS TO KEEP IN MIND
Island life is amazing, but if you don't like bugs, beware! There are grasshoppers and spiders the size of your hand, and plenty of mosquitos!
Bring a small flashlight if you have one, it helps when you are walking around the island at night where there aren't any street lights
Have cash with you, particularly in increments of 5s and 10s. It's really important for getting around in the taxis, and some restaurants only take cash.
REVIEW OF ITINERARY
ROUGH BUDGET
Food | $150 |
Hotels* | $450 |
Tours | $325 |
Transfers | $170 |
Souvenirs | $30 |
TOTAL | $1125 |
* Overall costs were split 2 ways. This is the cost per individual.
NOTE: This budget does not include flights to and from Belize or tipping tour guides. The estimate will also vary by person depending on factors such as where and how often you eat out, how many tours you go on, were you stay.
IF I HAD HAD MORE TIME
I could have easily stayed in Belize for longer! I loved enjoying the relatively untouched environment and feeling immersed in so much biodiversity. If I had had more time here are a few things I would have wanted to do that I didn't get around to:
Placencia: A chill peninsula on the mainland with miles of sandy beaches and a small, authentic village feel. It's less touristy than the Cayes and offers easy access to both water adventures (like snorkeling and diving) and mainland activities, such as jungle excursions, river tours, and visiting Mayan ruins. Placencia feels more grounded in mainland culture while the Cayes offer a slice of island life.
Chocolate Plantation tour: I wish I had been able to tour a cacao plantation. I've heard great things about Ixcacao Maya Belizean Chocolate
Caracol: The largest Mayan archaeological site in Belize, nestled in the Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve, Caracol was once a powerful city-state that rivaled Tikal and boasts stunning structures like Caana, the tallest man-made structure in Belize.
ADDITIONAL Q & A
Q: Can I drink the tap water?
A: I would not. We drank bottled water the entire time, but didn't worry about washing our faces or brushing our teeth with it.
Q: Can I barter here?
A: This is not a barter society. Prices are as listed. If you are someone who has the need to haggle, you are more likely to get away with something on the islands than in Panama City.
Q: Are there any particular vaccinations I need?
A: This depends on what vaccinations you already have. Check here for a list of everything that is recommended by the CDC, or make an appointment with a travel health service clinic or doctor.