Belize is the archetypal tropical paradise. Pristine rainforest. Mysterious Mayan temples. Powder soft white beaches with turquoise seas. And the second largest reef system in the world. Beautiful Belize will steal your heart. In fact it is the first country that Latin Odyssey’s founder Mark Rolfe’s went to and it remains his favourite country in Latin America. To help you plan your trip, here are some Belize holiday ideas and inspiration.
When to go?
Belize has two distinct seasons; January to May is the dry season and June to December is the wet season (and also the hurricane season). Whether it is diving in Belize or just lying back and enjoying the coconut rum in San Pedro on Ambergis Caye, the country has a huge amount to offer and is one of the most diverse in Central America.
Action-packed
In the west of the country is the jungle where you can go horse riding, caving, canoeing or just float down the Macal River on an inner tube. From here you can access the hidden Mayan ruins of Caracol and perhaps even spot an elusive jaguar en-route.
Jungle ruins
This region is also the jumping off point if you wish to see Tikal in Guatemala. Here you’ll find spectacular Mayan ruins towering above the jungle. There are over 3,000 temples, shrines, ball courts and plazas and because it’s not that well known it only receives about 200,000 visitors a year. This is a tiny number compared to the other better-known Mayan and Incan sites, for example Machu Picchu.
Laid back
To the south of the country is Placencia Belize, one of the most laid back regions you will ever find. From Placencia you can easily reach the Belize barrier reef and the famous blue hole, an experts diving paradise.
Chocolate making
Even further south is the Toledo district, an untouched wilderness with some superb lodges. It is home to diverse ethnic communities – Mopan and Kekchi Maya, Garifuna, East Indian, Creoles, Hispanics and Mennonites. We can arrange tours where you can meet with them and hear about their way of life first hand. There is also the opportunity to join a chocolate tour with a family who have been farming chocolate for generations.
Birding
Lying in the heart of the country is Lamanai and Chan Chich, both offer some of the best birding options in the country and also the stunning Mayan ruins of Lamanai, where, from the top, you have a 360 degree view across the jungle canopy!
Read some of our sample Belize itineraries or give us a call to discuss what your dream Belize holiday would look like. Everything we do is 100% tailor-made and personalised around you and your budget.
