Tour added to wishlist!
Support Centre
Call us, we're open today 9.00am - 7.00pm Open today 9.00am - 7.00pm 01252391140 01252391140
My Explore
Wishlist
Trip Search
Menu
Last minute trips
Need a last minute getaway? Great savings on
Last minute trips

Tropical bliss: uncovering the best of Belize

Despite its small size, Belize packs a punch with mighty Mayan structures, wildlife havens and untouched natural wonders. We caught up with fellow Explorer Becky for her take on this Central American hotspot.
Author: Aimee White, who interviewed Becky (Head of Sales)
Date Published: 6 August 2024
 

Nestled between Mexico and Guatemala, Belize is known for its lush rainforests, ancient Mayan ruins and incredible wildlife. This Central American country may be small, but it's home to the world’s second largest barrier reef, making it a paradise for snorkellers and divers. 

Beyond its stunning coastline, Belize's ancient Mayan ruins provide a fascinating glimpse into the past, with towering pyramids and intricate carvings. For nature enthusiasts, the Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary offers a chance to spot jaguars, howler monkeys and a variety of bird species.

We caught up with fellow Explorer Becky, who joined our Discover Belize tour. Read on for her experience of this 13-day tour:

How would you describe Belize?

Belize offers a wonderful mixture of wildlife, archaeology, beaches and cuisine. With all of these factors in mind, we enjoyed a well-paced trip – we also had the chance to take part in a beach clean on Laughing Bird Caye and take in the world’s narrowest main street in Placencia.

In terms of food and drink in Belize, there was more variety than I thought. Belizean cuisine features Caribbean, Creole and other influences. There's plenty of authentic street food like tamales and hudut (a coconut milk and fish stew served with plantains), delicious fresh seafood and jerk chicken with rice and beans. 
View all Belize tours

How did you find your tour leader?

Our tour leader was Wilfred, a previous runner-up in Explore's Tour Leader Awards. He spoke passionately about any subject, from wildlife to politics, and is one of those people whose positivity simply washes over you. Our driver, Sayid, was like our unofficial deputy tour leader – he shared loads of stories about the places we visited. 

What's the accommodation like in Belize?

I thought the accommodation was awesome. We stayed at a range of comfortable and locally-run hotels and lodges which were all in fantastic locations. Our accommodation in Placencia was a little more basic than others – for example, the furnishings were slightly simpler, but I couldn't fault its beachside location. 

It's worth noting that our accommodation in Guatemala runs on generators, meaning the electricity cut out at certain times of the day. That said, it gave us more time to appreciate our wildlife surroundings.

What are the best Mayan sites to visit in Belize?

Belize was one of the birthplaces of the Mayan civilisation, which was established somewhere between 7000 BC and 2000 BC. There are some 600 Mayan sites in Belize; on our Belize small group tour, we visited four archaeological sites, with an option to visit a fifth. 

We started at Altun Ha, which means 'rock stone water', and dates to at least 200 BC. It’s located about an hour's drive from Belize City and we found the best time to visit was during the week, as it meant we avoided the weekend crowds. Next, we visited Lamanai, which means 'submerged crocodile'. Not only are there loads of carved crocodile representations, but it’s also thought the Maya practiced human sacrifices here… 
Discover more highlights of Belize
We also explored Xunantunich, which means 'maiden of the rock'. The complex was occupied until around AD 850 and its main plaza is dominated by El Castillo, a massive pyramid which was the tallest man-made structure in Belize before the discovery of Canaa ('sky palace') at Caracol. 

Finally, we crossed the border into Guatemala to visit Tikal. It's the biggest site you visit on this small group tour – and arguably the most impressive. It was settled around 600 BC but abandoned by its rulers around AD 890, and deserted a hundred years later. The ruins were breathtaking, but there are still many temples and pyramids that haven't been excavated yet.

What wildlife lives in Belize?

Wildlife is one of the best reasons to visit Belize. As well as countless howler monkeys, there's an abundance of birdlife; Belize is home to the jabiru stork, which is the tallest flying bird in the Americas, standing at five feet with a wingspan of up to nine feet. We saw blue heron, toucans, parakeets, and I also spotted a hummingbird outside my room one morning!

One of the things you're constantly looking out for are jaguars. We spent time in the Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary, but unfortunately we didn't spot any. We weren't surprised, though - jaguars are known to be very elusive creatures.
Discover the best world's best wildlife destinations

Is Belize cheap or expensive?

Belize is slightly more expensive than other countries in Central America, but it depends on where you go and what you plan on doing. Meal costs vary depending on the location - local restaurants off the beaten track may be cheaper, whereas upmarket restaurants in a major city usually charge more. 

To give a rough idea, we paid around 7 Belizean dollars ($3) for a bottle of beer and around 33 Belizean dollars ($17) for a high-quality main course. It's worth nothing that Belizean dollars and US dollars are interchangeable.
Take me to Becky's trip

Is Belize at the top of your travel wish list?

Discover the 'jewel in the heart of the Caribbean basin' on our range of our small group tours to Belize. Whether you're seeking family fun, want to check out the highlights or tick off multiple stops in Central and South America, we've got you covered. 
View our range of Belize tours

Love this? Now read:

Top 8 Highlights of Belize
Discover the best of Belize - from the mesmerising Barrier Reef to ancient Maya ruins. We share our top 8 highlights to discovering Belize.  

Guatemala to Costa Rica
Fresh from her adventures on our Highlights of Central America trip, Product Manager Carmel Hendry talks to us about how it feels to traverse 5 countries in just 16 days.

Best wildlife destinations in the world
Our guide to ten of the best wildlife destinations in the world, from India, home to the Bengal tiger, to Uganda to see the gorilla.
VIEW ALL BLOGS