Belize packs two very different trips into a small country. Inland, you climb Maya pyramids like El Castillo at Xunantunich, canoe through ancient caves and swim beneath waterfalls in the hills around San Ignacio. Offshore, you snorkel with nurse sharks and rays at Hol Chan and Shark Ray Alley, and fly over or dive the Great Blue Hole. San Ignacio is 67 miles from Belize City, and a water taxi reaches San Pedro in about 1 hour 30 minutes.
This page starts with our ranked picks for a first trip, best first, each with a practical tip on timing and booking. Below them you will find every sight we cover in Ambergris Caye, San Ignacio and Belize City, with opening notes and checked entry fees where we have them, followed by answers to common questions.
The 16 best things to do in Belize
Ticket and tour links search Tiqets in a new tab. TravPa earns a commission if you book; your price stays the same.
- 1San Ignacio
Climb El Castillo at Xunantunich
Xunantunich was a ceremonial center built on a natural limestone ridge in the Classic Period. Six plazas hold more than 25 temples and palaces, and the largest pyramid, El Castillo, rises 130 feet above the plaza. On the east side of structure A-6 you can see carved friezes, with a replica sun god mask flanked by the moon and Venus. On a clear day the view from the top reaches into Guatemala. The site sits on a hill near the village of San Jose Succotz, and the way in is part of the fun: you cross the Mopan River on a hand-cranked ferry. Allow a relaxed half day from San Ignacio.
Tip: Arrive by early afternoon at the latest, because the last tour for walk-in visitors starts 1.5 hours before the 5:00 PM closing, and everyone leaves their vehicle at the ferry.
Search tickets and tours on TiqetsSources: Belize Tourism Board (travelbelize.org); NICH Belize e-ticketing (ticketing.nichbelize.org)Non-resident adult: BZD 25 (about $12) · Buy online or at the siteLast verified
- 2San Ignacio
Explore the Maya hilltop palace of Cahal Pech
Cahal Pech, meaning Place of Ticks in Yucatec Maya, stands on a hill above San Ignacio and Santa Elena, only a short walk from the center of town. People first settled here between 1200 and 1000 BC, which makes it one of the oldest settlements in the lowland Maya world. The central precinct has 36 structures, including tall temple pyramids, two ballcourts and a maze of interconnected palace rooms, and the tallest temple, Structure A1, stands 77 feet high. From the top you look out over the town and the Belize River Valley. The site has a visitor center, restrooms and a picnic area.
Tip: Go early, since the site opens at 6:00 AM from April to October and 6:30 AM from October to April, and plan to be back down by the last tour, one hour before closing.
Search tickets and tours on TiqetsSources: Belize Tourism Board (travelbelize.org); NICH Belize e-ticketing (ticketing.nichbelize.org)Non-resident adult: BZD 20 (about $10) · Buy online or at the siteLast verified
- 3Ambergris Caye
Snorkel the reef at Hol Chan Marine Reserve
Hol Chan means Little Channel in Maya, named for a deep cut in the barrier reef off Ambergris Caye. The reserve, about four miles south of San Pedro, was legislated in July 1987 as Belize's first marine reserve. It covers 13,632 acres in four zones: coral reef, sea grass beds, mangroves and Shark Ray Alley. Snorkelers come to see schools of docile nurse sharks and colorful reef fish, in an area that also protects loggerhead and green turtles, Nassau grouper and elkhorn and staghorn coral. Shark Ray Alley, one mile south of the cut, sits inside the same reserve.
Tip: Visit Shark Ray Alley on the same outing, since it is only one mile south of the Hol Chan cut.
Search tickets and tours on TiqetsSources: Belize Tourism Board (travelbelize.org); Belize Tourism Board (travelbelize.org); Belize Tourism Board (travelbelize.org)Snorkel on a guided boat tour - 4Ambergris Caye
Meet nurse sharks and stingrays at Shark Ray Alley
Shark Ray Alley is Zone D of the Hol Chan Marine Reserve, a 1,280 acre protected area one mile south of the Hol Chan cut. Fishermen once cleaned their catch here. Today it is described as a top snorkeling location, a rare chance to float beside stingrays, nurse sharks and turtles in shallow water. Reef tours run to it from both San Pedro and Caye Caulker. The tourism board promotes it as a place to snorkel beside the animals, with the reef at Hol Chan close by. The two stops are only a mile apart, so they pair naturally on one reef outing.
Tip: Bring a camera, and combine it with Hol Chan on one reef trip.
Search tickets and tours on TiqetsSources: Belize Tourism Board (travelbelize.org); Belize Tourism Board (travelbelize.org); Belize Tourism Board (travelbelize.org)Snorkel on a guided boat tour - 5Ambergris Caye
See the Great Blue Hole from the air or underwater
The Great Blue Hole is a circular sinkhole about 1,000 feet (300 meters) across and over 400 feet (120 meters) deep, in the shallow waters near the center of Lighthouse Reef Atoll. It is a collapsed cave system that was likely formed above ground about 10,000 years ago, at the end of the last Ice Age, and it is described as the largest formation of its kind in the world. Divers drop past vertical cliffs and overhanging shelves with stalactites and stalagmites, and marine life such as Caribbean reef sharks. You can go on a day dive trip or a live-aboard, or fly over it on a sightseeing flight, which gives the famous deep blue circle view.
Tip: Choose a licensed, sustainable operator, and read the responsible visitation guidelines before you book.
Search tickets and tours on TiqetsSources: Belize Tourism Board (travelbelize.org); Belize Tourism Board (travelbelize.org)Dive, boat or air tour; BZ$[fee] - 6San IgnacioBook ahead
Float through the Maya cave at Barton Creek
Barton Creek Cave is a wet cave in the Mountain Pine Ridge area, and you see it by canoe. Paddling through the dark, you pass Maya ceramics and the calcified skeletons of ancient Maya, and finds here include a necklace of perforated animal finger bones and a carved bone figure. Everyone must go with a tour guide, in groups of no more than 8, wearing a life vest and a helmet with a light. You must be able to swim and be in good physical health, and the site asks you not to touch the formations. It makes a good afternoon after a morning at Xunantunich.
Tip: Aim to arrive well before 3:30 PM, because the last tour starts 1.5 hours before the 5:00 PM close and nobody enters the cave after 4:00 PM.
Search tickets and tours on TiqetsSources: Belize Tourism Board (travelbelize.org); NICH Belize e-ticketing (ticketing.nichbelize.org)Non-resident entrance: BZD 20 (about $10) · Guided tour onlyLast verified
- 7San Ignacio
Hike and swim into Actun Tunichil Muknal
Actun Tunichil Muknal, known locally as Xibalba, is a cave that is also a Maya site. Ceramics, stoneware and skeletons lie where the Maya left them, and the Monkey Pot is one of only four found in Central America. The best known is the Crystal Maiden, the calcified skeleton of a teenage girl that sparkles. The trip starts with a 45 minute drive from San Ignacio and a 45 minute hike through Tapir Mountain Nature Reserve with numerous jungle stream crossings. A crystal-clear stream flows from the cave mouth, and you swim into the cave, then continue on a guided hike through the passage.
Tip: The trip is physically demanding and includes swimming, so wear shoes that can get wet and go in good shape.
Search tickets and tours on TiqetsSources: Belize Tourism Board (travelbelize.org); Belize Tourism Board (travelbelize.org)Guided tour only; tickets via licensed operators; BZ$[fee] - 8San Ignacio
Stand atop Caana at Caracol
Caracol lies deep in the Chiquibul Forest Reserve at the base of the Maya Mountains, in the westernmost part of Belize. Covering nearly 25,000 acres, it was one of the largest Maya sites, and at its peak the city spread over about 38 square miles with almost 100,000 people. Its carved monuments show a major power that allied with Calakmul and fought Tikal, Naranjo and Ucanal. The main temple, Caana, meaning Sky Place, is 143 feet tall and the tallest structure built in Belize, with views over the jungle, the mountains and a section of the Guatemala border. There is a visitor center with a monument museum on site.
Tip: Plan a full day: the last tour starts at 2:00 PM and everyone should be ready to leave the site by 3:00 PM.
Search tickets and tours on TiqetsSources: Belize Tourism Board (travelbelize.org); NICH Belize e-ticketing (ticketing.nichbelize.org)Non-resident adult: BZD 25 (about $12) · Buy online or at the siteLast verified
- 9San Ignacio
Tube through the caves at Nohoch Che'en
Nohoch Che'en, meaning Big Cave, is a subterranean site at the foothills of the Maya Mountains beside the Caves Branch River. Archaeological research shows the cave took hundreds of years to form, and the ancient Maya came here to conduct rituals. Today daily tours let you grab an inner tube and float through the cave on the river. All visitors must go with a guide, in groups of up to 8, must be able to swim, and wear a life vest and helmet with a light. There is a minimum height of 40 inches for the cave tour, and the site has showers, restrooms and tube rentals.
Tip: Arrive before 3:00 PM, because after that visitors can only enter the first cave, and check the 40 inch height rule for children.
Search tickets and tours on TiqetsSources: Belize Tourism Board (travelbelize.org); NICH Belize e-ticketing (ticketing.nichbelize.org)Non-resident entrance: BZD 20 (about $10) · Guided tour onlyLast verified
- 10Belize City
Meet rescued jaguars and harpy eagles at the Belize Zoo
The Belize Zoo sits on roughly 30 acres at Mile 29 on the George Price Highway, about halfway between Belize City and Belmopan. It is home to rehabilitated, orphaned and rescued wildlife of Belize, with more than 40 species on view, including jaguars, tapirs, spider monkeys, keel-billed toucans, scarlet macaws and harpy eagles. Each rescued animal has a story you can read on the walk. A visit takes between one and two hours along about a mile of winding paths, and the paths suit wheelchairs and strollers. It is an easy first stop on the way west.
Tip: Time it for the start or end of a drive between Belize City and Cayo, since it is about 30 minutes from the airport and city.
Search tickets and tours on TiqetsSources: The Belize Zoo (belizezoo.org); Belize Tourism Board (travelbelize.org)International adult: BZD 40 (about $20) · Buy online or at the gateLast verified
- 11Belize City
Climb the Temple of the Masonry Altars at Altun Ha
Altun Ha was a trading link between the Caribbean coast and the inland Maya centers, and the Maya lived here from 250 BC to AD 1000, peaking from AD 400 to 900. The ruins sit 31 miles from Belize City on the Old Northern Highway and include 13 plazas and two main temples. The Temple of the Masonry Altars is about 53 feet high and appears on the Belikin beer logo. In a tomb inside it, archaeologists found the Jade Head in 1968, a 10 pound carving of the Maya sun god and the largest carved jade object known in Mesoamerica. The original is kept at the Central Bank of Belize.
Tip: Plan it as a day trip from Belize City, and arrive before the last tour, which starts one hour before the 5:00 PM closing.
Search tickets and tours on TiqetsSources: Belize Tourism Board (travelbelize.org); NICH Belize e-ticketing (ticketing.nichbelize.org)Non-resident adult: BZD 20 (about $10) · Buy online or at the siteLast verified
- 12San Ignacio
Jump into the pool beneath Big Rock Falls
Big Rock Falls is a 150 foot waterfall in the Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve. It drops into a small pool and then into a larger cenote where water rushes over big rocks, which gave the falls their name. You drive a couple of hours on red dirt roads from San Ignacio, check in with the ranger at the reserve entrance, then drive about four miles to the trailhead at the top of a long wooden staircase. Once you hear the water, you are close. You can dive or jump from a rocky cliff, wade among the rocks, or float on your back in the cenote.
Tip: Plan a half day, or a couple of hours if you combine it with nearby Rio On Pools, and ask in San Ignacio about a guide.
Search tickets and tours on TiqetsSources: Belize Tourism Board (travelbelize.org); Belize Tourism Board (travelbelize.org)Pay at the site; BZ$[fee] - 13Ambergris Caye
Swim and sunset at The Split on Caye Caulker
The Split is a popular swimming spot on Caye Caulker, known for lively music, a colorful atmosphere and sea views. Visitors jump off the dive board into the blue water, order ceviche or the island's Lizard Juice drink, and watch the sunset. On the walk there you pass open-air cafes and stalls selling handmade crafts such as jewelry, art and woven bags. Caye Caulker is relaxed and slow: the main ways to get around are on foot or by bicycle. It works as an overnight stay or a day trip, and the boat from San Pedro takes about 30 minutes.
Tip: Add a half day snorkel tour of the barrier reef first, then spend the late afternoon at The Split.
Search tours on TiqetsSources: Belize Tourism Board (travelbelize.org); Belize Tourism Board (travelbelize.org); San Pedro Belize Express Water Taxi Limited (belizewatertaxi.com)Free to visit - 14Belize City
Watch the sailboats from the Belize City Swing Bridge
The Swing Bridge links the north and south sides of downtown Belize City across Haulover Creek. A wooden bridge was first built here in 1818, replaced in 1859, then replaced by a metal bridge in 1923. It is still operated today during very special ceremonies. Visitors come to see sailboats and pelicans on the water, and the area around it holds remnants of the days when Belize was British Honduras. Downtown also has the Museum of Belize and the Supreme Court building, built in 1926.
Tip: Look for the sailboats and pelicans on the creek, then continue to the Museum of Belize downtown.
Search tours on TiqetsSources: Belize Tourism Board (travelbelize.org); Belize Tourism Board (travelbelize.org)Free to visit - 15Ambergris Caye
Snorkel the shallow coral gardens at Mexico Rocks
Mexico Rocks is a range of 10 to 12 foot rocks off Ambergris Caye. The area is easily visible and slightly flat, which the tourism board says makes it ideal for beginner snorkelers. You may spot starfish, elkhorn and staghorn coral, lobster, eels and colorful juvenile fish. Visitors curious about diving can try SNUBA or sea diving. The tourism board says it is difficult to reach, so most people book a tour or ask a local guide to take them.
Tip: Book a tour or ask a local, since it is difficult to reach on your own.
Search tickets and tours on TiqetsSources: Belize Tourism Board (travelbelize.org); Belize Tourism Board (travelbelize.org)Snorkel on a guided boat tour - 16San Ignacio
Swim in St. Herman's Blue Hole
St. Herman's Blue Hole is a natural turquoise pool that is part of a river system, surrounded by moss and lush vegetation. The tourism board is clear that it is not the Great Blue Hole, which is a different place. Swimming here is easy for everyone, and after a dip you can head into St. Herman's cave to explore. The cave is not for the faint of heart, and a guide must go with you, but if you prefer to stay out of it you can enjoy the pool on its own.
Tip: Hire a guide before you go if you want to enter the cave.
Search tickets and tours on TiqetsSources: Belize Tourism Board (travelbelize.org)Pay at the visitor center; BZ$[fee]
Every sight, city by city
Ambergris Caye (San Pedro)
Things to do in Ambergris Caye (San Pedro)Tours and tickets in Ambergris Caye (San Pedro)Bacalar Chico National Park
A remote park and marine reserve at the northern tip of the island, split from Mexico by a Maya-dug canal.Entry: Guided tour; BZ$[fee]Search tickets and tours on TiqetsCaye Caulker Village
A small island village of sandy lanes, cafes and seafood restaurants, explored on foot or by bicycle.Entry: Pay as you goGreat Blue Hole
A marine sinkhole about 1,000 feet across and over 400 feet deep in Lighthouse Reef Atoll.Entry: Dive, boat or air tour; BZ$[fee]Search tickets and tours on TiqetsHol Chan Marine Reserve
Belize's first marine reserve, about 4 miles south of San Pedro, with coral reef, sea grass and mangroves.Entry: Snorkel on a guided boat tourSearch tickets and tours on TiqetsMexico Rocks
A shallow snorkeling area off northern Ambergris Caye with elkhorn and staghorn coral, good for beginners.Entry: Snorkel on a guided boat tourSearch tickets and tours on TiqetsSan Pedro Town
Ambergris Caye's town of sandy streets, shops, art galleries and mom-and-pop restaurants serving fry jack and salbutes.Entry: Pay as you goSecret Beach
A beach north of San Pedro Town on Ambergris Caye that visitors reach by golf cart.Entry: Free to visitSearch tours on TiqetsShark Ray Alley
A snorkel spot one mile south of the Hol Chan cut with nurse sharks, stingrays and turtles.Entry: Snorkel on a guided boat tourSearch tickets and tours on TiqetsThe Split
Caye Caulker's popular swimming spot with a dive board, music and sunset views over the water.Entry: Free to visitSearch tours on TiqetsAltun Ha
Maya trading center 31 miles from Belize City with 13 plazas, two main temples and the Jade Head find.Entry: Buy online or at the siteSearch tickets and tours on TiqetsHarpy Cafe at The Belize Zoo
The zoo cafe with a full menu, all-day breakfast, drinks and daily baked pastries.Entry: Pay as you goMuseum of Belize
A former colonial prison, now a museum with the last prison cell, Maya jades and Belizean art.Entry: Buy online or at the doorSearch tickets and tours on TiqetsSt. John's Cathedral
The oldest Anglican church in Central America, where four Mosquito Coast kings were crowned from 1815 to 1845.Entry: Free to visitSearch tours on TiqetsSupreme Court building
A 1926 New Orleans style building with filigreed iron stairs, balcony rails and a four-sided clock.Entry: Free to view from outsideSwing Bridge
Hand-operated swing bridge over Haulover Creek, first built in 1818 and rebuilt in metal in 1923.Entry: Free to visitSearch tours on TiqetsThe Belize Zoo
A wheelchair-accessible zoo at Mile 29 of rescued native wildlife, including jaguars, tapirs and harpy eagles.Entry: Buy online or at the gateSearch tickets and tours on TiqetsActun Tunichil Muknal
A cave reached by a jungle hike and a swim, holding Maya ceramics and the Crystal Maiden skeleton.Entry: Guided tour only; tickets via licensed operators; BZ$[fee]Search tickets and tours on TiqetsBarton Creek Cave
A wet cave you explore by canoe, with Maya ceramics and calcified skeletons inside.Entry: Guided tour onlySearch tickets and tours on TiqetsBelize Botanical Gardens
A 45-acre garden on the Macal River with native trees and an orchid exhibit of over 100 species.Entry: Pay at the gateSearch tickets and tours on TiqetsBig Rock Falls
A 150-foot waterfall in the Mountain Pine Ridge reached by wooden stairs, with a swimming pool at its base.Entry: Pay at the site; BZ$[fee]Search tickets and tours on TiqetsBurns Avenue
San Ignacio's bustling main street, popular for lunch, dinner and a cafe stop.Entry: Pay as you goCahal Pech
Hilltop Maya ceremonial center with temples, palaces and a ball court, a short walk from San Ignacio.Entry: Buy online or at the siteSearch tickets and tours on TiqetsCaracol
One of the largest Maya cities, deep in the Chiquibul Forest Reserve, with a vast field system.Entry: Buy online or at the siteSearch tickets and tours on TiqetsEl Pilar
A large Maya site that shows how ordinary families lived, with excavated homes and planted gardens.Entry: Buy online or at the siteSearch tickets and tours on TiqetsGreen Iguana Conservation Project
A project at the San Ignacio Resort Hotel that raises and releases green iguanas, which visitors can meet.Entry: Ask at the hotelSearch tickets and tours on TiqetsHawkesworth Bridge
The only suspension bridge in Belize, joining San Ignacio to Santa Elena above the Macal River.Entry: Free to visitSearch tours on TiqetsNohoch Che'en Archaeological Reserve
A cave system on the Sibun River explored on guided tubing tours with a life vest and helmet.Entry: Guided tour onlySearch tickets and tours on TiqetsRio Frio Cave
A quarter-mile cave with a 65-foot-tall entrance, pools and waterfalls in the Mountain Pine Ridge.Entry: Pay at the site; BZ$[fee]Search tickets and tours on TiqetsRio On Pools
Granite ledges, small waterfalls and freshwater pools with picnic spots in the Mountain Pine Ridge.Entry: Pay at the site; BZ$[fee]Search tickets and tours on TiqetsSt. Herman's Blue Hole National Park
A turquoise swimming pool on the Hummingbird Highway, next to St. Herman's Cave and its guided tours.Entry: Pay at the visitor center; BZ$[fee]Search tickets and tours on TiqetsThousand Foot Falls
The highest waterfall in Belize, in the Mountain Pine Ridge, about 1.5 hours from San Ignacio.Entry: Pay at the site; BZ$[fee]Search tickets and tours on TiqetsXunantunich
Maya site above the Mopan River, reached by hand-cranked ferry, with the 130-foot El Castillo pyramid.Entry: Buy online or at the siteSearch tickets and tours on TiqetsQuestions travelers ask
What are the best things to do in Belize for a first trip?
Split your time between the jungle and the reef. In the west, climb El Castillo at Xunantunich, explore Cahal Pech, and join a cave trip such as Barton Creek by canoe or Actun Tunichil Muknal on foot. Then head to the cayes for snorkeling at Hol Chan Marine Reserve and Shark Ray Alley, and a swim at The Split on Caye Caulker. If you have time, add the Great Blue Hole by air, Caracol for the tallest Maya structure in Belize, and the Belize Zoo on the drive west.
Sources: Belize Tourism Board (travelbelize.org); Belize Tourism Board (travelbelize.org); Belize Tourism Board (travelbelize.org)How many days do you need in Belize?
A week is enough for one jungle base and one island base. The tourism board's own 7-day plan starts in San Ignacio, which is just 67 miles from Belize City, then moves to the coast and ends on Ambergris Caye with reef snorkeling and a Caye Caulker day. Water taxis from Belize City take about 1 hour 30 minutes to San Pedro. With 4 or 5 days, choose either Cayo or the cayes, since it is a lot of travel to do both.
Sources: Belize Tourism Board (travelbelize.org); Belize Tourism Board (travelbelize.org); San Pedro Belize Express Water Taxi Limited (belizewatertaxi.com)When is the best time to visit Belize for sightseeing?
The dry season from December to March or April is the high season, with virtually no rain, and December can bring a cold front with nighttime lows around 55°F (13°C). The rainy season runs from June to November, when hotels and tour operators often offer discounts and the country is less crowded. Choose the dry months for the most settled weather, or the wet months for lower prices and fewer visitors.
Sources: Belize Tourism Board (travelbelize.org); Belize Tourism Board (travelbelize.org)Which Belize attractions should you book ahead?
Book the guided ones. Barton Creek Cave and Nohoch Che'en allow only guided groups, with no more than 8 visitors per guide, and St. Herman's cave also needs a guide. The Great Blue Hole, by dive boat or flight, should go through a licensed, sustainable operator, and a trip like Actun Tunichil Muknal is easiest to arrange the same way. The National Institute of Culture and History sells dated tickets for its Maya sites online, so check the last tour times for Caracol and Xunantunich.
Sources: NICH Belize e-ticketing (ticketing.nichbelize.org); NICH Belize e-ticketing (ticketing.nichbelize.org); Belize Tourism Board (travelbelize.org); Belize Tourism Board (travelbelize.org); NICH Belize e-ticketing (ticketing.nichbelize.org); NICH Belize e-ticketing (ticketing.nichbelize.org)How do you get around Belize?
Local airlines are the fastest and most popular way to cover long distances, with small airports near key points of interest. Water taxis run on a schedule between Belize City, Caye Caulker and San Pedro, in about 45 minutes to Caye Caulker and 1 hour 30 minutes to San Pedro. Highways connect all mainland towns, there are bus terminals in most towns, and car rental agencies are mostly in Belize City and at the international airport. On Caye Caulker you walk or bike, and on San Pedro a golf cart is the usual choice.
Sources: Belize Tourism Board (travelbelize.org); San Pedro Belize Express Water Taxi Limited (belizewatertaxi.com); Belize Tourism Board (travelbelize.org)What money and safety tips matter in Belize?
The Belize dollar (BZD) is fixed at 2 to 1 against the US dollar, and US dollars are widely accepted, so you can carry either. Use ordinary safety habits: stay aware of your surroundings, secure your belongings, and book licensed hotels and tour operators listed on the tourism board site. Belize also has a free online arrival and departure form that you can fill in before you travel.
Sources: Belize Tourism Board (travelbelize.org); Belize Tourism Board (travelbelize.org)