Belize Packing List: What to Bring & Wear [For Female Travelers]

With a subtropical climate that makes visiting Belize relatively easy year-round, packing for Belize isn’t extremely difficult to do.

The temperatures stay relatively similar year-round, with an average high of 84° F (29°C), and temperatures as low as 60°F (16°C) possible at night, in the more “wintery” part of the year (December-March).

Since I was usually escaping the North American cold on my trips to Belize, I’ve visited Belize thrice in the “winter” period, once in December and twice in February. Every time, the weather was really pleasant and easy to dress for, about 80° F or 27° C all day and a bit cooler at night.

Like most subtropical and tropical countries, Belize has two main seasons, not four: wet and dry season.

The dry season is from January to May, with far less rain than the rest of the year. This is the most ideal weather but the most crowded. June through December is the wet season, with more frequent rain and a potential for hurricanes in the June through October part of the wet season.

There is some regional variation in temperatures. The cayes of Belize will be hot and sunny, with a bit of an ocean breeze and incredibly high humidity. Meanwhile, the interior will be far cooler but also a bit more humid due to all the lush vegetation. The interior is more likely to rain than the islands.

Depending on where you go in the country, you may want to adjust your Belize packing list accordingly (more cool weather clothes and sneakers if you go inland, more sandals, dresses, and coverups if you stay on the islands of beaches).

Your Belize Packing List in Checklist Form

I go into greater detail in the actual post, but here’s a quick checklist in case you already know what you want to bring and just want to make sure you’re not forgetting anything

Belize Packing Checklist

Clothing

• ☐ 3–5 lightweight dresses (incl. 1–2 maxi)
• ☐ 5+ tees/tanks
• ☐ Sarong
• ☐ 1 pair jeans
• ☐ 2 pairs shorts (linen + denim)
• ☐ 1–2 skirts
• ☐ Sunhat
• ☐ Sneakers (if going inland)
• ☐ Sandals
• ☐ Rain jacket
• ☐ Cardigan
• ☐ 1–2 bras
• ☐ 7+ pairs underwear
• ☐ 2 bathing suits

Essentials

• ☐ Passport, driver’s license, etc.
• ☐ Mosquito repellent
• ☐ Basic medicines (Pepto, Imodium, ibuprofen, Dramamine)
• ☐ Prescription meds
• ☐ Cash in USD/Euro/home currency
• ☐ Travel towel
• ☐ Eye mask
• ☐ Ear plugs and/or noise-canceling headphones

Toiletries

• ☐ Hand sanitizer
• ☐ Kleenex packets
• ☐ Solid shampoo
• ☐ Sunscreen (reef-safe if swimming/snorkeling)
• ☐ Make-up and/or toiletries you like from home

Electronics

• ☐ No drone (not allowed without gov. permission)
• ☐ Phone
• ☐ Camera (optional)
• ☐ Laptop (if needed)
• ☐ Kindle (optional)
• ☐ Portable charger
• ☐ Adapter (if not from US/Canada)

Detailed Belize Packing List with Recommendations

This part of the post goes more into detail about the checklist above, including recommended products when I have a specific I love, have travel-tested, or have otherwise found handy.

What to Wear in Belize

I am writing this post from my perspective as a female traveler. Women have more to consider when it comes to traveling Belize — especially if you are traveling solo (which I did during my first time in Belize, and half of my second trip).

However, cat calling is incredibly common in Belize, especially on the islands, and even more especially on Caye Caulker.

At the same time, I didn’t feel particularly uncomfortable or unsafe, as compared to prior experiences in places like New York City and Marrakech where men were a lot more aggressive.

Culturally, Belize is a bit of a conservative country, but the hot and humid weather means that you should wear what you need to be comfortable without showing excessive skin.

On tourism-heavy islands like Caye Caulker and San Pedro, though, you’ll see lots of people walking around in bikinis and shorts, so don’t swear it too much.

Here’s what I recommend for women for a trip to Belize lasting about one week.

• 3-5 lightweight summer dresses, preferably past mid-thigh: Dresses are ideal for keeping yourself cool and comfortable. I recommend packing 1 or 2 maxi dresses as well as they’re really comfortable in the heat. This midi dress is super cute and comes in so many colors.

• 5+ tees & tanks: The more neutral the colors, the better. You will sweat a lot in Belize, so minimize your white – it’ll be yellow by the time you’re home. I suggest black, gray, and a few bright colors. I like the color selections offered in this 5-pack of tanks.

• A sarong: These are great for beach coverups or even for using as a lightweight beach towel. Buy them before you go or get one in Belize as a souvenir. This one is super colorful and would be great for photos.

• 1 pair jeans: While it’s too hot many days to wear jeans, if you’re in the interior, you’ll be glad you brought them, especially at night.

• 2 pairs shorts: I bring one pair of loose-fitting linen shorts for super hot days, and one pair of denim shorts for when I want to look a little cuter or more casual. I like a mid-length short like this one.

• 1-2 skirts: I suggest bringing one black skirt and one printed skirt for flexibility. I loved having a midi-length skirt, like one featuring a fun paisley pattern trend. The extra fabric around your legs traps some cool air, making you feel less hot, and I liked the additional coverage it gave me. I like this one with a split-thigh, making it more comfortable for walking while still giving coverage.

• 1 sunhat: Not just for the ‘gram, you’ll want a sunhat as it’ll give your face extra SPF and keep the rays off your face. I own and love this foldable sunhat that I can cram in just about any suitcase or backpack without damaging it.

• 1 pair sneakers (if you go to the jungle): If you go in the interior of Belize (Cayo District) you’ll likely want a pair of sneakers with you. I usually wear a pair of black sneakers like these Nikes as I find they look cute even with my dresses. I definitely don’t recommend white shoes as a lot of the interior is very dusty. If you’re just on the beaches, you can skip a pair of sneakers and maybe opt for a cute pair of flats instead.

• 1 pair sandals: I used to buy cheap-o sanadals all the time, but now I’m obsessed with my Birkenstocks and will never go back. My feet thank me for it daily. I’m still wearing the pair I bought six years ago (I should probably replace them to be honest, but I’m curious to see how long it takes until they are literally no longer wearable).

• 1 rain jacket: Even if you don’t plan on traveling in the rainy season, sometimes the weather has other plans. I also used this as a lightweight jacket during the nights in the interior where the weather was a bit colder. I love my Marmot PreCip and bring it everywhere with me, especially because I can unzip the armpits if I need a bit more breathability in the humid air.

• 1 cardigan: For when you want a little warmth, but not as much as a rain jacket will give. Most buses won’t have AC, but if you take a private shuttle, sometimes they blast the AC and it’s good to have an extra layer.

• 1-2 bras: I trust you’re all big girls and you know what you need when it comes to bras; it’s too personal for me to recommend anything. I personally brought 1 regular bra and 2 sports bras and switched at least once a day because the humidity goes crazy.

• 7+ pairs of underwear: The more underwear you bring, the longer you can go between washes if you’re on a big trip. If you’re on a longer trip, there are plenty of laundromats catering to travelers in Belize, plus it’s a way to support the local economy.

• 2 bathing suits: You’ll definitely want it, whether you’re taking dips in your hotel’s pool, sunning yourself on the beach, or snorkeling or diving in the gorgeous Hol Chan Marine Reserve. I’d recommend bringing two as nothing sucks more than putting on a wet bathing suit! Again, bathing suits are rather personal, but I’m obsessed with high-waist two-piece sets like this one.

Other Essential Things to Pack for Belize

• Mosquito Repellent: Belize has tons of mosquitos, particularly during the rainy season and the months just after ends. However, mosquito repellent is very expensive in Belize and you can’t always get the brands you like there. I recommend bringing two bottles of whatever suits your skin best. I like this Deet-free brand. I’ve also used mosquito repellent wipes and I feel like they’re easier to keep in your day bag without worrying about spilling and stinking up your bag.

• Basic medicine: You will be able to find everything you need in Belize, but it’s best to be prepared. I carry Pepto Bismol for standard stomach troubles, Imodium for stomach emergencies, some sort of painkiller like ibuprofen for headaches and minor aches, and Less Drowsy Dramamine for motion sickness (I find this formulation to be the best balance of relief without sleepiness; the non-drowsy one is not very effective on me). That usually covers the bases for my basic first aid kit — anything else I need I grab in the country.

• Prescription medications: Of course, whatever prescription medications you need to take with you, you’ll want those with you as well.

• Some cash in USD: Just in case your debit card doesn’t work or gets lost, it’s helpful to have dollars on hand. Because the exchange rate is fixed at 2 Belize dollars to 1 US dollar, it’s common for establishments to accept USD as payment as well. This is also good for tips; guides won’t mind getting tipped in USD.

• 1 travel towel: Great for beach days, drying yourself off after a watering hole dip, having as a general spare towel, etc. A cute travel towel has so many uses and I never regret having one!

• 1 eye mask for light sleepers: I swear by this contoured eye mask as it doesn’t put uncomfortable pressure on your eyes but completely blacks out any light. Maybe you can sleep without one, but I can’t. I usually travel with 2-3 just in case. I personally love this one.

• Some ear plugs and/or noise canceling headphones: I love Loops — they’re the gold standard for ear plugs. I also invested in Bose QuietComfort noise canceling headphones four years ago and I absolutely adore them. I use them daily; I’m using them now to update this post.

Toiletries

Belize’s stores will have most of the things you want and need… but just in case.

• Hand sanitizer: Many public restrooms don’t have adequate soap and towels/driers, so having some hand sanitizer is always good. I like the kind I can clip onto a keyring.

• Kleenex packets: Like above — public restrooms may be lacking in the toilet paper department, so having some Kleenex in a portable sleeve is always good to have

• Solid shampoo: Life-changing for travelers… trust me on this one. I love this one infused with rosemary oil for hair growth promotion.

• Sunscreen: When I’m going to be in the water — which is almost every day in Belize — I make sure to use a reef-safe sunscreen (even if not around coral… it’s important for caves, rivers, etc. as well). I dive a lot — literally spent four days underwater one year! — and I’ve tried them all. Nothing is better than Stream 2 Sea for both functionality and protecting the planet. If you’re just going to be in a hotel pool, though, a standard sunscreen is fine.

Electronics

There are really no special considerations when it comes to packing electronics for Belize except for the one: do not bring a drone.

They require permission from the government to fly, and you can only get permission if you have been commissioned from an approved local business or organization in Belize. Your drone may be confiscated if you do not have permisson.

Other than that, bring whatever you’re comfortable bringing. As a travel blogger, I bring my entire life with me on the road, which includes a laptop, camera, multiple lenses, smartphone, GoPro, and more.

• Laptop, if necessary: I bring my Macbook Pro with me everywhere but that’s because I need to work from the road

• Kindle Paperwhite: I love the Kindle Paperwhite because the screen is glare-free, making it easy to read at the beach or in direct sunlight, and I can never find books I enjoy at airport shops or in tourist destinations.

• Travel camera: I use a Sony A7R II as a semi-professional photographer who needs to use a quality camera for the occasional work project as well as this blog.

• Portable charger: I’m always running out of battery and this Anker battery pack is always saving my behind… it can even charge my Macbook!

• Adapter, if non North American: If you’re coming from the UK, Europe, Australia, etc. you will need an adapter since Belize uses the same plugs as the U.S. and Canada. Might as well get a universal adapter that also includes both USB and USB-C plugs. I hate when I only have USB outlets and I need to charge things by USB-C!

Allison Green

Allison Green is a former teacher who has been travel blogging since 2016, visiting 75+ countries in total. She has a Masters in Teaching and a B.A. in English and Creative Writing. As a former educator, she merges her writing and educational experience to encourage ethical, sustainable travel. She has been a speaker at the World Travel Writers Conference and TBEX. Her writing, photography, and podcasting work has appeared in National Geographic, CNN Arabic, CBC Canada, and Forbes, amongst others. When she’s not on the road, she lives in Bangkok, Thailand.