21 Unique Things to Do in Belize [Updated for 2025]

For a tiny country, Belize punches well above its weight. Its Caribbean coastline is home to the second-largest coral reef in the world (after the Great Barrier Reef).

Meanwhile, its lush inland is filled with dense jungle full of caves, swimming holes, and rivers.

Also, Belize is a true melting pot, reflecting in the language, culture, and food. Though English is its official language, many speak Kriol, Spanish, Maya, or Garifuna. Rrecent immigrant groups – primarily the Chinese and, oddly, the Mennonites – add to the variety of Belize that make this beautiful country such a special place.

With its diverse culture and cuisine, dedication to preserving its history and biodiversity, and insane natural wonders, Belize figures highly on many travelers’ bucket lists… and I’m here to tell you what I think you can’t miss while exploring this beautiful country, one so beautiful I’ve returned not twice, but three times!

21 of the Best Things to Do in Belize

Go caving in the world’s most sacred cave

National Geographic knows a thing or two about travel, wouldn’t you say? It’s nominated Actun Tunichil Muknal as its #1 sacred cave in the world… I’d say it’s worth checking out.

Tours aren’t cheap, thanks to permit requirements, a daily visitor cap, and the fact that everyone needs to be accompanied by a licensed guide in groups no larger than 8.

But trust me, even this cheapo says it’s well worth every dollar you spend: it’s one of the best excursions in Belize for a reason!

Expect to spend about $140-180 USD per person for an 8-hour cave tour, depending on the company you go with.

Yes, it’s expensive, but for a reason: only 125 people are allowed to visit daily, tour groups are capped at 8 people per guide, and all tour companies must pay a large fee to pay for the preservation of the cave.

Important note: I strongly recommend booking in advance due to the strict limit of people allowed in daily: this company offers the best price and best rating. Click to check prices, availability, and traveler reviews!

For a full review of my day caving in ATM, read it here.

Tip: I strongly recommend booking activities in Belize online in advance rather than waiting to arriving in Belize to book. Hotels will often overprice them since you’re a bit of a sitting duck. And with sites with limited daily availability like the ATM cave, there may not be space for you if you book when you arrive.

Meanwhile, GetYourGuide, the online tour aggregator I always use, has a best price guarantee, so you can rest assured you’re not paying more for the same tour just by booking online. Click to learn more and book your spot in advance.

Drink in an inner tube at a bar

One of my favorite things to do in Belize is to chill in an inner tube outside of a bar, baking in the Belizean heat (under a load of sunscreen, ok? I’m somewhat responsible).

Sip ‘N’ Dip is a cute little beach bar right by the Split on the north end of Caye Caulker, and it’s the perfect place to meet new friends, have some drinks, and hang out in a tube… or swing… or hammock!

For a somewhat similar setu-up, there’s also Palapa Bar on Ambergris Caye, but I’m partial to Sip ‘N’ Dip, because the vibes are way better.

Stay in a luxurious beachfront hotel 

Victoria House is the nicest boutique hotel on the beach in Belize, and you can see the stunning turquoise water from pretty much every room in the hotel.

As a bonus, you’re just steps away from unreal sunrises. These cabañas will cost you a fraction of the cost of bungalows in the South Pacific — but just steps from the water, with day trip access to one of the world’s largest reef systems.

Drink way too many coconuts on Caye Caulker

Walking too fast on Caye Caulker may very well be a misdemeanor for the way that random passersby will shout at you to “go slow.” In fact, the sole occupation of some of Caye Caulker’s residents seems to be to admonish travelers for walking too fast.

But who am I to go against the locals? When in Rome, right? Just order up a coconut from one of the men on the main drag (hold the rum, trust me… it’s so strong it’ll have you seeing stars) and listen.

Sometimes, the best answer to the question what to do in Belize is: nothing.

Visit the least crowded Mayan Ruins you’ll ever see

The beautiful ruins of Caracol are a hidden gem right on the border of Belize — and with none of the crowds of Tikal, the ruins made famous by Star Wars in neighboring Guatemala.

While it’s not quite as objectively impressive as Tikal, I think Caracol is more charming as you can climb the highest pyramid and see epic views over the whole landscape, including into Guatemala. It’s definitely one of the best points of interest in Belize, if you want to see Mayan ruins in Belize without the crowds.

Plus, there are far fewer people visiting Caracol as it’s quite difficult to get to without a tour or renting a 4×4. I recommend going on a tour — unless you have a group to defray the costs of a rental car. I took this one!

As a bonus, there are amazing natural pools right outside of Caracol, the Rio-On Pools, which most tours will add on at the end of your day — the perfect way to cool off in the heat that often exceeds 90 degrees Fahrenheit with humidity!

Looking to follow my itinerary? This is the exact tour that I did when visiting Caracol. Check out this Caracol & Rio On Pools tour!

There are also other ruins which are even more off the beaten path, such as the ruins of Lamanai, which are also worth seeing!

Order a bucket of Belikins and enjoy the sea

If you’re looking to just log off and enjoy some sunny holidays in Belize, get yourself to Caye Caulker or Ambergris Caye. I’ve never seen water bluer or calmer than off the coast of Belize’s cayes.

There’s no better drinking buddy (except for an actual drinking buddy, I guess) than a bucket of Belikins – Belize’s national beer.

Be warned that Belikins are basically 50% glass and very little beer (they are basically a weapon) so even a bucket of six Belikins won’t do that much to you, especially if you split them with a friend.

Snorkel and sail with sharks and rays

There are plenty of boats that will take you out to Shark Ray Alley as part of a snorkeling tour but honestly — they’re a little over-touristed, and I don’t love the over-feeding of the sharks and rays for tourism purposes.

For a more eco-friendly option, I recommend visiting a lesser-visited portion of Hol Chan Marine Reserve.

In particular, this snorkeling tour of Mexico Rocks and Tres Cocos leaving from San Pedro will have you avoiding the crowds and seeing a more pristine portion of the reef that hasn’t been destroyed by dozens of boats descending on it daily.

Book your snorkeling tour of Mexico Rocks and Tres Cocos here!

Catch a Belizean sunset

Believe it or not, a beach sunset in Belize can be a bit elusive, as most of the country’s coastline faces the east. But not so on Caye Caulker!

This island is so narrow that no matter where you are, you can walk to a prime sunset spot in under five minutes. By the way, this is not true for Ambergris Caye, by the way. Sunrises are way better there, as good sunset spots can take a bit of work to get to.

Bring some rum punch (or Belikins, or wine, or rum, or anything else, really…) and enjoy with some friends and your camera!

Spend a day at the Split on Caye Caulker

The Split is the best place to chill in all of Caye Caulker — a high honor for an island whose motto is literally “go slow.”

One thing that people don’t often know before going to Belize is that the cayes of Belize don’t have sandy beaches. Rather, they are sort of “marshy” and you have to wade for a long while to reach a depth you can actually swim in.

On the other hand, The Split is a makeshift beach where the water is deeper and bluer than usual — so it’s perfect for diving into and actually going swimming in the ocean rather than your pool.

There are plenty of bars and restaurants around in case you need refreshments. Check out The Lazy Lizard for drinks or the pizza place for food.

Explore the ruins of Altun Ha

Check out the Mayan ruins of Altun Ha – one of the most important in the country – just 30 miles from Belize City. These stone Mayan structures allow you to climb to the top of the central temple, which isn’t as tall as places like Caracol but it’s still impressive.

Since Altun Ha is so close to Belize City, most tours will combine visiting the ruins with a guided tour of Belize City.

I’ll be honest: I don’t like Belize City. I’ve been twice, and it felt sketchy both times… actually, even sketchier the second time. It’s not really a place you want to walk around by yourself, especially as a female traveler.

So, if you really want to visit Altun Ha,  it’s best to book a guided tour to keep yourself safe and stress-free, rather than try to travel independently via Belize City.

To travel safely and hassle-free, I recommend this tour which also includes sightseeing in Belize City and the area

Visit the Belize Zoo

Before I get my head put on a stake for suggesting you visit a zoo — The Belize Zoo is different. Importantly? They only house animal species native to Belize — you won’t see any polar bears suffering in humid climates here!

As a result, they may have a smaller selection of animals than other zoos have — about 45 species of animals — but they are all animals that are being cared for after having been orphaned, hurt, or otherwise unable to survive in the wild.

The Belize Zoo also works to rehabilitate animals that still have the potential to live a rich life in the wild, like jaguars and wild birds, and work towards re-release. While zoos worldwide understandably hold a bad rap, I really can’t find anything to fault the Belize Zoo for.

This is the tour I recommend to go to the Belize Zoo; you could also drive or try to figure out the chicken bus system in the city (a bit confusing but possible!)

Snorkel with manatees 

Caye Caulker is located right nearby an amazing wildlife reserve, Swallow Caye Wildlife Sanctuary, where you can actually swim with manatees in their natural habitat with a bit of luck!

Of course, you aren’t allowed to touch or chase these gentle but enormous sea mammals. Belize is doing an excellent job to protect their manatees, to ensure that they live happy and healthy lives with their environment protected. So keep it that way!

I highly recommend doing a manatee and snorkeling tour with a reputable company. You should never swim with manatees in captivity or do any tours that promise you can touch the animals. This goes for dolphins, whales, and any other sea animal in captivity as well.

Tours are not cheap, but it is truly one of the best things to do in Belize, so if you can afford it I’d highly recommend doing it.

Note that manatees are only around at certain times of year – I tried to do a manatee tour this February and we didn’t see them. Our guide told us we would have had better luck in the summer – they like the warm water!

This tour is the one I’d recommend if you want to try to see manatees!

Enjoy your own private tropical island for a day

A short boat ride away from the beaches of Placencia is a small island called Ranguana, which is a private island only for day trippers and those who stay at the one hotel on the island.

You’ll need to take a tour to get here, but once you do, you can spend all day snorkeling, kayaking, paddleboarding, or just lazing out in sun with a Belikin in hand on one of the most pristine beaches in Belize.

Eat some jerk chicken

Belize’s national dish may technically be rice and beans cooked in coconut milk, but jerk chicken is a strong contender. Originally from nearby Jamaica, Belize has taken on jerk chicken as one of its own and makes a mean — though less spicy — version of it.

If you’re on San Pedro, be sure to check out Robin’s Kitchen for some of the best jerk I’ve ever eaten… and I used to live in the predominantly Caribbean neighborhood of Flatbush, Brooklyn (and got Jamaican takeout at least weekly) so I know my jerk!

If you’re not a fan of BBQ jerk chicken (what’s wrong with you?) you’ve got to at least try a Belizean curry. Just eat all the Belizean food you can find; your stomach will be happy.

Helicopter over the Blue Hole

This is the top Belize attraction for a reason – but it’ll cost you! If you want to see a good view of Belize’s iconic Blue Hole, you’re way better off flying over it than diving it.

People I spoke to who dove the Blue Hole said that they really couldn’t see much of the Blue Hole from the boat, and that once they started diving, there actually wasn’t much to see.

Honestly, I’ve heard some not-so-great things about diving the Blue Hole. Apparently, some of the divemasters encouraged people to go beyond their PADI-certified limits — a big no-go in my book.

A girl I spoke to got nitrogen narcosis and was feeling really ill and almost passed out underwater… so please, please, please, as a diver, please only do this dive with caution. I have over 100 hours underwater under my belt, and even I wouldn’t do this dive.

Luckily, you have none of those risks – and a much better view – when you helicopter over the Blue Hole!

It is expensive as hell, but if it’s on your bucket list or you’re visiting Belize to celebrate a special occasion, it may be worth the splurge.

These tours are generally available through the small airlines that fly out to Belize’s islands, like Tropic Air.

Explore the Mayan ruins of Xunantunich

While not quite as large or impressive as the ruins of Caracol, Xunantunich is still one of the best attractions in Belize.

Plus, it’s a lot easier to get to from San Ignacio, which one of the best places to stay in Belize if you’re looking for exciting day trips.

You can take a bus and then walk a mile or hire a taxi for cheap. And actually, the ruins of Cahal Pech are even closer to San Ignacio, but I’ll admit they’re not quite as exciting as Xunantunich.

Visit a howler monkey sanctuary

Howler monkeys may kind of sound like demons when they bellow, but they sure are cute! If you want to connect with your primate kin while in Belize, check out the Community Baboon Sanctuary close to Belize City.

Note for my fellow pendants: there are no baboons here – that’s apparently just the old local name for howler monkeys. Go figure.

Eight villages have worked together to preserve the ecosystem around the river and protect the howler monkeys in their natural habitats.

Scuba dive in one of the many reefs

If you’re scuba certified, you need to plan a diving vacation to Belize!

Ambergris Caye and Caye Caulker are home to several scuba shops which can take you to some of the best destinations in the area: Mexico Rocks, Hol Chan, and Turneffe Atoll are all fantastic dive locations.

Sadly, I was only SCUBA-certified on my third trip to Belize… and I had a cold that prevented me from diving during the trip. So it’s still on my bucket list!

Stay in an eco-friendly jungle lodge

San Ignacio Belize is somewhat of a hub for eco-lodges (there are so many to choose from!).

I stayed at Table Rock Jungle Lodge, which is almost entirely solar powered and 100% off the electrical grid (don’t fear though — there is WiFi on-site, just not in your room!), and I absolutely adored it.

I mean, how many hotels can say they come with their own donkeys and that you’re free to pick any fruit on their farm at any time (the staff will even give you free coconuts from their trees!). You can also borrow canoes or tubes to coast down the beautiful Macal River nearby.

If you want a little more luxury in the jungle, there are a few higher-end options, but of course, with a higher price tag to boot.

Chaa Creek and Ka’ana are widely recognized as some of the most luxurious Belize jungle resorts. If you crave a little more glamor with your eco stay, check out one of those two options: Ka’ana or Chaa Creek.

Play with the dogs at Caye Caulker’s only animal shelter

Okay, I’m probably the only person who thinks that laying around in the sand with a bunch of homeless dogs is an essential thing to do in Belize, but stay with me, here.

A sweet local guy named Kenny runs this humble little animal shelter that takes in and helps rehome dogs and cats in need of some TLC.

Caye Caulker Animal Shelter is entirely run by donations and love of the locals.

So if you can, donate either your time to love on these dogs (you can volunteer to take them for a walk around the island) or a few extra dollars to help support Kenny’s mission.

Hope to spot a jaguar in Cockscomb Basin

Did you know Belize is home to the world’s only jaguar preserve?

These endangered beauties can be found if you’re incredibly lucky in Cockscomb Basin, though I wouldn’t count on a spotting — there are only 200 of them in this wildlife preserve spanning 150 square miles.

Still, countless other species call this protected area home, including other wild cats like the ocelot and the adorable jaguarundi.

For the less patient and less deep-pocketed: if you simply must see a jaguar, the Belize Zoo has a jaguar rehabilitation program that does excellent work.

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.