Climb a Maya temple, fall asleep to the sounds of the jungle, then snorkel the reef in water as clear as glass. Here’s how to split your time.
By the Global Escapes travel team · Updated
From mid-December through April the rains ease, the seas settle and the water over the reef turns beautifully clear.
Belize fits a remarkable amount into a small country. Nearly 200 miles of barrier reef run just off the coast, part of a UNESCO World Heritage site, and a couple of hours inland the Cayo District is all rivers, caves and ancient Maya cities rising out of the rainforest.
The dry months make both halves easier. Jungle trails are firmer, the drive out to the ruins is smoother and boat days to the reef are calmer. And with English as the official language and U.S. dollars accepted everywhere, it’s one of the easiest adventures you can take from Atlanta.
The places we’d build a dry-season trip around, from the cayes out to the Maya cities of Cayo.
Belize’s largest island, with golf-cart streets, beach bars and the barrier reef just offshore. San Pedro is lively, and the beaches north of town are quieter.
A natural cut in the reef where eagle rays and stingrays glide by, then shallow, sandy water where gentle nurse sharks and rays gather around the boats.
A near-perfect circle of deep blue about 1,000 feet across and over 400 feet deep, in the middle of Lighthouse Reef. Dive it, or see it from a small plane.
El Castillo rises about 130 feet above the Mopan River valley, with views into Guatemala from the top. A wonderful first Maya site, easily done in a morning.
Once a great city larger than today’s Belize City. Its pyramid, Caana, stands 141 feet tall and is still the tallest structure in Belize.
Canoe a jungle river, ride horseback through the forest or join a guided trip into the ATM cave, with ancient Maya artifacts deep inside.
Jungle first, beach last. Ending on the coast means your final days are pure relaxation, with the reef right outside.
Start inland. From Belize City it’s about two hours by car to the Cayo District, where three or four nights give you time for a Maya site, a river or cave adventure and an unhurried afternoon at the lodge. Then head back toward the coast for a 15-minute hop to Ambergris Caye.
On the island, plan one big boat day and keep the rest easy. Divers will want to give the Blue Hole a full day of its own. Everyone else can snorkel Hol Chan in a morning and be back in time for lunch.
Belize’s best places to stay are small and personal, where the staff learn your name on day one.
In Cayo, The Lodge at Chaa Creek sits on the Macal River in a 500-acre private reserve, with canoeing, horseback riding, a butterfly farm and a hilltop spa. Higher up in the Mountain Pine Ridge, Francis Ford Coppola’s Blancaneaux Lodge has just 20 rooms, with waterfalls and natural pools nearby.
On Ambergris Caye, Matachica Resort is adults-only, with thatched-roof casitas along the beach about five miles north of San Pedro. Its sister property inland, Gaia Riverlodge, makes an easy pairing. For families, Alaia Belize, Autograph Collection has two-bedroom suites, a rooftop pool and plenty to keep kids busy.
The small things that make the jungle and the reef feel easy.
Island flights use small planes with baggage limits, so soft-sided bags work best.
English is Belize’s official language, which makes guides, menus and directions easy.
The Belize dollar is pegged at two to one with the U.S. dollar, and U.S. dollars are accepted everywhere.
Some adventures, like the ATM cave, are guided only. A good guide brings the Maya sites to life too.
Pack reef-safe sunscreen and a rash guard. The tropical sun is strong out on the water.
U.S. travelers need a passport but no visa for stays of up to 30 days.
Planning the whole trip?
Dry and rainy seasons, month-by-month weather, travel times between the jungle and the cayes, and a route map from Ambergris Caye to Placencia.
See the Belize guideTell us when you’re thinking of going and who’s coming along. An advisor will take it from there.