Discover Belize
Planning Your Trip
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Belize is ripe with adventure travel and learning opportunities for all ages and abilities. The hard part is deciding which ones to choose in your limited amount of vacation time. As you plan your trip, keep in mind your own style of travel, your physical ability, and whether you will be bringing children. Some folks enjoy getting dirty and being tested to the limits of their physical abilities; others like to stay clean and experience the outdoors in a softer fashion.
Museums are a rarity in Belize; although there are a couple of small, interesting museums in Belize City and elsewhere, “sightseeing” is much more of an active experience. Hiking and climbing Maya ruins, paddling, swimming, diving, snorkeling, horseback riding, caving, and so on, are the norm. Of course, you can lay low too, and spend your vacation reading in a hammock and listening to the surf.
Once you’ve got an idea of what kind of Belize trip you’re looking for, you’ve got to plan your time. Because of Belize’s uniquely compact size, many resorts and accommodations serve well as bases to explore the surrounding sea and mountains in all directions, making moving from hotel to hotel unnecessary. If you only have 7–10 days, be careful not to overextend yourself, and if you’ve got several weeks or more, you’ll have no problem spending them all in Belize.
The “surf-n-turf” is the classic Belizean vacation combo, either prebooked at a pair of upland-lowland sister resorts or designed on your own to split your trip between the ocean and forest. Beach-and-reef lodges are found in The Northern Cayes and on The Southern Coast. Interior jungle lodges and adventure camps are located throughout Toledo, Cayo, and Orange Walk Districts, and span the full range of budgets and activities. Depending on your desires, you can make either surf or turf the more active part of your vacation, then relax during the other half.
It’s not necessary to plan out all your activities before arriving in the country, nor is it necessary to book your hotels in advance—except during high season in popular areas like San Pedro, Caye Caulker, and Placencia. Plan on everything—especially road travel within Belize—taking more time than you expect. Renting a car speeds things up but can be prohibitively expensive for some. Flying within the country is a cinch, and Belize’s two domestic airlines can help save many precious hours with regular service and reasonable rates between the most popular towns and islands.
When to Go
Most visitors look at a combination of available vacation time and Caribbean climate trends when planning their trip to Belize. Some come for the bigger events of the year, like Garinagu (Garifuna) Settlement Day in November or the Ruta Maya Challenge Canoe Race in March. High season (more tourists and hiked prices) is generally mid-December through May, a period many travel agents and guidebooks will tell you is also the “dry season” in a vain effort to neatly contain Belize’s weather. The truth is that Mother Nature enjoys surprises and unpredictability.
Your best bet? Be prepared for anything, both with clothing and attitude. A week of stormy weather may ruin a vacation planned solely around snorkeling, but it could also provide the perfect setting for exploring the rainforests or enjoying a hot tub and fireplace in the Mountain Pine Ridge.
June, July, and August technically fall in the rainy season—rain during these months may mean just a quick shower each afternoon, or it may go on for days. Those who travel to Belize during this time are rewarded with significantly discounted prices at most accommodations. Some tourism businesses shut down completely during the months of September and October, the peak of hurricane season.
What to Take
Clothing
In general, pack for hot weather (80–95°F, both humid and dry) as well as the occasional cool front (60–80°F). At least one pair of pants, long sleeves, and a light shell jacket are recommended, as rainy season can push all the way into February, and June through November are guaranteed to be damp. Traveling by boat always cools things down as well. Long sleeves are helpful for avoiding mosquito bites and sunburn. Cayo and the Mountain Pine Ridge can get down to sweater weather in any part of the wet season. Don’t forget a swimsuit—and a sarong or wrap for that stylish saunter to the beach bar.
Luggage
If you plan to use public buses and collective taxis, don’t take a large external-frame pack. For rain and theft concerns, it’s preferable to have your luggage inside the vehicle with you, and this will be harder to ensure if you bring a monster backpack or suitcase. A medium-sized soft backpack that fits on your lap is a good bet. A strong bike cable and combination lock can secure the pack to a bedpost and a small padlock can be used for zippers.
Camping Gear
A few of Belize’s campgrounds offer tents and sleeping pads for rent, but not all, so if you’re looking to do a lot of camping, pack a lightweight tent and other items like a headlamp and small shovel for burying waste. A lightweight, summer-weight sleeping bag should be more than enough, or even just a cotton or silk sleep-sack or sheet. Don’t forget a water bottle and purifying drops or tablets. Finally, if you leave the road with a map, compass, and/or GPS unit, make sure you also have the knowledge to use these tools—and always hire a local guide.
Miscellany
Bring a small first-aid kit, a flashlight or headlamp, plastic bags and Zip-locs for protection during rain or boat travel, and a cheap set of ear plugs for those early morning roosters and karaoke concerts. Don’t worry if you forget reading material—most hotels and lodges have a large selection of abandoned or traded books in English. Consider bringing a couple of photos of home to show Belizean hosts and friends.
© Joshua Berman and Avalon Travel from Moon Belize, 7th Edition
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