Welcome to my two week Belize itinerary based on my recent trip. Belize is one of those places that literally has everything. From beautiful beaches to lush jungles, whether you want to relax or adventure, Belize has something for you. My first impression was just: “wow”.
Not only was everything so beautiful, everyone was so nice. Literally, everyone. And extremely helpful. There were a few times we got a little lost on public transportation and everyone there was so eager to help.
One of the things I found most interesting about Belize was its culture. It has an amazing fusion of Hispanic and Ancient Mayan culture. In fact in most places you’ll find people of direct Mayan descent who can still speak the native language (or 3 or 4!).
In some areas you’ll also find a mix of Afro-Caribbean as well. One of the places we visited, Hopkins, is the afro-culture capital of Belize. Each year they hold cultural celebrations, but even if you go at other times of the year you can always find Garifuna drumming and a taste of their amazing Creole cuisine.
Belize Itinerary: Placencia, Hopkins, Belize City & San Pedro
We spent a little over 2 weeks in Belize but we wish we still had more time! We basically went up the east, spending most of our time following the coast. If we had more time on our Belize itinerary, we’d definitely include a stop inland where they have some amazing caves.
We stopped in Placencia, Hopkins, Belize City and San Pedro. If we had more time, we definitely would have added San Ignacio to the list!
Placencia is a little fishing village located towards the south of the island. It definitely has a much more laid-back vibe and is really a cool place to learn to fish! You can explore this area by golf cart as there’s really only one main street with a bunch of local restaurants.
The beaches here are peaceful and beautiful, and there are a bunch of day trips you can do. We visited the Cockscomb Basin Wildlife and Jaguar Sanctuary while we were here.
Hopkins was one of my favorite places. It has a different vibe than the rest of Belize because of its big Afro-Caribbean and Creole influence. Here, you can see local drummings and shows, and it’s located right in the middle of the island close to almost everything. There’s good spots to snorkel and dive, caves, waterfalls, tubing and more!
San Pedro is an “island” in Belize (actually attached to Mexico) and is known to be the life of the party. There’s actually a fun fact that this island alone consumes more alcohol than the rest of the entire country combined!
That being said, it’s definitely the most touristy part of Belize that we visited. San Pedro is definitely fun. The waters are amazingly clear and you can go scuba diving and snorkelling just off the shore.
The island itself is pretty small and you can rent golf-carts for the day. We recommend checking out “secret beach”, located just seven miles from the middle of town.
San Pedro is also where the port going to the Blue Hole is located. The only dive shop that consistently gets visits is “Amigos del Mar” and we highly recommend going. It was one of the most amazing days of our trip and you stop on a beautiful little island called Half Moon Caye.
Every night there is an event going on which includes some exotic things like hermit crab racing!
My Favourite Places and Memories in Belize
I think my favorite place in Belize was that little island called Half Moon Caye. It is often visited right after you dive the Great Blue Hole and is home to red-footed boobies. It’s one of two places in the world where you can see this type.
The dive site right next to it is also one of the best dives I’ve ever had in my life. In a place that seems so “busy”, it was amazing to find a place where there were literally no other people there.
Scuba diving the Great Blue Hole was one of the best experiences of my trip to Belize. It had been on my bucket list for a while now. I was worried that having such high expectations would ruin the trip but it still ended up exceeding my expectations!
The Blue Hole itself is unique, but the entire experience of being the only ones there, getting greeted by a family of dolphins, stopping on a deserted island for lunch, encountering a giant turtle, petting a fish, visiting one of the most talked about dive sites in the world, and spending the day with an amazing crew made it a day I will never forget.
3 Must-Do Experiences for your Belize Itinerary
Scuba diving the Great Blue Hole is without doubt the must-do experience for any Belize itinerary. The diving in Belize is world class and this specific dive site is known to be one of the best in the world.
It’s an experience like no other. If you’re an advanced diver you absolutely have to go. For those just starting out, diving in other parts of the country is still beautiful. You’ll see plenty of sharks and turtles, and depending on the season you can even see whale sharks!
River-rafting, zip-lining, and cave-tubing are also must-do’s! This goes for more than just doing something adventurous as the caves once held a special place in Mayan culture. I loved this because not only were the rafting and caves awesome, but you also got to learn more about the culture at the same time!
If you’ve never done any of these before Belize is a great place to do it! If you want to go rappelling, the ATM caves inland are amazing!
Lastly, I recommend staying on your own private island. We had the opportunity to stay at the Coco Plum Island Resort which is consistently rated in the top 3 most romantic hotels in the world. It was an experience like no other.
The entire island is only the resort. Each guest gets their own private beach bungalow and it is just paradise. If you have a special occasion to celebrate or just want to have a complete luxurious experience, I highly recommend coming here.
Best Beaches, Caves, Waterfalls and Hikes in Belize
Our favorite beaches were actually in the islands located off the coast of Hopkins. They are a quick boat ride away but have some of the whitest sand and bluest waters. Some of the islands are private, but you can get to a few public ones. The beaches on Caye Caulker are also beautiful.
The best cave experience you can get is definitely at the ATM caves close to San Ignacio, where you can actually rappel down if you want! This is also where some of the most beautiful waterfalls are located.
The Cockscomb Basin Wildlife and Jaguar Sanctuary is another amazing half day hike. Here you can spot local wildlife (including jaguars!), and visit a waterfall you can play in and go tubing! And of course, scuba diving and/or snorkeling is a must! Belize has the largest “living” reef in the world!
Enjoy the Flamboyant Food of Belize
Just like the culture in Belize, the food is also a beautiful fusion of flavors and traditional dishes with influence coming from Mexico in the north, Caribbean in the east, and traditional dishes from those native and emigrated. Most normal dishes consist of rice and beans cooked together (also known as Moro in other Hispanic countries, or Creole style).
They also put a big emphasis on seafood, especially on the coast. They make a very good ceviche, and it’s always fresh! Some dishes unique to Belize to try are Fry Jacks, Cochinita Pibil, Stew Chicken and Ceviche.
If you’re a seafood fan, you’re in luck! Belize has some of the best seafood in the world. They also like things spicy! Lobster season runs from June 15th to February 15th so make sure to time your Belize itinerary to try that!
Essential Tips for your Belize Itinerary
Plan ahead! With so many things to do, if you’re only there for a short amount of time it can be daunting having to pick at the last minute.
Belize has a reputation for being expensive, and while they definitely can cater to those looking for the luxurious and/or romantic experience, there is also a very big backpacker scene and budget accommodation and tours are becoming more and more common. Just by taking public transportation, we were able to save hundreds of dollars.
Everyone was extremely helpful as well and speaks multiple languages. Having a good pair of water shoes that you can wear on land was also a big help! There are a lot of combined activities, so having shoes that work both on land and in water makes it a lot easier! (Oh, and don’t forget to bring both sunscreen and bug spray!)
Thanks for reading my article on how to travel the beautiful Belize in two weeks. I hope it has provided you with some inspiration and useful information on how to experience the best of this Central American gem!
About Me: Patricia Santos
Hi! I’m Patricia, I’m 24 years old and was born and raised in a small little town in Connecticut (just outside of New York). Both of my parents immigrated to the US in their late teens/early 20’s, so from a young age I was exposed to cultural differences and was so curious as to why people do the things they do, and think the way they think.
I used to think my parents were just plain weird, but then when I visited their home country, and everything made sense. That is what made me want to start travelling. I wanted to learn everything about different cultures and understand what makes each country different, all while realizing we are all the same.
I loved trying all the new foods, seeing the new traditions, and just listening to the older generations talk about what it was like for them to grow up. The more I started to travel, the more I learned; and I love learning.
