BEAUTIFUL BELIZE - SITES TO VISIT

Belize is a Caribbean paradise boasting pristine, palm-lined beaches, a crystal-clear ocean brimming with extraordinary sea life, and lush rainforests hiding the secrets of the ancient Mayan civilization. It is no wonder that Belize is thought by many to be one of the most beautiful and undiscovered countries in the world. Here are some of the most breath-taking spots to visit in Belize holiday. 

Garifuna musicians

Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary 

The Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary can be found in the Maya Mountain range and protects forests and the creatures of south-central Belize. Covering an area of more than 400 square kilometres, it is also home to one of the biggest jaguar sanctuaries in the world, with over 800 large cats. The park also boasts over 290 species of wild bird species including the endangered scarlet macaw and the king vulture. Once you reach the information point, approximately 10 km from the main road, you will hike through this stunning natural reserve featuring rugged peaks, tropical jungles and breath-taking waterfalls. 

Cockscomb wildlife park

Tobacco Caye 

Tobacco Caye is a remote tropical paradise off the coast of Belize’s town Dangriga. You can walk around this tiny caye it in less than fifteen minutes to absorb the intimate and social atmosphere. There are no vehicles or roads on the island, making it the perfect place for a digital detox, to shut yourself off from the outside world. Located within the South Water Caye Marine Reserve, it is excellent for diving and fishing, for the more adventurous of us, right on the barrier reef. 

Tobacco Caye

Caracol 

Caracol is considered to be the largest Mayan archaeological site in Belize and is built on a plateau.  During the Classic Period, it was thought to be one of the most important political centres of the Mayans, covering an area bigger than Belize City today!  Since it was discovered, deep in the dense jungle in the 1920s, visitors have come from all over the world to marvel at Caracol´s enormous temples, grand pyramids and royal tombs, overlooking the protected Chiquibul forest.  

Caracol Mayan site

Belize Barrier Reef 

Off the coast of Belize, is the Barrier Reef, the second biggest in the work and the biggest in the Northern Hemisphere. Today, it is one of the most visited destinations in Belize, with thousands of visitors a year and a favourite of the naturalist Charles Darwin, during his time here. Home to incredible biodiversity, it is one of the most diverse ecosystems on the planet and home to a number of soft and hard corals, 500 fish and hundreds of crustaceans. In fact, the Belize Barrier Reef is so dense that only 10% of its species here have been discovered! Hence it being heavily protected by the country’s government. 

Belize´s Barrier reef

San Ignacio 

 San Ignacio is an inland jungle town that sits on the east bank of the Macal River. Today, it remains one of the most diverse towns in the country and a stop off point for many travellers, archaeologist and Peace Corps workers. Wander down the narrow streets to enjoy some delicious local cuisine, or head to the stunning sights outside of the town to get a real taste of the district. The Mountain Pine Ridge Ecosystem is right on San Ignacio’s doorstep, offering spectacular views, deep caves, and the tallest waterfall in Belize. The town is also a popular stop-off point when crossing the border into Guatemala and the Tikal Mayan ruins. 

San Ignacio

Hopkins 

Real Belize is fully represented in Hopkins, even though it has grown beyond being a humble fishing village, the area has still retained its relaxed, seaside charm and has avoided becoming a commercial touristic resort. This tranquil coastal spot is the cultural centre of the Garifuna people of Belize and the town really comes into its own in November, when the village celebrates Garifuna Settlement Day. On any other day, the easy access to the many dive sites and the exotic natural landscape attracts visitors from all over the world. 

Hopkins

Actun Tunichil Muknal 

Located near San Ignacio, the Actun Tunichil Muknal is a sacrificial burial site of the Mayans, found within a sprawling cave system which you must navigate before reaching the treasures within. Once you complete your trek through the jungle and swim through the cave entrance, you will find exquisite pottery, ceramics, and stoneware, as well as the remains of human sacrifices … The ‘Crystal Maiden,’ being a highlight, who is a female skeleton of an adolescent covered entirely in limestone crystals. Tours can be arranged by the Belize National Institute of Culture and History. 

Actun Tunichil Muknal 

Great Blue Hole 

For decades, the Great Blue Hole off the coast of Belize has been a principal diver’s paradise. It forms part of the Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System, which is a recognised UNESCO World Heritage Site. Each year, it attracts many recreational divers who plunge into the depths of the crystal-clear waters of this natural, geological phenomenon. Home to a myriad of tropical fish and coral formations alongside sharks and stalactite-filled caves, it’s understandable why this specific sink hole is on the list of every scuba diver on the planet. 

The great blue hole

Toledo 

Toledo is perhaps the least visited destination in Belize, due to its rural and remote location in the southernmost part of the country. Nicknamed the ‘Forgotten Land, its isolation is probably what makes it one of the most stunning and untouched parts of the country.  Home to over 2000km square of uninhabited rainforest, mountain ranges, rivers and offshore islands, it is nature-lovers tropical paradise. Once you arrive there, there are a wide range of activities, such as tubing along the local rivers or kayaking and snorkelling in the near-by Snake Cayes. For ornithologists, Toledo’s lush rainforest is perfect for birdwatching, hosting over 500 bird species. 

Toledo

Silk Cayes 

Sometimes referred to as the ‘Queen Cayes,’ The Silk Cayes are a protected marine reserve, made-up of two deserted islands located in a central part of Belize’s Barrier Reef. A beautiful island, fringed by white sandy beaches and lapping jade-turquoise ocean, it offers stunning snorkelling opportunities to explore in a wonderful eco-system of sub-aquatic life. In particular, the area attracts visitors for its abundance of wild turtles, including the Loggerhead Turtle, which grows to over four feet in length, and the gentle Whale Shark also calls this caye home.  Bring a picnic from the market in the nearby beach town of Placencia or enjoy one of the barbecues that take place beneath the coconut palms. 

Silk cayes