Top Things to do in Belize
Top Hotels in Belize
- 1. Pelican Reef Villas Resort
- 2. The Lodge At Chaa Creek
- 3. Colinda Cabanas
- 4. Hopkins Bay, a Muy'Ono Resort
- 5. Weezie's Ocean Front Hotel and Garden Cottages
- 6. Mariposa Belize Beach Resort
- 7. Ramon's Village Resort
- 8. Caribbean Beach Cabanas - A PUR Hotel
- 9. Las Terrazas Resort
- 10. Mahogany Bay Resort & Beach Club, Curio Collection by Hilton
The 10 Best Sights & Landmarks in Belize, Belize
According to famed diver Jacques Cousteau, the Great Blue Hole of Belize is one of the most spectacular dive sites on earth. The crystal-clear sapphire waters are home to colorful tropical fish and several species of reef sharks – ideal for brave divers who love to get up close and personal with sea life. On dry ground, diverse rainforests, mangrove swamps, and Mayan ruins are perfect for exploration. The beaches of Belize are sunny and tranquil spots for a day of relaxation.
Restaurants in Belize
1. The Maya Ruins of Caracol
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 614 reviews
This 30-acre complex is the largest Mayan ruin in Belize.
Reviewed By Sandi-and-Tim - New Castle, United States
Despite having a rental car, my husband, son, and I opted to hire a tour guide (and HIS vehicle) for this trip, in part because of the 52 miles of rough dirt road. Don't be scared off by the "you must join the police escort" warnings. The ruins are close to the Belize-Guatemala border, and the escort was started due to a single incident a few years ago...but there haven't been any reported incidents since then. Caracol has the highest Mayan temple in Belize. In fact, we couldn't see the top from the ground. According to our guide, LIDAR Radar readings taken in the last few years show that there are around 36,000 Mayan buildings in the surrounding jungle that have not been excavated, and they estimate that there were approximately 1.5 million inhabitants at one point. One of the thing that's so amazing about that is that there is no water source nearby. What they did find, though, was over 200 retention ponds. This is a destination that is not as well traveled as some of the other Mayan ruins in Belize due to the poor access, but it is well worth the effort to get there. If you do go without a guide, make sure you sign in at the police checkpoint. Past that point the road is narrow and mostly one way in in the morning and out in the afternoons. Oh, if you do use a guide, make sure he lets you eat some minty-tasting termites. :-)
2. Placencia Fellowship
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 2 reviews
Plascencia Fellowship meets every Sunday morning at 10:30 for worship! Come join us. We teach just the word and nothing else. Come as you are in swimsuits or shorts as we are a laid back group of friends meeting together for worship. What you can expect from your visit is a time of music and worship and a short sermon we try to keep it under an hour.....
3. Xunantunich
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1,467 reviews
Reviewed By galencampbell - Calgary, Canada
The ruins are excellent and will be workout climbing up and down, with fantastic views from the highest points. We picked up a guide before crossing the ferry. Elfego had A LOT of knowledge, which makes sense since he must have been at least 70 and had been giving tours and working with archaeologists at Xunantunich for decades. The visitor center is good, with enough information to educate you, but not so much as to be excessive. I still recommend a guide though for better explanations of what you are seeing when you are actually looking at it. We also got lucky and saw two troops of howler monkeys howling at each other in trees just up the hill from the ferry (so keep your windows down and your ears listening as you drive in).
4. Bunches of Fun Banana Farm Tours
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 135 reviews
Bunches of Fun Banana Farm Tours are set on Sagitun Farm, just minutes away from resorts on the Placencia Peninsula and a quick drive from Dangriga and Hopkins. We are Belize's original banana farm tour. Reservations are essential.
5. Agouti Cacao Farm
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 26 reviews
Eladio's Chocolate adventure is a family operated business that process chocolate using ancient tools and techniques as past on by our Mayan ancestors. Its a business that showcasing from the seeds of a cacao to chocolate bar. At Eladio's we provide the following packages: 1. Handmade Mayan Chocolate Demo, 2. Mayan Food, 3. Mayan Homestays, 4. Mayan Music and Dances, 5. Organic Farm Tour etc......
6. Nohoch Che'en Caves Branch Archaeological Reserve
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 24 reviews
Reviewed By taxladyPA
The owner of our lodge in Belize arranged this half day cave tubing. Our guide was Dione, and it was only myself, my husband and our 24 year old daugher on this cave tubing trip. It was a lot of fun, we saw some beautiful cave formations and enjoyed the opportunity to cool down in the river. At some points it was pretty shallow (lift your butt) but as Dione promised he got us through. Dione was a great guide, and made the whole experience a lot of fun. We had lunch afterwards on site, and the food was very good - try the ceviche.
7. Lucky Turtles of Belize
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 3 reviews
The Lucky turtles of Belize. If you touch the turtles, you will become lucky.
Reviewed By archlav - Glenmoore, United States
We walked along the sea shore promenade to reach the lucky turtles of belize as part of the belize sign and a playground. Its whimsical and fun. It has a lovely view of the water. There are two turtles that you aee supposed to touch for luck
8. Great Blue Hole
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 529 reviews
The most famous dive site in Belize was discovered by Jacques Cousteau.
Reviewed By charlieo122 - Haleiwa, United States
Seeing the stalagmites and stalactites 140 feet down is an awesome experience. And you can't see the bottom from there. Our dive lasted about 8 minutes at the Arch. Not much to see- a few fish and perhaps a shark. The boat trip from San Pedro takes about 2.5 hours. Open seas can get rough. Park fee is $40 per person. It's a worthwhile experience. The tour includes two additional dive sites where you'll see lots of colorful fish, corals, sharks, rays, turtles, giant groupers, etc. A full day trip that starts at 6:00am and gets back to San Pedro around 5:30pm
9. Nim Li Punit (Big Hat)
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 114 reviews
This Mayan site is known for its 25 intricately carved stelae, including a figure wearing a large headdress ("Big Hat").
Reviewed By ElgaK_12
We took a ship tour with a ferry to the mainland from Harvest Caye and then one hour by bus. The guides, Nate and Felix, descendants of the Mayans, were very knowledgeable and told us lots on the way. The drive was easy with little traffic. Felix told us the people use BMWs (Better Me Walk). Beautiful jungle paths through the site and a museum showing artifacts from the site.
10. Cahal Pech
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,527 reviews
This ancient Mayan site features a museum and several dozen surviving structures.
Reviewed By cliffordicus - Salt Lake City, United States
Cahal Pech is one of the oldest grouping of Mayan Ruins we know of dating back to some of the earliest traces of Mayan history. Compared to many other ruin nearby like Xunantunich, its basically deserted. This is an amazing opportunity to explore some ruins practically on your own (at least that was our experience) the complex goes on and on and is so fun to step into history, literally, and see the amazing structures of a time long past. It's within walking distance of the downtown area (though you'll climb a fairly steep hill) and in really close proximity to a few hotels, including our own, the San Ignacio Resort Hotel. It's close, and it's worth it.
