One of the great joys of Central America is that you can have a variety of adventures all in one trip. The Belize jungle and coast have a lot to offer. Activities for families abound. At the same time, there is always the opportunity to relax. Belize makes for an easy international trip for U.S. residents. English is the primary language and the U.S. dollar is widely accepted as currency. The air lift to Belize City is also very convenient from many U.S. cities. If you and your family like to incorporate adventures into your travels, the Belize jungle and coast, combined, is a great destination.
How to Get to Belize
Belize is located in the heart of Central America and although it’s a small country, it boasts an incredible interior and coastal destination. The international airport BZE has daily incoming flights from many hubs in the U.S.
In order to get back and forth from the Belize jungle and coast, namely the town of San Iganacio, you will be utilizing ground transit via hired driver. There are shared shuttles as well as private transport available. If you are traveling to the coastal towns or Ambergris Caye, you will most likely be utilizing a domestic flight. These domestic flights are a lot of fun for kids and teens. Don’t ruin it for them by being a naysayer! This will be one of those moments you can experience some healthy risk together.
The Belize Jungle
The lush forests of Belize and the rich indigenous Mayan culture are enticing. For travelers that love the outdoors and nature, Belize has so much to offer. You won’t feel your trip is complete without a trip to the jungle. Three nights there would give you a good amount of adventure time. The Belize jungle is a great destinations for families who love adventure and culture. When you immerse yourself with the people in places like the Belize jungle, you connect yourself to the destination. And when you connect yourself to a destination, you become an advocate for it. It’s a beautiful thing.
Where to Stay in the Belize Jungle
For your time in the Belize jungle, there are quite a few options. There are a variety of choices depending on what you’re looking for. For an inclusive family resort that is away from the in town scene, consider The Lodge at Chaa Creek. For families looking to be in walking distance to town, another great option is San Ignacio Resort. If seclusion is your aim, then Black Rock Eco Lodge is the place to park yourself. Another great spot, located atop the hill and right next to Cahal Pech Reserve is Falling Leaves Lodge, a relaxed mix of cabins and rooms for families or couples.
What to do in the Belize Jungle
One of the coolest things about Belize is the number of cave systems through the jungle. There are all kinds of organized guides to explore the caves with a guide and learn about the history of the area. Barton Creek Cave for canoeing and the ATM for caving are the most popular and both are worthy of a day excursion. Many of the guides add on a river tubing tour to finish off the afternoon. Your guides and drivers are a wealth of information and they are eager to share their country and their lives with you. Ask them questions! Engage with the stories they tell you. It’s a huge part of travel and will enrich your experience in Belize.
Visit one of the Mayan ruin sites in the area. There are several ruin sites that have organized tours, but if you have a car or a driver you can have them drop you off and you can hire a guide on site. Xumatunich is a popular site, as well as Caracol. If you are looking for an extra epic experience, then you should cross the border to Guatemala and make a visit to Tikal. You are closer to Tikal here in Belize than you would be flying into Guatemala City and continying on to Flores. There is also a small ruin site just on the edge of San Iganacio downtown, Cahal Pech. Grab a taxi and give yourself about an hour to walk through the museum and explore the grounds.
The Belize Coast
How cool is it to be a country with Central American roots AND Caribbean roots? The elements of these cultures is all around from the food to the comings and goings of daily life. The coastline of Belize is small, but mighty. Did you know that Belize boasts the largest barrier reef in the northern hemisphere? Aquatic life in Belize is healthy and exciting, with so many opportunities for wildlife sitings and water adventures. The reef is a UNESCO world heritage site, so there is an expectation for responsible tourism in this destination. Love the places you visit and leave them better than you found them!
Where to Stay on the Belize Coast
Placencia
This Caribbean peninsula is a solid mix of resorts, expats and locals. The palm lined beaches have that Caribbean breeze that attracts so many. Placencia feels more like a village with restaurants, shops, boutique hotels, and homes. When my oldest and I visited, we rented a condo on the beach and loved being in the heart of it all. He’s a college student, so he could walk everywhere independently when he wanted to and everything was nearby. Placencia is my top suggestion for coastal adventure in Belize. The tourists mix with children walking to school and locals doing their grocery shopping. There is a sidewalk that runs the length of the village peninsula between the street and the beach, making it very easy to walk where you need to go. Check out Turtle Inn for a fabulous stay!
Hopkins
A close second is just north of Placencia. Hopkins is a coastal village, full of rich Garifuna culture. Most of what you will experience here is authentic local life. If you are interested in visiting Glover’s Reef Marine Reserve, Hopkins is a great location to base yourself. The Cockscomb basin wildlife preserve is also nearby. Most tourists rent homes on or near the beach in Hopkins. The warm hospitality of the local population give you a very non-touristy experience.
San Pedro/Ambergris Caye
Most visitors to Belize are looking for the optimal spot for visiting the barrier reef and it makes sense to stay on Ambergris Caye for those experiences that include snorkeling and diving and swimming with the sharks or stingrays. And although San Pedro can feel over-touristed, there are plenty of places to sneak away. The beaches here are not as pristine, but most of your time will be spent out on the water. Pro tip-rent a golf cart if you stay here so you can get around easily. Coco Beach Resort will give a full on family experience for travelers looking for a base on the coast.
Caye Caulker
If you’re looking for the slow island life, then Caye Caulker is the place for you. This little sister island to Ambergris Caye is more rustic and attracts a typically younger crowd. You can take a 45 minute ferry from Belize City that costs about $25/pp. There are restaurants, dive shops, and small lodging or home rental options for your stay. People who want all of the water experiences like diving, snorkeling, deep sea fishing, jet ski rentals and more will be very happy on this island paradise.
What to do on the Belize Coast
Obviously time at the coast in Belize will be all about the water activities. Belize is very well known for scuba diving on the reefs and the Blue Hole. Snorkeling, too, gives you the opportunity for wildlife spotting including fish of all kinds, turtles, rays, manatees, sharks and more! The fishing experiences are some of the most talked about amongst anglers and you can try your hand at a variety of types of fishing from deep sea to flat fishing. Many of the small group day sail options also include snorkeling and lunch.
You can also take a full day trip away from the coast to the interior for some of those incredible caving or river tubing activities, but it’s a very long day and I would only recommend if you are staying in Hopkins or Placencia. The islands keep you pretty isolated.
6 Day Itinerary for Belize
- Day 1: Arrive to BZE and take a ground transport to San Ignacio. The drivers in Belize are wonderful and excited you are there to visit. Everyone is well-versed in local history and will keep you engaged during the transit. Don’t hesitate to ask to stop for lunch or to explore a fruit stand, etc. It will take about 2 hours to get to San Ignacio. Check into your hotel and hit the pool — you’re on vacation! Or if you need to get the wiggles out, find a walking tour or something nearby to distract from your travel tiredness.
- Day 2: Do a cave tour of the ATM (Actun Tunichil Muknal). Kids must be 48 inches tall to participate, and we saw people of ALL ages doing this activity. It is required for you to hire a guide, but you would want that anyway. The guides are incredibly patient and helpful. They provide helmets, headlamps and a life jacket (if you want one). This is an active adventure that will require walking and swimming through water and climbing over rocks. I personally feel like you can’t visit San Ignacio and not do this. It’s one of the best activities we’ve ever done on vacation. Finish your day relaxing at the pool or book a late afternoon spa appointment.
- Day 3: Make your way to Tikal (it’s in Guatemala!). Hire a driver to take you to the border of Guatemala and a guide to then take you to Tikal, a famous Mayan ruins site. Your hotel can help you arrange this, but make sure to negotiate the price in advance. In total, this is a two-hour drive one way. Take plenty of water and snacks along with sunscreen and bug repellant and give yourself time to truly explore this UNESCO world heritage site. Once there you will pay entrance fees for the site and museum. You can either head back across the border to your hotel OR spend the night in Flores, Guatemala for a fuller Tikal experience. It’s supposed to be amazing at sunrise and sunset!
- Day 4: Get a transfer from San Ignacio to the coast. This drive takes about 3 hours, but you should plan to stop along the way to break up the beautiful drive. There is an inland blue swimming hole and roadside stands for ice cream or tamales. If you need to catch a domestic flight to Ambergris Caye, you will head back to BZE, the international airport where you arrived. Check in to your hotel and hit the pool or beach. After you freshen up, head to a nice dinner.
- Day 5: It’s time to get out on that gorgeous water! Plan a full-day snorkeling or diving tour. The marine life and healthy reefs in Belize are incredible and absolutely worth a full day of fun. You will love getting out on the water and there is typically a beautiful breeze, so a catamaran is my suggestion, but there are also speed boat options. You will be wiped out from this day of sun, but it will be worth it. Clean up before heading out to a seafood dinner.
- Day 6: Build in some relaxation and adventure on your last full day in Belize. Enjoy the beach and the pool for sure. But, for some added adventure, plan an ATV tour to a waterfall for an adrenaline rush and a cool down if you’re staying on the mainland. This is especially great if you have older kids who can drive the ATV’s themselves — so much fun! If you are still out on the islands, do a fishing experience or head out to Shark Ray Alley to swim with sharks and rays.
- Your last day will be a travel day. Get on a domestic hopper flight from the local airstrip that will take you back to BZE for your international flight home. This is an idea Belize jungle and coast itinerary for any family or couple!
Who Should Visit Belize
If adventure travel is your thing, Belize just might be the easiest destination to achieve that. That perfect mix of jungle and coastal vibes gives you a taste of it all. Belize is the perfect spot for families to explore together, young kids and older kids. I took my 20 year old during his spring break and I found myself wishing we had visited as a family when the kids were a bit younger. There were loads of families with kids around 10-14 making memories together. Groups of friends would also have an incredible time in Belize and being able to split some of the transportation costs would be welcomed. Mark this as your inspiration to get that group text thread going!
Need to Know
Belize is a small, still developing country. The ease of the language and currency make this destination perfect for families looking to stretch their travel experiences a bit. You will find that transport is pricey-as of writing this post, fuel is at $10/gallon. Logistics can be slightly tricky, so if you aren’t sure on how to execute, feel free to reach out. There is never one perfect way to arrange a trip to the Belize jungle and coast, but my expertise is in matching the best accommodations to your family and to the travel experience you are looking for. For more information on how to work with me as a travel advisor, head over to my profile page!
Belize is so fab!
It truly is!