5 Adventurous Things to do in Belize

Top 5 Things to do in Belize

Belize is a small country, but there are plenty of epic activities to experience. I spent a week in Belize and had a blast visiting Mayan ruins, cave tubing, snorkeling and more! There are so many epic things to do in Belize. If you’re craving thrilling escapades in the heart of Central America, Belize is your ultimate playground. The stunning Caribbean coastline and the lush jungle around San Ignacio provide endless opportunities to experience the natural beauty of Belize. In this post I highlight the top 5 adventurous things to do in Belize!

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Xunantunich Ruins

Belize Key Information:

Location and Geography: Belize is located on the northeastern coast of Central America. It is bordered by Mexico to the north, Guatemala to the west and south, and the Caribbean Sea to the east. The country boasts diverse geography, including lush jungles, coastal plains, and the second-largest barrier reef in the world.

Arriving to Belize: The two best ways to arrive in Belize are by plane or bus. The main airport is Philip S.W. Goldson International Airport which is located just outside of Belize City. Additionally, you can easily arrive to Belize by bus if you are coming from nearby Mexico or Guatemala. There is also the option to arrive by sea if you are visiting on a cruise or want to take the boat from Chetumal, Mexico to either San Pedro or Caye Caulker island.

Languages: The official language of Belize is English, making it the only country in Central America with English as the primary language. However, Belize is also culturally diverse, with Spanish, Creole, Garifuna, and Maya languages spoken widely.

Currency: The official currency is the Belize Dollar (BZD). US Dollars are widely accepted we were always able to pay in USD or Belize Dollar. The exchange rate is 2 Belize Dollar = 1 USD

Climate: Belize enjoys a tropical climate with distinct wet and dry seasons. The dry season typically runs from late November to mid-April, offering pleasant weather for travelers. The wet season, from June to November, brings occasional rain showers and higher humidity. We visited at the end of May and had great weather, the rainy season had not started yet.

View from our Airbnb on Caye Caulker

Where to Stay in Belize:

San Ignacio:

Located inland near many of Belize’s top archaeological sites and natural attractions, San Ignacio offers a range of accommodations including eco-lodges, jungle resorts, and budget-friendly guesthouses. It’s ideal for adventure seekers and history buffs. The town itself isn’t anything special, but this is where you want to stay in order to visit the caves and Mayan ruins.

Book Your Belize Hotel Here

Caye Caulker:

A smaller and more relaxed alternative to Ambergris Caye, Caye Caulker offers charming guesthouses, beachfront hotels, and backpacker-friendly accommodations. It’s known for its laid-back vibe and excellent snorkeling opportunities. I really loved Caye Caulker because it has the perfect chill Carribean vibes. There were plenty of restaurants and some really nice places to swim.

Ambergris Caye:

San Pedro: The main town on Ambergris Caye offers a variety of accommodations ranging from luxury resorts to budget-friendly hotels and vacation rentals. It’s ideal for beach lovers and those interested in water activities like snorkeling and diving. We did not stay here but it is definitely more built up and busy than Caye Caulker. There are more luxury hotel options located in San Pedro.

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Top 5 Things to do in Belize

Xunantunich Ruins – El Castillo

1. Xunantunich Ruins

Visiting the Xunantunich Ruins is the perfect way to get a snapshot into Mayan life and history. The ruins are located just outside the town of San Ignacio, Belize and can easily be seen in 2-3 hours. The highlight of the Xunantunich Ruins is, El Castillo, a 40-meter (130 feet) tall pyramid that provides stunning views of the surrounding area. Visitors are able to climb to the top of the structure and look out over the whole archaeological site and even see into Guatemala.

How to Visit:

The easiest way to visit the Xunantunich Ruins is with a guided tour. I highly recommend the full day tour with St. Leonards Tours that combines the ruins and cave tubing. Going with a tour also means that you will have a knowledgeable guide to explain the archaeological site.
Another option is by car or taxi. This is also very easy and the drive from San Ignacio to the Xunantunich Ruins is only 20-30 minutes. Before arriving at the ruins you will cross a river on a small ferry boat (its free) and then continue up the road to the visitor center. The entry fee was $10 Belize dollars as of May 2024.

Cave Tubing

2. Cave Tubing in the Jaguar Paw Cave System

The cave system known popularly as Jaguar Paw is officially called the Nohoch Che’en Cave system. The cave system provides the perfect environment for an exciting exploration of the caves and a relaxing float down stream. This was one of the best things I did in Belize! You will want to arrange a guided tour to visit the caves. The adventure starts with a 30 ish minute walk through the jungle before you hop in your tube and begin the journey into the caves. The water flows calmly and you get to admire the beautiful cave formations as you float along. The tour I did also had a side mission where we got to leave our tubes in order to explore deeper in the cave system and uncover some of the Mayan artifacts.

How to Visit:

I definitely recommend organizing a tour for the Cave tubing in the Jaguar Paw Cave System. The location is in the middle of no where and a guide is required to go through the caves. Hiring a tour is a cost effective way to cover transportation, tubing, guide and even lunch in most cases. I definitely recommend booking with St. Leonards Tours.

Book Here: Full Day Xunantunich Ruins & Cave Tubing Experience

No Photos allowed in the ATM caves but here is another from Cave Tubing

3. ATM Cave Tour

The Actun Tunichil Muknal (ATM) Cave is one of the most famous things to do in Belize. It offers a unique combination of adventure, natural beauty, and cultural history. The ATM cave is a significant Mayan archaeological site and provides a unique opportunity to witness untouched Mayan artifacts and skeletons. It does require a bit of athleticism to reach the main part of the cave. Firstly, you must walk about 45 minutes through the jungle to reach the entrance of the cave. Then it will take another 30-45 minutes of swimming, climbing and squeezing your way through the cave system.

Once you reach the main section, you will remove your shoes and enter with just socks on. From here, your guide will explain the significance of the artifacts within the cave and ultimately guide you to well preserved skeletons who were sacrificed in Mayan times. It is a very rewarding experience and is worth the effort to reach the end. If you are easily claustrophobic I would recommend cave tubing over the ATM caves.

How to Arrive:

The ATM caves require you to book with a guided tour. It is quickly becoming more popular and there is a limit to the number of people allowed in everyday so make sure you book in advance. The cost of the tour is usually around $120 USD (as of May 2023)

Swimming with a Manatee

4. Full Day Snorkeling Tour

Hopefully you have had time to enjoy the beautiful nature around San Ignacio, and now it is time to relax on one of Belize’s beautiful islands. We spent our time on Caye Caulker and I can definitely recommend it! I loved the chill Caribbean vibes and the fact that it was so easy to walk around the island. The main highlight of visiting one of Belize’s islands is the snorkeling and diving potential.

I decided on the full day snorkel tour with Caveman Tours and I highly recommend it! We visited a variety of locations and saw some of the best sea life in the world. The tour included Tarpon feeding, swimming with a manatee (kind of lucky), snorkeling at the Coral Gardens, Hol Chan Marine Reserve (AMAZING), lunch and a snorkel at Chatos Area and swimming with sharks at Shark Ray Alley. The tour also goes to a small ship wreck but we had to skip this due to the conditions.

Honestly it was such an epic day and the food and guides made the experience even better!

How to Book:

There are a ton of snorkeling companies on the islands and most offer a similar package. I can attest that Caveman Tours deserves the 4.9 rating they have on Google. It was an awesome day! Expect to pay around $90 USD for a full day snorkel tour.

5. Flight over the Blue Hole

I feel like the Blue Hole is one of the first things you think of when visiting Belize. It is a popular dive spot and an incredible natural phenomena. Unless you are an avid diver and checking off a bucketlist dive, the general diving experience of the Blue Hole is a little lacking. It takes almost 3 hours by boat to reach it and then there is not a lot of wildlife to see.

Instead of diving the Blue Hole, I recommend taking a scenic flight over it! You will get incredible views of the reef and of course and epic shot of the Blue Hole! Unfortunately I did not get to do a flight this time, but I heard how amazing it was from so many people we met.

How to Book:

There are two companies that operate flights over the Blue Hole. You can book with Mayan Island Air or Tropic Air.

Stingray Friends

6. Crazy Sting Ray Encounter

Are really awesome and free thing to do on Caye Caulker is to visit the Stingrays when they come for their evening meal. Everyday at the Iguana Reef Hotel, dozens of stingrays start arriving around 4 pm. Here you can learn more about them and even feed the stingrays. It is wild to have them swimming around your feet. They are huge and overall pretty friendly, but you still need to be careful so you don’t step on any! This is free and happens everyday.

Sip n Dip Bar

7. Have a Drink or Ten in the Ocean

I spent a good portion of my time on Caye Caulker at the are known as “The Spit.” This is one of the best areas for swimming on Caye Caulker. I loved cooling off in the water and meeting other travelers at this “beach.” It is also really fun because there is a high platform to do jumps and flips off of. The Lazy Lizard is the name of the bar/restaurant here. Right across the way you will also find Sip n Dip which is another bar/restaurant that actually has tables in the water. We enjoyed a cocktail and a yummy platter of nachos at this bar. This part of the island really feels like vacation.

If you’re looking for a more chilled place to swim I also recommend the beach at the Iguana Reef Inn.

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Sunset on Caye Caulker

Best Things to do in Belize Summary

Overall, Belize really impressed me and we had a great time adventuring around the small country. I really loved all the caving experiences. At first I was nervous about being claustrophobic but our guides were always well equipped and made us comfortable. There is a beautiful world underground. The Caribbean Sea provided a great escape from the heat and the crystal clear water was so inviting. In total we spent 7 nights in Belize and it was just enough time to experience the best of Caye Caulker and San Ignacio.

Cave Tubing in Belize

Do you Have Travel Insurance?

Travel Insurance is the number one thing I make sure to have before I start any adventure. Most people don’t realize how critical travel insurance is and it has personally saved me a few times on my travels. I’ve needed it when I got a parasite in Peru, when I needed to be hospitalized in Bali, and when my phone was stolen. Most home country health insurance does not cover you over sees so if you are in an accident or fall ill then all the fees will be out of pocket unless you have travel insurance. On top of medical coverage most plans provide coverage for travel interruptions, stolen property and lost luggage.

I currently use Heymondo for all my travel insurance needs. Their policies are priced well and they have great support. I like that I can use the app to chat with a doctor at any time, and their team are easy to reach if you need help seeking medical treatment. In addition, their base policies already cover a ton of adventure sports or you can add on their adventure cover if you’ll be doing more extreme activities.

Get a Free Heymondo Quote Here

5 Things I never Travel Without

Travel Insurance – Heymondo has been my go-to for the last few years. I love how reasonable the prices are and how easy it is to sign up. They also include coverage of a bunch of adventurous activities! Click here for 5% off your policy.
Travel Credit Cards – Having a good travel credit card is a game changer! Not only do you get the benefit of zero transaction fees, but these cards provide other benefits such as, free Priority Pass, free TSA Pre-check/Global Entry, annual travel credits, great point earnings and travel partners. My two favorite cards are the Chase Sapphire Reserve and the Capital One Venture X.
Kindle – I love reading and Kindle makes it so easy to download new books on the go!
Osprey Backpack – whether I’m hiking in Patagonia or backpacking Europe, Osprey offers versatile backpacks for any type of travel
AirPods – These are a total game changer for traveling. I love the noise cancelling capability because it makes airplanes silent and blocks out unwanted noise. They are so much easier to wear around than normal headphones.