Featured Destination: Belize (Full Guide)

​In May of 2019, Autumn and I had the pleasure of visiting the small Central American country of Belize.  What we found was an adventurous tropical paradise – home to beautiful beaches, reefs for snorkeling/ scuba diving, dense jungles, Mayan ruins, caves for exploring, and so much more.  If you are planning your next exotic getaway, I highly recommend Belize as a port less traveled. 

​The following suggestions are based solely on my personal experience and trip, so there may be some additional locations and attractions that are worth seeing.  Be sure to do you own research as well – that’s half the fun of traveling!

Belize - Brief History and Influence on Tiki:

The history of Belize is equal parts mysterious, unique, eclectic, and downright chaotic.

Belize was early home to the Mayans, who built a powerful and sophisticated civilization throughout Central America and in neighboring countries of modern-day southern Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras.  The Mayan civilization peaked in the 6th - 8th century, but mysteriously vanished around the 14th century (not long before the Spanish arrived in the 16th century).

For a brief period, Belize was inhabited by the Spanish as they explored the new world and established ports throughout the Caribbean and central Americas, however, English and Scottish privateers posed a challenge to this rule in the 17th century, settling in Belize for its rich resources and fruitful jungles.

In 1789, Britain officially gained full control of Belize from Spain after defeating the Spanish Armada off St. George's Caye. While the United States was embroiled in Civil War, Great Britain declared Belize to be the colony of British Honduras.  This colonization lasted for nearly 200 years, with self-governance being granted by the British government in 1964, and Belize gaining full independence in 1981.
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With its long history of colonization, Belize was heavily influenced by foreign cultures in the way of language, social structures, politics, trade, and agriculture.  Today, the country draws from the lifestyle and palate of many of its Caribbean neighbors – including language (Creole, English, and Spanish), rum (cane juice and coconut rums), fruits, and spices.  Belize arguably has more in common with its Caribbean island neighbors than its bordering Spanish-speaking countries. Known for its laid-back island lifestyle, vast jungles, and an underwater world of neon fish and twisted coral, Belize is a true tropical treasure.

When to Go

Many travel websites and experts will tell you that the best time to visit Belize is between the months of November and April, during the country’s dry season.

We suggest taking your trip in May, that way you can avoid the April crowds and potentially score lower prices on hotels/ activities.  Beware though, there is a slightly higher risk of rain in May, so be prepared for some potential weather.

Additionally, the following local festivals occur annually in Belize.  You may want to consider planning your trip around one of these events:

• ​Fiesta de Carnaval (February)
• Belize Lobster Festivals (June and July)
• San Pedro International Costa Maya Festival (August)
• St. George's Caye Day (September 10)
• Belize Independence Day (September 21)

Where to Stay  

Where you stay heavily depends on the type of trip you are looking for:  Escapist/Relaxing or Culturally Stimulating.  We were looking for a more relaxing and tropical atmosphere, opting to stay on the island of Ambergris Caye (about 35 miles off the Belize mainland).  Ambergris Caye is the largest of the Belize islands, and is known for its relaxing vibe, blue lagoons, and exquisite snorkeling and scuba diving just offshore (as the reef is less than 100 meters off the East shore). 

In terms of hotel, we stayed at the Costa Blu Adults Only Resort and couldn’t have been happier with our choice.  This resort was slightly off the beaten path, as it was about 45-minutes by golf cart away from the main town of San Pedro.  We also had the chance to visit many of the resorts a bit closer to town (which were also wonderful).  Here is a list of places we would recommend on Ambergris Caye:
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1. Costa Blu Adults Only Resort ($$) – A bit smaller and more secluded than many of the other resorts we visited.  Costa Blu truly values their guests, and the staff were helpful at every turn of our trip.  The property also included a great on-site restaurant, cabana bar on the beach, and a private dock with in-house dive shop where you can book sea or land excursions and day trips
2. Portofino Beach Resort ($$) – This resort was a short walk away from Costa Blu (where we stayed) and had a cozy feel.  It’s a small resort, but with immaculately kept grounds and a true “beach hut” exterior vibe, with luxurious interiors and amenities.  However, the restaurant at this property is overpriced and the food is nothing to write home about
3. Ramon’s Village Resort ($$$) – Smack dab in the heart of San Pedro city, this resort was aesthetically inspired by Tahitian cottages, and brings a unique Bora Bora atmosphere to Ambergris Caye.  While this resort is slightly kitschy for my taste (considering it’s mixing tropical countries), it surely provides a tried-and-true island paradise experience that will bring out the tiki enthusiast in you.
4. Pelican Reef Villas Resort ($$$) – Pelican Reef is on the larger side of resorts on the island but provides all of the amenities that you could ask for (along with a fantastic location).  We ended up not staying here due to price, but would re-consider for our next trip to Belize
5. Victoria House Resort & Spa ($$$$) – Certainly on the luxury-end of resorts on the island, the Victoria House Resort and Spa is a perfect island getaway.  This resort truly has it all and does it with style.  Like Pelican Reef, we opted for a less expensive resort, but this will certainly be on our list down the road.

Alternatively - if a tropical, beach-y resort is not your cup of rum, there are many amazing destinations to stay along the mainland Belizean coast that provide easier access to the cultural sites and jungles that Belize has to offer. 

If you go this route, I would recommend looking for hotels/resorts in Placencia, Belize.  Though it is relatively far away from the country’s capitol (Belize City), Placencia is known for having some of the most beautiful white sandy beaches in the country and is a car ride away from the lush jungles, Mayan ruins, and intricate cave systems that Belize has to offer.

What to Do

If you are anything like me, you prefer your getaway be a mixture of relaxing, stimulating, and slightly educational.  Luckily, the country of Belize feels well-suited to answer all these needs.  Here is our list of “can’t miss” activities to do while on your trip:
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1. Day trip to the Mayan Ruins – One of the most memorable parts of our trip was visiting the Mayan ruins at Xunantunich (“Sculpture of Lady” or “Stone Woman”).  These ruins are one of the tallest Mayan structures (allowing you to see all the way to Guatemala at their peak), and over one-thousand years old.  We booked our day trip through our hotel’s onsite tour company, Tuff E Nuff Tours, and had a wonderful guide and overall experience.  There are also a number of other Mayan sites in the country that Tuff E Nuff visits, including Caracol (most popular), Altun Ha, Cahal Pech, and Lamanai
2. Caving at Cave Branch – Hands down our favorite part of the trip (which is saying a lot) - the cave excursion starts with a 45-minute hike through the dense Belize jungle, where you will see an abundance of wildlife and tropical plants, including wild pineapples, cashews, and allspice (some of my favorite tiki ingredients).  Once you arrive at the cave’s entrance, you will take a brief dip in the crystal-clear refreshing waters of the Cave Branch river, before exploring the caves by way of innertube and headlamps.   We booked this excursion through Tuff E Nuff Tours, adding it to our day trip to the Mayan Ruins (recommend doing this, as it brings down the overall costs)
3. Scuba Diving and Snorkeling – Belize is home to the world's second-longest barrier reef and three of only four true coral atolls in the western hemisphere, making it one of the very best snorkeling and scuba diving destinations.  Make sure to check out some of the spots off Ambergris Caye, including Hol Chan Marine Reserve and Shark Ray Alley (yes, you get to swim with sharks and massive sting rays).  If you are feeling even more adventurous, check out the famous Blue Hole (made famous by Jacques Cousteau).  We also booked our diving and snorkeling trips through Tuff E Nuff Tours
4. Secret Beach – Known as the “San Pedro’s worst kept secret”, Secret Beach is a remote (and relatively undeveloped) swimming beach on the West side of Ambergris Caye.  With its crystal-clear shallow water, sandy beaches, and a handful of bars and restaurants – it is easy to get lost here all day and soak up the Belizean sunshine.   Be sure to bring plenty of sunscreen and towels. This spot is most easily reached by golf cart (which you can rent from several hotels or in San Pedro city)
5. Visit San Pedro – If you are staying on Ambergris Caye, you will inevitably spend some time exploring the relatively small, sleepy island town of San Pedro.   Home to some of the best restaurants and bars on the island, it’s worth taking some additional time to visit some of the local markets and shops for artisan crafts
6. Relaxing by the beach/pool – This activity should probably go without saying, but be sure to reserve ample time to relax and soak in the scenery of Belize

Where to Eat

Before taking our trip, Autumn and I were cautioned that Belize is not well-known for its cuisine, and that we should visit with lowered expectations.  Interestingly, this was not our experience, and we were able to find a variety of restaurants that provided delicious, local dishes.

​I will caveat this by saying that nearly all the meals we thoroughly enjoyed were seafood based, so having an aversion to fish or seafood may make finding a suitable restaurant a bit more difficult.  Here are some our favorite restaurants and bars on Ambergris Caye:

1. Elvi’s Kitchen ($$$) – Located in the heart of San Pedro, this restaurant is one of the oldest standing restaurants in the city, and home to delicious Central American and seafood dishes.  Be sure to try their house ceviche, tuna tartar, tacos, and lobster in black bean sauce, accompanied by an ice-cold Belkin Beer (native beer to Belize)
2. Wild Mangos ($$$) – Located on the beach of San Pedro, Wild Mangos offers delicious home-cooked Central American dishes with a special island flair.  Try one of their many house ceviches, cashew-crusted grouper, or mango-glazed snapper.  As for drinks, they offer variety of mojitos and tropical drinks using local Belizean rums and fruit juices.
3. Truck Stop ($$) – If you find yourself in need of a quick mid-day meal while on Ambergris Caye, look no further than Truck Stop, Belize’s first shipping container food park and beer garden.  Cuisine options include Latin American (Arepa), Malaysian/Southeast Asian (Rasa), Ice Cream (Cool Cone), and beer/cocktails.
4. Aqua Restaurant Seafood and Steakhouse – at the Grand Caribe Resort ($$$$) – Autumn found this particular restaurant, and took us here for our one year anniversary.  It was wonderfully decadent and upscale, and had a terrific menu of eclectic Asian-fusion dishes.  Be sure to try their tuna tartar, grouper, black bean tamarind snapper, and spicy tuna sushi roll.
5. Blu Restaurant – at the Costa Blue Adults Only Resort ($$$) – While the food here was not necessarily the “very best” we’ve ever had on a vacation, Blu Restaurant and Beach Bar deserves a special shout out on this list, as the food and cocktails were consistently (and surprisingly) delicious.  Try out their amazing Belizean breakfast, fried jacks, fresh fish of the day, or ceviche.

Where to Drink

​Like the cuisine, Autumn and I were pleasantly surprised by the variety of cocktail offerings we discovered in Belize.  Though relatively simple in structure, the cocktails we had were refreshing and tasty, and found their way into our home bar recipe books.

Belizean cocktails play heavily on ingredients and flavors found in many traditional Tiki drinks:  fresh fruit or fruit juices, pineapple, coconut, citrus, mint, and rum.  Since the weather in Belize is typically hot and humid during the summertime, many of the drinks we enjoyed were flash blended to give the cocktail a “slushie” texture. 

Here are some of our favorite bars from our trip (all based in Ambergris Caye):

1. Pirate’s Not-So-Secret Beach Bar and Grill – Located in Secret Beach, this bar had an especially delicious blended coconut mojito, which was the perfect addition to the white sandy beach and warm, shallow swimming area the area offered.
2. John’s Escape – Full disclosure, we went here solely for the name.  Luckily, this bar was a pleasant surprise, and offered a variety of tasty rum and juice cocktail, and delicious frozen coconut mojitos
3. Secret Paradise Beach Bar – One of the largest properties and bars in Secret Beach, Secret Paradise Beach Bar was a great place to relax, listen to music, and enjoy a cocktail (or three). 
4. Maruba Beach Club – Located in Secret Beach, this bar is going for an “upscale” club vibe, so beware of the clientele.  Though the drinks here lack some imagination, the bar carries Belizean “viper rum”, which the bartender describes as rum made by villagers in the mountainous region of the country and is indeed spiked with a live viper snake during the bottling process.  Take a shot of it, and you get to sign the wall of the bar.
5. Blu Beach Bar – at the Costa Blue Adults Only Resort – As with the food, some of the best cocktails we had while in Belize came from our hotel bar, the Blu Beach Bar.  Our favorite drinks stuck to the basics: fruit and local rums.  We were especially fond of the Caipirinha (cane juice rum and lime juice) and the Panty Ripper (local coconut rum and pineapple juice)

Hope you enjoyed our guide - please share your own travel tips for Belize in the comments!

​Warward Spirits