Summary
Are you looking for excuses to make your first (or 10th) trip to Belize? We understand how you feel. No fewer than 4 prestigious publications have recommended a visit of late ("The Los Angeles Times," "Lonely Planet," "Conde Nast Traveler" and "National Geographic"). If you read all four, you noticed that each one offers different reasons to visit Belize in 2023. Our list covers 10 reasons to visit Belize. Hop a plane and get here to discover more!
Content
Are you looking for excuses to make your first (or 10th) trip to Belize? We understand how you feel. No fewer than 4 prestigious publications have recommended a visit of late (" The Los Angeles Times," " Lonely Planet," " Conde Nast Traveler" and " National Geographic"). If you read all four, you noticed that each one offers different reasons to visit Belize in 2021. Our list covers 10 reasons to visit Belize. Hop a plane and get here to discover more!
- Your brain gets a rest in addition to your body since everyone speaks English and you don’t have to grow extra brain cells to figure out what people are saying to you.
- Learn how to spell "key" properly: it’s Caye. Visit South Water, Ambergris, Silk, Laughing Bird, and Tobacco Cayes. It matters not which you choose; you can fish, dive, snorkel and swim at all of them.
- 40-percent of Belize’s animals are protected by a network of habitats and wildlife protection laws. Remember this each time you spot an amphibian, reptile, cat, monkey or other beloved critters making their homes in Belize.
- Eat up. Try a different cuisine every day. Garifuna, Maya, Mestizo, East Indian, Creole and other menus reflect a nation drenched in cultural diversity. Sample fry jacks, Johnny cakes, gibnut, escabeche and hudut, but not necessarily at the same meal!
Related Podcasts
New
Belize is open for travel! On October 1st, 2020, the Belize International airport finally reopened for leisure travel. Tune in to learn more about the latest airport protocols and ... moretravel restrictions.
HOLR Magazine
Kaitlin Narciso, a travel journalist from Canada, speaks to us about her experience visiting Belize for the first time and why she plans to come back.
ContentLower
- Meet dead people. The skeletal remains of ancient Maya warriors, sacrificial victims, royalty and ordinary people can be found in caves among pottery and artifacts they left behind thousands of years ago. Mayan sites are awe-inspiring, whether they’re above or below ground.
- Trek primitive jungles that are as pristine and fascinating as they were ages ago. You may not spot all of the indigenous wildlife lurking in Belize jungles, but you are going to feel their presence amid lush surroundings!
- Leave your warm clothing at home. Proximity to the Equator means the average temperature in Belize is about 84-degrees F. Bring a shawl or wrap if you insist or intend to devote lots of time exploring Belize's exciting night life.
- Major in Hole-ology. The iconic Blue Hole, introduced to the world by Jacques Cousteau, gives you an unforgettable deep dive at a natural landmark. Gain inspiration from sea creatures you encounter on your way down and up.
- Visit the 540,000 square-foot-long Chiquibul Cave System. It's not to be missed. Geological formations are fascinating and if you can’t get enough underworld, add Actun Tunichil Muknal, Barton Creek and Caves Branch caves to your itinerary.
- Hang with cats. Residents of Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary include Jaguars living in the world’s only protected preserve. In fact, you could spot all five members of the nation's cat family if you're lucky: Ocelot, Puma, Jaguarundi and Margay, too.
Author Name:
Belizing.com Staff
Tours/Activities
The Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary established in 1990 is world renowned for being the first jaguar reserve. Besides being the home to Belize's largest cat, the sanctuary protects ... morethe headwaters of two major river systems and supports an abundance of hardwood vegetation and a diverse faunal assemblage. Over 128,000 acres of lush jungle are ringed by the spectacular Cockscomb Mountains. Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary is home to all five (5) of Belize's cats: Jaguar, Puma, Margay, Jaguarundi, and Ocelot. It is estimated that over 80 resident Jaguars are in the area. Belize's national animal, the endangered Baird's Tapir also inhabits the Basin and over 290 different species of birds have been recorded. This tour is ideal for nature lovers and intrepid travelers.
Get a chance to be up close and personal with the majestic jaguar.
In this tour, you'll get to visit two islands, South Water Caye and Bird Island. You will also get the opportunity to snorkel in Belize's Barrier Reef and swim with the manatees.
Your friendly Tour Guide will meet guests at Fort Street Tourism Village in Belize City and then will commence the tour by welcoming them to beautiful sunny Belize. He will then make ... morehis way through Belize City while giving them some brief history about Belize. He will then proceed on the George Price Highway which is a 40-minute drive out of the City and inform them about who George Price was and what he has done for our country.
Along the highway, guests will be able to see some small communities and some flora and fauna along the highways as well as some wetlands. You will then arrive at the Belize Zoo where your tour guide will allow you some time to use the restroom before you start the tour for about an hour.
At the Belize Zoo, you will be able to see some native animals to Belize as well as some troublesome animals such as Jaguars and Crocodiles that were harming the livestock of our farmers. Some were donated to the Belize Zoo because they were illegal to have as pets, and others were rescued from the wild. From there you will continue on your way to Jaguar Paw where you will enjoy both the Rain Forest and the Underworld of the Mayas as you hike for about 30 minutes through the Rain Forest and your guide will point out different medicinal plants and their benefits that were once used by the Mayas and locals today.
After your 30-minute hike, you will then sit in an inner tube and enjoy the refreshing cold river water that will carry you through the cave system. Your Guide will do all the work for you while he entertains and guides you through the cave system for about 2 hours. After your tour is finished you will then have lunch and make your way back to Belize City where you will be taken back to the Fort Street Tourism Village.
Notes:
Children must be 40" or taller to be able to cave tube.
This tour is available to cruise ship passengers and overnight guests.
Come visit Palmento Grove Eco-Cultural & Healing Lodge on Kalipuna Cultural Heritage Island located at the north end of Hopkins Village Belize where you get to be immersed in our ... morerich Garifuna Culture, parts of which have been proclaimed an oral and intangible heritage of humanity by UNESCO. The historic island is home to Palmento Grove Garifuna Eco-Cultural & Fishing Institute where the Martinez Family welcomes you to learn and have fun all in an effort to serve to preserve a rich indigenous cultural heritage. Join us on our authentic Garifuna Cultural & Culinary Adventure Journey offering an enriching vacation experience to all our guests. This tour is ideal for families, honeymooners, couples, solo travelers, students, and mixed groups as it is very interactive and hands-on. As our Cultural Guests, you get the beautiful opportunity to:
Dress in our Garifuna Traditional handmade & uniquely designed clothing that is best for the subtropical climate for the duration of your Garifuna Experience.
Explore the rich legacy of the Garifuna People via our Cultural Display Centers furnished with historical art pieces some of which are over 100 years old.
Get to uplift your spirit with the enchanting paintings of Isiah Nicholas as you explore our Spiritual Centre. We are blessed to house his largest art collection depicting varying aspects of the Garifuna Cultural inclusive of the historical journey of our Garifuna People, our spirituality, music, and many of our indigenous art forms, all displayed in their rich & vibrant colors.
Learn about the many magical & beneficial properties of coconut trees & coconuts and the art of traditional coconut harvesting, husking, grating & milk extraction.
Walk with us through our herbal garden and cassava patch harvesting fresh food and herbs for our fresh, organic, healthy, and deliciously made meal that is just awesome medicine to uplift your soul.
Master the heat in our traditional kitchen preparing a Garifuna meal over an open fire-heart. Your great reward will be the labor of your culinary love - Delicious HUDUT which is our coconut base chowder/ broth flavored with fresh herbs & sea fish of the day with pounded plantains & well flavorful seasoned fried fish; or any other Garifuna Dish of choice based on dietary preference!
Culminate your Garifuna Cultural & Culinary experience with sensational drum rolls learning the basic techniques of Garifuna drumming & Music & revitalizing your souls ultimately earning your delicious cultural dessert by way of participating in 45 minutes mesmerizing drum session.
Come enjoy a day full of learning, laughter, and fun... One worth sharing with the world!!!
Departs From: San Ignacio Town
Welcome to the gateway of the Mayan Underworld. Actun Tunichil Muknal (cave of the stone sepulchre) is commonly referred to as ATM Cave. Located near San Ignacio, Cayo District, it ... moreis one of the most impressive Maya ceremonial caves containing rare bloodletting altars used in sacrifices by Maya royalty, and where calcified skeletons, ceramics, and stoneware have been found. The best known as “The Crystal Maiden”, the intact skeleton of a teenage girl, whose bones have been calcified over the years to a sparkling crystallized appearance
The hike to the cave entrance through the lush Tapir Mountain Nature Reserve requires visitors to swim to the mouth of the cave and then wade through ankle to chest high water and once inside the magnificent cave, the exploration begins. The tour requires climbing and swimming as well as crawling through small spaces. The cave is extensively decorated with cave formations in the upper passages, a labyrinth of dry chambers which lead to the cathedral-like main hall, a towering chamber 350 meters in length and 50 meters wide, and filled with artifacts and sacrificial remains. Visitors remove shoes and explore the cave in socks only, to protect the artifacts on the cave floor. After this, another climb takes you to the stone sepulchre (after which the cave is named) where the Crystal Maiden lies. Photography is now disallowed inside the cave unless special permits are obtained.
This is an extraordinary Belize adventure and a rare opportunity to see ancient Maya ceremonial sites and altars as they were and virtually untouched for centuries. A visit to this site is truly profound and unforgettable. After this memorable adventure, we hike back to our vehicles and sit to enjoy a local lunch before heading back to San Ignacio.
|