5 Can’t Miss Things To Do In Belize

Belize is a stunning and diverse little country on the Caribbean coast of Central America. Originally a British Colony; English is commonly spoken and the country still falls under British law.  Weather you are searching for beaches, waterfalls, caving or Mayan Ruins; Belize is the place for you! Keep reading for our favorite things to do in Belize.

See The Great Blue Hole

The Great Blue Hole is a gigantic marine sinkhole that has become the trademark of the country. Located near the center of an offshore reef; this is the number one thing to do in Belize. If you`d like to see The Great Blue Hole from above; you can take a helicopter or small plane tour from multiple different locations. We would highly recommend doing it this way if you want to have a view of the entire sinkhole.

A more adventurous option is to scuba dive inside the Great Blue Hole. There are pros and cons to both options; but ultimately we decided against the diving because its actually more expensive, its really far (it takes a minimum of 2 hours to get there by boat) and you won`t get that spectacular view only attainable from the sky. We booked through Tsunami Adventures in Caye Caulker who offer both options, competitive prices and good customer service.

Marvel at Mayan Ruins

There are several Mayan Ruin sites spread throughout Belize. Although Caracol and Xunantunich are probably the most common; you have multiple options based on where you are leaving from and how long you would like to be on the road. Xunantunich is not far off the main highway in Belize making it a common stop for travelers. Although it`s a smaller sight it is unbelievably beautiful!

Caracol is the largest site in Belize and my personal favorite in all of Central America (yes.. even over Tikal!) The reason for that is because it is far less developed. We chose to drive ourselves in on the 2 hour dirt road full of potholes. We got there around 10 am which was before the tours arrived and there was literally no one else there! It was so amazing to be able to explore this marvelous archaeological site without the crowds.

Snorkel In Shark Ray Alley

Shark Ray Alley is an area in the nature reserve where you are guaranteed to see nurse sharks, different kinds of rays, and usually sea turtles! It is accessible from many different locations with Caye Caulker and Ambergris Caye being the most common. This was honestly one of the highlights of our entire trip to Belize; you don`t want to miss it!

So how can you be guaranteed to see this sort of wildlife? This area use to be a common place for fisherman to clean out the catch of the day before bringing them in to sell. The marine life got use to this food source and continue to live there to this day.

Explore Giant Underground Caves

Belize is famous for its massive underground cave systems. There are so many different experiences you can have from rappelling into them to exploring ancient remains. Ian Anderson`s Caves Branch offers cave tubing, climbing waterfalls in a cave system and even an overnight cave stay.

The ATM cave is one of the most popular caves to explore in Belize. It contains skeletons, ceramics, and stoneware left by the Mayan People. The cave is several kilometers long and throughout the tour you will spend a few hours exploring different chambers and swimming around. The average price of a tour is around $125 USD per person; click here for more information!

Go Hiking At Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary

Also known as the Jaguar Preserve; Cockscomb Basin is one of the most beautiful natural attractions in Belize.There are over than 30 kilometers of maintained hiking trails of varying length and difficulty. Entrance is $5 USD per person and the park is open from 8 am to 4:30 pm daily.

We chose to hike Tiger Fern Trail which is moderately challenging and took about 3 hours to complete. It leads you to an excellent viewpoint and ends at a gorgeous and secluded double waterfall with a swimming hole! We lucked out and had this little piece of paradise all to ourselves..it was surreal! For more information on other trails, climbing Victoria Peak, camping and more check out this awesome blog post!

 

https://www.madetotravel.ca/things-to-do-in-belize/?utm_medium=social&utm_source=pinterest&utm_campaign=tailwind_tribes&utm_content=tribes&utm_term=642936046_25040570_114910

 

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Destination Belize on YouTube

Want to learn more about Belize? Visit Destination Belize YouTube page to see great videos of our beautiful country, people and adventures.

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U.S. Embassy Belize

A video message to U.S. citizens and Belizeans from U.S. Chargé d’Affaires, a.i. Keith Gilges.

Big Cats List Of Belize – Five Beautiful Species

 

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Here Is A Big Cats List Of The Popular Big Cats Species In Belize

A little while back we did a piece on the international efforts to establish and maintain a green corridor running from Mexico down to Argentina to protect the region’s jaguar population, and some people registered surprise that Belize actually has a jaguar population. That population not only exists, but is hopefully growing today thanks to efforts from conservation groups such as Panthera and the Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary.

Well, we thought that if people were surprised that Belize had jaguars, they’d be even more intrigued to hear that there are actually five major big cats species running around Belize. So here’s an introduction to Belize’s big cats.

Belize Big Cat Jaguar

Belize Jaguar

First and foremost would be the jaguar, perhaps the most well known of Belize’s big cats, (besides being the name of the national football team). Known to scientific types as Panthera onca,  it’s amazing that they have survived at all, given the high value placed on their stunning pelts, from the days of the ancient Maya up to modern times.

In fact, the jaguar was respected by the Maya, who called it baalam, or simply, the King. Jaguars appear in many ancient carvings and statues, and were a chief adornment of Maya royalty.

You rarely see these guys in the daytime, as they like to hunt at night, are shy and have magnificent camouflage, but now and then they can be seen sunning themselves, and occasionally their roars will liven up the Belizean night.

They hunt peccaries monkeys, agoutis, deer, birds, fish, lizard, turtles, and other animals, and aren’t adverse to the odd bit of carrion when they come across it. Despite their fierce reputation, attacks on humans have always been rare.

Belize’s Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary is the world’s only designated jaguar preserve and is doing great work in helping to maintain the numbers and health of this beautiful, iconic animal.

Belize Big Cat Mountain Lion

Belize Mountain Lion

Another big feline is the Mountain Lion, or Puma concolor. The layman also knows them as pumas, cougars, catamounts and panthers, all of which are probably more accurate, as this cat is neither restricted to mountains, nor does it roar like lions do.

As the largest cats in Central America, weighing up to 200 pounds, they like their space, with a single male lion claiming over 100 square miles, sometimes closer to 200 square miles, as its home turf.  They also have the largest range of any mammal in the western hemisphere, running from the Canada’s Yukon all the way down to the Andes in South America.

The mountain lion is also more closely related to the common house cat than any other lion species.

In Belize wherever you find deer you’ll sometimes find mountain lions, as it’s their favourite food, each lion eating about one deer a week and covering up what it doesn’t eat now to return until it’s finished.

However, sightings are rare as this is another solitary, elusive animal

Belize Big Cat Ocelot

Belize Ocelot

You have a much better chance of seeing an ocelot, or Leopardus pardalis, in Belize. These smaller but no less beautiful cats hunt both day and night, looking for smaller mammals, reptiles and birds.

They have also been around for a long time, being well known to the ancient Maya and Mexican Aztec, who called them ōcēlōtl, or field tiger, from which the name ocelot derives.

While its range isn’t as extensive as the mountain lion, it has been sighted in Texas and Arizona in the US, down throughout South America, and even on the islands of Trinidad and Margarita.

Nearly hunted to extinction because of its beautiful pelt, the ocelot, also known as tiger cat in Belize, and dwarf leopard in other places, is now registered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as “least concern”.

Thankfully, ocelots are no longer hunted in Belize, and there seem to be more sightings of this gorgeous cat each year, so keep a good look out.

Belize Big Cat Margay

Belize Margay

The Margay, scientific name Leopardus wiedii, after German naturalist and explorer Prince Alexander Philipp Maximilian zu Wied-Neuwied, but is thankfully more commonly known as the Long Tailed Spotted Cat or Tree Ocelot, as it resembles an ocelot, but smaller and with longer legs and tail.

Almost hunted to extinction for its lovely coat, this cat is now listed by the IUCN as “Near Threatened”, which is somewhat good news for another of Belize’s beautiful cats

Ranging from Mexico down to Argentina, the Margay lives in the forest and is an accomplished climber with special claws and ankle joints that allow it to turn 180 degrees and climb underneath branches and leaping through trees like a monkey, which it hunts. It is one of only two cat species (the other being the clouded leopard) thought to be able to climb down headfirst.

This is another shy cat that hunts at night for birds, monkeys, tree frogs and insects and other small game. It is interesting to scientists studying animal auditory mimicry, as it has been observed imitating the call of an infant pied tamarin (a sort of small monkey), which caused the adults to come closer to investigate.

If this is true, it makes the margay one of the smartest, as well as most flexible cats in the kingdom.

Belize Big Cat Jaguarundi

Belize Jaguarundi

Jaguarundi, (Puma yagouaroundi) are a truly local cat, ranging from Central America down to Argentina, where they live in dense forests and thickets that protect them their only real predators – humans and dogs.

Jaguarundis are small cats, with stumpy legs and an elongated body without markings, looking more like a house cat than their bigger cousins. In fact, it is rumoured in Belize that they mate with housecats, which would account for some of the big kitties we see here.

Interestingly, there is said to be a population in Florida that is spreading northward, with sightings in Alabama, due to, supposedly, Jaguarundis having been introduced by a writer who brought the animals in and released them in his hometown of Cheifland and other parts of the state.

Mostly active at night, hunting for rats, birds, mice, rabbits and other small game, they can also been seen during the day, especially around their favourite watering places.

So the next time you see a big brawny house-cat in Belize, you’ll have to ask yourself…

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So yes, Belize does have a relatively healthy big cat population, and thanks to the rise of eco-tourism and public awareness projects, some of these beautiful animals are on the rebound and enjoying the vast tracks of pristine land set aside as protected areas in Belize.

Here at Chaa Creek, and at our Belize Natural History Centre, we love to see examples where responsible travel and ecotourism are actually contributing to the environmental and social wellbeing of the land, and we’ll keep bringing you more highlights showing how this is working.

 

Big Cats List of Belize – Five Beautiful Species

http://www.destinationbelize.com

 

NOTICE TO BELIZE TOURISM STAKEHOLDERS

NOTICE TO TOURISM STAKEHOLDERS

COVID-19 Update

Thursday, March 19, 2020

With the outbreak of COVID-19, the Belize Tourism Board (BTB) assures our partners and tourism stakeholders that we remain vigilant in monitoring the situation in order to provide the most up-to-date information available:

Status of COVID-19 in Belize:

As of today, Thursday, March 19th, 2020, Belize’s Ministry of Health (MOH) indicates that there are NO confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Belize.

Ports of entry:

The Philip Goldson International Airport and the Santa Elena Border (Northern Border with Mexico) remain open. Belize’s Western Border with Guatemala will be closed for 15 days effective immediately, as are all other small ports of entry.  The border closure does not apply to our seaports; these remain open for cargo traffic.

Flight Update 

 

United Airlines

 

Effective April 1st, 2020, United has announced that there will only be one daily afternoon flight from Houston.

Avianca

Effective immediately, Avianca has suspended its operations to Belize at the direction of the Salvadoran government for fifteen (15) days in the first instance.

WestJet

Effective, Sunday, March 22nd, 2020 at 11:59pm, WestJet will be suspending flights to the US, Europe, Mexico, Caribbean, and Central America including Belize, for a period of 30 days in the first instance.

Air Canada

Air Canada will be temporarily suspending service from Toronto to Belize City from March 31st – April 30th, 2020.

Cruise Operations

 

All cruise lines have paused operations for 30 days with immediate effect.

RECOMMENDATIONS:

 

1.  In accordance with the MOH best practices, we encourage stakeholders to continue promoting good hygiene practices.

2. Stakeholders are also encouraged to adopt the recommendations announced by the Prime Minister in his Press Conference on Monday, May 16th:

a. Wash hands frequently

b. Make hand sanitizers available to staff and guests, and institute more frequent sanitizing of public spaces at your property

c. Practice social distancing – gatherings of more than 100 persons is highly discouraged

3. BTB encourages all hotels to waive or be flexible on cancellation and change fees. Offering incentives such as a free night or other special packages can be helpful to travelers in these difficult times.

4. If all efforts fail and the traveler demands a refund, we encourage you to consider it and facilitate it.  The destination’s image and the way we assist travelers during this time will be important in how well we rebound when normalcy returns.

5. Visit the Belize Tourism Board website for important updates from the Government of Belize and the Ministry of Health here.  You will also find COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) which we will be updating regularly as the situation is constantly changing.  We are updating our Travelbelize.org with FAQs for travelers as well. Please feel free to direct travelers to the site or download the information for your guests here.

Yours in Tourism,

Belize Tourism Board

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Destination Belize 2020 Theme

Red Bank Village and the Scarlet Macaw Tour Belize

Despite their name, scarlet macaws are not entirely red (or scarlet) colored. Instead, these birds are adorned with brilliantly hued feathers of red, yellow, and blue. Related to parrots, scarlet macaws are very swift fliers and often travel in pairs or small groups.

The species of scarlet macaws found in Belize are ara macao cyanoptera and can be found across Central America as far south as Costa Rica. Every December, they leave their homes in Chiquibul National Park in search of fruits which grow in abundance in and around the village of Red Bank in southern Belize.

Red Bank Village and the Scarlet Macaw Tour 

It is estimated that fewer than 250 scarlet macaws still exist in Belize, and most of these can be found in Red Bank. Despite a ban on poaching, scarlet macaws are a very slow-growing species and so seeing these magnificently plumed birds is truly a spectacular sight as they gather to feed along the river banks. Other birds that can be seen in the area include parrots, toucans, and herons, making a visit to Red Bank a mandatory stop for bird watchers.

Where in Belize Is Red Bank Located? 

Red Bank is a small, predominately Maya village located in Stann Creek District just a short distance from Toledo District in southeastern Belize. Red Bank is located a few miles south of the Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary.

The Best Time To Do This Tour

The scarlet macaws move across Belize according to seasonal requirements. Generally, scarlet macaws arrive at the lower elevations in and around Red Bank in December and stay until March before heading to the Chiquibul National Park for the breeding season. The prime viewing time to see these birds is March.

How to Get to Red Bank Village 

The village of Red Bank is located in Stann Creek District just a mile from Toledo District in southeastern Belize. The village is located 39 miles southeast of Belmopan and 37 miles west of Placencia just a few miles off the Southern Highway.

The Best Way to Experience the Scarlet Macaw Tour 

The density of the wilderness around the village and the relatively small number of scarlet macaws make hiring a professional guide mandatory. Be sure to bring along insect repellant, hiking boots, and a long-sleeved shirt and pants. Of course, don’t forget your binoculars and a camera! Most tours also include a homecooked meal of traditional Maya fare in the village.

https://www.belizehub.com/scarlet-macaw-tours-in-red-bank-belize/

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Why Visit Belize in March 2020

With fantastic weather, Belize in March is at the top of tourist season, with countless opportunities to fish, dive, snorkel, sail, and explore the lush landscape of tropical rainforests, mountain peaks, and rich fertile plains. March is also when many high-energy festivals and celebrations occur throughout the country, making it the perfect time to visit the tropical paradise of Belize.

Instead of shivering through another month of winter in the United States and Canada, why not come on down to Belize and relax under the warm sunny rays of a tropical sun? Or do one of the following activities or tours:

• Visit Mayan Ruins – Once the beating heart of the ancient Mayan empire, Belize is home to dozens of amazing ruined cities, including huge stone pyramids that visitors can climb and explore.
• Cave Tubing – Tubing down a river has a special twist in Belize, where visitors can ride their inner tubes through an exciting series of spooky caves.
• Zip Line – Few experiences can compare to swinging down a zip line high above the canopy of a lush tropical rainforest.
• Swimming in the Mopan and Macal Rivers – Few activities will warm your spirit as splashing in the lovely waters of the gorgeous Mopan or Macal River.

Belize Events and Festivals in March

• La Ruta Maya Belize River Challenge – On several consecutive days, canoeists from around the country and region make their way via the Macal and Belize Rivers from the town of San Ignacio in the west of Belize to the biggest metropolis in the east, Belize City.
• Baron Bliss Day – A special holiday unique to Belize, celebrating one of the country’s national heroes. A regatta is held every year near the lighthouse outside of Belize City where Baron Henry Edward Ernest Victor Bliss is buried. Sailboat and horse races vie for kite-flying competitions in honor of Belize’s great benefactor.

Top Things to Do and See in March

• Visit the amazing ATM cave in Cayo District
• Head over the border to nearby Guatemala to explore the ruins of the legendary Mayan city of Tikal
• Work on your tan
• Go snorkeling or scuba diving with whale sharks, the gentle giants of the deep
• Explore the ruins of the lost Mayan cities of Xunantunich or Cahal Pech
• Relax on the beach and splash in the warm waters of the Caribbean Sea

What is the Weather Like in March

The weather in Belize in March is almost perfect, with long, sunny days and refreshing breezes at night. Rainfall is extremely rare, and daytime temps average around 83F (28C). Nights are pleasantly cool, with offshore breezes bringing the temperature to a comfortable average of 74F (23C). Shorts, sandals, and a T-shirt, with perhaps a light jacket at night, are all the clothing you’ll need when visiting Belize in March.

Belize in March 2024: Where to Go and What to Do

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Destination Belize 2020 magazine

Belize: One Week, 7 Must-Dos

Tucked just below the Yucatan Peninsula is the stunning jewel of Belize. With rainforests teaming with birds, striking ancient Mayan ruins and the world’s second-longest barrier reef, Belize boasts a dizzying array of activities and sites that could keep one busy for a year. If you are like most, however, you will only have seven vacation days. Here’s a list of must-do activities for that one week in Belize.

1. Dive or Snorkel the Barrier Reef!

At 185 miles long, the Belize Barrier Reef is the longest reef in the Western Hemisphere. Off Belize’s southern coast is the South Water Caye Marine Reserve, the largest marine reserve in the country where you can spot fevers of eagle rays and schools of Creole wrasse.   Just beyond the barrier reef lie 3 of the Caribbean’s 4 atolls.

Snorkeling the Southern Barrier Reef

Glover’s Reef Atoll is a UNESCO World Heritage site full of staghorn coral and swim-throughs, as well critical grouper spawning grounds. Made famous by Jaques Cousteau is the Blue Hole on Lighthouse Reef Atoll. This trip typically involves a commitment of a 2-3 hour boat ride to see the collapsed cave that is 1000 feet across and 400 feet deep surrounded by a ring of coral. Regardless of where you go, be sure that you choose a reputable dive and snorkel facility.

2. Explore a Cave!

Spotting formations while cave tubing

With its limestone substructure, Belize is ideal for spelunking. Here it’s the real deal. The only lights in these subterranean mazes are the ones on your helmets.   Guides lead you past massive stalactites, stalagmites and crystalized flow formations. Caves were sacred ceremonial sites for the ancient Maya, who believed they were the entrance to “Xibalba” the Mayan underworld. To this day pottery chards and skeletal remains are found in many of Belize’s cave systems. Check out St. Herman’s Cave along the Hummingbird Highway or the Actun Tunichil Muknal (ATM) Cave, a.k.a. Crystal Maiden Cave, in the Tapir Mountain Nature Reserve. For the more adventurous, try cave tubing! Imagine floating down an underground river in the comfort of your own inner tube – with only your headlamp lighting the way.

3. Try Birding!

Juvenile Chachalaca

Never been a birder? After a trip to Belize, you will be! Belize is home to 600+ species of birdsranging from the colorful national bird, the keel-billed toucan, to statuesque jabiru storks to raucous parrots. Along the coasts and cayes you’ll find sand pipers darting in the tides, pelicans scooping up fish and boobie and frigate colonies clinging to mangroves. In the coastal savannahs are a variety of wading birds including roseate spoonbills, wood storks and tiger herons. In the dense mountainous rainforests are red-capped manakins, jacamars, blue-gray tanagers and more. Belize is the type of place where you become a birder, and if you already are one, it’s the place where you’ll add many new birds to your life list!

4. Go back in time with spectacular Mayan Ruins!

El Castillo at Xunantunich

For two millennia Belize was at the heart of the ancient Maya world. Throughout the country are hundreds of Mayan sites, some well excavated, some swallowed by the jungle. Every visit to Belize should include visiting at least one ancient Mayan ruin!

Near the western border is Xunantunich, whose main pyramid has impressive hieroglyph friezes and views for miles over the Maya lowland. Deep in the Maya mountains is Caracol, the sprawling city-state that once defeated Tikal.

Mayan hieroglyphs on pyramid

In the south are several important sites, including Nim Li Punit and Lubaantun. Walk amongst ancient Mayan temples and feel yourself transported to a long lost civilization.

 

5. Swim in a Jungle Waterfall!

Swimming at Antelope Falls

No trip to paradise can be complete without a refreshing plunge in a rainforest waterfall pool! When that paradise is Belize, the only question is which waterfall you’ll choose! At the world’s only jaguar preserve, the Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary, there are several waterfalls you can hike to.

In Mayflower National Park a steep climb to Antelope Falls is rewarded with a well-deserved swim in a pool above the main falls AND a fabulous lookout to the Caribbean Sea on the way down. Elsewhere in Belize, there is no shortage of secluded waterfalls to discover – don’t leave without taking a dip!

6. Zipline Through the Rainforest Canopy!

Ziplining at Bocawina

A rush like no other!   Try ziplining through the rainforest canopy past towering trees and curious birds, often with the roar of howler monkeys in the background. With extremely safe equipment and experienced guides, almost all ages are able to experience this thrill.

7. Hang with the Locals!

One of the great things about Belize is it is a cultural mixing bowl. Here you can make chocolate with Mayas and in Garifuna communities like Hopkins, catch the beat at a local drumming center.   The cuisine combines elements of these cultures, along with Creole, Mestizo, East Indian and even Chinese. And if you see a horse and buggy on the road, you’ve likely encountered a Mennonite. The best part is that English is the official language of Belize and the locals are very friendly. So, grab a Belikin beer and make some new friends.

 

 

 

 

With only one week, you’ll be busy with the activities above. If you have some extra time, there are a few more adventures you might squeeze in:

• Stargazing! With little light pollution in Belize, the Milky Way is yours.   If you look carefully, you can even see the Southern Cross constellation, not visible in most Northern Hemisphere skies.
• Jungle horseback riding with Outback Trails through citrus orchards and into the jungle.
• Spotting howler monkeys on a Monkey River Tour.
• Taking a Garifuna or Mayan cooking class.

 

Whatever you do on your trip to Belize, be sure to spend some time swaying in a hammock on the beach. And then come back for more!

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