Exploring Belize: Cruise Options And Adventures

Belize, a small Central American country located at the base of the Yucatan Peninsula, is a popular cruise destination. Belize City, the largest city in the country, is a common port of call for Western Caribbean cruises. The country boasts impressive natural wonders, including lush rainforests, ancient Mayan ruins, and the Belize Barrier Reef – the second-largest reef system in the world. Belize offers a range of activities for cruise passengers, such as snorkelling, diving, exploring caves, and wildlife spotting. With its mix of natural beauty, cultural attractions, and adventure opportunities, Belize has something for everyone.

Belize City shore excursions

Belize is a popular cruise destination, offering a blend of blue waters, green mountains, and colourful wooden houses. The country is known for its diverse ecosystems, from lush rainforests to coral reefs and ancient caves. Belize City is the main port of call for cruise ships, and while the city itself has a charming colonial atmosphere, it is primarily a gateway to the many natural and historical attractions that Belize has to offer. Here are some of the top shore excursions you can experience during your visit to Belize City:

Mayan Ruins and Cultural Sites

Belize has the highest concentration of Mayan sites in Central America, and these ancient ruins are a must-see during your visit. You can explore sites such as Altun Ha, Xunantunich, and Caracol, which date back thousands of years and offer a glimpse into the mysterious past of the Mayan civilisation. You can also visit the Museum of Belize, a former prison that now houses a cultural exhibition showcasing the country's blended heritage.

Outdoor Adventures

Belize is renowned for its ecotourism-oriented excursions, offering pristine natural locations such as untouched rainforests, cave systems, and wildlife encounters. You can go zip-lining through the rainforest, keeping an eye out for howler monkeys, foxes, and kinkajous. You can also explore the extensive network of limestone caves via inner tube or kayak, discovering historical artefacts and subterranean lagoons along the way. For a truly unique experience, don't miss the opportunity to go cave tubing in St. Herman's Blue Hole, an azure underwater sinkhole that's considered one of the world's best diving sites.

Beach and Water Activities

Belize is known for its immaculate island beaches, such as Ambergris Caye and Hopkins Village Beach, where you can snorkel along the Belize Barrier Reef, the second-largest coral reef system in the world. You can also swim with nurse sharks and stingrays at Shark Ray Alley in Hol Chan Marine Reserve, or feed tarpon at Caye Caulker. If you're looking for a more relaxed beach experience, head to Placencia Peninsula for soft sand and beachfront restaurants and bars.

City Tours and Food Experiences

Belize City offers a range of city tours that showcase its culture, history, and cuisine. You can take a trolley train tour to see the city's highlights, including the Holy Redeemer Cathedral and Baron Bliss Lighthouse. There are also food tours available, where you can sample local dishes such as rice and beans, chicken escabeche, and hudut, a fish soup cooked in coconut milk. Don't forget to try some of the country's famous rum as well!

Belize's ancient Mayan ruins

Belize was once the heartland of the ancient Maya Empire. The country is home to the largest number of ancient Mayan ruins in Central America. Here are some of the Mayan ruins in Belize:

Altun Ha

Altun Ha is a major ceremonial and trade centre with two large central plazas and pyramids. It is also the closest Mayan ruin site to Belize City. The site is so beloved by Belizeans that it features on the national currency and on bottles of the country's leading beer, Belikin.

Xunantunich

Xunantunich was the first Mayan ruin site to be opened to visitors in 1950. The name means "stone woman" in Mayan, as the site was reported to be haunted by the ghost of a woman dressed in white with glowing red eyes. The site includes the ruin of El Castillo, which stands 130 feet tall, and offers incredible 360-degree views of its surroundings.

Caracol

Caracol is the largest Mayan ruin site in Belize, featuring majestic temples that visitors can climb. It is located on the edge of the Maya Mountains within the Chiquibul Forest Reserve.

Lamanai

Lamanai is one of the oldest continuously occupied Mayan sites in Belize. The name means "submerged crocodile" in Mayan. It is prized for its spectacular jungle setting near the New River Lagoon.

Cahal Pech

Cahal Pech is a smaller Mayan site, originally built for the wealthy. The complex consists of several pyramids, residential buildings, and seven courtyards.

Lubaantun

Lubaantun is the largest Mayan site in southern Belize, featuring 11 limestone pyramids, five plazas, and three ball courts. Unlike other ruins in Belize, Lubaantun was built without mortar.

El Pilar

El Pilar is a 100-acre Mayan site with 12 pyramids and 25 plazas. It is located 12 miles northwest of San Ignacio in the Village of Bullet Tree Falls.

Belize's natural wonders

Belize is a Central American country brimming with natural beauty and wonders. The country is known for its lush rainforests, ancient ruins, and diverse oceans rich with marine life. Here are some of the natural wonders that make Belize a captivating destination:

The Belize Barrier Reef

The Belize Barrier Reef is a pristine reef system that spans over 180 miles along the country's coastline. It is the second-largest coral reef system in the world, only dwarfed by the Great Barrier Reef in Australia. The reef includes over 300 islands, known as cayes, and three atolls, providing countless opportunities for exploration. It boasts an incredible diversity of marine life, with over 100 species of coral and more than 500 species of fish. The clear waters of the reef offer some of the best snorkelling and scuba diving experiences in the world.

Mayan Ruins

Belize is home to numerous Mayan archaeological sites, including the ruins of Xunatunich, a Mayan archaeological site dating back to 1000 B.C. Xunatunich is comprised of 25 Mayan temples and palaces, with the largest structure, El Castillo, standing at 130 feet high. Belize has the highest concentration of Mayan sites in Central America, and these ruins offer a glimpse into the ancient and mysterious past of the region.

Hol Chan Marine Reserve

The Hol Chan Marine Reserve, located off the shore of Ambergris Caye, is one of Belize's most popular diving and snorkelling sites. The reserve covers three square miles and is home to hundreds of species of fish, including seahorses, parrotfish, and moray eels. Shark Ray Alley, within the reserve, is a shallow area frequently visited by southern stingrays and nurse sharks.

The Great Blue Hole

The Great Blue Hole is a thousand-year-old limestone formation located inside the Lighthouse Reef. It is a popular scuba diving site, offering divers the chance to explore its depths and discover the exotic marine life that inhabits it. The Blue Hole was once described by underwater explorer Jacques Cousteau as one of the world's best diving sites.

Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary

The Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary is a protected area in southern Belize, known for its rugged, forested mountains. The sanctuary was established to protect and study the jaguar, the largest cat in the Americas. It is also home to Belize's other wildcat species, as well as tapirs, coati-mundis, kinkajous, deer, and numerous bird species.

Caves

Belize boasts an extensive network of caves, which held spiritual significance for the ancient Maya. They believed these caves were entrances to the underworld and performed ceremonies within them. Today, explorers can discover artefacts, pottery, and even human remains left by the Maya.

Belize's currency and best way to get money

Belize's currency is the Belize dollar (BZ$), which is pegged to the US dollar at a rate of BZ$2 to US$1. While US dollars are widely accepted in Belize, it's a good idea to carry some local currency, especially when visiting smaller establishments.

ATMs are available in most major towns and tourist areas, and they usually accept Visa, Mastercard, Plus, and Cirrus cards. However, they only dispense Belize dollars and may charge a fee for each withdrawal, with a daily limit of around BZ$500.

If you prefer to exchange currency, you can do so at most banks and some hotels. Major banks in Belize include Bank of Nova Scotia, Atlantic Bank, and Belize Bank. They are usually open from Monday to Thursday until 2 pm and slightly longer on Fridays, but they are typically closed for lunch and on Sundays.

It's important to note that it can be challenging to exchange Belize dollars for other currencies once you leave the country, so it's best to convert any remaining local currency before departing Belize.

Belize's diving and snorkelling sites

Belize is known for its world-class snorkelling and scuba diving sites. The country offers over 400 islands, stunning white sandy beaches, 298 kilometres/185 miles of coastline, and the longest unbroken barrier reef in the Western Hemisphere. The Belize Barrier Reef is a pristine reef system that includes over 300 islands and three atolls. It is home to over 100 species of coral and more than 500 species of fish.

One of the most popular diving and snorkelling sites in Belize is the Hol Chan Marine Reserve, a three-square-mile marine haven found off the shore of Ambergris Caye. Hol Chan, meaning "little channel" in Mayan, is an underwater alley lined with coral and home to hundreds of species of fish, including seahorses, parrotfish, and moray eels. Nearby Shark Ray Alley is a shallow area where large numbers of southern stingrays and nurse sharks gather.

Another popular site is the Blue Hole, a 407-foot deep underwater sinkhole located inside the Lighthouse Reef. Divers can explore the azure waters and discover hundreds of stalactites, stalagmites, and exotic fish. The Blue Hole is known for its geological formations rather than fish-spotting, although hammerheads and other shark species do visit the hole's circumference.

Turneffe, the largest of Belize's three major offshore atoll reefs, is praised for its diverse features, including shallow reefs, wrecks, and an array of marine life. Over 200 nearby mangrove islands are home to species such as the whitespotted toadfish, reef sharks, morays, turtles, dolphins, rays, and jewfish.

Belize's southern reefs, such as those found in Glover's Reef Atoll, are less frequented and offer more diverse biology, especially coral growths. Long Caye Wall, with its sheer drop of over 2,000 feet, is considered world-class snorkelling and was reportedly Jacques Cousteau's favourite dive site in Belize.

Frequently asked questions