Exploring Belize: Cruise Day Pass Options

Belize is a popular cruise destination, known for its stunning natural beauty, including rainforests, ancient ruins, and the second-largest coral reef in the world. The country offers a range of exciting shore excursions, such as snorkelling, diving, exploring Mayan ruins, and wildlife tours.

Belize does not have a cruise port, so ships anchor several miles out and transport passengers to the shore via tender boats. The Fort Street Tourism Village, where passengers disembark, features shops, bars, and restaurants. From there, cruise passengers can explore Belize City or join organised tours to various attractions.

There are a variety of day passes and excursions available for cruise passengers in Belize, offered by both cruise lines and independent tour operators. These include snorkelling and beach breaks, Mayan ruins tours, cave tubing, and wildlife encounters.

Some popular day passes and excursions in Belize include:

- Snorkelling and beach breaks at Goff's Caye

- Altun Ha and Xunantunich Mayan ruins tours

- Lamanai Mayan ruins and New River boat ride

- Community Baboon Sanctuary and zip-lining

- Cave tubing and zip-lining

- Belize City tour, museum, and rum factory tour

Snorkelling and swimming with sharks and rays

Belize is a snorkelling paradise, with the second-largest coral reef in the world. One of the best spots to snorkel is Shark Ray Alley, a protected region located just one mile south of the Hol Chan cut. Here, you can snorkel alongside stingrays, nurse sharks and turtles.

There are many tour companies that offer snorkelling trips to Shark Ray Alley. A typical tour includes a short boat ride to the alley, where you can jump right into the water and snorkel with the rays and sharks. The water is shallow, and the visibility is excellent, making it a perfect spot for inexperienced snorkelers. You can also combine a trip to Shark Ray Alley with a visit to the Hol Chan Marine Reserve, located just a few minutes away.

If you're looking for a more adventurous experience, you can try night snorkelling at Hol Chan, where you can see the reserve's nocturnal marine life. Or, if you're feeling really brave, you can even try cave snorkelling or tubing at Jaguar Paw.

When snorkelling with sharks and rays, it's important to remember that these are wild animals and should be treated with respect. While nurse sharks are generally docile, they can become aggressive if they feel threatened. Always follow the instructions of your guide, and maintain a safe distance from the animals.

So, if you're looking for a thrilling and unforgettable experience in Belize, snorkelling and swimming with sharks and rays is definitely the way to go!

Exploring Mayan ruins

Belize has the highest concentration of Mayan sites in Central America, with more than 600 Mayan ruins identified so far. Here are some of the best sites to explore:

Caracol

Tucked inside the Chiquibul Forest, Caracol is one of the most important Mayan ruins in Belize. This impressive city was once home to more than 140,000 people and covered an area larger than modern-day Belize City. Today, it still covers around 25,000 acres, offering endless opportunities for exploration. Caracol features majestic temples, including the tallest man-made structure in Belize, the Caana pyramid, which rises to a height of 143 feet. The site also boasts five plazas, an astronomic observatory, alters, reservoirs, and hieroglyphics.

Lamanai

Lamanai, located in northern Belize, is one of the oldest continuously occupied Maya sites in the country. Situated 24 miles south of Orange Walk Town, Lamanai combines impressive ruins with a spectacular jungle setting near the New River Lagoon. The name Lamanai means "submerged crocodile" in Maya, so keep an eye out for these sharp-toothed creatures!

Altun Ha

Altun Ha is one of Belize's best-excavated archaeological sites and is conveniently located about an hour's drive north of Belize City. The site consists of two main plazas surrounded by over a dozen Mayan temples, pyramids, and residential structures. Altun Ha is also known for the discovery of a 10-pound jade carving of the Mayan sun god, the largest jade artifact found in the region.

Xunantunich

Xunantunich is a Mayan ruin located near the village of San Jose. To reach it, you'll need to take a free hand-cranked cable ferry across the Mopan River. Xunantunich features several large structures, including El Castillo, a 130-foot pyramid believed to have been an ancestral shrine for the ruling family. Climb to the top of El Castillo for a breathtaking 360-degree view of the surrounding area.

Cahal Pech

Cahal Pech is a smaller Mayan site located just outside of San Ignacio in the Belize River Valley. This site features two ball courts and around 34 structures, including pyramids, residence buildings, and courtyards. Cahal Pech is a great example of the complex residential architecture of the ancient Mayans. The site also offers panoramic views of San Ignacio and the Belize River Valley.

Lubaantun

Lubaantun, located near the Maya village of San Pedro Columbia in southern Belize, is the largest Mayan site in the region. This ancient city, which thrived as an administrative hub and ceremonial center, features five plazas, two ball courts, and 14 major structures. What sets Lubaantun apart is that it was built entirely without mortar; each stone was precisely cut to fit together perfectly.

El Pilar

El Pilar, located in the Cayo District, is an archaeological site that is still in the early stages of excavation. It is believed to be three times the size of Xunantunich and has already revealed 25 plazas. El Pilar offers a glimpse into the everyday lives of the Mayans, with temples, palaces, pyramids, a ball court, and water reservoirs. The site is also developing as a nature preservation area, with hiking trails that showcase the surrounding forest environment.

Belize's beaches

Belizes's Beaches

Belize has a magnificent coastline along the Caribbean Sea and more than 200 offshore islands, at least 20 of which are inhabited. Many of these beaches remain a well-kept secret, discovered only by divers and anglers. Here are some of the best beaches in Belize:

Placencia Peninsula

The Placencia Peninsula is home to the longest stretch of beach in mainland Belize. It's dubbed "barefoot perfect" and is the most popular sea and sand getaway in the country. It stretches across three villages: Maya Beach, Seine Bight, and Placencia Village. Placencia Village has several bars and restaurants along its coastline, while Seine Bight and Maya Beach offer quieter, fine, white sandy beaches.

Hopkins Village Beach

Hopkins Village Beach is located in the eastern Garífuna village of Hopkins, a 40-minute drive south of Dangriga. This 5-mile beach is lined with coconut trees, colourful guesthouses, and local eateries. The water is clear and refreshing, although not turquoise. You can experience Garífuna culture, try local dishes like hudut, and take drumming lessons. You can also visit neighbouring False Sittee for more glorious, bare stretches of beach.

Lighthouse Reef on Half Moon Caye

Half Moon Caye offers paradisiacal views of Caribbean waters and a crescent-shaped beach of magnificent white sand dotted with coconut palms. It's also a protected turtle-nesting site, with the other half of the caye being a littoral forest and a protected red-footed booby sanctuary.

Ambergris Caye

Although there are no perfect beaches right in San Pedro Town, Ambergris Caye offers plenty of sand and seagrass due to a magnificent barrier reef just half a mile away. The most popular sunning and swimming section is across from Ramon's Village Resort, with raked sands and clear waters. The best, most isolated stretches are south or north of the island.

South Water Caye

Located 14 miles from Dangriga, South Water Caye offers soft, soothing, powdery white sand. It's found beside Pelican Beach Resort, dotted with coconut trees and hammocks.

Laughingbird Caye and Silk Cayes

An easy day trip from Placencia, these two islands are located in marine reserves and offer small stretches of beach with rich marine life.

Southwest Caye, Glover's Reef Atoll

Southwest Caye is one of several islands on Glover's Reef Atoll, offering wide, crowd-free beaches. It's a great honeymoon destination and ideal for solo travellers, with some of the best snorkelling and diving spots in Belize.

Secret Beach, Ambergris Caye

Although San Pedro on Ambergris Caye didn't used to have the classic Caribbean beach, a formerly local spot called Secret Beach has recently been developed into a popular, accessible beach destination. It's free to visit, and you can rent a golf cart to get there. It's calm, clear, and shallow, great for snorkelling and other water activities.

The Split, Caye Caulker

Caye Caulker is a backpacker favourite, with the motto "go slow". The island is split by a channel called The Split, which offers free access to the water for swimming and snorkelling. The Lazy Lizard bar and restaurant is a great spot to grab a drink and enjoy the beautiful water.

Belize's rainforests

Belizes's Rainforest

• Monkey River Village: Located in the Toledo District, Monkey River Village offers a great opportunity to experience the Belizean Rainforest. The Monkey River Tours, led by local guides, showcase the beautiful flora and fauna of the broad-leaf subtropical rainforest, including iguanas, howler monkeys, crocodiles, snakes, and various bird species.
• Moho River: In the Wild South of Belize, the Moho River is one of the country's most beautiful rainforest rivers. The rainforest banks teem with wildlife, including giant iguanas, crocodiles, kinkajou, and birds of prey such as falcons, hawks, and eagles.
• Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve: This nature reserve in the Cayo District is home to some of Belize's best waterfalls and swimming spots, including the Thousand Foot Falls, the highest waterfall in Central America. It is also a prime destination for birdwatching and wildlife viewing, with possible sightings of tapirs, jaguars, ocelots, and crocodiles.
• Sarstoon-Temash National Park: Located in the Toledo District, this remote and less accessible national park offers some of the best wildlife viewing in Belize. It is a perfect spot for passionate wildlife photographers and explorers, with rare sightings of birds and animals such as scarlet macaws and white-faced capuchin monkeys.
• Mayflower Bocawina National Park: This national park boasts over 7,100 acres of pristine lowland broadleaf forest with diverse flora and fauna. It is an excellent location for birdwatching, with nearly 300 species of birds identified in the area, including rare species like the band-tailed barbthroat and scarlet tanager. The adjacent Cockscomb Basin Jaguar Reserve is also worth exploring.
• Cahal Pech Village Resort: This resort, located in the heart of Belize's eco-tourism district, offers tours of the rainforest and other top destinations in the country. It provides stunning views of the town of San Ignacio and the rolling hills of the Cayo District.
• Hiking to Viewpoints: Belize has several hiking trails that lead to breathtaking viewpoints. One recommended hike is to the top of Antelope Falls in the Mayflower Bocawina National Park, which offers a rewarding view and a refreshing pool of freshwater.
• Birding at Sunrise: With over 600 bird species in Belize, sunrise is an ideal time to go birding. The Mayflower Bocawina National Park is a great spot for this activity, and you can also learn about the different bird species at the Blue Morpho Butterfly Farm located within the park.
• Ziplining and Night Hikes: For a thrilling experience, try ziplining through the rainforest, especially during a full moon. The rainforest comes alive at night with creatures such as howler monkeys, foxes, armadillos, and bats.
• Waterfall Rappelling: For adrenaline seekers, waterfall rappelling is a must-do activity in Belize. The Bocawina Rainforest Resort offers tours that include a hike through the rainforest, followed by a rappel down Big Drop Falls into a pristine blue pool.

Belize City

Belize is a beautiful country in Central America, the second-smallest on the continent. It boasts a growing cruise and tourism industry, yet remains largely unspoiled. The official language is English, but you may also hear Spanish and Creole. The currency is the Belize dollar, though US dollars are accepted almost everywhere.

Belize is a great destination for diving and snorkelling, with astounding sites along the barrier reef. Some of the best dive sites are just off Ambergris Caye. Cruise ships and charter operators offer day trips that include transportation.

Belize has the highest concentration of Mayan sites in Central America. Altun Ha is a heavily excavated site that is a convenient day trip from Belize City. Once a major trading and ceremonial centre, it consists of several impressive temples and tombs, including the Temple of the Masonry Altars. Another important Mayan site is Xunantunich, located near the Guatemalan border. It can only be reached by crossing the Mopan River on a hand-cranked ferry.

The Museum of Belize, housed in an old prison, features exhibits that explore the city's past, including the pirate years, colonial era, and natural and man-made disasters.

The Belize Zoo is set on 29 acres and is home to over 170 animals, representing more than 45 native species. Highlights include jaguars, ocelots, coatis, howler monkeys and kinkajous.

For bird lovers, the Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary offers over 16,000 acres of lagoons, creeks, forests and pine savannas, where you can spot dozens of bird species, as well as howler monkeys, crocodiles and more.

Belize offers a range of dining options, from local spots to beachfront restaurants. Popular choices include Wet Lizard, Spoonaz, The Smoky Mermaid, Nerie's, Cafe Michel'le and Ruby's Cafe.

Frequently asked questions