Belize: All-Inclusive Paradise

Belize is a Central American country that borders the Caribbean Sea and comprises around 450 islands called cayes. It is a popular tourist destination, offering a combination of nature tourism and all-inclusive luxury resorts. While there aren't many all-inclusive resorts in Belize, there are still plenty to choose from, ranging from beachfront resorts to treehouses in the forest canopy.

Most Belize businesses accept US dollars, and the official language is English, making it a convenient destination for English-speaking travellers from the US. Several airlines offer non-stop flights to the country from major US cities, and from there, it's a short local flight or boat trip to the resorts.

- Turneffe Island Resort

- Belizean Dreams Resort

- Manta Island Resort

- Matachica Resort & Spa

- Shaka Caye

- Dream Valley Belize

- Alaia Belize

- Chabil Mar Villas

- Hamanasi Adventure & Dive Resort

- Chaa Creek

- Cayo Espanto

- Sirenian Bay Resort & Villas

- Coco Plum Island Resort

Belize's all-inclusive resorts

Belizes's All-Inclusive Resorts

Belize is the ultimate destination for travellers seeking a combination of nature tourism and all-inclusive luxury resorts. While there aren't many all-inclusive resorts in Belize, there are some fantastic options.

Coco Plum Island Resort

Coco Plum Island Resort is an adults-only, award-winning, all-inclusive resort situated on a private island in Belize. It offers an intimate setting for couples to reconnect, with beach beds, lounge chairs, and hammocks. The resort has been recognised by Tripadvisor, Travel + Leisure, and Conde Nast Traveler Readers for its excellence. Coco Plum Island offers carefully curated packages and add-ons, including a Belize Jungle Add-On for hiking and ziplining, and an All-Inclusive Snorkel Package. The resort also offers combination stays with its sister resorts: Manta Island Resort, Belizean Dreams Resort, and Laru Beya Resort.

Hamanasi Adventure and Dive Resort

Hamanasi Adventure and Dive Resort is a highly-rated, complete package resort in Belize. It offers gourmet eats, a pool, and a spa. Guests can enjoy scuba diving, snorkelling, exploring ancient Mayan ruins, and culinary cultural tours.

Manta Island Resort

Manta Island Resort is a smaller, all-inclusive resort with incredible views. It offers a convenient, relaxed atmosphere with amazing coral formations and plenty of fish for diving and snorkelling. The resort features a main bar/eating/pool area with incredible views.

Laru Beya Resort & Villas

Laru Beya Resort & Villas is a highly-rated, perfect mix of accommodation and activities. It offers all-inclusive options with an activity package that includes a day trip to the Maya ruins of Xunantunich. The resort has a pool and is family-friendly.

Belizean Dreams Resort

Belizean Dreams Resort is a highly-rated, all-inclusive resort that offers four meals a day and all drinks. It also offers an adventure package that includes zip-lining, cave tubing, snorkelling, exploring Mayan ruins, and a waterfall jungle hike. The resort has a pool and is family-friendly.

Beaches and Dreams

Beaches and Dreams is a highly-rated, all-inclusive resort in Belize that offers smooth and effortless arrangements. Guests can enjoy snorkelling, a monkey river and manatee boat trip, hiking, repelling, swimming, zip-lining, and ATV rides. The property also offers paddle boarding and kayaking.

Other Options

Other all-inclusive resorts in Belize include Caribbean Villas Hotel, Thatch Caye, St. George's Caye Resort, El Pescador Resort, Banana's On The Beach, Cassia Hill Resort Belize, Sundiver Beach Resort, Robert's Grove Peninsula Resort, Turneffe Island Resort, Blackbird Caye Resort, Copal Tree Lodge, and Slickrock Belize Adventures.

The Belize Barrier Reef

A large portion of the reef is protected by the Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System, which was designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1996. The reserve system includes seven marine reserves, 450 cayes, and three atolls, covering an area of 960 square kilometres (370 sq mi). Despite protective measures, the reef remains under threat from oceanic pollution, uncontrolled tourism, shipping, and fishing. Other threats include hurricanes and the increasing ocean temperatures caused by global warming, which have led to coral bleaching.

Belize has implemented several successful protective measures to preserve the reef, including an oil drilling moratorium, development restrictions, and fishing reforms. In December 2010, Belize became the first country to completely ban bottom trawling. Additionally, in December 2015, the country banned offshore oil drilling within 1 km of the Barrier Reef. These efforts have helped restore the health of the reef, and in 2018, the Belize Barrier Reef was removed from UNESCO's Endangered List.

Mayan ruins

Belize is home to several Mayan ruins, including:

Lamanai

Lamanai is surrounded by thick jungle vegetation. The name comes from the Mayan term "submerged crocodile", referring to the crocodiles that live along the New River.

Xunantunich

Located just 80 miles from Belize City, Xunantunich sits on a ridge above the Mopan River, offering clear views of Guatemala. El Castillo, the site's main structure, is 130 feet tall, making it the second-tallest structure in Belize.

Caracol

Caracol features the tallest temple in Belize.

Cahal Pech

Cahal Pech is located near San Ignacio, Belize.

Altun Ha

Altun Ha is located in Belize District, about 30 miles north of Belize City.

El Pilar

El Pilar is located in the northwest of Belize, near the border with Guatemala.

Tikal

Tikal is located in Guatemala's Peten Basin and was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979. It was once the capital of a powerful Maya kingdom.

Chichen Itza

Chichen Itza is one of the largest Maya cities and one of the most visited archaeological sites in Mexico. More than a million tourists visit the ruins each year. The site includes the Temple of Kukulkan, also known as El Castillo, which stands 98 feet tall.

Ek Balam

Ek Balam, located in Mexico, features a grand central pyramid, two large palaces, and numerous other temples and buildings.

Xel-Ha

Mexico's Xel-Ha ruins are part of the Xel-Ha Lagoon Eco-Park, located between the Maya sites of Akumal and Tulum. The lagoon was once a popular trade port. Some structures feature painted hands and other drawings.

Muyil

The Muyil ruins, located south of Tulum in Mexico, are some of the earliest and longest-inhabited Maya sites. They are found along a Caribbean trade route that was once accessible via canals.

Belize All-Inclusive Resorts

Belize offers a variety of all-inclusive resorts that provide easy access to the country's Mayan ruins. Here are some examples:

• Coco Plum Island Resort: This adults-only resort offers a Belize Jungle Add-On, allowing guests to explore ancient Mayan ruins and enjoy other activities such as ziplining through the jungle.
• Hamanasi Adventure and Dive Resort: In addition to exploring Mayan ruins, guests can enjoy scuba diving, snorkelling, and cultural experiences such as making chocolate and cooking traditional Garifuna foods.
• Laru Beya Resort & Villas: This resort offers a day trip to the Maya ruins of Xunantunich, as well as snorkelling and other activities.
• Belizean Dreams Resort: Guests can opt for an adventure package that includes a visit to a Mayan ruin, zip-lining, cave tubing, and snorkelling.

Belize's cayes

Belize's islands are known as cayes, and they are pronounced "keys", like the Florida Keys. The largest Belize cayes are Ambergris Caye and Caye Caulker. Ambergris is the largest island in Belize, stretching along the Belize Barrier Reef all the way to Mexico's Yucatan peninsula. Its biggest settlement is San Pedro Town, a busy, boisterous village home to the majority of the island's restaurants, bars, stores, and hotels. Ambergris Caye is a fantastic destination for water sports, especially snorkelling and scuba diving.

Caye Caulker is a smaller, more laid-back version of Ambergris, and is more popular with backpackers than luxury travellers. There are no cars on Caye Caulker, only golf carts, bikes, and foot traffic. There aren't any prime beaches on Caye Caulker, but "The Split" north of the town is great for swimming and socialising, and incredible diving and snorkelling is a quick boat ride away.

Other notable cayes include Turneffe Atoll, the largest atoll in Belize, which is famed for its wall dives; Tobacco Caye, a tiny island that is home to a population of around 25, which can be walked across in a couple of minutes; South Water Caye, a remote island that attracts travellers seeking relaxation; and Glover's Reef Atoll, the southernmost of Belize's atolls, which has been named a World Heritage Site.

Getting to and around Belize

Belize is a small country, so it's easy to get from one place to another within just a few hours. The best way to get around the country will depend on your budget and time constraints. Here are some of the most common ways to travel to and within Belize.

By Air

Belize has two domestic airlines, Tropic Air and Maya Island Air, which service several destinations across the country, including Corozal, Orange Walk, San Pedro, Dangriga, Placencia, and Punta Gorda. Flying is a memorable way to get around Belize, offering stunning views of the jungle canopy, sweeping savannahs, and colourful coastline. While it is not the cheapest option, it is a good choice for those short on time.

By Land

Bus

Belize's public transportation consists of retired Bluebird buses, painted in Caribbean colours. These buses are a good-value way to get to most major towns and villages via the Northern, Southern, Western, and Hummingbird highways. The longest bus ride is from Belize City to Punta Gorda, a seven-hour trip that costs BZ$27 (around US$13). Bus fares vary by distance but are generally no more than a few dollars.

Car

Renting a car is a great option for those who want flexibility and the ability to visit harder-to-reach destinations. However, be prepared to navigate potholes, random rainstorms, and the occasional Mennonite horse cart! Rental cars are available at the airport and in San Ignacio, with prices ranging from BZ$90-150 per day.

Taxi

Taxis are readily available in Belize City and larger towns like San Pedro, San Ignacio, and Placencia. They are best used for shorter rides within a single town or region.

By Water

Boat

Belize's mainland has nearly 200 miles of Caribbean coastline, and many Belizeans navigate these waters in their daily lives. Visitors typically use boat transport to visit the various cayes on tours or to stay at resorts. The most common boat transport is the water taxi to and from Ambergris Caye and Caye Caulker. The San Pedro Belize Express water taxi runs from Belize City to Caye Caulker in 45 minutes and on to San Pedro in an additional 30 minutes. Tickets can be purchased in advance online or at the terminal.

Ferry

Ferries and water taxis also run between Corozal, Sarteneja, and San Pedro, as well as between Placencia and Independence. Frequent water taxis run between Dangriga and the Central Cayes.

Hitchhiking

Hitchhiking is a common custom in Belize, and you will often see locals, including children and elderly people, thumbing a ride.

Additional Tips

• The bus and boat schedules are more or less adhered to, but it is always good to be flexible and prepared for delays.
• When taking the bus, you can usually flag down a non-express bus anywhere along the route and ask the driver to let you off wherever is convenient.
• When taking a water taxi, you can catch the next boat if you miss the one you booked, unless it was the last boat of the day.
• Golf carts are the primary means of transportation on Caye Caulker and can be rented all over the island.
• When driving in Belize, be prepared for speed bumps ("sleeping policemen") and keep an eye out for road signs.
• When flying, your domestic flight will likely be coordinated with the arrival of your international flight, making it a convenient option for those with tight schedules.

Frequently asked questions