The Caribbean's Best-Kept Secret: Unveiling Belize's Cruise Options

Belize, a tropical paradise in Central America, is a popular cruise destination. Bordering Mexico, Guatemala, and the Caribbean, it offers a unique blend of natural wonders and cultural attractions. From crystalline rivers and lush rainforests to ancient Mayan ruins and vibrant marine life, there's something for everyone. Belize City, the gateway to this enchanting country, exudes colonial charm with its wooden and brick buildings. Beyond the city, you'll find breathtaking natural wonders, including caves, waterfalls, and pristine beaches. With its impressive reef system, Belize is renowned for offering some of the best diving in the Caribbean. Whether you're snorkelling along the Belize Barrier Reef, exploring the mysteries of the Blue Hole, or immersing yourself in the rich history and culture of the country, a cruise to Belize promises an unforgettable adventure.

Belize City cruise port facilities

The Belize City Cruise Port is the gateway to the country's Caribbean cayes, mainland, and urban centre. While most visitors don't linger at the port, it offers a range of facilities and services for cruise passengers. Here's what you need to know about the Belize City Cruise Port facilities:

Location and Transportation:

Belize City Cruise Port is located in the heart of Belize City, the country's largest city. Cruise ships anchor in the harbour, and passengers are transported to shore via speedy local tenders, taking approximately 20 minutes. The port connects directly to Tourism Village, a bustling hub with shops, restaurants, and bars. From there, it's a short taxi ride to the city centre. Licensed taxis with green license plates are recommended for safety reasons. Water taxis and ferries are also available from the Marine Terminal to outlying cayes, including popular destinations such as Caye Caulker and Ambergris Caye.

Shopping and Dining:

Tourism Village offers a variety of shopping options, including duty-free shops, chocolate boutiques, and artisanal jewellery. It's the perfect place to purchase handmade souvenirs and explore Belizean crafts and foodstuffs. The village also features restaurants and bars serving local cuisine and drinks. English is the official language, making communication easy for English speakers.

Currency and Amenities:

The local currency is the Belize dollar, but US dollars are widely accepted in shops and restaurants. ATMs are readily available in Tourism Village and throughout Belize City. Many amenities at the port, including shops and restaurants, are open when a cruise ship is docked.

Nearby Attractions:

While the port itself doesn't have many attractions, Belize City and the surrounding area offer plenty to explore. The Holy Redeemer Cathedral and Baron Bliss Lighthouse & Gravesite are within walking distance of the port. For those interested in Mayan history, there are several important Mayan sites nearby, such as Altun Ha and Xunantunich, which are popular day trips offered by cruise ships. Belize is also known for its natural wonders, including caves, waterfalls, and lush rainforests.

Belize cruise deals

Belize is a tropical paradise that promises adventure both on land and at sea. The country boasts impressive lowland jungles, crystalline rivers, silky-sand beaches, waving palms, and colorful coral gardens. It is also home to the Belize Barrier Reef, the second-largest coral reef in the world, which offers some of the best diving in the Caribbean.

A cruise to Belize typically includes stops at several ports, including Belize City, Ambergris Caye, and Caye Caulker. Here are some of the best cruise deals to Belize:

Royal Caribbean International (RCL)

Royal Caribbean International offers a 7-night Western Caribbean cruise starting in Tampa, with stops in Cozumel, Roatan, Belize City, Puerto Costa Maya, and Tampa. This cruise has multiple sail dates available in 2024, including July 13, July 20, July 27, August 3, and more.

Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL)

Norwegian Cruise Line offers a 7-night cruise to the Caribbean, departing from Miami, Florida. This cruise includes stops in Roatan, Harvest Caye, Costa Maya, and Cozumel. It sails on July 28, 2024.

Carnival Cruise Lines

Carnival Cruise Lines offers a 6-night Western Caribbean cruise from Galveston, Texas. This cruise includes stops in Costa Maya, Belize, and Cozumel, with sail dates available in 2024 and 2025.

Carnival Cruise Lines also offers a 7-night Western Caribbean cruise from New Orleans, Louisiana. This cruise includes stops in Mahogany Bay, Belize, and Cozumel, with multiple sail dates available in 2024 and 2025.

Hurtigruten

Hurtigruten offers a unique 95-night Pole to Pole Adventure cruise, departing from Vancouver, Canada, and ending in Buenos Aires. This cruise includes a stop in Belize City, Belize, along with other exciting destinations such as Alaska, Greenland, and Antarctica. It sails on August 4, 2024.

Hurtigruten also offers an 11-night Tropical Waters and Remote Island Communities cruise, departing from Miami and ending in Colon, Panama. This cruise includes stops in Belize City, Belize, Belize Barrier Reef, Utila Island, and Trujillo, Honduras. It sails on September 26, 2024.

Celebrity Cruises

Celebrity Cruises offers a 10-night New Orleans & the Caribbean cruise, with stops in Mahogany Bay, Belize, and Cozumel. This cruise line also offers a Grand Cayman, Belize, and Mexico cruise, as well as a Western Caribbean cruise that includes Belize as one of its ports of call.

Oceania Cruises

Oceania Cruises offers a Panama Canal cruise that includes Belize as one of its destinations.

With so many cruise options available, you can choose the one that best suits your interests and budget. Whether you're interested in diving, exploring ancient ruins, or simply relaxing on pristine beaches, a cruise to Belize is sure to offer an unforgettable experience.

Best time to visit Belize

Belize is a year-round destination, but the best time to visit depends on what you want to do. The country has two seasons: the dry season and the rainy season, also known as the "wet season".

The dry season, from December to May, is the high season for tourism. It's the perfect time to visit if you're looking for warm temperatures and clear skies. The dry season is also the best time for scuba diving and snorkelling, with calm waters and high underwater visibility. However, it's important to note that this is also the busiest and most expensive time to visit, with hotels and resorts charging their highest rates.

The rainy season, from June to November, is the low season for tourism. It's a great time to visit if you want to avoid the crowds and take advantage of lower prices on accommodation and tours. However, heavy rainfall during this period may impede ground travel, especially to remote areas, and some businesses may be closed.

If you're looking for the best of both worlds, the shoulder season, which includes the months of May, June, July, and November, might be the perfect time to visit. The prices of tours and accommodations are cheaper than during the high season, but you'll still have plenty of other tourists around.

• Best time to avoid tourists: September and October.
• Best time to avoid rain: February through April.
• Best time for underwater visibility: March to June.
• Best time for lowest hotel prices: After Easter to US Thanksgiving.
• Best time to visit Toledo District and the far south: February to May.
• Best time to visit Cayo: July to February, when it's not too hot and dry.
• Best time to visit Placencia: January to May.
• Best time to visit the cayes: December to August.
• Best time to avoid hurricanes and tropical storms: December to June.

Belize cruise excursions

Belize is a tropical paradise that offers plenty of onshore and offshore adventures. The country is brimming with natural beauty, from its lush rainforests to its diverse oceans, rich with marine life. Here are some of the top excursions you can experience on a cruise to Belize:

Explore the Belize Barrier Reef

Belize is famous for its almost unbroken line of reefs and small islands, known as cayes, that extend for 150 miles along its coast. The Belize Barrier Reef is the second-largest reef system in the world and offers some of the best diving in the Caribbean. You can snorkel or dive among hundreds of colourful coral species and other marine life, such as seahorses, parrotfish, and moray eels.

Discover Ancient Mayan Ruins

Belize has the highest concentration of Mayan sites in Central America, with several important ruins on the mainland, such as Altun Ha, Cahal Pech, and Xunantunich. These ancient ruins offer a glimpse into the mysterious past of this complex civilisation. At Xunantunich, you can explore 25 Mayan temples and palaces and hike to the top of El Castillo for incredible 360-degree views.

Venture into Caves and Underground Rivers

The Cayo District is home to an impressive system of underground rivers and caves. You can explore these ancient Mayan ceremonial sites by lounging on an inner tube, paddling a kayak, or even zip-lining through the caves. Discover historical artefacts, pottery, and unique wildlife, such as eyeless fish species.

Experience the Wildlife and Nature

Belize is known for its dense rainforests and diverse wildlife. You can go deep into the jungle to spot tropical birds, such as toucans, and exotic wildlife. Keep an eye out for howler monkeys, foxes, and kinkajous as you trek through the rainforest. You can also visit the Hol Chan Marine Reserve, where you can snorkel or dive among hundreds of species of fish and even swim with stingrays and nurse sharks.

Indulge in Local Cuisine

Belize's cuisine is influenced by its diverse cultural heritage, including Caribbean, Mexican, Spanish, African, and Mayan flavours. Sample fresh seafood specialties, such as conch fritters and grilled lobster, as well as traditional dishes like rice and beans, stewed chicken, and tamales. Don't forget to try the famous hudut, a tasty fish soup cooked in coconut milk.

These are just a few of the many exciting excursions you can experience on a cruise to Belize. Whether you're exploring ancient ruins, snorkelling through colourful reefs, or immersing yourself in the local culture and cuisine, Belize has something for everyone.

Ancient Mayan ruins

Belize was once the heartland of the ancient Maya Empire. The country has the highest concentration of Mayan sites in Central America, with several important sites on the mainland. Here is a guide to some of the most impressive ancient Mayan ruins in Belize:

Caracol

The largest Maya archaeological site in Belize, Caracol is an ancient city that was once home to about 120,000 people. The site features majestic temples that visitors can climb to enjoy spectacular views of the surrounding Chiquibul forest reserve. The tallest man-made building in Belize, the Caana pyramid, can be found here. The site is still being excavated, and the roads leading to Caracol are in good condition, allowing visitors to marvel at the beauty of the flora and fauna in the Chiquibul Rainforest along the way.

Xunantunich

Xunantunich was the first Mayan ruin in Belize to be opened to visitors in 1950. The site has provided archaeologists with a wealth of historical information about the Mayas. Once a prosperous city-state during the Classical Maya era, Xunantunich was home to 200,000 people, equivalent to two-thirds of Belize's current population. The name, a Mayan construct meaning "Stone Woman," was given to the site by local Mayans who reported the ruins to be haunted by the ghost of a woman dressed in white with glowing red eyes. Visitors can approach the site by crossing the Mopan River on a hand-operated ferry and then climbing up to the limestone ridge that serves as the foundation for the city.

Altun Ha

Altun Ha is the closest Mayan ruin to Belize City and is very easy to walk around, with no steep hills. The site features two large central plazas and pyramids and is beloved by Belizeans, even featuring on the national currency and bottles of the country's leading beer, Belikin. Armadillos, bats, squirrels, foxes, and white-tail deer wander this major ceremonial and trade centre. The site's main draw is the "Jade Head," the largest Mayan jade artifact ever found.

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 is prized for its ruins and its spectacular jungle setting near the New River Lagoon. The name Lamanai translates to "submerged crocodile" in Maya.

Cahal Pech

Cahal Pech is a smaller Mayan site located just outside of San Ignacio in the Belize River Valley. The complex was originally built for the wealthy and consists of several pyramids, residence buildings, and seven courtyards. The site features impressive views of the surrounding Belize River Valley, and the visitor centre and museum have a model of the site, paintings showing Cahal Pech in its heyday, and an interpretive film.

El Pilar

El Pilar is a 100-acre Maya site situated 12 miles northwest of San Ignacio in the Village of Bullet Tree Falls. The site features a causeway that extends from the eastern part of the ruins across the border into Guatemala. Archaeologists have found 12 pyramids and 25 plazas at El Pilar, triple the number found in nearby sites such as Xunantunich and Cahal Pech.

Frequently asked questions