Belize's Travel Sweet Spot: Navigating The Peak Season

The peak season for travel to Belize is between late November and mid-May, coinciding with the dry season. During this period, you can expect warm temperatures, clear skies, and easy access to the country's top attractions. The dry season also offers the perfect weather for outdoor activities such as water sports and jungle adventures. However, it is important to note that the peak season sees an increase in tourist crowds and accommodation prices. If you're looking for quieter beaches and discounted rates, you may want to consider travelling during the off-peak season, which runs from May to November.

Dry season (December to May)

Dry Season in Belize: December to May

December

In December, the dry season begins in Belize, and it is a very festive time to visit. Belizeans celebrate the entire month with parades, parties, concerts, shopping sprees, and horse race events. The country also observes Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's celebrations, with the latter two being particularly significant in this largely Christian country. Christmas is a big deal in Belize, with churches holding midnight mass, festive songs, nativity scenes, and fireworks. New Year's Eve is a social event, with many bars and lounges throwing large parties that continue well into the next morning.

January

January is a dry month in Belize, with clear skies and warm temperatures. It is a popular time for tourists, especially those from North America and Europe, who are escaping the colder winter months in their home countries. This is also a good time for scuba diving and snorkelling, as the azure waters are calm and clear.

February

February is a good month to visit Belize if you want to avoid the exceptionally busy periods around Christmas and Easter. You can enjoy some of the country's finest weather, with warm sunshine and mild temperatures, and you'll have more choice in terms of hotels and lower airfares. The Placencia Sidewalk Art Festival also takes place in February.

March

March and April are the best months for guaranteed sun and fun in Belize. The weather is hot, with almost no clouds, and the dry season permits the scheduling of outdoor activities such as water sports and jungle adventures. The Ruta Maya Belize River Challenge, a 4-day canoe race, takes place in March, and is a big draw for tourists.

April

April is a very popular time to visit Belize, especially for those combining their trip with a visit to neighbouring Guatemala. It is the peak of the dry season, with warm temperatures and clear skies. However, it is also the Easter holiday period, so you will need to book early to secure your preferred accommodation.

May

In May, the dry season is coming to an end, and the heat and humidity are gradually increasing. This is a good time to visit if you want to take advantage of lower hotel rates before the peak season starts again in June. The Punta Gorda Chocolate Festival takes place at the end of May, celebrating the cacao bean, chocolate-making, and local crafts.

Wet season (June to November)

The rainy or wet season in Belize runs from June to November. During this period, you can expect showers and strong winds, with the risk of hurricanes from July onwards. The wettest months are July and October, with average daytime temperatures ranging from the 70s to the 80s.

Despite the rain, the wet season is a great time to visit Belize if you want to avoid crowds and take advantage of lower prices. Many resorts and hotels offer discounts of 25% or more, and you can also find cheaper airline tickets. However, some businesses do close during this period, and travel can become challenging, with some roads and caves becoming inaccessible.

If you do decide to visit during the wet season, be sure to plan your trip accordingly. While rain showers typically only last for one or two hours, they can sometimes be heavy, and flooding is possible. The Caribbean hurricane season also falls during the wet season, so it's essential to get travel insurance and keep an eye on the weather forecast.

On the plus side, the rain during this season keeps the landscape lush and green. The water temperature is ideal for scuba diving and snorkelling, ranging from 79 to 83 degrees Fahrenheit. And with fewer tourists around, you'll have more privacy to explore the beaches, caves, and Maya Ruins.

The wet season also offers a great opportunity to experience local culture and festivals. In June, you can kick off the summer with Lobster Fest, a two-week-long celebration of all things lobster. This is followed by the International Costa Maya Festival in early August, the biggest festival in Belize, featuring music, pageants, and dance events.

September is a month of patriotic celebrations in Belize, with the Battle of St. Georges Caye Day and Independence Day falling on the 10th and 21st, respectively. These days are marked by colourful processions, parades, and carnivals.

As the rainy season progresses, you'll start to see a decrease in humidity and rainfall towards the end of the period. By November, the heaviest rains will have eased, and you can enjoy the Garifuna Settlement Day celebrations, which include traditional dancing, drumming, and delicious local cuisine.

So, while the wet season in Belize may bring some challenges, it also offers a unique and captivating experience, allowing you to explore the country's natural beauty and cultural offerings without the crowds.

Hurricane season (July to October)

Hurricane season in Belize runs from July to October, with the most active months being August, September, and October. Historically, the most active period for tropical storms is the end of August through mid-October. Hurricanes rarely make landfall in Belize but can be serious when they do. If you plan to travel during this time, keep an eye on weather reports and purchase travel insurance at the time of booking.

During the hurricane season, rainfall in Belize continues to be heavy, with occasional "northers", two- or three-day storms often centred around the Maya Mountains. The wettest months occur in September and October, with rain showers typically lasting one to two hours. The amount of rain varies considerably by region. For instance, southern Belize can receive more than 150 inches per year, while the north rarely receives more than 50 inches per year.

In October, several days of heavy rains might affect wet cave tours, which become unsafe when rivers run too high. Daytime temperatures begin to cool slightly, but the water temperature ranges from 79 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit. This is still a great time for snorkelling and scuba diving, as visibility is outstanding and ranges from 60 to 100 feet.

While summer is the traditional "low season" for tourism in Belize, it can be an attractive time for those seeking a less crowded and more affordable trip. During the summer months, there are fewer visitors, giving tourists more privacy in areas such as the beaches, caves, and Maya Ruins. High traffic areas such as Ambergris Caye and Caye Caulker get crowded with locals during Easter but are less busy outside of this time frame. Summer is also Lobster Fest Time in Belize, with the annual Lobster Fest taking place in June.

Christmas and New Year

Christmas in Belize is a time of old-fashioned cheer and religious celebration. For those who are religious, churches hold midnight mass with festive songs, nativity scenes, and fireworks. Belizeans are known for their hospitality, so it's easy to become part of a local family's Christmas get-together. The holiday season in Belize is month-long, with Christmas songs and decorations going up after Garifuna Settlement Day on November 19.

There are several unique Christmas traditions in Belize, such as the Jankunu and Charikanari dances, which poke fun at the mannerisms of former slave owners. These dances are performed by dancers wearing white long-sleeve shirts, black trousers, and handmade headdresses and masks. The Charikanari, or Two-Foot Cow, features a male dancer with a cow-shaped mask and an exaggerated rear end. On Christmas Day, dancers perform throughout towns and at various locations.

Another Christmas tradition is Las Posadas, which begins on December 14. This tradition re-enacts the biblical journey of Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem, with young people carrying statues of the holy couple and going from house to house asking for lodging. They are accompanied by others singing hymns and saying prayers. At the third house, they are granted lodging, and the group shares treats such as rice porridge, fruit preserves, and a rice drink.

On New Year's Eve, there are lively celebrations across Belize. Many local bars and lounges throw large parties, with music and dancing that continue into the early morning of the new year. It is common to see fireworks and enjoy champagne to ring in the new year.

For those seeking a quieter New Year's Eve, there are also special dinners at many resorts and restaurants. For example, the Victoria House Resort & Spa on Ambergris Caye offers decadent three-course dinners for guests. The Grove House at Sleeping Giant Lodge also offers exclusive holiday menus for Christmas Day and Boxing Day.

Easter

Good Friday is a solemn day in Belize, with religious activities, church services, and processions re-enacting the Passion of Christ. It is common for people to stay home with their families or attend church, and radio and television stations broadcast religious programs. On this day, no meat except fish is traditionally eaten, and swimming is avoided.

Holy Saturday is marked by the annual Holy Saturday Cross Country Cycle Race, a gruelling 140-mile race from Belize City to San Ignacio and back. Cycling is a beloved pastime in Belize, and the race causes the country to shut down for most of the day. The race is followed by fairs and dances in many municipalities.

On Easter Sunday, families gather for meals and picnics to celebrate the Resurrection of Christ. In the afternoon, football games and fairs are held in many towns and villages. Easter Monday marks the beginning of the wind-down of the Easter celebrations, with a few fairs still being held across the country, including a fair with horse races at Burrel Boom, close to Belize City.

The Easter weekend sees an influx of tourists, both local and international, flocking to popular destinations within Belize and neighbouring Mexico. The weather during Easter is usually warm and dry, making it an ideal time to visit the beaches, rivers, and waterfalls.

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