Belize's Summer Season: When Is It?

Summer in Belize is from mid-May to mid-November. It is the rainy season, but the rain often falls at night or is brief and intermittent during the day. The average daytime temperature ranges from 80 to 88°F (26°C to 31°C), making it an ideal time for outdoor adventures and beach days. Summer is also the off-peak travel season, meaning fewer crowds and lower prices. It is a great time to explore ancient Maya ruins and spot migratory birds, as well as enjoy cultural events and fresh local produce.

Lobster festivals and other cultural events

Belize is known for its Lobster Festivals, which are held annually in the summer months of June and July. Lobster fishing season officially opens on 15 June, and the Lobster Festivals are a celebration of this. The festivals are held in four parts of the country: Belize City, and the northern cayes of Caye Caulker, San Pedro, and Placencia.

Each location puts its own spin on the festivities, but common activities include live music, dancing, beach parties, beauty pageants, and, of course, an abundance of lobster dishes. The San Pedro festival is said to be the most ostentatious, with non-stop partying, free music, and flowing drinks. Caye Caulker, where the festival originated, offers a more laid-back, bohemian vibe, with cheap eats and warm hospitality. Placencia takes the festival to the next level, with gourmet lobster dishes served in luxurious resorts. Belize City's festival is usually held in July, in the southern part of the city at the iconic Bird's Isle.

In addition to the Lobster Festivals, Belize also hosts other cultural events during the summer. One such event is the International Music and Food Festival, which takes place on Ambergris Caye. This festival showcases the country's musical talent and culinary skills, with local food vendors serving up mouth-watering dishes. The Belize Carnival is another spectacular event, uniting African traditions with Mayan culture. It is held every September, culminating on Belize Independence Day, and features music, fashion, and dance.

Ancient Maya ruins

Summer in Belize is from mid-May to mid-November. It is the rainy season, but it's still a great time to visit and explore the country's ancient Maya ruins. Here are some of the best sites to discover:

Caracol

The largest Maya archaeological site in Belize, Caracol is located in the west of the country, near the border with Guatemala within the Chiquibul Forest Reserve. Once the centre of one of the largest Maya kingdoms, Caracol contains the remains of thousands of structures. It was a powerful city-state and a major player in the political struggles of the southern Maya lowlands. The site features majestic temples that visitors can climb to enjoy spectacular views of the surrounding forest reserve. The roads leading to Caracol are in good condition, and the drive offers a chance to admire the beauty of the flora and fauna in the Chiquibul Rainforest.

Lamanai

Lamanai, located on the New River in the Orange Walk District, is known for being the longest continually occupied site in Mesoamerica. It was occupied from the Early Preclassic period until the Spanish colonisation of the area. During the Spanish conquest of Yucatán, the conquistadores established a Roman Catholic church at Lamanai, but they were eventually driven out by a revolt of the native Maya. The remains of the church still stand today. There are three Mayan temples in the Lamanai archaeological reserve: the Mask Temple, the High Temple, and the Temple of the Jaguar, along with ball courts. The site can be reached by boat from the town of Tower Hill.

Xunantunich

Xunantunich was the first Maya ruin to be opened to visitors in 1950. It is located near San Ignacio and was once a prosperous city-state during the Classical Maya era, housing up to 200,000 people. The site features six plazas and remnants of over 25 palaces and temples. Visitors can approach Xunantunich 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.

Cahal Pech

Cahal Pech, which means "place of ticks" in modern-day Maya, was once the royal acropolis-palace of an elite Mayan ruling family. Settled around 1000 BC and abandoned by 800 AD, the site consists of seven plazas and over 30 structures, including temples, residential buildings, ball courts, an altar, and a sweat house, all within just 2 acres. A royal burial chamber was discovered here, containing shell and bone ornaments, pottery vessels, obsidian blades, and jade objects, including an impressive jade and shell mosaic mask. Cahal Pech offers a stunning view of the surrounding Belize River Valley.

Altun Ha

Altun Ha, a major ceremonial and trade centre, features plazas where armadillos, bats, squirrels, foxes, and white-tail deer roam. The site is known for the "Jade Head", the largest Mayan jade artifact ever discovered. Another highlight is the sophisticated reservoir constructed by the Mayans.

In addition to these sites, there are many other ancient Maya ruins in Belize worth exploring, such as El Pilar, Santa Rita, Cerros, Uxbenka, and Lubaantun, each offering unique insights into this fascinating ancient culture.

Wildlife in their natural habitat

Summer in Belize runs from mid-May to mid-November. It is the rainy season, with temperatures ranging from 79°F (26°C) to 86°F (30°C). It is also the low season for tourism, so it's a great time to see wildlife in their natural habitat without the crowds. Here are some of the amazing creatures you can see:

Jaguars

The jaguar is the largest, most powerful cat in the Western Hemisphere. They can be found in the lowlands and along the coast of Belize, hunting smaller animals such as peccaries and armadillos, as well as tapirs and even crocodiles. They are nocturnal, so they can be elusive, but the Cockscomb Basin Jaguar Preserve guarantees sightings.

Black Howler Monkeys

These primates are the largest monkeys in Belize and they make themselves heard with their distinctive howl, often coming from up to a mile away. They can grow up to 3 feet tall and live in troops of 4 or more. You can see them up close at the Community Baboon Sanctuary in the Belize River Valley.

Sea Turtles

Belize is home to three species of sea turtle: green, hawksbill, and loggerhead. One of the best experiences is to see them underwater, grazing on the seafloor. They also come up for air and are an adorable sight. Head to the Hol Chan Marine Reserve or the South Water Caye Marine Reserve for snorkelling trips.

Baird's Tapir

The Baird's Tapir is the national animal of Belize. It is sometimes called the 'mountain cow' due to its large nose, but it is actually related to the rhinoceros and the horse. They can grow up to 6 feet long and weigh up to 500-600 pounds. They are excellent swimmers and climbers, and you can spot them in the forest, feeding on grass, leaves, fruits, and even produce from nearby farms.

Keel-Billed Toucans

The keel-billed toucan is the national bird of Belize. With its colourful beak and plumage, it is one of the most iconic avian species of the Neotropics. You can find them throughout the forests of Belize, nesting in holes in tree trunks.

Scarlet Macaws

The scarlet macaw is a large, colourful bird with red, blue, and yellow feathers. They prefer higher elevations and river forests. They are a rare species, with only around 250 macaws residing in the rainforests of Belize. Their eggs and hatchlings are often targeted by poachers, but organisations like Friends for Conservation and Development work to protect them in their natural habitat.

Crocodiles

There are two types of crocodiles in Belize: American and Morelet. American crocodiles are suited to saltwater and can be spotted on the banks of lagoons on Ambergris Caye, while Morelets are found in freshwater along the banks of the New River.

Belize's summer offers a great opportunity to see these amazing creatures in their natural habitat, and with fewer tourists, you may feel like you have the country's wildlife all to yourself!

Summer activities like zip-lining and cave tubing

Belize's summer is a great time to visit, with temperatures sitting at a comfortable average of 29°C. The 'Green' season, which runs from June to October, sees rainfall mostly at night, and any showers during the day tend to be brief and refreshing.

Zip-lining

• Head to the Mayflower Bocawina National Park, located in the Stann Creek District at the base of the Maya Mountains. Here, you can experience Belize's longest zip-line adventure, with a course that spans 2.5 miles (4 kilometers) and includes 12 platforms and 8 runs.
• For a unique twist, try the Jungle Canopy Zipline & Waterfall Rappelling tour at Bocawina Falls. This combines zip-lining with a hike up the falls and a 100-foot (30.5-meter) rappel down the waterfall's face.
• The Ultimate Adventure Package offered by Cave-Tubing.com combines three activities in one day: zip-lining, cave tubing, and an ATV jungle tour.
• The Altun Ha and Zipline tour from Belize City takes you to the ancient Mayan site of Altun Ha and also includes a zip-lining adventure through the jungle, reaching heights of 85 feet (26 meters).
• The Xunantunich, Cave River Kayaking, and Ziplines tour is another combination tour that allows you to explore the Mayan world and try out zip-lining in the same day.

Cave Tubing

• Cave tubing is a popular activity in Belize and can be enjoyed at many locations. One notable spot is inside the Nohoch Che'en Caves Branch Archaeological Reserve, where you'll find impressive cave systems that were once sacred to the ancient Mayans.
• The Cave Tubing and Zipline Adventure from Belize City takes you through a network of caves with stalactites and stalagmites, followed by zip-lining over the rainforest canopy.
• The Belize Cave Tubing Adventure from San Ignacio includes a 20-minute hike through the rainforest to reach the Caves Branch River, where you'll tube through natural cave formations.
• The Cave-Tubing & Zip-Lines tour offered by Cave-Tubing.com combines the thrill of zip-lining with the exploration of limestone cave systems and underground rivers.
• For a private tour, the Private Tour: Cave Tubing and Zipline Adventure from Belize City includes hiking, cave tubing, and zip-lining with a small group of up to 15 people.

So, whether you're looking for zip-lining, cave tubing, or a combination of both, Belize has plenty of options to offer during the summer months!

Belize's stunning cayes and atolls

Belize has roughly 386km of coastline and is home to many coral reefs, cayes, and islands in the Caribbean Sea. The country's islands are known as cayes, pronounced "keys" like the Florida Keys. The largest Belize cayes are Ambergris Caye and Caye Caulker, which are both traveller favourites. Ambergris Caye is the country's largest island, stretching along the Belize Barrier Reef to Mexico's Yucatan peninsula. It is a fantastic destination for water sports, especially snorkelling and scuba diving. Caye Caulker is a smaller, more laid-back version of Ambergris Caye and is more popular with backpackers.

The Turneffe Atoll is the largest atoll in Belize and is famed for its wall dives. It is situated in the central Barrier Reef system between the Inner Channel and Lighthouse Reef. The Lighthouse Reef is also home to the Great Blue Hole, one of Belize's most famous attractions.

Glover's Reef Atoll is a stunning atoll that consists of five islands and a coral elliptical-shaped reef. It is located near the Cayman Trench and contains a protected marine reserve.

The Tobacco Caye is a tiny island located at the northern end of the South Water Caye Marine Reserve. It is home to a handful of guesthouses and is known for being an excellent spot for shore diving.

The South Water Caye is a remote island that attracts travellers seeking solace and relaxation. It is slightly larger than the Tobacco Caye and has a rare sandy beach at its southern end.

The St. George's Caye was once the largest settlement in Belize and is now home to the luxury St. George's Caye Resort.

Other stunning cayes and atolls in Belize include Silk Caye, Goff's Caye, Half Moon Caye, and Laughingbird Caye.

Frequently asked questions