Belize's Best Hideaways

Belize is a tropical paradise with stunning beaches, amazing water sports, rich history, diverse culture, and delicious food. It is a small country with a lot to offer, from snorkelling and scuba diving to exploring Maya ruins and temples. With its low population density, Belize offers the perfect opportunity to find hidden spots and secluded areas.

One of the best places to hide in Belize is its extensive cave systems, including the Actun Tunichil Muknal (ATM) Cave, which was once a sacred Maya underworld. The ATM Cave is located in the Cayo District and offers a breathtaking caving experience with a perennial stream, intact human remains, and Maya pots. Another hidden gem is the Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary, the world's first jaguar preserve, with cascading waterfalls, panoramic mountain views, and a diverse array of wildlife.

If you're looking for secluded beaches, the cayes running along the Belize Barrier Reef offer the perfect haven. With over 200 islands, you can find secluded spots to relax and enjoy the Caribbean style. Ambergris Caye, the largest island, provides access to the famous Blue Hole, a massive underwater sinkhole made famous by Jacques Cousteau.

So, whether you're seeking hidden ancient ruins, secluded beaches, or untouched natural wonders, Belize has plenty of places to hide and explore.

The Belize Blue Hole

The Blue Hole is almost perfectly circular in shape, measuring 300-318m (984-1,043ft) across and 108-124m (354-407ft) deep, with a surface area of 70,650 square metres (760,500 sq ft). It is the largest sea hole in the world and is believed to be the largest feature of its kind. It is surrounded by the Lighthouse Reef Atoll, a natural coral atoll.

The Blue Hole was formed during the last glacial period, when rising sea levels flooded a network of caves and caused the roof to collapse. This process occurred in stages, and analysis of stalactites found in the Blue Hole shows that formation took place 153,000, 66,000, 60,000, and 15,000 years ago.

The Blue Hole is a popular destination for recreational scuba divers, who can explore the underwater caves filled with giant stalactites and stalagmites. It is also home to a variety of marine life, including several species of sharks such as bull sharks, Caribbean reef sharks, and hammerhead sharks.

Due to the complexity and depth of the dive, only experienced divers with the necessary certifications are permitted to explore the Blue Hole. It is not a dive for beginners, and divers will typically need to practice their skills with a divemaster before their trip.

The Belize Barrier Reef

There are several popular cayes and atolls within the Belize Barrier Reef that offer unique experiences. Ambergris Caye and Caye Caulker are principal hubs for scuba diving and snorkelling. They are the largest cayes in the country and offer easy access to popular attractions such as the Hol Chan Marine Reserve and the Great Blue Hole. Turneffe Atoll and Glover's Reef are more remote and provide opportunities to swim with exotic marine wildlife just offshore.

The best time to visit the Belize Barrier Reef depends on your preferences. The dry season, from November to April, has choppy surface conditions but excellent visibility for diving and snorkelling, with cooler water temperatures. The wet season, from May to October, has fewer crowds and price drops, with warm water temperatures and minimal rain that rarely affects diving or snorkelling unless there is a tropical storm or hurricane.

Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary

The sanctuary offers a range of hiking trails, from self-guided walks to more demanding paths leading to swimming areas, waterfalls, and the pine forests of the basin's rim. The River Overlook and Warrie Trails are ideal for wildlife spotting, while the Rubber Tree Trail offers a chance to spot the elusive Agami Heron. The Jaguar Preserve has its own quarters available for rent, including a campsite bunkhouse, cabins, and a two-person cottage. The best time to visit is during the rainy season, especially at the beginning (June/July), when wildlife is most active.

The Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary is a must-visit destination for nature enthusiasts and those seeking a unique outdoor experience in Belize. With its diverse wildlife, lush tropical jungle, sweeping mountain views, and breathtaking waterfalls, it offers a magical and secluded experience in the heart of Belize's natural wonders.

To get to the Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary, you can take a bus from Dangriga or Belize City to the Maya Centre along the Southern Highway. From there, it's a five-mile walk or a short taxi ride to the reserve headquarters. Alternatively, many resorts in the area offer their own tours, although these can be quite expensive.

Actun Tunichil Muknal Cave (ATM)

Actun Tunichil Muknal Cave, also known as the Cave of the Crystal Sepulchre, is located in the Tapir Mountain Nature Reserve in Belize, near San Ignacio, Cayo District. The cave is notable for its Maya archaeological site, which includes skeletons, ceramics, and stoneware. The site is believed to have been used by the Maya for sacred rituals, including human sacrifices, with the remains of "The Crystal Maiden" being the most well-known.

The cave is located about an hour and a half drive from San Ignacio and requires a 45-minute flat jungle hike to reach the cave entrance. The hike includes three stream crossings of knee to waist-high depth, with the help of a rope for the first crossing. At the mouth of the cave, visitors swim across a small spring-fed pool into the dark underworld of the cave. Inside, the cave features an extensive underground maze of tunnels, passageways, and chambers, including a dry chamber known as "The Cathedral" where Mayan artifacts and skeletal remains can be found.

The ATM Cave is considered a world-class adventure tour and has been ranked as one of the Top Ten Caves in the World by National Geographic. The cave offers a rare opportunity to see an ancient Maya sacrificial site with skulls, pots, and ceremonial altars, untouched for centuries. Radio carbon dating has revealed that the cave was first used by the Maya during the Classic Maya Period from 250 to 909 AD.

To protect the site, the Government of Belize has banned all electronics from the cave, and only licensed and experienced guides are allowed to take visitors inside. Visitors are advised to wear suitable jungle hiking gear, including hiking boots or rubber work boots, sunscreen, insect repellent, gloves, and a caving undersuit or coverall. It is also recommended to bring reusable water bottles, swimwear, and an extra set of dry clothing, as the cave exploration involves swimming, climbing, and navigating through wet and uneven surfaces.

Mayan Ruins

Belize is home to the largest number of ancient Maya ruins in Central America. The area was once the very centre of the ancient Maya civilisation, and the Maya have left their mark in one of the largest concentrations of temples and underground ritual chambers, as well as a magnificent repository of art in gold, jade, obsidian, pottery, elaborate stone carvings and paintings.

Xunantunich

Xunantunich was the first Maya ruin to be opened to visitors in 1950. It was once a prosperous city state and home to 200,000 people—equivalent to two-thirds of Belize's current population. The name Xunantunich, meaning "Stone Woman" in Maya, is a modern name as the original name of the city has been lost. Archaeologists are still excavating the site, and it is easily accessible via a free ferry from San Jose Succotz village.

Caracol

Caracol is the largest Maya archaeological site in Belize. This ancient city was once one of the most powerful in the Maya world and housed about 120,000 people. The tallest man-made building in Belize, the Caana pyramid, can be found here. The site is still an active archaeological dig, and the roads leading to Caracol give visitors a chance to marvel at the spectacular beauty of the flora and fauna in the Chiquibul Rainforest.

Lamanai

Lamanai, in northern Belize, is one of the oldest continuously occupied Maya sites in the country. It is prized for its ruins as well as its spectacular jungle setting near the New River Lagoon. The name Lamanai means "submerged crocodile" in Maya.

Altun Ha

Altun Ha is the closest set of ruins to Belize City and very easy to walk around, with no steep hills. It is so beloved by Belizeans that it can be found on the face of the national currency and on the bottles of the country's leading beer, Belikin.

Cahal Pech

Cahal Pech is a smaller Maya site just outside of San Ignacio in the Belize River Valley. It was originally built as a place for the wealthy and consists of several pyramids, residence buildings, and seven courtyards.

Lubaantun

Lubaantun is the largest Mayan site in southern Belize, with 11 limestone pyramids, five plazas, and three ball courts. Unlike other ruins in Belize, Lubaantun was built entirely without mortar.

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