The Best of Belize: An Action-Packed 7-Day Itinerary
- Updated: 04/15/2024
- Janice
Considering a vacation to this fantastic Central American country with a Caribbean feel? This article can help save time and energy in planning your Belize trip. I share our 7-day Belize itinerary we did with our 12 and 15-year-olds.
In it, find a mix of rivers, ruins, and reef experiences ideal for first-time visitors and families with older kids or teens craving adventure. Additionally, find recommendations for things to do, places to stay, and planning resources to help you book your perfect Belize getaway.
Table Of Contents
Why Visit Belize & Where to Find It
Belize is a bio-diverse Central American destination where natural beauty, adventure, and rich and historic culture combine to make for an outstanding vacation spot. Come to Belize to enjoy its Caribbean coasts and barrier islands, where you can snorkel or scuba a UNESCO World Heritage reef. And go inland for adventures like jungle treks and cave tubing, touring Mayan ruins, and cultural exploration.
With its international airport offering convenient flights to North America and the world, English being its primary language, and its currency pegged two to one with and interchangeable with the US dollar, visiting here is far more convenient, straightforward, and ideal than many would-be travelers realize.
See where to find Belize on the quick Google Earth clip below.
Our 7-Day Belize Itinerary At-a-Glance
Particularly for North American travelers, Belize offers an accessible international trip, with a flight duration of only a few hours to a similar time zone. We visited two destinations on our Belize trip. Here’s how we split our time between the jungle (San Ignacio region) and coast:
- Days 1 to 4: San Ignacio, a traveler hub town in western Belize known for its outdoor and cave adventures and proximity to Mayan ruins, about ten miles from the Guatemalan border.
- Days 5 to 8: Ambergris Caye, a Caribbean barrier island north and east of Belize City, where the primary mode of transport is the golf cart, and snorkelers and scuba divers can explore nearby world-class reefs.
Get details about what we did, where we stayed, tips, and recommendations for alternative things to do in the sections that follow.
San Ignacio: 4-Day Itinerary
Here is an overview of how we spent the first half of our trip—four days in San Ignacio:
Day 1: Arrive and transfer to Macaw Bank Jungle Lodge outside of San Ignacio
Day 2: Jungle zipline at Calico Jack’s, tour Green Hills Butterfly Ranch, and hike down to Big Rock Falls in the Mountain Pine Ridge Reserve
Day 3: Day trip to Tikal in Guatemala.
Day 4: ATM Cave Tour
See the color-coded map below to view the places we visited each day. I share the detail for each day and its activities below.
How to use this map: In the map header, click the square tab to the left of my logo or click the enlarge frame to the right to view detail. You can save the map to “Your Places” on Google Maps by clicking the star next to the map name. Or you can share it by clicking the share icon.
Day 1: Getting to Macaw Bank Jungle Lodge
- Arrive in Belize at Phillip S.W. Goldson International Airport (BZE).
- Two-hour private transfer and check-in to Macaw Bank Jungle Lodge.
- Breakfast: At the airport.
- Lunch: Tasty takeaway stop en route to lodge for stewed rice and beans at Amigos Family Diner outside of Belmopan.
- Dinner: Tostone appetizer, caramelized barbeque fish, cassava pudding, and fresh fruit smoothies at Macaw Bank.
We arrived in Belize on an early morning four-hour direct flight from our hometown of Chicago. After wrapping up immigration (~2-hour process) and collecting our baggage, we met our driver pre-arranged by Macaw Bank Jungle Lodge for the approximate two-hour drive to the lodge.
Belize has direct flights from several cities in North America. Check Flight Connection to see routes. Get tips on finding the best fares here.
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If you prefer to rent a car, know rental car rates in Belize run high, often $100+ day for 4×4 vehicles—ideal for traveling the country extensively. To book your best option, check out these tips, and learn about getting rental car insurance for international rentals.
About an hour into our drive west, we pulled into Amigos Family Diner at Mile 31 on the ½ Western Highway just outside Belmopan for a stretch, bathroom break, and snack before returning to the road to arrive at our lodge shortly after dark.
Once settled in our jungle cabana, we enjoyed an excellent and relaxed three-course dinner made by Raul, one-half of the expert and multi-talented husband and wife team who run Macaw Bank, before gratefully falling into beds lulled to sleep by the sounds of night jungle noises.
If you want to stay in a jungle lodge on your Belize trip, I share the top options for different budgets in the San Ignacio area in this article, also shown below. Or, if you prefer to stay in the town of San Ignacio, check out your choices on Booking.com here, including my top pick, the San Ignacio Resort Hotel.
Day 2: Ziplining, Butterflies, & Waterfalls
- Early morning guided bird walk on-site at Macaw Bank.
- Jungle zipline, extreme swing, and lunch at Calico Jack’s.
- Guided tour of Green Hills Butterfly Ranch.
- Hike down and swim at the foot of Big Rock Falls in Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve.
- Breakfast: Tropical fruits, eggs with chaya and fry jacks, and sausages at Macaw Bank.
- Lunch: Vegetarian tamales and stewed rice and beans at Calico Jack’s.
- Dinner: Black bean tostada appetizer, adobo chicken, and a crispy dessert crepe filled with soursop ice cream topped with a tamarind paste at Macaw Bank.
Refreshed and ready for our first full day in Belize, my husband and I woke early to join Raul—letting the kids sleep—on a guided bird walk, catching sight of several species, such as parrots, melodious blackbirds, and hummingbirds, on a foggy and peaceful morning. After the walk, we woke the kids and joined them for a delicious homemade breakfast as we decided on our plans for the day with our lovely lodge co-manager, Letty, and Raul’s wife, who would be our guide and driver.
Up first, on day one, was my adventurous 12-year-old’s number one pick, jungle ziplining at Calico Jack’s on their Ultimo course, an approximately one-hour double-cable zipline with nine runs soaring through the jungle canopy. Although this activity was a kid choice, the whole family loved the experience. I especially found it a great family-friendly introduction to the type of jungle terrain we would be in the next three days. The kids—craving one last thrill after the zipline—added the optional Extreme Swing, a free-fall jungle swing, before we headed to a convenient lunch at Calico Jack’s on-site Crossroads restaurant.
After being well fed, we headed to nearby Green Hills Butterfly Ranch, less than a 10-minute drive for a guided tour of their open-air butterfly house and caterpillar nursery. We saw butterflies emerging from chrysalises and learned about their diets, egg-laying habits, and the voracious appetites of caterpillars—while several species of colorful butterflies circled prettily around us. I share highlights from our visit in the short Instagram clip below.
With energy to spare—and within close driving distance of Big Rock Falls in the Mountain Pine Ridge Reserve, we headed there next. We followed Letty down on the short hike to see the impressive and thundering falls and go for a river swim before returning to Macaw Bank for another excellent dinner and a well-earned rest.
If you are looking for other activities in the San Ignacio area, consider river tubing, horseback riding, canoeing, hiking, or chocolate making. I share information about these options with other activity suggestions and links for where to book them in this article, also shown below.
Day 3: Tikal National Park in Guatemala
- Wake early to meet our MayaWalk Tikal group tour in San Ignacio.
- Cross the Belize border into Guatemala. Drive two hours to Tikal National Park for a guided group tour.
- Return via the same route with a stop for lunch.
- Breakfast: to-go waffles with cheese and fresh fruit from Macaw Bank.
- Lunch: Vegetarian plate and fajitas at Restaurant Gonzalez in Guatemala.
- Dinner: Garden greens with homemade cilantro dressing, spicy spaghetti bolognese, and zucchini cake at Macaw Bank.
Going to Tikal, one of the most important ancient Mayan sites in Guatemala and the world, was the activity my husband and I wanted to do most while in the San Ignacio area. Although going here requires a full day and an early wake-up, the effort is worth it—as seeing and learning about this sprawling archeological park that is a UNESCO World Heritage Site with unforgettable towering pyramids surrounded by jungle is a wonder.
If you are coming from the San Ignacio area, know this tour involves a border crossing and can require anywhere from nine to 11 hours of your day, including time for driving, crossing the border, touring Tikal, and eating lunch in Guatemala. And even though our day trip took longer (13 hours) due to logistics issues in our group—marveling at the ancient Mayan ruins and learning more about the Mayan culture and history—was a highlight of our trip.
Find other top Tikal tours departing the San Ignacio area on Viator or Get Your Guide.
If you prefer to skip the all-day tour with a border crossing, explore ancient Mayan sites within Belize, such as Caracol, a two-hour drive from San Ignacio. Or opt for closer-to-town Xunantunich, a 30-minute drive, which makes for an excellent half-day tour combinable with other activities. Find a complete list of other Mayan sites and activities in this article.
Day 4: Actun Tunichil Muknal (ATM) Cave
- Join a guided group tour of ATM cave with Cayo Inland Expeditions.
- Cross three rivers and walk a jungle trail to follow our guide into the cave through watery caverns to see and learn about ancient Mayan artifacts in the innermost chambers.
- Breakfast: eggs, fresh fruit, crispy cassava, and fry jacks at Macaw Bank.
- Lunch: picnic-style stewed chicken with rice, beans, and plantains, plus sides provided by our tour company.
- Dinner: pumpkin soup, spiced green onion pork chops with vegetable sides, and zucchini cake and cassava pudding at Macaw Bank.
Although two of us—me included—were iffy on our pre-tour cave comfort level, visiting Actun Tunichil Muknal (ATM) Cave, a full-day tour and a top traveler adventure in Belize, was an activity my family decided we could not miss and all ended up loving. We joined our group tour with Cayo Inland Expeditions at a pre-arranged drop spot, and then once at the trailhead, separated into groups of eight, each led by a specially trained and licensed guide.
Find other top ATM tours in the San Ignacio area on Viator or Get Your Guide.
To get to the cave entrance, we crossed a river three times and hiked along a jungle trail—catching a glimpse of an actual boa constrictor on the way.
At the end of the trail and the cave entrance, we switched on our helmet headlamps, following our guide into the cave single-file as we swam, waded, and scrambled through watery caverns—making our way to a living museum deep in the site, which is rich with ancient remnants of Mayan priest sacrificial rites. If going on this adventure also tops your list of things to do, I share helpful tips and things you should know before you book below.
- Reserve your spot for this tour as soon as you know your trip dates—there is a daily cap on the number of visitors allowed at the site.
- You should be moderately fit to do this activity—expect to swim, walk, wade through water, scramble over rocks, and climb one ladder to reach the innermost cave chamber.
- If you tend to feel claustrophobic, it may help to know that much of the cave portion of the ATM tour takes place in large to medium caverns. I do not love caves, particularly for their typical guano smells and heavy presence of bugs—which are both thankfully missing from ATM cave—and their small, enclosed spaces. So, I prepped myself to feel uncomfortable on this tour, though surprisingly, I never found I did.
- Expect to leave phones or cameras in your tour vehicle, as photography and video are not allowed in the ATM cave for safety and site preservation reasons.
- Wear socks and water shoes. I know—it sounds like an odd combination, so read on. The socks are necessary because once you enter the innermost cave chambers, you must remove your shoes and tread lightly. Due to some small pebbles on the cave floor, it would be uncomfortable to go barefoot. We wore thin sporty socks under water shoes like these that we bought before our trip and had a tread ideal for the trail and water crossings.
Alternatively, if going on an ATM Cave tour sounds like too much adventure, and you want a different cave experience, consider tubing through Nohoch Che’en Cave or joining a canoe trip through Barton Creek Cave. I share more information on these experiences and other cave excursions and where to book them in this article.
Ambergris Caye: 3-Day Itinerary
After leaving the San Ignacio area, we spent the second half of our Belize trip—three days—on the northern barrier island of Ambergris Caye. Here is how we spent our time.
Day 5: Depart Macaw Bank, fly on a 14-minute Tropic Air flight from Phillip S.W. Goldson International Airport (BZE) to Ambergris Caye, check in, and relax at Bella Vista Resort hotel.
Day 6: Full-day boat tour snorkeling at Hol Chan Marine Reserve and Shark Ray Alley, with lunch at Caye Caulker.
Day 7: Spend the day at Secret Beach and walk the waterfront of San Pedro.
Day 8: Departure, return home.
See below for a color-coded map of the places we visited each day. I share the detail for each day and its activities, with alternative suggestions for things to do, in the sections below.
How to use this map: In the map header, click the square tab to the left of my logo or click the enlarge frame to the right to view detail. You can save the map to “Your Places” on Google Maps by clicking the star next to the map name. Or you can share it by clicking the share icon.
Day 5: Fly to Ambergris Caye & Relax
- Explore the Macaw Bank nature trails on an early morning walk.
- Return to Phillip S.W. Goldson International Airport (BZE) for our 14-minute Tropic Air flight to Ambergris Caye.
- Complimentary golf cart pick-up and transfer to Bella Vista Resort.
- Check in, relax on our balcony and at the pool, and walk the path along the coast.
- Breakfast: fresh fruit, eggs with green onions, taro root fritter, and refried beans at Macaw Bank.
- Lunch: Bakery snacks and smoothies at the airport. Fish tacos and key lime pie at our resort.
- Dinner: a mix of tapas-style appetizers and paella at Aji Tapas Bar & Restaurant, also at our resort.
Today was a travel and rest day. Though, we did wake early, letting the kids sleep, to explore the nature paths around Macaw Bank before leaving. We walked with our coffees to the river, backtracking from there to follow the well-maintained trail to the extensive lodge gardens and to marvel at the massive trailside ceiba tree before breakfast and going to the airport.
Although flying to Ambergris Caye from either the international or municipal airports in Belize City costs more than taking the ferry (~$100 per ticket vs. $30), the flight time savings—14 minutes versus 1.5 hours—was a nice bonus. Plus, the views from our Tropic Air flight on a clear sunny day to the shallow waters and coral reefs below were breathtaking and worth the price of the flight alone.
To price out or book air or water ferry transport to Ambergris Caye or Caye Caulker, visit the Tropic Air or San Pedro Express Belize Water Taxi websites.
Once we landed and quickly collected our bags at the tiny Ambergris Caye airport, we made our way to the Bella Vista Resort—courtesy of a complimentary pick-up by the lodge manager, Linda, in a golf cart shuttle—to our intimate seven-room hotel 2.5 miles north of town.
After checking in to our spacious two-bedroom and two-bath unit featuring a full kitchen, an oversize balcony with lounge seating, a large table, and a hammock that overlooked the pool and oceanfront, we settled in to enjoy all the benefits that staying at a small oceanfront hotel boasting a highly rated and open-air tapas restaurant had to offer.
Most travelers who visit the northern cayes of Belize stay at either the more populous Ambergris Caye or the smaller, relaxed, and more budget-friendly Caye Caulker.
As Caye Caulker offers more of a chill adult vibe, especially on the Split, a popular spot at the channel that splits the island in two and offers ample opportunity for swimming, sunbathing, and drinking at waterfront bars—we opted instead to book lodging on more mainstream and family-friendly Ambergris Caye.
We loved staying at full-service Bella Vista Resort. The layout of our two-bedroom unit and its price point—especially during the winter holiday high season—was ideal for a group. And we appreciated its quieter northern location close to area restaurants. Plus, the generous breakfast included in the price of our room helped keep costs down.
My number two pick for a place to stay on Ambergris Caye, if our budget had been more flexible or I planned to visit at a non-holiday high-season time of year, was the more luxe Pelican Reef Resort Villas south of San Pedro. Discover more Ambergris Caye lodging options in this article, shown below.
If you are leaning toward a stay in Caye Caulker, my top pick for stretchy budgets would be the Iguana Reef Inn which offers an ocean-view penthouse apartment with a 360-degree view ideal for bigger groups and families. Find other more affordable options for families in Caye Caulker here.
Day 6: Hol Chan Marine Reserve & Caye Caulker
- A full-day Hol Chan Marine Reserve snorkel tour with lunch on Caye Caulker with Bella Vista’s on-site tour company.
- Return to Ambergris Caye through the mangroves along the western edge of San Pedro.
- Breakfast: full Belizean breakfast of eggs cooked with peppers and tomatoes paired with fry jacks and refried beans at our resort and included in the price of our room.
- Lunch: Chicken nachos and stewed chicken with rice and beans at Bambooze Beach Bar & Grill in Caye Caulker.
- Dinner: We planned to eat at the nearby Garage Seafood & Steakhouse, though we had to cancel and stay close to home due to a child feeling ill. Instead, we stayed at our resort to eat grilled pork chops, snapper, and seafood curry, with slices of coconut cake and key lime pie.
Today was my birthday! And the best gift I could have asked for was the beautiful weather our family enjoyed as we snorkeled the UNESCO World Heritage Hol Chan Marine Reserve and Shark Ray Alley. We booked our all-day group excursion through Bella Vista Resort which owns and operates and on-site tour company.
As another large group booked the same excursion and required the larger boat, we ended up with a private tour giving us the flexibility to bypass the congested Marine Reserve snorkeling site to go to Shark Ray Alley first.
Find other top Hol Chan Marine snorkel tours on Viator or Get Your Guide with more central San Pedro meeting places.
With fewer crowds, we witnessed the nurse sharks feeding for longer and had time to leisurely snorkel the surrounding area and catch sight of rays camouflaged on the ocean floor before the crowds descended. Then, we backtracked to the now less crowded and impressive Hol Chan Marine Reserve reef area for more snorkeling and viewing abundant sea life.
From there, we headed to Caye Caulker for lunch and to explore the island. After eating, we met back at the boat and headed up the coast to feed the tarpons congregating along the shallow shores of Caye Caulker and to visit the seahorse nursery at the Iguana Reef Inn.
Looking to make the most of your time on Caye Caulker? Check out this list of 29 things to do!
On our return to Ambergris Caye, we slowed to catch sight of a manatee, eventually making our way back through the mangroves golden in the late afternoon light to cross under the bridge separating the northern and southern halves of Ambergris Caye to our resort on the eastern shore.
Once back, we rested and refreshed ourselves, heading downstairs to the resort restaurant to top off a perfect birthday with a celebratory cocktail, dinner, and slice of cake.
I do not recommend alternate activities, particularly if you have limited vacation time. Visiting Hol Chan Marine Reserve, Shark Ray Alley, and Caye Caulker makes for an unbeatable day. You will be hard-pressed to do better.
If not staying at Bella Vista Resort, where you can take advantage of their on-site tour company, book your Hol Chan marine tour through Viator or Get Your Guide. With more vacation time to spare—consider fitting in a snorkel tour to Mexico Rocks and Tres Cocos like this one on Viator.
Day 7: Secret Beach & San Pedro
- Rent a golf cart to drive to Secret Beach.
- Grab open lounges at the Pirates Bar pier. Spend the day wading in the water, swimming, eating, and relaxing.
- Drive to San Pedro to check out the town and walk the beach.
- Catch a beautiful sunset and dinner at the Truck Stop.
- Breakfast: same full Belizean breakfast as the day before at Bella Vista Resort.
- Lunch: nachos, fish, and veggies tacos, with fresh juices at Pirates’ Bar.
- Dinner: artisanal pizzas, gourmet tacos, and homemade ice cream at the Truck Stop.
Our final day in Belize was all about relaxation and taking it easy. We rented a four-seater golf cart—the primary mode of transport on Ambergris Caye—to drive approximately 30 minutes at 15 to 20 mph from our resort to Secret Beach on the island’s western coast.
Once at the beach, we grabbed open lounges at the tail end of the Pirates’ Bar pier—the best place to sit on the beach—and waded in and out of the calm, cool water while we enjoyed tasty tacos and nachos and some excellent relaxation.
After a few hours and a quick return to our resort to freshen up, we drove our golf cart south to San Pedro for a walk through the Artisan Market and to stroll the waterfront, stopping for dinner and sunset at the incredibly family-friendly Truck Stop just a two-minute drive from our resort. It was an ideal and low-key way to wrap up our last vacation day.
If you do not want to make the golf cart drive to Secret Beach—a nearly 45-minute ride from San Pedro—recreate your version of a beach day by visiting the waterfront at Ramon’s Resort closer to town or the small beach at Central Park in the center of San Pedro. Or, if your hotel or resort provides it, enjoy the beach, swimming area, or water sports they provide. To further explore San Pedro, the number one thing I wanted to do if we had more time was join this Belize Food Tour.
Day 8: Departure Day
- Return to the international airport for our flight home.
- Breakfast: final full Belizean breakfast at Bella Vista Resort.
- Lunch: quick-to-go items from airport vendors to eat on the plane.
- Dinner: airport dinner during our stopover at Houston International Airport.
Sadly, today was our last day in Belize. Since it was a transport day, I did not count it in this itinerary. Although we had a hiccup with our Tropic Air flight getting diverted to the Belize City municipal airport due to poor weather, Tropic Air provided van transport to the international airport, ensuring we arrived on time for our flight home.
One week was hardly enough time to explore the diversity of things to do that Belize offers. Though, it was an excellent first trip and a great introduction.
Related Reading
If you are traveling to Belize, check out my related articles below to help you get the information you need to plan your best visit.
Or view my “Belize: The Best Books to Read Before a Trip” below to get a Belize reading list.
Additional Trip Planning Resources
To further help you with travel planning, I share my go-to resources for every trip below.
Google Flights. My first research stop for affordable flights for every trip. Learn why here.
Google Hotels. Use its “Where to stay” button to discover the best neighborhoods to base your visit.
Booking.com. For hotel and rental bookings, I appreciate its flexible cancellation, candid user reviews, discounts, loyalty program, and easy-to-use interface.
Viator, Get Your Guide, & Airbnb Experiences. Quickly find and book highly-rated tours and activities on these sites.
Google Travel Things to Do & Google Maps. Find more things to do in your destination on Google Travel, then record where you want to visit on a custom Google Maps list.
AllTrails. Love to hike? Me too. I religiously use AllTrails to discover hiking and biking trails and download its offline maps to manage my hikes.
Guide Along. 5-star self-guided audio tours that are GPS-compatible for US road trips and national parks. We loved the Glacier National Park tour.
Insure My Trip. I never travel internationally without trip insurance. Learn why here. My preferred place to shop and compare policies is InsureMyTrip.com.
Plus, check out the 15 travel apps I use on trips, my preferred guidebooks, and my free customizable travel itinerary template, downloadable in four file formats.
About the author: Janice Moskoff is a travel writer and blogger who loves hiking, exploring the world, and reading. She writes to inspire travel-loving families, adult friends, and couples on her blog, Gather and Go Travel. After attending the University of Michigan undergraduate business school and following a career in retail strategy and event management, she returned to focus on her first love—travel. Read her bio, learn how she became a blogger, and discover how to work with her. Sign up for her monthly Discovery Newsletter for travel recs and how-to’s. Or follow her on social media (@gatherandgotravel).
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Welcome to Gather and Go Travel, a blog inspiring families, adult friends, and couples to explore US and international destinations and to get outdoors. I am Janice, a world traveler to 50+ countries, a travel writer/blogger, and a book lover. Learn more about me, read our story, and how to work with me. Get my latest updates, how-tos, and trip ideas in my monthly Discovery Newsletter.
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