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ð§ðŋThings to Do in Belize
From the Great Blue Hole to the Mayan cave of Actun Tunichil Muknal - the essential sights, and how to keep your own record of them.
Travel guide - last updated September 2026
Belize is the only English-speaking country in Central America, and it sits on the second-largest barrier reef in the world, with a giant marine sinkhole - the Great Blue Hole - as its single most famous image. Inland, ATM Cave's Mayan sacrificial remains offer one of the most unusual archaeological experiences anywhere in the region. Here are 5 places worth building a trip around.
Top attractions
The sights most first-time visitors build an itinerary around.
Great Blue Hole
A giant marine sinkhole nearly 300 meters across and 124 meters deep, part of the Belize Barrier Reef and famously featured by Jacques Cousteau - visited by boat, plane flyover, or scuba dive for experienced divers.
ð Lighthouse Reef Atoll
ð The sinkhole is 70km offshore: day boats leave San Pedro and Caye Caulker at dawn for a three-hour crossing, and small planes run scenic flights over it from Belize City.
Belize Barrier Reef
The second-largest barrier reef system in the world after Australia's, with excellent snorkeling and diving accessible from Ambergris Caye and Caye Caulker.
ð Ambergris Caye & Caye Caulker
ð Water taxis from Belize City reach Caye Caulker in 45 minutes and San Pedro in 90; dive and snorkel boats to Hol Chan and Shark Ray Alley leave from both.
Actun Tunichil Muknal (ATM Cave)
A cave containing ancient Mayan ceremonial artifacts and skeletal remains, reached by wading and swimming through the cave system itself - regularly ranked among the world's most unique cave tours.
ð Cayo District
ð The cave is reached from San Ignacio, two hours west of Belize City by bus, then a 45-minute drive and a jungle walk with river crossings - entry is only with a licensed guide, and cameras are banned.
Caye Caulker
A small, car-free island with a local motto of 'go slow,' known for cheap snorkeling trips and a noticeably more laid-back pace than Ambergris Caye.
ð Caye Caulker
ð Water taxis run from Belize City's marine terminal roughly hourly, taking 45 minutes; the island has no cars, so golf carts and bicycles cover the sand streets.
Xunantunich
A Mayan archaeological site near the Guatemalan border, with a temple (El Castillo) offering a view across the border into Guatemala from its summit.
ð Cayo District, near San Ignacio
ð Buses from San Ignacio to Benque stop at San Jose Succotz, where a hand-cranked ferry carries you across the Mopan river, then it is a 1km walk up to the ruins.
Mark Belize, get the stamp
In MyPassportStory, every country you mark - visited, lived in, or still on the list - becomes a stamp like these in your own travel passport. Add the cities you stopped in, draw the route between them, and turn the whole trip into a shareable passport-style image.
Open MyPassportStoryPlanning questions
How many days do you need in Belize?
A week lets you combine a few days on the cayes (Caye Caulker or Ambergris Caye) with an inland day for ATM Cave or Xunantunich.
What's the best time to visit Belize?
November-April is the dry season and the most popular time to visit, with the calmest conditions for diving the Great Blue Hole. Hurricane season runs June-November, peaking August-October.
Is Belize good for a first-time visit?
Yes - English is the official language, which makes it one of the easier Central American countries for a first-time independent visit, and the cayes are well set up for tourism.
Do I need a visa to visit Belize?
Many nationalities, including the US, UK, Canada, Australia and most of the EU, can visit visa-free for short tourist stays; other nationalities need a visa arranged in advance. Check the official visa information for your nationality: mfa.gov.bz.
What are some things to do in Belize on a tight budget?
Caye Caulker is generally cheaper than Ambergris Caye for accommodation and snorkeling trips, local Belizean food (rice and beans, fry jack) is inexpensive, and water taxis between cayes cost less than flights.
Can I rent a car in Belize, and what licence do I need?
Yes, and it is useful for the Cayo district and the western highways, though the islands have no cars at all. A foreign licence is valid for visitors for up to three months, and no International Driving Permit is required. Minimum age is generally 25 with a credit card. A 4x4 is worth having for the Mountain Pine Ridge and the Hummingbird side roads, which are unpaved and wash out in the wet season. Note that taking a rental across into Guatemala or Mexico usually needs written permission and extra insurance. Official visitor information is published by the Belize Tourism Board at travelbelize.org.