From lush jungles filled with Mayan ruins, to idyllic white sand beaches, Belize has plenty to fill a dream vacation for both adventurers and idlers alike. This Belize itinerary guide spotlights the best places to go and things to do on a 7-day vacation.
Jump to:
- Overview (+ Using this Guide with More or Less than 7 Days)
- Day 1: Travel to the Jungles of Belize’s Cayo District
- Day 2: Explore the Jungle via Hiking, Swimming, Zip-Lining, Biking, and More
- Day 3: Venture to the Ancient Mayan Ruins of Tikal or Caracol
- Day 4: Travel to Ambergris Caye, Belize’s Top Beach Destination
- Day 5: Snorkel or Scuba the Hol Chan Marine Preserve
- Day 6: Choose Your Own Adventure on Ambergris Caye
- Day 7: Travel Home
Overview (+ Using this Guide with More or Less than 7 Days)
On a high level, Belize can be divided into two parts: beaches and jungles. And with the country’s small footprint, it’s easy to experience both in one week.
We’ve laid out the suggested itinerary below with that aim, to give you a comprehensive look at both of these rich, varied ecosystems.
If you have less than 7 days to spend, you can still utilize this guide. We just recommend choosing either the beaches or the jungles. It’s better to experience one part of Belize fully, than trying to force both and coming away feeling like you didn’t see either.
Conversely, if you have more than a week to play, the country’s wealth of natural riches and activities makes it easy to fill your extra days.
For those with the luxury of additional time in Belize, we’ve also included lists of optional excursions in both the jungles and beaches, for you to choose from.
Day 1: Travel to the Jungles of Belize’s Cayo District
Day 1 is a travel day, with your end destination being the lush jungles of western Belize.
We strongly recommend making the Cayo District your home base for this part of your trip. As the center of Belize’s jungle tourism, the region has numerous ecolodges tucked into its richly-forested interior.
These lodges are thoughtfully curated, prioritizing the wellbeing and sustainability of the local ecosystem. It’s a full jungle experience, as you share your surroundings with vibrant tropical birds, playful howler monkeys, and more.Â
A few of the region’s more well-known ecolodges include Black Rock Lodge, Table Rock Jungle Lodge, Blancaneaux Lodge, and Sweet Songs Jungle Lodge. We’ve had a great experience staying at Sweet Songs, and it’s not overly pricey.
Getting to the Cayo District
Once you land at Philip S. W. Goldson International Airport (Belize’s main airport for international arrivals), the most convenient transportation is via hotel shuttle.
It’s approximately a 2-hour drive to the Cayo District, and most hotels offer door-to-door service for a reasonable fee. Simply arrange transportation ahead of time with your hotel, and they’ll greet you when you land.
Alternatively, you can catch a connecting flight from Philip Goldson to Maya Flats Airstrip in San Ignacio. But flights often run an additional $150, and then you still have to reach your hotel once you land.
Meanwhile, more budget-minded travelers (who are willing to take on a little extra hassle for added savings), can catch a bus from Belize City’s main bus terminal, Novelo’s, out to San Ignacio for under $10 USD. You’ll still have to catch a taxi from the airport to the bus terminal, though, and from the end terminal to your hotel.Â
Day 2: Explore the Jungle via Hiking, Zip-Lining, Tubing, and More
This is your day to explore the rich environs surrounding you in the Cayo District, with a host of jungle activities at your fingertips.
You can choose from hiking, swimming, zip-lining, canoeing, horseback riding, mountain biking, and more.
Many of the local ecolodges host guided excursions specifically for their guests. So, be sure to check with your hotel for their unique activity offerings, both on-site and in the surrounding area.
Alternately, you’ll also find plenty of adventures and excursions hosted by local tour operators. Grab some inspiration at the lists below.
For families and those looking for more languid explorations, consider:
- Take a guided day trip to the protected Mountain Pine Forest Reserve, including time to cool off in some of the preserve’s natural swimming holes
- Horseback ride to the Xunantunich Mayan ruins, or catch a sunset horseback ride to the ancient Mayan city of Altun Ha
- Innertube down the Macal River and into one of the region’s many cave networks
- Go birdwatching to spot the diverse feathered species native to the surrounding rainforest
- Venture on a guided jungle night hike to discover a whole new world of nocturnal creatures
- Explore local culture with a visit to a local Mayan village for lunch, as well as a stop at Belize’s one of Mennonite communities (really!)
Meanwhile, more adventurous explorers may prefer to:
- Rappel 300 feet into the Actun Loch Tunich Natural Sink Hole
- ATV over rugged terrain to hidden waterfalls
- Canoe into the interior of Barton Creek Cave
- Zipline through the jungle canopy
- Mountain bike through rugged jungle terrain to the Xunantunich Mayan ruins
Have extra time in Belize? If your itinerary affords you additional days in the jungle beyond this 7-day itinerary, enjoy the luxury of picking multiple activities to fill your time here, for a more well-rounded jungle stay.
Day 3: Venture to the Ancient Mayan Ruins of Tikal or Caracol
We strongly recommend allotting one day to venture out to the area’s numerous Mayan ruins. The region was a population hub for the ancient civilization, with several expansive cities tucked among its verdant jungles.
The two most popular ruins are Caracol and Tikal, both of which are UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Caracol is in the Cayo District, while Tikal is just over the border in Guatemala.
Both Caracol and Tikal are each approximately a 2-hour drive away, and easily become a full day trip. However, you can find numerous local tour operators who offer private tours, along with door-to-door transportation to and from your hotel.
Both sites are sprawling, with towering pyramids and other recreated village structures. It’s a fascinating glimpse into the massive scale and complexity of ancient Mayan cities, and you should allow at least a couple of hours, to sufficiently tour the grounds.
Should I Visit Caracol or Tikal?
Both Caracol and Tikal are impressive examples of Mayan civilization in the first millennium AD, with monumental stone pyramids, artifacts, and more. You can’t go wrong with either site.
When deciding which to visit, it’s best to consider what type of adventure you want. Tikal has some of the most iconic pyramids of the Mayan world, along with smooth, paved access roads – all of which make it much more heavily visited.
Conversely, Caracol is a more adventurous drive over rugged jungle roads. While Caracol was probably an even larger population hub than Tikal (with upwards of 150,000 inhabitants at its peak), it has not been excavated as fully as Tikal, with much to be discovered.
In summary: Tikal provides a more “polished” experience (with a border crossing into Guatemala) while Caracol gives more “Indiana Jones” vibes – which may provide added authenticity for some.
Day 4: Travel to Ambergris Caye, Belize’s Top Beach Destination
Today is a travel day, over to Belize’s sun-soaked Caribbean coastline and its singular most popular destination: Ambergris Caye.
Ambergris Caye is a narrow, 25-mile-long island that sits just off the mainland. It’s accessible either by a quick puddle-jumper flight or via water ferry, both out of Belize City.
It will take you a good half-day to get from the Cayo District to Ambergris Caye. Travel days are never ideal, so we leave the remainder of today unscheduled. Once you arrive, enjoy settling in and enjoying the new surroundings of your island paradise.
Getting to Ambergris Caye
Unfortunately, there are no direct flights from the Cayo District to Ambergris Caye.
You’ll need to first transit to Belize City (a 2-hour drive). Once in Belize City, you can either catch a 15-minute puddle jumper flight at Philip Goldson airport, or a 1-hour ferry from the water taxi terminal (directions here).
It’s easiest to again utilize your hotel shuttle, as you did on day #1, for door-to-door service from the Cayo District.
However, you can also catch a taxi or bus to Belize City, to either the airport and water taxi terminal.
Day 5: Snorkel or Scuba the Hol Chan Marine Preserve
The Belize Barrier Reef sits just a few hundred yards offshore from Ambergris Caye. It is the world’s second-largest reef (after Australia’s Great Barrier), as well as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.Â
If you’re going to do one activity while on Ambergris Caye, it should be diving into this dazzling underwater ecosystem.
One of the best places to experience the reef is the Hol Chan Marine Preserve. This nationally-protected reserve is just a quick 30-minute boat ride from San Pedro, the largest town on Ambergris Caye.
Once you drop into the waters of Hol Chan, you’ll immediately be immersed in a sea of brightly-colored coral, schools of tropical fish, sea turtles, eels, reef sharks, and more.Â
There are plenty of local operators offering 2-3 hour snorkel and scuba excursions out to Hol Chan Preserve. We personally had a great experience with Amigos Del Mar, one of the highest-rated dive boats out of San Pedro.
Day 6: Choose Your Own Adventure on Ambergris Caye
We leave today open, to suit how you prefer to spend your last full day in Belize.
Idlers may want to slow down and soak up the sun, lounging pool or beachside with a tropical drink in hand. Or, more active types might desire one final adventure.
If you’re in need of inspiration, you can check out the list below. (You can also read more in our complete guide of things to do in Ambergris Caye).
- Scuba dive the Great Blue Hole, another UNESCO World Heritage Site that is commonly considered one of the top bucket-list dives in the world
- Rent bikes to explore the length of Ambergris Caye, stopping to eat at one of the many roadside cafes serving up fresh seafood, before cooling off on a stretch of deserted beach all to yourself
- Take a chocolate-making class at Belize Chocolate Company and learn about the history of cacao, indigenous to the region and revered by the ancient Maya
- Visit an iguana sanctuary in San Pedro, where you can feed these languid reptiles in their native habitat
- Swim with the manatees that inhabit the northern side of Ambergris Caye.
- Day trip to Caye Caulker, the neighboring island that has traditionally been the more hip, backpacking sibling to Ambergris’ more polished hotels and resorts
- Join a traditional cooking class or food tour in San Pedro, and learn more about Belizean culture while getting your fill of rice and beans, stewed chicken, fried plantains, crisp fry jacks, and more.
- Venture out on a “catch and cook” fishing excursion. After you hook your fill, you’ll return to land and your guide will cook up your catch for you to enjoy in the Belizean BBQ style, fresh on the beach.
Extra Days in Belize? As with the jungle, if your itinerary affords extra time on Ambergris Caye, you can enjoy picking multiple activities from the list above, to fill your additional days.
Day 7: Travel Home
Day #7 is open, to account for your travel home.
You can either catch the puddle-jumper flight from Ambergris Caye back to Philip Goldson Airport, or take the water taxi to Belize City, and then hail a cab to the airport (about a 30 minute drive from the ferry landing).
We’ve done the water taxi route, and have never had any issues. Just remember to allow plenty of time to reach the airport for your return flight, along with a buffer to get through security.