Where to Find Belize's Adventurous Side, From Snorkeling to Hiking

I first visited Belize on my honeymoon in 2016. We filled our schedule with all types of activities, from snorkeling with sharks at Hol Chan Marine Reserve and diving in the Blue Hole to climbing ancient Mayan ruins. These are are all essential Belize experiences—but some dozen trips later, I’ve come to learn this Central American country’s greatest hits are a mere fraction of what it has to offer. Even on a first visit, it’s not hard to figure out where to go in Belize to get beyond the basics.

Whether your schedule is weeks-long or you only have a few days on your hands, getting off of Belize’s tourist track is easy and rewarding. And, given the relatively small size of the country, you can cover a lot of ground quickly. Here’s where to go in Belize—and how to scratch beneath the surface.

Ambergris Caye and beyond

Belize is home to over 450 individual islands, known as cayes. Ambergris Caye is the most-visited destination in the country, known for a quintessential Caribbean island vibe, with humming golf carts—the main method of transportation—and great snorkeling and diving.

Ditch the crowds by heading north of San Pedro town, the island's well-touristed hub. Check out above water activities like the nighttime crocodile-watching tour offered by the American Crocodile Education Sanctuary, which takes travelers into the wild mangroves that hold Ambergris Caye together, or take a yoga class in an overwater palapa (open-air hut) at the blissful Ak’Bol Yoga Resort. Rest your head at Matachica Resort for an indulgent, adults-only stay on a true white sand beach (a rare find, since the island has an otherwise rocky shoreline). Further north, on the off-the-grid Cayo Frances, learn to fish from legendary fly fisherwoman Lori-Ann Murphy, and enjoy the placid, shallow waters of the leeward side of the island.

Caye Caulker, just south of Ambergris Caye, is considered a quiet Ambergris alternative or side trip—sign up with Raggamuffin Tours and use it as a jumping off point for visiting the Belize Barrier Reef. For an even more remote experience that avoids going through Ambergris entirely, spend a week at Off The Wall Belize, an eco-resort and dive center on the wildlife-rich Glover’s Atoll. A 15-minute puddle jumper flight from Belize City to the village of Dangriga, plus a two-hour boat ride will get you there.

And if you do find yourself in the heart of San Pedro town, spend some time with Belize Food Tours, who run lunch and dinner tours that hop between locally loved restaurants, or pop down to the welcoming Black and White Garifuna Restaurant, which acts as a cultural center intent on teaching travelers about the indigeneous Garifuna community’s food, music, and dance. Both are great ways to see true Belizean culture in a tourist-dense destination.

Western Belize

The inland jungle region of the Cayo district is a hotspot for outdoorsy travelers, with a sprawling cave network, robust birding culture, and cenotes you can rappel into. Plus, a stay here can easily be combined with a few days on the coast. Local airline Tropic Air is the go-to for hopping around the country, though the region is just two hours by car from Belize City.

In San Ignacio town, fuel up at Pop’s Restaurant, which serves some of the country’s best fry jacks, a local breakfast staple of fried tortilla dough served with sweet or savory sides, and Guava Limb, which mixes great cocktails. Then, get your adventure fix, which is the real reason you're here. Hanna Stables arranges horseback-rides to the impressive Mayan ruins of Xunantunich. And wildlife lovers should check out the Green Iguana Conservation Project, where you can see the species up close and learn about preservation efforts. For cave excursions and tubing in the surrounding area, visit Belizing.com, a new service aggregating tour activities in the country. Ka’ana, a beloved luxury resort and spa just outside of town, is the place to stay.

South of San Ignacio, you'll find the dense Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve, a pine savannah full of swimmable waterfalls like Big Rock Falls and Rio On Pools. Rent a car for the day to explore from San Ignacio, or stay at Hidden Valley Inn, which sits on over 6,000 acres of protected land, and is the only home of the orange-breasted falcon. Staffer Marvin Ramirez, one of Belize’s most highly awarded birding guides, can point them out. (And in case you're worried about running out of things to do, the resort also has 90 miles of hiking trails on property).

Bigger animal sightings can be found north of San Ignacio in the jaguar corridor is the remote Chan Chich Lodge, a resort built amongst unearthed Mayan ruins. Though it’s still very rare, Chan Chich has a great track record for spotting jaguars during their night safaris—and guests are very likely to see crocodiles, rare birds, and other big cats like the puma.

Southern Belize

For travelers who don't feel the need to tick Ambergris Caye and its iconic experiences off their list, Southern Belize offers just as much natural beauty—and much thinner crowds. In the laid-back town of Placencia, water activities are as plentiful here as they are up north, and its location on the mainland is ideal for balancing beach time and inland activities. Spend your days snorkeling at Laughing Bird Caye, where whale sharks are visible from March through May (arrange this with your hotel or through Splash Belize, a dive center in the area). Out of the water, don’t miss the extensive wine list and Belizean comfort food at Rumfish Y Vino. And, if you’re looking for nightlife—hard to find elsewhere in the country—stop by Barefoot Beach Bar, one of several on the boardwalk, which serves as the town's main drag. Chabil Mar is a great stay for travelers who want comfort without being shielded from local Belizean culture.

At the far south of Belize, about a 2.5 hour drive or 15-minute flight from Placencia, is the easily overlooked town of Punta Gorda where rain forest meets beach. Traditional Mayan culture is pervasive here, best experienced through the Maya Village Homestay Network, as is a deep love of fishing (you'll find plenty of fishing charters on offer). Make the Copal Tree Lodge your home base. This luxury resort, which recently opened the Copal Tree Distillery next door (swing by for their Copalli rum tastings), puts guests right in the heart of the rain forest, where the lush greenery is fed by frequent rain showers and the howler monkeys roam freely.