Highlights
- Hike the nature trails and explore the river caves of San Ignacio
- Tour Belize's highlight snorkeling spots, like Shark Ray Alley and the Blue Hole
- Relax with your feet in the powdery white sands of Belize's famous cayes (islands)
Brief Itinerary
| Day | Highlights | Overnight |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrive in Belize City, Transfer to San Ignacio, Street Food & Hike | San Ignacio |
| Day 2 | Day Trip to Actun Tunichil Muknal Cave | San Ignacio |
| Day 3 | Hike to the Ancient Maya City of Caracol | San Ignacio |
| Day 4 | Barton Creek Cave, Transfer to Caye Caulker & Snorkeling | Caye Caulker |
| Day 5 | Blue Hole Snorkeling Tour | Caye Caulker |
| Day 6 | Caye Caulker Free Day & Helicopter Tour | Caye Caulker |
| Day 7 | Transfer to Belize City, Depart |
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Belize City, Transfer to San Ignacio, Street Food & Hike
Welcome to Belize! Though a tiny Central American nation, Belize offers everything a traveler could want in a Caribbean holiday. It abounds with coral islands, lush tropical forests, mountains, waterfalls, and the largest barrier reef this side of Australia. Plus, there's great food and music, thanks to the welcoming Garifuna (Afro-Caribbean) residents. And for those worried about a language barrier, don't fret—Belize is an English-speaking country.
On this seven-day itinerary, you'll experience the country's highlights, from the forest to the islands. It begins with your arrival in the nation's largest metropolis, Belize City, where a driver will meet you at the airport for the two-hour ride inland to San Ignacio, located near the border with Guatemala. This town sits on the Macal River and is surrounded by jungle, which allows for some great nature tours and visits to archaeological sites. Once here, you'll check in to your hotel.
Spend the rest of the day getting to know Belize and its people. One of the best ways to do this is through its delicious street food. Meet a local guide for a walk around town, during which you'll sample traditional quick eats, like tamales, fry jacks (donut-like fried bread that can be sweet or savory), conch fritters, and the downright addictive stewed chicken. Later, work off the calories on a quick nature hike in the forest right outside town. You can opt for various trails ranging in difficulty and length, but each puts you up close with the region's exotic flora and fauna, plus some ancient Maya artifacts.
Day 2: Day Trip to Actun Tunichil Muknal Cave
Leave after breakfast on a journey into the Maya underworld at Actun Tunichil Muknal (also called ATM), or the "Cave of the Stone Sepulchre." During this three-hour guided tour, you'll see the cave's crystalline stalactites, stalagmites, and Maya artifacts and learn about the history of the sacred burial place of the "Crystal Maiden" and the remains of 13 other sacrificed men, women, and children.
Upon arrival, you'll hike through jungle and across streams for approximately 45 minutes to reach the cave's entrance. Then, wade through knee-high water as you cross a spring-fed lagoon to an underground maze of tunnels, passageways, and chambers. After the cave tour, hike back to the car for a picnic lunch and return to San Ignacio. You'll have the rest of the day free.
Day 3: Hike to the Ancient Maya City of Caracol
Chat with a local specialist who can help organize your trip.
Day 4: Barton Creek Cave, Transfer to Caye Caulker & Snorkeling
This morning, you'll say goodbye to San Ignacio and western Belize, but not before visiting Barton Creek Cave, the largest river cave in the country. Tour the collection of huge caverns used in Maya times for everything from fertility and agricultural rituals to bloodletting and human sacrifice. After about four hours of exploration, you'll return to your hotel in San Ignacio.
Later, you'll transfer back to Belize City by vehicle and hop in a water taxi for the 45-minute ride north to Caye Caulker. This tiny, car-free coral island (it measures just 5 mi/ 8 km long) draws snorkelers and divers from all over to its unspoiled marine reserve, which is part of the Belize Barrier Reef (the second-largest barrier reef system in the world). Welcome to the islands! Upon arrival, you'll drop your things off at the hotel, then return to the pier, where you'll board a boat that will take you to some of the best reef locales for snorkeling.
The first spot is Hol Chan, Belize's first-ever marine reserve. This UNESCO World Heritage Site protects 7 square miles (18 sq km) of coral reefs and mangrove lagoons, home to a biodiverse marine ecosystem. It's a top site for snorkelers/divers (one of the best in Belize), and you'll spend about 2.5 hours here swimming with schools of exotic fish and marine life like turtles, moray eels, and the gorgeous spotted eagle ray. Next, stop at nearby Shark Ray Alley, a 30-foot (9 m) deep channel where you'll swim with stingrays and harmless nurse sharks. Afterward, return to Caye Caulker.
Day 5: Blue Hole Snorkeling Tour
No tour of Belize is complete without a trip to the country's most iconic dive site. Before the sun rises, you'll board a boat at Caye Caulker and ride 2.5 hours out to the famous Blue Hole, which is part of Lighthouse Reef. This giant marine sinkhole and popular dive spot formed as a limestone cavern during the last ice age and can even be seen from space. It's unique due to its almost perfectly circular shape, which measures 1,043 feet (318 m) across and 407 feet (124 m) deep.
The early start is well worth it, which you'll quickly discover once you plunge into the Blue Hole and swim beneath its shimmering surface. As you break through the thermocline layer into the deeper, motionless waters below, you'll enjoy visibility of up to 200 (60 m) feet. In this environment, you'll see everything from giant underwater stalactites to reef sharks, parrotfish, and turtles cruising past.
Day 6: Caye Caulker Free Day & Helicopter Tour
No cars are allowed on Caye Caulker's sandy streets, so the best way to get around is by golf cart. Pick up your keys in the morning and zip around the island, browsing shops, exploring the coast, feasting on local seafood, and hitting the beach bars. No rigid schedules today—you're free to spend your time however you like.
You will, however, carve out a couple of hours to soar over the Blue Hole on a helicopter tour. You've seen it from under the water, but nothing tops the views of this limestone formation from above. The ride will also take you near shipwrecks and, at times, fly right over the water, where you can see sharks, rays, and manatees beneath the surface. There's no greater photo-op in the country.
Day 7: Transfer to Belize City, Depart
More Great Belize Itineraries
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