4 Compelling Reasons to Visit Belize in February

by Megan Rodden

Belize has become a year-round destination for travelers seeking fun and adventure in the tropics.  Any given month in “The Jewel” is special, with particular festivals and celebrations or intriguing marine and wildlife migrations happening throughout the year.  February is especially popular with tourists escaping the frigid temperatures of Northern regions for the warm beaches of Belize.  Belize’s weather in February is pretty much perfect with temperature averages in the low to mid 80s and no shortage of sunshine. If you needed more justification to plan your next trip, here are four compelling reasons to visit Belize in February.

Placencia Sidewalk Art Festival

Caribbean Culture and Lifestyle: Placencia Sidewalk Art and Music Festival

Placencia Sidewalk – Photo Courtesy: Andrew Usher – Maya Island Air

The quaint and quirky seaside village of Placencia once held the record for the narrowest Main Street which wasn’t a street at all, but a sidewalk along the beach of cement and conch shell construction.  This track served as the primary thoroughfare for village residents and visiting fishermen conveying goods to homes and businesses.  Today, the village has a handful of actual roads, but the sidewalk is still the preferred path from one end of town to the other.  Each February the sidewalk erupts with colorful crafts, amazing artwork, and joyful music for a weekend festival that spans the length of the famous footpath.  Visit Placencia on February 10th and 11th to experience the vibrancy of the Sidewalk Art Festival.

See Scarlet Macaws in the Wild

scarlet macaw trees belize

Photo Courtesy: Roni Martinez

Each year the quiet and unassuming Maya village of Red Bank in the Toledo District receives a flood of flamboyant and noisy visitors of the winged-variety.  Scarlet Macaws, the largest member of the parrot family, invade the fruit-filled forest and banks of the Swasey River to feast and frolic for a few weeks before returning to their nesting grounds deep within the nearly impenetrable Chiquibul Forest Reserve.  From December through March, you can view dozens of the iconic, colorful, long-tailed Scarlet Macaws gathered in the trees around Red Bank.  February is prime birdwatching time with the greatest number of Macaws as well as packs of Green Parrots and the occasional Toucan feeding in the area.

Carnaval in San Pedro

events in ambergris caye

El Gran Carnaval! Photo Courtesy Andrew Usher

Many places around the globe have pre-Lent traditions and celebrations, the most well-known being the incredible Carnivals in Rio de Janeiro and the epic Mardi Gras parades in New Orleans.  San Pedro has a decades-long tradition of Carnival as well, but with its own unique and playful twist. 

Similar: Best Places to Travel in Belize in February

In the week leading up to Ash Wednesday, the excitement grows as kids toss paint, flour, and sometimes eggs at one another in the town’s Central Park.  Residents and visitors alike are swept up in the playful nature and joyful atmosphere of Carnival which culminates on Fat Tuesday with a street parade and party in the middle of town.

Belize in February: Wonderful Weather and Sparkling Seas

Photo Credit: Leonardo Melendez / LMP Studios

February is my favorite time of year for marine tours.  The weather is typically ideal: warm, sunny, and cloudless.  The water temperatures are perfect: averaging around 79F (26C) on the sea’s surface.  Visibility for scuba diving and snorkeling ranges between 80 and 100 feet and the seas are usually calm and conducive to catching Bonefish, Tarpon, and Permit if you’re a fly fisherman.  

While the dreary days of winter rage on in the northern regions of the US and Canada, Belize enjoys beautifully warm weather and fun festivals throughout February.  It might just be the perfect time to plan your visit!

Featured Photo by Leonardo Melendez

Related Articles