From wooing travel influencers like Passport Heavy to getting international mentions in publications like Conde Nast Traveler, Lonely Planet, and Travel + Leisure, Belize has certainly been living in the spotlight. Sitting just a four-hour flight (or much less) from most parts of North America, the country offers a diverse blend of experiences, and, not to mention, a world of memorable adventures. This small, hidden gem on Central America’s Caribbean coast is no longer mother nature’s best-kept secret, and with plenty of good reason. The country was hailed as one of the World’s Greatest Places by TIME Magazine, after all.
Got your sights set on Belize? You’re not alone, and here’s why:
Travel To Belize With Ease
Getting to Belize is hassle-free, and with a long roster of new non-stop flights set for 2023/2024, that notion will undoubtedly hold true for the foreseeable future. For the first time ever, direct flights from JFK International Airport in New York will be granting those living on the U.S. east coast nonstop service to Belize. Meanwhile, increased flights out of LAX will make going from the West Coast to the Caribbean Coast that much easier.
Be As Social Or As Distant As You Like
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- Enjoy drinks and good company at Blue Bayou, the in-the-water beach bar at Secret Beach, Ambergris Caye. Image via Roeming Belize
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- Photo by Quilz Tamay Photography
From sprawling green vistas to azure waters teeming with life, Belize is impressively diverse, and in more ways than one, too. When it comes to accommodation, travelers have a wide range of options to choose from.
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- Sunset Caribe on Ambergris Caye
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- Photo by @BelizeMyTravels
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- Gaia Riverlodge in the Mountain Pine Ridge
Set your sights on Ambergris Caye for next-level luxury, buzzing nightlife, and beach-loving crowds. Venture north or west – or even to the deep south – for remote paradises tucked away in the jungle. Whether you love backpacking or are looking forward to living in the lap of luxury for a little while, a memorable Caribbean vacation awaits.
Make Cultural Connections
While options for accommodations may seem endless, Belize is even more diverse when it comes to people and culture. Travelers searching for connection and familiarity have found comfort in Afro-Caribbean communities like Hopkins and the villages of the Belize River valley. Meanwhile, everyone from the history buff to the epicurean can leave the country with a new perspective thanks to an array of cooking classes, museums, historical sites, and eco-cultural tours.
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- Photo by Annelise Hagan
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- Creole cooking in Crooked Tree Village. Source: TripAdvisor
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- Corn tortilla making with the women’s coop of San Antonio Village. Image courtesy Belize Tourism Board
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- Photo by the Belize Tourism Board.
Head to the village of San Antonio for Maya cooking lessons and Jippi Jappa basket weaving. Visit Hopkins for Garifuna Drumming. Or, head over to Crooked Tree for a lesson in Creole culture.
Come for the Scenery, Stay for the Food
Discover a world of culinary delights in Belize. Beachfront brunches and lobster crawls await on the island of Ambergris Caye, and on Caye Caulker, there’s nothing like freshly caught and grilled barbecue right on the seafront.
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- Photos courtesy the Belize Tourism Board
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- Photo Credit: Belize Tourism Board
Rich soups and stews, hearty rice dishes, and sumptuous but affordable corn-based delicacies make up Belize’s eclectic menu of cuisines. Influenced by a myriad of cultures that have come to call this hidden gem home, with a colorful food scene like this, there’s no wonder Belize is a trending topic.
Featured Photo by Duarte Dellarole
