With the first official day of spring kicking off on Sunday, March 20, we’ve got a few ideas on how to spend your much-awaited break with enough adventure to last you until summer. From foodie locales to adventure-filled romps under the sun to the most sublime beaches in the South, here are a handful of things to do and try on a spring break vacation in Belize to usurp all others.
Cheer on La Ruta Maya Belize River Challenge rowers
Arguably one of the world’s largest river traditions, the banksides of Belize—from San Ignacio Town to Belize City—buzz with excitement during this competitive, 4-day canoe race. Held annually near the National Heroes and Benefactors Day in March, onlookers can cheer for its entirety: 175 miles. This spring, after a 2-year COVID hiatus, the 25th La Ruta Maya Belize River Challenge returns on March 4th – 7th, 2022 as a can’t-miss thing to do. Stay for the starting action at the only jungle in town: San Ignacio Resort Hotel.
Get a thrill Kitesurfing and Parasailing on the islands
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- Hello, adrenaline! Images by Belize Parasail Plus
Although Easter falls in April this year, Mother Nature knows no difference. March tends to note an uptick in the sea breeze, which makes it perfect to parasail and kitesurf. On the islands of Ambergris Caye and Caye Caulker, you’ll find a handful of watersport outfitters ready to set you a-sail!
Enjoy stillness on Secret Beach
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- Secret Beach is one of the prime spots to catch sunset on Ambergris. Images by Carolee Chanona
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- Cocktails in the water at Secret Beach, Ambergris Caye. Photo by Carolee Chanona
On the islands in Belize, it’s rum and sun for Spring Break: dashing adventure beckons by day and entertainment is irresistible at night. If you’re looking for a little more stillness with a good cocktail in hand this Spring, we say head to Secret Beach. It’s the ideal place to sit submerged in shallow water at a picnic table (Blue Bayou’s is 7-feet tall!) and enjoy a cocktail under a thatched umbrella, play drinking games, or enjoy elevated bar food.
Scoop up a seasonal favorite in the south with Tutti Frutti in Placencia
Tutti Frutti Gelateria in Placencia Village. Image via BTB
Placencia retains all the loveliness of its fishing village undertones: 16 miles of barefoot-perfect beaches, colorful wooden homes on stilts, and found-no-where-else trinkets, like one of the world’s narrowest streets with a conch shell-based foundation. Stop into beachy boutiques with tongue-in-cheek names (like Sunova Beach on the Tipsy Strip) or grab a cone on the cusp of melting, which is the perfect vessel for arguably the best gelato you’ll ever taste. Tutti Frutti owner Tiziana can dish out all the deets of what tropical fruits are in season: mamey sapote, tamarind, mamey apple, craboo, custard apple, sapodilla, and more.
Conquer the Victoria Peak Trail
On the summit of Victoria Peak, the tallest in the Cockscomb Basin range and Belize’s second highest elevation. Photo courtesy Kevin Quischan Photography
During Belize’s dry season, hikers have a unique chance to conquer the 27-kilometer Victoria Peak Trail; add accomplishment and adventure to your Spring with this 3-day expedition in Southern Belize! It’s perfect weather to summit: not too hot during the daylight trek, and not too cold for a restful sleep in your Hennessy Hammock. Plan in advance to hike the 27-kilometer one-way Victoria Peak Trail by contacting its co-manager, the Belize Audubon Society.
Island hop (and snorkel) in the South for breathtaking Belize beaches
Protected as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1996, the Belize Barrier Reef makes up around 33% of the MesoAmerican Reef (the world’s second-largest coral reef system, after Australia’s Great Barrier Reef). And in the South, there’s more than a handful of pristine, white-sand beaches at your disposal to island-hop.
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- A beautiful approach to the Silk Cayes in Southern Belize. Photo by Duarte Dellarole
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- Middle Silk Cayes in Southern Belize.
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- The Silk Cayes in Southern Belize. Photo by Duarte Dellarole
Spring in Belize also means it’s perfect weather for a beach day, whether bouncing between ethereal islets of the southernmost Sapodilla Cayes Marine Reserve (Hunting Caye, Lime Caye, and Ragged Caye—to name a few) or the elongated ridge of the reef (a.k.a. a “faro”) where Laughing Bird Caye sits upon.
Header image via Belize Parasail Plus
