5 Ways to Breathe Easy in Belize: Ultimate Relaxation Amid Nature and Adventure
After the uncertainties of 2020, it's time to unwind, reconnect with loved ones, and rediscover your best self in Belize—a haven of natural beauty and adventure. Comparable in size to Massachusetts, this Central American gem borders Mexico, Guatemala, and the Caribbean Sea, featuring a stunning 240-mile coastline. As the region's only English-speaking nation, rooted in British colonial history, Belize celebrated its 40th year of independence in 2021.
Fully open to U.S. travelers, Belize offers straightforward entry requirements and a Safe Corridors program to ensure COVID-19 safety. Direct flights arrive in Belize City from 10 U.S. airports, including Atlanta, Houston, and Miami.
Discover why Belize deserves a spot at the top of your travel list when you're ready to relax.
Exhale…and Embrace the Great Outdoors
Despite its compact size, Belize delivers diverse landscapes. Western jungles give way to the east's Belize Barrier Reef—the Northern Hemisphere's largest and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Spend your morning hiking, ziplining, or rappelling waterfalls in Mayflower Bocawina National Park, then explore Mountain Pine Ridge Reserve to view Thousand Foot Falls, Central America's tallest at 1,600 feet.
For a gentler pace, stroll through butterfly farms like the 100-acre Green Hills Butterfly Ranch, home to over 30 native species, or the vast 100,000-acre Bladen Nature Reserve with its pristine old-growth rainforest.
Exhale…and Watch Birds Soar
Belize hosts around 500 bird species, making it a birdwatcher's paradise. Key hotspots include Cockscomb Basin and Crooked Tree wildlife sanctuaries, with over 360 species recorded in the northern Orange Walk district alone, thanks to its wetlands, jungles, and fields.
Exhale…and Explore Ancient History
Once the core of the ancient Mayan civilization, Belize boasts over 900 Mayan sites. The country's tallest structure is the 141-foot Canna "Sky Palace" pyramid at Caracol, Belize's largest site, built over 1,000 years ago.
Reach Xunantunich (pronounced "shoo-nan-too-nitch") via a hand-cranked ferry—add excitement with a horseback ride to the crossing. Other highlights: Lamanai (occupied from ~1500 BC to 1680 AD), Altun Ha (iconic on Belikin beer labels), and southern Belize's Lubaantun.
Exhale…and Savor Local Flavors
Belize shines with family-run eateries and roadside fruit stands. Staples include rice and beans, stew chicken, tamales, and ceviche. Try salbutes—crispy corn tortillas topped with cabbage, chicken, avocado, and spicy sauce—or Mayan conchita pibil, slow-roasted pork with veggies in soft tortillas.
Deepen your experience with Mayan or Garifuna culinary tours. End with chocolate-making demos; the Maya originated cocoa beverages, dubbing it the "food of the gods."
Exhale…and Drift into Adventure
Belize's extensive cave network makes cave tubing a must. At Nohoch Che’en Caves (Caves Branch) in Cayo District, float on inner tubes through illuminated caverns via headlamps.
Experienced divers can plunge into the Great Blue Hole, the world's largest sinkhole—a UNESCO site 984 feet wide and 410 feet deep, visible from space. Jacques Cousteau ranked it among the planet's top 10 dive spots.
Prefer surface waters? Canoe the Mopan or Macal Rivers, snorkel with stingrays, turtles, and nurse sharks at Shark Ray Alley in the 1,280-acre Hol Chan Marine Reserve, or sea kayak Glover’s Reef atoll to spot diverse marine life.
