27 Epic Things to Do in Belize: The Ultimate Belize Bucket List

Considering a tropical vacation to Belize? Whether you want to scuba dive, hike to waterfalls, explore ancient Maya ruins, helicopter over the Blue Hole, or lounge on the beach and sip cocktails, there are endless amazing things to do in Belize!

As one of the most underrated, naturally beautiful countries in the world, Belize has no shortage of dense jungles, sandy beaches, crystal-clear waters, lively coral reefs, and exotic wildlife.

Ready for the ultimate tropical adventure? Here’s your Belize travel bucket list, complete with 27 epic things to do in Belize! Add each one to your Belize itinerary and you won’t regret it.

Best Cultural Activities in Belize

1. Explore Ancient Mayan Ruins

You can’t travel to Belize without visiting at least a few ancient Mayan ruins! There are dozens of ruins scattered throughout Belize – each one more fascinating than the last.

Compared to nearby Mexico and Guatemala, Belize receives so few tourists every year, that you’ll often have these amazing archaeological sites all to yourself… If you don’t count the howler monkeys, toucans, and jaguars hanging out in the surrounding jungles.

best Ancient ruins in Belize:

• Xunantunich (One of the most impressive archaeological sites in Belize, Xunantunich is located in Western Belize near the border with Guatemala. Far away from everything, but worth the trek.)
• Cahal Pech (Ruins dating back to 1200 BCE. Easy to access, Cahal Pech is located in the town of San Ignacio Town.)
• Lamanai (Features the impressive Mask Temple, Lamanai is a former Mayan city, located in Northern Belize, in the Orange Walk District)
• Caracol (One of the largest archaeological sites in Central America, Caracol was once one of the most powerful Maya cities, until it was abandoned in 900 CE. Located in the Cayo District, about 50 miles south of San Ignacio.)
• Altun Ha (Close to the coast, Altun Ha is an easy day trip from Ambergris Caye or Caye Caulker, as well as Belize City. There, you’ll find the Green Tomb.)

If you can, I recommend renting a car during your time on mainland Belize, so you can easily explore the archeological sites, jungles, and nature reserves in your own time!

Click here to book your Belize rental car.

2. Eat Traditional Belizean Food

Just like its population, Belizean cuisine is a melting pot of different cultures and traditions. With Maya, Mestizo, Afro-Caribbean, East Indian, and British influences, there’s a lot to discover… And it’s all delicious.

If you’re familiar with Mexican cuisine, you’ll recognize some of the Maya- and Mestizo-influenced dishes like tamales, cochinita pibil, and salbutes (which are like tostadas).

But there’s so much more to explore! Other popular dishes include rice and beans, stewed chicken, plantains, and lots of seafood. (Hello, juicy, gigantic lobsters. I love you.)

If you’re staying in Ambergris Caye, consider this Premium Private Fishing, Snorkeling and Beach Cookout Tour so you can experience a sea-to-table Belizean meal!

3. Feast at the Lobster Festival in Placencia Village

The Placencia Lobsterfest is a must-attend event for any lobster lover. It all started in 1998 when locals set up a single table, hoping to draw visitors and improve the local economy.

Today, it’s one of Belize’s biggest festivals! Go, and you’ll find an unbelievable variety of lobster dishes: from traditional lobster pies and grilled lobster tails to fusion dishes like lobster fajitas and lobster pizza.

There’s also live music, a fully stocked bar, and dozens of other food vendors serving up mouthwatering Belizean specialties – including lionfish.

4. Celebrate Garifuna Settlement Day

Celebrated every year on November 19th, Garifuna Settlement Day is a party you won’t want to miss!

Think: Rhythmic drumming, singing, and traditional dancing. Locals donning colorful outfits. Street parties, boat parades. And plenty of traditional food. The excited energy is infectious. If you’re lucky enough to be in Belize during Garifuna Day, you’ll be in for an amazing cultural experience you won’t soon forget.

The best places to be for this cultural celebration are either Hopkins Village or Dangriga – with Placencia Village there as a good third option!

Best Water Activities in Belize

5. Experience Belize’s Barrier Reef Reserve System

The Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the top reasons to visit Belize.

Belize is home to the world’s second-largest barrier reef (after Australia’s Great Barrier Reef), though, in my opinion, it’s far more lively, colorful, and impressive, making it a true underwater paradise for snorkelers and scuba divers alike.

Whether you want to explore a shipwreck or swim with stingrays or turtles, get ready to dive into an underwater adventure you’ll never forget!

Best Great Barrier Reef Tours:

• From Caye Caulker: Hol Chan Full-Day Bucket List Snorkeling and Marine Life Tour
• From Ambergris Caye: Hol Chan Marine Reserve & Shark Ray Alley Snorkel Tour
• From Hopkins: Barrier Reef Snorkel: Half Day

6. Get Scuba Certified

Since Belize features some of the most incredible coral reefs on the planet, I can’t think of a better place to get scuba certified!

Dedicate 3-5 days of your vacation in Belize to getting certified and you’ll reap the benefits for the rest of your time in Belize – and your life! Just imagine all of the underwater experiences you’ll unlock.

7. Scuba Dive in the Great Blue Hole

The Great Blue Hole is an underwater sinkhole that’s over 300 meters wide and 124 meters deep. It’s a little eerie, considering how dark it gets as you descend… and the strange deep-water creatures you’ll encounter. You’ll meet more than just reef sharks and turtles down there, that’s for sure.

If you’re an experienced diver, the Great Blue Hole should be #1 on your Belize bucket list. It’s one of the best things to do in Belize – if not the best!

8. Snorkel in the Hol Chan Marine Reserve

Just off the coast of Ambergris Caye and Caye Caulker, you’ll find magnificent coral reefs and marine life at Hol Chan Marine Reserve.

This natural wonder boasts crystal-clear waters and an incredible variety of underwater plant and animal life and is the perfect place for a snorkeling tour. The reserve is also an important nesting ground for several endangered species of sea turtles and an awesome place to swim with these majestic creatures up close.

9. Swim with Sharks in Shark Ray Alley

As its name suggests, plenty of sharks and small stingrays patrol Shark Ray Alley (which is located one mile south of the Hol Chan cut).

If you want to get up close and personal with these beautiful animals, here’s your chance. (And don’t worry, they’re only harmless nurse sharks! So you’ll most likely live to tell the tale.)

But that’s not all. In Shark Ray Alley, you’ll also see majestic sea turtles, ferocious barracuda, and a variety of other colorful fish.

10. Take Flight over the Belize Barrier Reef

The ultimate Belize bucket list item (in my eyes, anyway!) is taking flight over the reef and the Great Blue Hole. The views from the helicopter of turquoise waters, coral reefs, white-sand beaches, and lush rainforests below will steal your breath away.

This Great Blue Hole & Barrier Reef Helicopter Tour is pricy, but there aren’t any adequate words for how special this experience is!

Best Nature Activities in Belize

17. Actun Tunichil Muknal – ATM Cave

If you’re looking for adventure, spelunking in the underworld – AKA the Actun Tunichil Muknal Cave (ATM Cave) – in Belize is for you. This cave is a living museum and Maya archaeological site, guarding many ancient artifacts (and even skeletons!) that have been calcified into the earth.

On this guided ATM Cave tour, you’ll learn about the rituals and ceremonies the ancient Maya performed there, including bloodletting offerings, food offerings, and human sacrifices. Archaeologists have discovered 15 human remains within the cave, five of which are still visible.

The journey to get to the cave is also half the fun! You’ll have to hike, swim, crawl, climb up and over boulders, and really push yourself. Once you reach the cave, you’ll be rewarded with stunning rock formations and a feeling of awe at the history that’s hidden beneath the ground!

No doubt, the ATM Cave is a top Belize attraction and one of the best things you can do during your trip! Click here to book your tour from San Ignacio.

18. Hike in the Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary

Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary is a nature lover’s paradise. Hiking trails through dense jungle give way to waterfalls, swimming holes, and insane views of the Maya Mountains all the way to the Caribbean Sea.

Expect to see colorful birds, playful monkeys, and even the occasional jaguar – if you’re there early in the AM, super quiet, and lucky AF. The sanctuary is also home to ancient Maya ruins.

19. Explore the Mayflower Bocawina National Park

Mayflower Bocawina is my favorite national park in Belize! Located just outside of Hopkins Village, on the eastern edge of the Maya Mountains, this park is easy to get to, but not as busy as some of the other parks and reserves!

An amazing hiking spot, Mayflower Bocawina offers a variety of trails, from mild to kick-your-ass-difficult with steep inclines, so come prepared with a good pair of hiking boots.

Highlights of Mayflower Bocawina are definitely Antelope Falls (SO worth the treacherous climb!), New Waterfall, Maya ruins, ziplining, rappelling down the waterfalls, and the endless nature.

As with every park in Belize, keep your eyes and ears peeled for the sights and sounds of the rainforest as you explore, and you might be lucky enough to spot the elusive jaguar in its natural habitat. Especially if you go at dawn!

If rappelling and ziplining sounds like a good idea, book this tour: Jungle Canopy Zipline & Waterfall Rappelling – Bocawina Falls

20. Go Cave Tubing and Spelunking

If you haven’t been spelunking (cave exploring) before, then you’re in for a treat. Beyond the Actun Tunichil Muknal Cave (ATM Cave), there are so many other really cool caves to discover.

And there are lots of different methods of exploring them as well. On foot is obvious. But cave tubing is also a popular and super fun way to get around these caverns. Kayaking is another.

Anyone who’s been to Belize knows that you can’t skip the ATM Cave (see #17 above). But this Xunantunich and Cave Tubing tour and this Cave Kayaking & Zipline tour are also worth checking out, if you have the time!

21. Green Iguana Conservation Project

Visiting the Green Iguana Conservation Project is one of the best things to do in San Ignacio! Since 1996, the San Ignacio Resort Hotel has been protecting the threatened green iguanas who play a vital role in the ecological balance of Belize’s river habitat.

Go there, and take a closer look at these magnificent creatures. You’ll learn about the project iguana incubation, hatching, rearing, and releasing processes.

The Green Iguana Conservation Project also has an “Adopt an Iguana Program,” which raises money for the organization and provides scholarships to local kiddos.

22. Day Trip to Laughing Bird Caye National Park

Nestled off the coast of Placencia, Laughing Bird Caye National Park is an easy day trip for nature lovers.

Named after a population of laughing gulls that used to breed there, Laughing Bird Caye National Park is the home turf of a thriving population of birds and other wildlife, including parrots, pelicans, herons, and iguanas. The real star of the show, though, is its vibrant coral reef teeming with fish.

Go there, snorkel or dive, or simply relax on the beautiful white sand beaches and soak up the rays. As one of the top attractions in Belize, you can’t miss this!

Click here to book your snorkel and island experience at Laughing Bird Caye National Park.

23. Explore the Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve

Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve, which is located in the cooler highlands of the Cayo District, is one of Belize’s most popular reserves. And for good reason!

The largest and oldest protected forested area in Belize, the reserve offers up some of the most spectacular flora and fauna in the country, including towering pine forests (instead of palm trees!), cascading waterfalls, crystal-clear rivers, Maya temples, natural swimming pools, plenty of nature trails, and exotic birds.

It’s safe to say that visiting the Mountain Pine Ridge is a must-do in Belize!

24. Spelunk in the Rio Frio Cave

If you haven’t had enough cave adventuring yet, then add the Rio Frio Cave to your Belize bucket list.

This massive limestone cave (about 1/4-mile-long!) is one of the many natural wonders found in the Mountain Pine Ridge. The cave was a sacred Maya burial site, and today, it is considered one of the best and most easily accessed cave systems in Belize.

While it’s not for the faint of heart, venture inside and you will be rewarded with stunning stalactites and stalagmites, boulders for climbing, epic photo ops, and cool respite from the heat of the Belizean sun.

Be sure to bring a headlamp. And be careful, a river flows through the cave, so the floor can be very slippery in places!

25. Visit the Belize Zoo

More a wildlife sanctuary than anything else, the Belize Zoo was established in 1983 as a last resort to give a home and a life to wild animals that were used to create documentaries about tropical jungles.

The Belize Zoo and Tropical Education Center is now the home of over 200 native animals, representing more than 45 species. These animals were all either orphaned, rescued, born at the zoo, or are being rehabilitated.

If you weren’t lucky enough to see them in the wild, you’ll have the opportunity to encounter animals like coatimundis, tapirs, ocelots, boa constrictors, howler monkeys, tree frogs, and pumas.

You’ll love the experience… while supporting a good cause!

26. Visit the Blue Hole Cenote

This may be a little confusing, but… There is more than one Blue Hole in Belize! But this time, I’m talking about a fresh-water cenote, in the middle of the jungle!

Within the St. Herman’s Blue Hole National Park, located just off the Hummingbird Highway, near Belmopan, you’ll find the inland Blue Hole. This park stretches over 500 acres and features two cave systems, amazing bird-watching, various hiking trails, and of course, a cool blue jungle swimming pool!

Mexico isn’t the only country with beautiful cenotes! Go for a hike and a swim in the Blue Hole National Park if you’re in the area.

27. Visit the Belize Botanic Gardens

Visiting the 45-acre Belize Botanic Gardens is a beautiful way to spend an afternoon. The gardens protect Belize’s unique biodiversity and offer landscaping and gardening education programs to locals.

Explore the tropical fruit orchard to discover new fruits, wander the Mayan medicine trail, and visit a replica of a traditional Mayan house.

The gardens offer guided tours daily and have plenty of nice picnicking spots.

27 Bucket-List-Worthy Things to Do in Belize

No matter what your interests are, there’s something for you to do in Belize.

From exploring the rainforest and spotting wildlife to swimming in a cenote or diving on a coral reef, there are endless opportunities for adventure in this beautiful country.

So what are you waiting for? Start planning your trip to Belize!

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Looking for more Belize travel inspiration? READ MORE:
10 Reasons Why You Should Travel to Belize ASAP!
Belize Travel Tips: 12 Things to Know Before You Visit Belize
Belize Itinerary (For 1 & 2 Weeks) for Adventure Lovers
15 Totally Awesome Things to Do in Caye Caulker, Belize
Where to Go in Belize: 5 Most Beautiful Belize Destinations

Have you traveled to Belize before? What are your favorite things to do in Belize? If you haven’t, what are you most looking forward to?