Belize attractions

A yawning, 65-foot (20-meter) chasm in the heart of Belize’s Mountain Pine Ridge, the Rio Frio Cave welcomes exploration with the largest cave mouth in the country. Light filters in from both ends, illuminating an underground river, limestone formations, and dripping stalactites.

Howler monkeys swing through broadleaf forest in this southern Belize national park, a wildlife sanctuary whose winding trails lead to Maya ruins and lacy waterfalls. Top activities in Mayflower Bocawina National Park include hiking, swimming, ziplining, and waterfall rappelling, with options that range from laid-back to adventurous.

Established as a reserve in 1944, the 100,000-acre Mountain Pine Ridge is easily the most breathtaking scenery in all of the Cayo District, if not Belize. The Chiquibul Road will lead you through pine forests, waterfalls, cascading water pools over granite boulders and the Maya Mountains in the distance—it’s a sight to be seen.

Set amid the pine-covered and boulder-strewn slopes of Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve, this 150-foot (46-meter curtain of roaring white water is one of many picturesque waterfalls that dot this wooded wilderness area. Hidden behind the forest foliage, the falls attract bathers who come to swim in the pool at its base.

Recognized as one of the world’s top diving sites, and part of the Belize Barrier Reef UNESCO World Heritage Site, this stunning, deep blue circular sinkhole is located on the Lighthouse Reef atoll. About 1,000 feet (305 meters) in diameter over 400 feet (122 meters) deep, the Great Blue Hole is a unique geographic phenomenon.

St. John’s Cathedral dates back to the early 1800s and is the oldest Anglican church in Central America. The cathedral, located in Belize City, is known not only as a house of worship, but also as a symbol of Belize’s colonial past. It was built by slaves with bricks brought to the country as ballast in ships from Europe.

Located just a mile (1.6 kilometers) from the town center of San Ignacio, Cahal Pech is a small but significant archaeological reserve that can be visited in a couple of hours. The site, which was settled around 1,000 BC and abandoned in AD 800, includes plazas, ball courts, an altar, and even a royal burial chamber.

Among all the Maya caves in Belize, Barton Creek Cave is unique: a tall river cave that was once used for sacrificial purposes and can be explored only by canoe. The most striking feature is a stalactite so low, you occasionally will have to duck into the canoe to avoid getting struck. But the ride to the end is well worth it.

Crystal Cave, also known as Mountain Cow Cave, is located within the Blue Hole National Park near Belmopan, Belize’s capital city. Sacred Mayan rituals and important ceremonies were once performed here, and visitors today will see remnants such as ceremonial bowls, pots, and even skeletal remains from sacrificial victims. It is also full of natural wonders including rock formations, massive stalagmites, and crystal clusters.

Belize’s largest butterfly garden houses more than 30 native butterfly species, which flit freely about in a 4,000-square-foot (1,220-square-meter) enclosure. Learn about the butterfly life cycle at this nature center that attracts everyone from butterfly novices to researchers. Hummingbirds are also frequent visitors.

Bringing the wildlife of Belize’s jungles and savannas within reach of the country's urban center, the non-profit Belize Zoo is home to more than 175 animals and 45 native species. With exhibits designed to mimic natural environments, the zoo aims to encourage conservation and provide a refuge for rescued animals.

Located on the northernmost tip of Ambergris Caye, Bacalar Chico is said to be one of the most pristine reserves in Belize. In addition to being a protected marine reserve since 1996, the biodiverse park is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, along with the Belize Barrier Reef. It’s an ideal getaway for nature lovers and history enthusiasts alike.

Providing zipline and cave tubing adventure tours for nearly two decades, Caves Branch Outpost connects visitors with Belize’s wild interior landscapes. Visitors can fly across the jungle and float through ancient Mayan caves in the same day, while enjoying creature comforts like a full bar and riverside gazebo meals.

The Belize City Cruise Port connects the country’s Caribbean cayes with the mainland and the city’s urban center. Most visitors don’t linger here, with the majority of cruise ship passengers passing through on their way to inland attractions such as Mayan ruins. Belize City Cruise Port is also the main gateway for ferry traffic to islands like Ambergris Caye.

Established in 1984, Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary is one of the best bird-watching spots in Central America. Built on a network of lagoons, swamps, and estuaries, the sanctuary is home to thousands of native and migratory birds, including the boat-billed heron, black-collared hawk, pygmy kingfisher, and rufous-tailed jacamars.

El Pilar is an ancient Mayan city located at Belize’s border with Guatemala. It’s a Middle Preclassic and Late-Classic Mayan site, which is currently under excavation by the University of California. The site is believed to contain 20 or more plazas and hundreds of other structures spread out over more than 50 acres. Visitors will find several easily navigable trails here.

Named after the laughing gulls that used to breed here, Laughing Bird Caye National Park is now home to abundant animal life thanks to its protected status. Known as a snorkeling and diving paradise where you can explore the Belize Barrier Reef, the national park is a popular day trip destination from Placencia as overnight stays are not allowed.

Rays and nurse sharks greet boats in Caye Caulker Marine Reserve, a natural haven comprising 61 square miles (158 square kilometers) of thriving sea life—including portions of the Belize Barrier Reef. Since the reserve is just off the coast of Caye Caulker island, it’s a budget-friendly alternative to the more distant (and more popular) Hol Chan Marine Reserve.

This low-lying sliver of an island is an uninhabited and unspoiled paradise. The east side is strung with coconut palm-fringed beaches while the west end is covered by ziricote trees that serve as a nesting ground for a colony of rare red-footed boobies. Offshore reefs offer numerous snorkeling and diving opportunities.

Coral Gardens is part of the Caye Caulker Marine Reserve and is packed with unusual and colorful coral formations that can easily be explored thanks to the shallow depths of up to 13 feet (4 meters). Schools of fish such as angel fish, tree worms, and parrotfish can be seen here, adding to the overall beauty and uniqueness of the coral.

Lighthouse Reef is an incredible atoll (a coral island encircling a lagoon) in the Caribbean Sea that was made famous by legendary sea explorer Jacques Cousteau, who rightfully declared it one of the top 10 diving locations in the world. Follow in Cousteau's footsteps by diving into the Great Blue Hole, the underwater sinkhole in the center of the lagoon.

Officially called the Fort George Light, this tapered white and red tower in Belize City is best known as the Baron Bliss Lighthouse, named after British aristocrat Henry Edward Ernest Victor Bliss who is buried at the base of the structure. It serves as an iconic image of Belize and is featured on billboards, promotional items, and even a beer label.

Running through the Chiquibul Rainforest, the Macal River is one of the most diverse ecological areas in Belize. Home to more than a dozen endangered species including the jaguar, tapir, scarlet macaw, and black howler monkey, the Macal River Valley is a must-see for any nature lover. Some sites along the river worth visiting include Cahal Pech, Belize Botanic Gardens, and the Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary.

Garifuna drumming is the backbeat of Belizean life—more than music, it’s a traditional art used for storytelling and celebration. This drum school in Punta Gorda invites visitors for firsthand encounters with that rich culture, which blends African and Indigenous heritage. Founded by a former member of the Belize National Dance Company, the school offers everything from drum-making workshops to lessons in dancing and drumming.

The largest of three atolls in Belize and the Caribbean as a whole, the Turneffe Atoll Marine Reserve is known for offering some of the best diving in the country, thanks to deep walls filled with marine life. It is also believed to be the mythical location of Ponce de Leon’s Fountain of Youth as well as Peter Pan’s fictional island, Neverland.

Located in the Cayo district of Belize, the Belize Botanic Gardens encompass 45 acres (18 hectares of native and exotic plants. Collections at the gardens change by season, but don't miss the Native Orchid House that includes over 100 species of Belizean orchids. The gardens are also a place of study and work on local plant conservation, as well as home to more than 50 varieties of tropical fruits.

Government House, also known as the House of Culture, is one of the most beautiful colonial buildings in Belize City. The stately mansion was built in 1812 to house the colonial government of British Honduras, but it was later turned into a residence for the Governor General. Today, it is a creative community center.

Off the southern coast of Belize, Glover's Reef is a partially submerged atoll (a ring-shaped island encircling a lagoon) that’s part of the Belize Barrier Reef. Travelers explore the rich biodiversity by diving, snorkeling, kayaking, sailing, and stand-up paddle boarding. Situated away from busier diving hubs such as Ambergris Caye, Glover's Reef is the least visited of the atolls, making for ideal diving conditions

Manatees graze turtle-grass beds and mangroves in this marine reserve near Belize City, which was established in 2002 to protect the threatened mammals. While it’s illegal to swim with manatees in Belize, tours of Swallow Caye offer the chance to see the animals in their natural environment. Boat trips to Swallow Caye are strictly regulated to ensure they don’t disturb or hurt the manatees.