Belize Vacation Packages Guide

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Belize is small but it is an incredibly diverse travel destination. And whether you travel alone, in a small group, with family, or just a partner, knowing where to go, what to do, and for how long, is key to having a great time in Belize. In other words, choosing the right Belize vacation package can make or break your Belize trip.

Typically, I recommend traveling for a minimum of one week and visiting at least two locations in Belize. The locations that you visit should also depend a lot on the type of experiences that you want to have!

To help guide you, below I’ve included details of the top vacation packages in Belize. This includes information on beach vacations, jungle & beach vacation combos, family vacations, romantic honeymoons, and birding tours & trips. 

Types of Belize Vacation Packages

Beach Vacations
Jungle and Beach Adventure
Family Vacations
Romantic Getaways
Birding Trips

1. Beach Vacations

Belize beach vacation package at Glovers Reef

Beach vacations are the most popular choice for travelers interested in vacation packages to Belize. Typically this travel package entails spending 5 to 7 days at an island or coastal town in Belize where travelers can explore attractions, get to know locals, and enjoy tons of water sport activities. 

Vacation Details

In Ambergris Caye or Caye Caulker, fun day activities include snorkeling at the Hol Chan Marine Reserve, diving the Blue Hole or seeing it from above via the Blue Hole Fly-over tour, kayaking, fishing, sunset sailing, and a day trip to Maya ruins such as Lamanai or Altun Ha. During the late afternoons and nights, people typically unwind at the hotel restaurant and bar or visit any of the many restaurants and beach bars or nightclubs

In coastal locations such as Hopkins or Placencia, fun day activities include visiting nearby cayes for snorkeling and maybe a lunch BBQ on the beach, getting up close to the Garifuna culture of Belize, diving the southern barrier reef, and even potentially swimming with Whale Sharks! Night activities also include hanging out at the hotel restaurant and bar or visiting nearby cool night hotspots. 

Another option is staying at one of the many off-the-beaten-path cayes that dot Belize’s coast. This is perfect for anyone that enjoys having unique vacations. For example, two years ago I met a couple from Canada that rented a two-person kayak and traveled alone from caye to caye in southern Belize. If a self-guided kayak tour isn’t for you, consider a guided kayaking trip that takes you to Tobacco Caye, Southwater Caye and Billy Hawk Caye.

Location Guides

Belize beach vacation packages are typically booked through a hotel at the beach destination of your choice or by contacting a travel advisor.


2. Jungle & Beach Adventure

Hiking the Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary and Jaguar Preserve

The second-most popular Belize vacation package is the jungle and beach adventure combo package. Adventure vacations are popular because they typically encourage individuals to get out of their comfort zone by engaging in thrilling physical, natural or cultural activities. I actually believe this is the best way to get a true taste of Belize since every corner of Belize is different culturally and the attractions vary from location to location

Vacation Details

A beach vacation has all the cool things mentioned above, and by also visiting mainland Belize, you can also enjoy tons of jungle activities. For example, a trip that is best done from the Cayo District in western Belize is visiting the Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve, a pine forest filled with running rivers, waterfalls, caves, Maya ruins, and exotic wildlife. From Cayo, you can also easily visit some of the most popular Maya temples and caves in Belize. Xunantunich Maya temple and the ATM Cave are must dos, and for a unique experience, go cave-tubing! 

Another unique experience that can only be done by staying in mainland Belize is the living Maya experience, where Kekchí Maya families in Southern Belize open their homes as a cultural experience to visitors. Visitors that stay in places such as Hopkins, Placencia, Dangriga or Punta Gorda can easily book this tour. Southern Belize also has many other cool things to do, such as hiking the Cockscomb Jaguar Preserve, rappelling down waterfalls at the Mayflower Bocawina National Park, and exploring Belize’s southern barrier reef.

Location Guides

Belize jungle and beach combo trips are typically booked through hotels at the destinations of choice or by contacting a travel advisor.


3. Family Vacations

Family vacation package at Jungle resort in belize

Families love vacationing in Belize because it’s a destination filled with fun things to do for kids of all ages. Typically, families visit popular islands such as Ambergris Caye or Caye Caulker where they spend most of their time relaxing on the beach and snorkeling the Belize barrier reef

Vacation Details

To truly have a unique family vacation in Belize, consider exploring less-visited places in Belize. For example, in my experience, kids love hiking Maya temples, which is a good way to make them learn about the Ancient Maya. If this interests you, check out popular Maya temples such as Xunantunich, Cahal Pech or Caracol in the Cayo District, in Orange Walk, visit Lamanai, and if you’re near Belize City, take a quick trip to Altun Ha.

And if your kids like being introduced to new cultures, visit Hopkins to learn about the Garifuna culture of Belize. For a fun day, adults can take a cooking class where they learn to make Hudut, while the children take drumming and dance lessons. 

Another fun thing to do is spending a week on a secluded island. Island Expeditions offers small group trips to Tobacco Caye or Glovers Reef, where you can enjoy bonding over water sports such as fishing, snorkeling, kayaking and SUP paddleboarding. And for families that want to just relax, enjoy the option of just hanging out on beach hammocks all day and during the night, stare at unbelievably beautiful starry night skies.

Location Guides

Family Belize vacation packages are typically booked through a hotel at the destination of your choice or by contacting a travel advisor.


4. Honeymoons and Romantic Getaways

Sunset Sailing activity during Belize Wedding package

Honeymoons and romantic getaways are popular in Belize since they offer the perfect blend of relaxation and soft and hard adventures that add just the right amount of excitement to couples vacations. Typically, most people choose to stay at all-inclusive beach resorts in places such as Ambergris Caye, Hopkins or Placencia. But don’t be afraid to mix it up and spend some time in mainland Belize! A rising trend is choosing to stay at jungle resorts in Cayo and Toledo.

Vacation Details

At the beach destinations, couples go on snorkeling, diving, fishing or kayaking trips during the day and in the late afternoon they go for a sunset cruise or walk on the beach. On very active days, relaxing at the resort spa is a no-brainer, nothing beats a couple’s massage under palmed-thatched cabanas. 

Couples that stay in Hopkins, Placencia, or San Ignacio have the added bonus of also being able to easily go on mainland jungle adventures, which ends up making the vacation experience more exciting. Something worth mentioning is that I rarely find that couples prefer to stay at adult’s only resorts during their honeymoons – I’m not sure if this is just a Belize thing. 

Location Guides

Belize romantic vacation packages are typically booked through a hotel at your destination of choice or through a travel advisor. 


5. Birding Trips & Tours

Belize bird watching group tour

Similar to Costa Rica, Belize is a top bird-watching destination in Central America. Nature and bird lovers visit from all over the world, typically booking guided birding trips to witness the plethora of native and migratory birds that are in Belize. Birding packages typically include specialized tour guides with private or semi-private transportation to top birdwatching hotspots across the country and lodging at some of the top eco-resorts in Belize.

Vacation Details

Perhaps the most unique place for birding in Belize is the Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary, which is located in Crooked Tree Village. In 1998, the sanctuary was declared Belize’s first Ramsar site due to its international significance for many migratory and non-migratory wetland bird species. Large numbers of wading birds flock into the lagoons during Belize’s dry season (February through May) when food is hard to find in other places.

In Cayo, birders can spot birds almost everywhere, from rivers to lagoons to nature reserves, western Belize is a paradise for birds. A top birding site is Mountain Pine Ridge, where birders can indulge in birdwatching while also taking in the landscape of rolling pine forests spread over smooth granite hillsides. This trip is not complete without also visiting Caracol, one of Belize’s top Maya sites.

Southern Belize, with its lush forests is ideal for nature and wildlife lovers. Birding hotspots include the Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary and Mayflower Bocawina National Park. Along with having pristine lowland and highland rainforests that provide tons of birdwatching opportunities, these sites are great for exploring mountains, waterfalls, and hiking trails. 

Cayes such as Ambergris Caye and Caye Caulker are less known for birding but draw birders since the cayes are having less and less littoral forests which attract near-threatened birds such as the Black Catbird and White-crowned Pigeon. Cayes also have mangroves and sea grape trees that attract many birds unique to those habitats.

Location Guides

Belize birding vacation packages are typically booked as part of hotel packages or through a travel advisor.

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