The best time of the year to visit Belize is from December and April when rainfall is low and temperatures are milder. Since it is the dry season, you can expect warm and sunny days with clear blue skies and cooler weather in the evening/night. Belize experiences most visitors during this period.
Related: 10-Step Belize Travel Guide and Top Places to Visit in Belize
However, Belize is a year-round destination. Its tourist low season, which runs from May to November, also draws visitors looking to take advantage of fewer crowds and deep travel discounts. During the off-peak months, many of Belize’s top attractions have almost no visitors and tourism businesses such as hotels and tour operators slash their prices by 30-40%.
On this page |
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1. Weather |
2. Festivals and Events |
3. Tourism Seasons |
4. Conclusion |
Weather in Belize
Belize does not have the four distinct temperate seasons of Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter that can be found in many other places. There is just the “dry season” and the “rainy season”, which is also known as the “wet season”. Belizeans do celebrate summer, which is the period of time when school children are on a 3-month break from classes: June, July and August.
Dry Season
Belize’s dry season runs from December to May. During the months of December, January and February, the temperature drops a bit leading to cool breezy days with lots of sunshine. And in March, April and May, it tends to get hotter with almost no clouds. The good weather during the dry season permits for the easy scheduling of tons of fun outdoor activities such as water sports and jungle adventures.
The dry season is also Belize’s high tourism season, which means that certain attractions, such as Maya sites can be more crowded with tourists than usual. However, keep in mind that Belize is still relatively unknown and doesn’t really attract a lot of tourists in comparison to other countries. For example, Belize only receives about 500,000 overnight visitors each year.
Rainy Season
The rainy season in Belize runs from June to November, however, it’s mostly rainy in the months of September and October. Being in Belize during this time can mean that your sunny day can unexpectedly turn into a rainy day. But the good news is that unless there is a tropical storm, rain showers usually only last one or two hours. Also, keep in mind that the Caribbean hurricane season is during the rainy season so plan accordingly and get travel insurance!
A possible negative for tourism experiences during the wet season is that during tropical storms, certain outdoor tours such as snorkeling and caving adventures at places such as Barton Creek Cave or Actun Tunichil Muknal can get cancelled due to choppy waters and flooding. Although Belize’s rainy season has several issues to consider, many people think it’s a fair trade-off for avoiding crowds and saving money.
Average temperatures in Belize
The temperature in Belize varies during the dry and rainy seasons. Typically, during the dry season, the average temperature can go as low as 68°F (20°C) and reach highs of around 88°F (31°C). And during the rainy season, the average temperature can reach lows of 77°F (25°C) and highs of 90°F (32°C).
Average rainy days and rainfall in Belize
Rain in Belize varies significantly during the dry and rainy seasons. Typically, during the dry season, the average rainy days per month can go from as low as 4 days to a high of 11 days, with the rainfall being as low as 1.5 inches to a high of 5.2 inches. And during the rainy season, the number of rainy days per month can go from a low average of 6 days to a high average of 16 days with the rainfall ranging from a low of 4.4 inches to a high of 11 inches.
Belizean Festivals and Events
Belizeans are lively, energetic people who enjoy any opportunity to have a good time dancing, drinking, and being merry. And with some of the most festive celebrations in Central America and the Caribbean, many travelers make sure that their time in Belize coincides with certain festivals and events.
- Garifuna Settlement Day
- November 19th marks the arrival of the Garifuna people to Belize. This holiday is celebrated across the country but major events occur in Southern Belize.
- Christmas and New Year’s
- December is a very festive time to be in Belize. For the entire month, Belizeans celebrate the holiday season with parades, parties, concerts, shopping sprees, and horse race events.
- Lobster Festivals
- Belize has three lobster fests occurring in Ambergris Caye, Caye Caulker, and Placencia. Each location conducts its festival immediately after the opening of the lobster season (July 1st).
- The International Costa Maya Festival
- The lively town of San Pedro in Ambergris Caye hosts a week of parties and beauty pageants. In fact, the island of Ambergris Caye has the most festivals and events in Belize.
- September Celebrations
- Visiting Belize in September is a great time to witness the national pride of Belizeans as everyone celebrates St. George’s Caye Day, Carnival, and Independence Day.
- A few other interesting festivals in Belize include:
For a list of year-wide festivals and events, see: www.belizeadventure.ca/festivals
Belize’s Tourism High vs Low vs Shoulder Season
Most locals consider that Belize only two seasons for tourism, the peak season and the offseason. But there is also a shoulder season, which is a period of time between the high season and low season.
High Tourism Season
Belize’s high season is from December to April, with most visitors arriving in March, followed by December, January, February, and April. This time period runs simultaneously with the country’s dry season, which is the best time for amazing weather in Belize. Coincidentally, this point in time also matches North America’s harsh winter months, which means that a lot of Americans and Canadians want to escape the cold by traveling to Belize for its nice and warm climate.
Low Tourism Season
Belize’s low season occurs during Belize’s rainy season, which runs from May to November, with July to October being the rainiest months. As mentioned earlier, many travelers strategically visit Belize during this time to take advantage of fewer tourists and lower prices. Most tourism businesses such as hotels and tour operators apply heavy discounts on their rooms and services in order to accommodate the plunge in visitors.
Shoulder Season
In Belize, the shoulder season includes the months of May, June, July, and November. These are transition months between the dry and wet season. During this time, the prices of tours and accommodations are cheaper than high season but not as low as the offseason for tourism. Aside from the travel discounts, if you visit Belize during this time you’ll get to enjoy a variety of delicious summer fruits. You’ll also see other travelers around so if you don’t want to stick out as the only tourist in town.
Most Popular Belize Destinations
San Pedro, Ambergris Caye | Belize’s largest island and most-visited destination. Popular for snorkeling, diving and fishing. San Pedro town is its largest settlement and it’s known for world-class beach resorts, restaurants and nightlife. |
Caye Caulker | Ambergris Caye’s sister island and a popular stop for travelers looking to enjoy a small island with a Caribbean vibe. The island attracts individuals that want a laid-back beach vacation on a budget. |
San Ignacio, Cayo | A small town in Cayo that serves as a hub for eco-adventures in Belize. Its lively downtown is popular with tourists since it has a restaurant and nightlife scene that is not seen elsewhere in western Belize. |
Placencia | Charming seaside village located on an 18-mile peninsula in Southern Belize. With a beautiful coast and some of the best beachfront resorts, the village is one of the most visited hotspots in Belize. |
Hopkins | Small seaside village that is a cultural hotspot for learning about the Garifuna of Belize. Aside from cooking native Garifuna dishes and taking drumming and dance lessons, top activities include snorkeling and diving. |
Conclusion
In the end, I believe that the question of when is the best time to travel to Belize has no fixed answer. The reason is that it’s always a great time to visit Belize, with different time periods and personal preferences offering unique travel advantages.
For example, there isn’t an exact best time to dive in Belize. Although the waters are calmer during the summer months, most scuba divers come to Belize in the high season. And if you want to dive with Whale Sharks, this can only be done from March to June. Therefore, divers visit Belize depending on the experience they want.
More importantly, there are many major factors that contribute to having an enjoyable Belize vacation. Such as fun activities and tours, year-round festivals and events, and either choosing to mingle with the crowds during the high season or taking advantage of off-peak travel discounts during the low season. So come to Belize whenever it best suits you!
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FAQ
Belize’s high season for tourism runs from December to April. This time period runs simultaneously with Belize’s dry season, which is the best time for great weather in Belize.
Belize’s low season for tourism runs from May to November. This time period runs simultaneously with Belize’s wet season, which is a great time to visit Belize for travel discounts on hotels and tours.
The shoulder season in Belize occurs May, June, July and November, which are transition months between the dry and rainy season.
Generally, Belize’s dry season is from December to April. The weather is great during this time with most days being sunny with clear blue skies. The rainy season is from May to November.
Generally, Belize’s rainy season (aka wet season) is from May to November. Many travelers strategically visit Belize during this time to take advantage of discounted prices on room and tours. The dry season is from December to April.
Belize has high rainfall from June to November, with October being the rainiest month. If you book a trip during the rainy season, bring a raincoat because there can be early morning or mid-afternoon showers that last 1-2 hours.