Best places to visit in Belize – a 10 day Belize itinerary

Last Updated on February 15, 2024

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Belize is a small country tucked between Mexico and Guatemala, that quickly became one of my favorites. For a small country, it offers a lot of variety. From jungles, Mayan Ruins, world class snorkeling to white sand beaches: Belize has it all. Since the country is not too big and distances relatively short, you can easily experience it all during one trip. With this 10 day itinerary, I’ll show you the best places to visit in Belize, so you can see all the different sides of this beautiful Central American country.

You could easily spend 2 weeks exploring the country, but even with 10 days in Belize, you’ll be able to see the best of it. This 10 day Belize itinerary covers the jungle in San Ignacio, small island life in Caye Caulker and beaches in Placencia.

Best places to visit in Belize in 10 days

San Ignacio

We started our Belize trip with exploring the western part of the country and headed straight from the airport to San Ignacio. It’s a small town, located in Cayo District, approximately 2 hours away from Belize City. For those who love adventure, San Ignacio is one of the best places to visit in Belize.

There are plenty of fun things to do in this part of the country and San Ignacio is the perfect base for outdoor adventure. Mayan Ruins, caves and the surrounding jungle are all within a short drive away. Macal River runs right through town, which gives plenty of opportunities for water activities as well. Here are some of the best things to do in San Ignacio, Belize.

Explore Xunantunich Mayan Ruins

Even though Mexico gets the most attention when it comes to Mayan ruins, Belize is also home to several ancient sites. Altun Ha, Caracol, Cahal Pech, Lamanai and Xunantunich are just some of the ones you can explore in Belize.

When you are in San Ignacio, there are two Mayan ruins you can visit. Cahal Pech, a smaller site located right in town and Xunantunich, a bigger one, about a 30 minute drive away in a small village San Jose Succotz. We chose to visit Xunantunich, as it’s the more impressive one and the second biggest in Belize.

Getting to Xunantunich Ruins is an adventure in itself. Once you arrive in the San Jose Succotz village, you need to cross the Mopan river on a hand operated ferry. The one minute ride is free and it’s the only way to reach the ruins. Vehicles go on the ferry as well, so if you get there by a rental car or a taxi, you’ll drive your car onto the ferry. Once across, it’s a short drive to the ruins entrance.

Xunantunich ruins are pretty big, with 6 plazas and over 30 structures, with the most impressive being El Castillo. At 130 feet, El Castillo is the second tallest pyramid in Belize. It’s also one of the Mayan structures you can still climb, which is pretty rare these days. Many of the Mayan Ruins in the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico, like Chichen Itza, Uxmal or Coba, no longer allow it, so this is a treat.

The views from the top of El Castillo are amazing, and on a clear day, you can see as far as Guatemala.

Xunantunich Ruins are located about a 30 minute drive from San Ignacio, in a small town San Jose Succotz, very close to the border with Guatemala. You can get there by taxi, a local bus ( look for one heading to Benque Viejo ) or with an organized tour. This particular Xunantunich group tour gives you an option of combining visit to the ruins with another activity like horseback riding, cave or river tubing.

OPEN: daily 8 am – 5 pm / COST: 10 BZD ( $5 )

Visit Green Iguana Conservation Project

Short walk up the hill from town center is San Ignacio Resort Hotel. On its grounds you will find the Green Iguana Conservation Project, a place dedicated to not only conserving the endangered green iguanas, but also educating the public about their importance in the ecosystem.

Green Iguana Conservation Project is open to visitors and offers daily tours between 8 am – 4 pm ( tours run on the hour every hour ). During the one hour tour, you will learn about the iguanas and get a chance to interact with them. You can feed and even hold them. Something you will not be able to, nor you should do with iguanas in the wild. The ones on the premises of the Conservation Project are surprisingly social, because they are used to human contact. 

OPEN: 8 am – 4 pm daily/ the tour leaves every hour on the hour

COST: $11.25

Go kayaking and tubing down Macal River

Macal River runs right through San Ignacio, which is the perfect opportunity for kayaking and tubing. Since our hotel Table Rock Jungle Lodge was located right on the river and had tubes and kayaks available, we took advantage of both. You can always rent one in town. Just head to San Ignacio and look for a guy Tony right across the bridge. He has several canoes he rents for cheap. For a more adventurous activity, there are also guided tubing excursions.

If you happen to be in San Ignacio in March, you can witness the longest canoe race in Central America. La Ruta Maya River Challenge starts in San Ignacio every year in March and it’s a huge event. 170 miles over 4 days, with 100 teams of participants from all over the world. 

ATM cave

There are quite a few adventurous activities you can do in Belize, but nothing comes close to visiting Actun Tunichil Muknal. The ATM cave, as it’s commonly referred to, was Mayans’ sacred site, where they would perform human sacrifices. The evidence is still there in form of crystallized skeletons and skulls, and you get to see it up close.

ATM cave is located in the Tapir Mountain Nature Reserve, about one hour away from San Ignacio. The only way to visit the cave is with a tour guide, and tours are limited to 8 visitors at a time. There are a few tour operators in town offering this excursion, and the cost is similar, usually around $100 per person. It’s definitely one of the pricier activities in Belize, but definitely worth it. You can book your Actun Tunichil Muknal (ATM) Cave Full-Day Tour here.

NOTE: Cameras are NOT allowed in the cave. That wasn’t always the case, but after one careless visitor dropped his camera on the skeleton and damaged it, you are no longer allowed to carry anything inside (including a Go Pro )

Visit Tikal in Guatemala

One of the top Mayan ruins in the area is Tikal in Guatemala. Being in San Ignacio, you are just a short drive from the border and a couple hours away from the actual site. This makes visiting Tikal as a day trip really easy and it’s no surprise, it’s one of the most popular things to do in San Ignacio. Even though you could try to visit independently, I think that the best way to get to Tikal is with an organized tour. This way you don’t need to worry about the logistics, as everything is taken care of, including transportation, border crossing, fees and lunch. You can book your San Ignacio to Tikal day trip here.

PRO TIP: You’ll be crossing the border, so don’t forget your passport!

Caye Caulker

This small island, just a 30 minutes ferry ride from Belize City, is one of the best places to visit in Belize. With its leading message “Go Slow”, it’s the perfect place to unwind. Just a couple of roads, lack of cars, dogs sleeping in the sun: it all sets a very relaxing mood. 

There’s no big resorts or luxurious hotels on the island. It’s mostly budget accommodations and colorful, boutique hotels. This makes Caye Caulker a popular destination among backpackers. 

It’s important to mention, that as amazing as Caye Caulker is, it’s not a beach destination. If you’re imagining the classic Caribbean island with white sand, you won’t find it, so it’s important to come with the right expectations. What you will find, is some of the best snorkeling and diving in the world, which sure compensates for the lack of beaches.

Going slow in Caye Caulker, Belize

Hang out at The Split

No trip to Caye Caulker is complete without spending some time at the Split, the most popular hang out spot on the island. The Split is a result of Hurricane Hattie that hit Caye Caulker in 1961 and split it in half. As the island has no real beaches, this place is frequented by people who want swim and hang out in the sun with a couple of cold beers. Many people arrive on boats to grab a couple of drinks at the very popular bar The Lazy Lizard.

Some try to swim across the channel to the less developed part of the island. Don’t attempt that, unless you’re a strong swimmer. The current is very strong and you need to watch out for boats coming and going. 

Rent a bike 

Great way to see the entire island ( the whole 4 miles of it ) is to rent a bike. There is no shortage of bike rentals on the main street, and it costs $7-8 per day.

Go Snorkeling

Belize has the 2nd largest barrier reef in the world, right after Australia, which makes it one of the top snorkeling and scuba diving destinations in the world. The marine life is truly incredible and no Belize itinerary is complete without exploring some of it. One of the best spots to snorkel in Belize is Hol Chan Marine Park, which is located near Caye Caulker, making it a great and easy excursion from the island. One of the highlights of the Park is Shark Ray Alley, which got its name from the abundance of nurse sharks.

No matter how long you’re staying in Caye Caulker, booking a snorkeling trip is a must. If there’s one excursion you’re going to take during your Belize trip, this all day snorkeling tour should be it. It hits all the top spots, all 7 of them, where you’re going to see turtles, manatees, nurse sharks, abundance of fish, as well as explore shipwrecks. Don’t forget to bring your GoPro to capture all of it!

Book your Caye Caulker: 7-Stop Snorkeling in the Belize Barrier Reef trip here.

Visit the Caye Caulker Animal Shelter

For a fun way to spend some time on the island, stop by the Caye Caulker Animal Shelter. You can’t miss it, as it’s right on the main street. Run by one man only, the place is small and simple.Even though the dogs are well taken care of, they can always use some love and company. I promise it will make you feel good.

Placencia

Located on the southern tip of the 16 mile long Peninsula, Placencia was once a sleepy fishing village. Today, it’s a popular, yet still laid back beach destination in Belize.

Enjoy the beach

Belize is not really known for their beaches, at least not what you’d expect from a country with 300 miles of coastline. A lot of it is rocky or lined with mangroves. If a wide, sandy beach is what you are looking for, you will find it in the Placencia Peninsula.

Rent a kayak / SUP

The warm and often calm waters in Placencia are perfect for kayaking and especially paddle boarding. Our hotel, Caribbean Beach Cabanas, had both for their guests’ use, but if you are staying elsewhere, they are easily available for rent. Kayak Belize is one of the places that offers daily rentals of sea kayaks for $35 and paddle boards for $15.

The Sidewalk

No visit to Placencia is complete without taking a stroll on the Sidewalk, which is the main street in the Village. This pedestrian only street is allegedly the narrowest one in the world, which earned it a spot in the Guinness World Records. It starts at the Planencia Municipal Pier and goes all the way north. Along the way, there are many restaurants, cafes, gift and craft shops. Tipsy Tuna restaurant was one of our favorites.

Where to stay in Belize

Where to stay in San Ignacio

• Table Rock Jungle Lodge – if you are looking to stay in the jungle, without giving up comfort, this eco friendly lodge is one of the best places to stay not only in San Ignacio, but in all of Belize. It’s located right on Macal River, a short drive away from the town center, making it a great base to explore the town while enjoying the true jungle experience. It makes for a great base to explore the area and take the excursions, but if you choose not to leave, it has everything you can possibly need. A beautiful infinity pool, Macal River in the “backyard”, a bar, restaurant and one of my favorites, a farm with donkeys. You can read more about my stay at Table Rock Jungle Lodge here.

• San Ignacio Resort Hotel – if you prefer to stay closer to town, San Ignacio Resort Hotel is a great choice. Several bars and restaurants are just a short walk away, so is Cahal Pech Maya site. San Ignacio Hotel is also where Green Iguana Conservation Project is located.

Where to stay in Caye Caulker

• Yumas House – one of the continuously top rated budget places on the island, located just a short walk from the water taxi.

• Colinda Cabanas – often voted as one of the best places to stay in Caye Caulker, Colinda Cabanas is located on the south end of the island. There are 14 beach front cabanas to choose from and they come with the complimentary use of kayaks and bikes.

• Seaside Cabanas – one of the nicest places in Caye Caulker, in the prime location, just steps away from the water taxi. Seaside Cabanas is a beachfront property and four of the cabanas come with a private roof top deck and a hot tub. These book up fast, so don’t wait too long.

Where to stay in Placencia

• Caribbean Beach Cabanas -this amazing, adults only property sits right on the beach and is just a short walk away from Placencia Village, where you will find many bars and restaurants. You can choose from several Villas, all beautifully decorated in the bohemian style. Each Villa comes with either a kitchenette or a full kitchen. Besides being a gorgeous property in the prime location, Caribbean Beach Cabanas also offers many amenities. From any water toy imaginable ( kayaks, paddleboards, floats), pool, bikes, games to a local cell phone for your stay and complimentary pick up/drop off at Placencia Airport.

How to get around Belize

Getting around Belize by Air

Tropic Air and Maya Island Air are 2 airlines connecting various parts of Belize. Since the country is not big, these are usually very short flights. They are especially great if you are short on time and need to cover some distance ( i.e. Placencia to Belize City ). Since the price of the flight is comparable with the cost of private transfer, flying makes perfect sense.

Getting around Belize by ferry

If one of your Belize stops is Caye Caulker or Ambergis Caye, the best and cheapest way to get there is by ferry. You can choose from two ferry services. Ocean Ferry Belize runs between Belize City and Caye Caulker/San Pedro 6 times daily. Belize Water Taxi also runs to both from Belize City. In addition, every other day there’s a morning ferry service from either Caye Caulker or San Pedro to Chetumal in Mexico.

Getting around Belize by private transfer

The most comfortable way of getting around Belize is without a doubt by private shuttle. However, it’s not the cheapest, especially if you need to cover a rather long distance. We used it once at the start of our trip, from Belize Airport to San Ignacio. The driver waited at the airport for us, and we broke up the 2 hour drive to San Ignacio by stopping for lunch at a local place midway. You can book transfer here.

Getting around Belize by bus

If you are traveling on a budget, the cheapest way to get around Belize is by bus. It’s also the least comfortable, as the buses are usually crowded, hot and have many stops, which means, your trip might take a long time. However, if you don’t mind it, it is a great local experience and a kind of adventure.

Things to know before visiting Belize

• English is the official language in Belize.
• the currency used is Belizean Dollar. The exchange rate is $1 = 2 BD and it’s a fixed rate, so it never changes.
• Taxis in Belize are expensive. A combination of high gas prices and lots of unpaved roads, that are tough on cars, is the main reason the transportation cost is high.

READ MORE:

• Going slow in Caye Caulker, Belize
• Island hopping in Belize with Raggamuffin Tours
• Staying at Table Rock Jungle Lodge in Belize

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