When you think of those dreamy Caribbean holiday spots – all warm blue water and platinum blonde beaches – we’d take a punt that Belize doesn’t crop up that much. But it should. This Central American beauty not only has a Caribbean coast to die for, it has all the Mayan mystery and colonial charm of neighbouring Guatemala and Mexico – but with far smaller crowds.
And, in contrast to other Central and South American countries, English is the official language in Belize, so getting around is a breeze. You’re likely to start in Belize City, where timeworn traces of its colonial past – original timber frame houses with their rusty, corrugated iron roofs, St John’s Cathedral, and the Government House – are worthy of a day’s wandering.
But all the while you’ll be eyeing the luminous blue waters of the Caribbean, and we don’t blame you. So make your next stop all about the beach by heading south, to the sandy peninsula of Placencia, where the living is easy. It’s home to the Belize Barrier Reef, a Unesco World Heritage Site, and the ideal spot for first-time snorkelers to get acquainted with their gear – just keep a keen eye out for crocs!
More of a landlubber? Head just inland to Monkey River, which winds through lush jungle on its way to the sea. Here, if you’re lucky, you can spot toucans, tapirs and jaguars – before taking a boat back downstream to the coast. Being Central America’s least densely populated country, Belize has incredible dark night skies, which make those post-dinner beach walks even more magical.
If all this sounds like your idea of heaven, you’ll want to snap up a spot on our Beachy Belize Mini Trip – a five-night Caribbean fling that’ll stay with you long after you’ve returned home.
