Belize
This pocket-sized tropical paradise is a nature lover’s delight with rainforests and idyllic beaches, as well historic Mayan sites.
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This pocket-sized tropical paradise is a nature lover’s delight with rainforests and idyllic beaches, as well historic Mayan sites.
Belize has a number of islands called ‘Cayes’, and Ambergris Caye offers great water activities including snorkelling at the Hol Chan Marine Reserve, as well as some really high quality restaurants. Caye Caulker is ideal for backpackers who will love its relaxed, laidback atmosphere and, if you have a bit more money to spend, head of to the private island of Ray Caye.
Adventure lovers should head inland to San Ignacio, very much a town with a local feel, for cave exploration and treks to spectacular waterfalls. The town is also a great base to visit the Mayan ruins of Xunantunich consisting of a series of six plazas surrounded by 26 temples and palaces, and Cahal Pech, the site of a palatial, hilltop home for an elite Maya family.
Punta Gorda in the south is home to some of the country’s densest jungles and offers an opportunity to appreciate the rich culture of the indigenous Maya people.
For those looking to push the boat out, Placencia has developed from a fishing village into an upmarket destination with high-end hotels, restaurants and beach bars and visitors should not miss out on the opportunity to visit the unforgettable Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary, a jaguar sanctuary and home to a wide variety of plants and animals including margays, deer, ocelots, pumas, howler monkeys, tapirs and about 330 species of native and migratory birds.
Find out more about the other places featured in our Destinations to Watch 2025.