I traveled to Belize with EF Ultimate Break in the summer of 2017. The trip had been booked spontaneously after falling in love with travel during my time in Thailand. Although the country was not what I expected, I fell in love with the tiny tropical paradise. Here are some tips I learned for visiting Belize!
You Better BELIZE in Public Transportation!
My first tip for visiting Belize would be to not be scared of public transportation. I rode the public bus a few times throughout the country and had fewer problems compared to riding in taxis. The busses are often old, dirty, US school busses. However, they’re cheap at $0.25 USD a trip, and reliably on time. In comparison, the taxis are much more expensive, and drivers can sometimes change their fees after stopping at your location. One of our taxis even broke down after we got in, and the driver kept the car rolling to keep us from getting out! Busses are slower but much cheaper and more reliable.
Busses run between major cities in Belize as well. These busses can vary between the retired school busses to nicer charter busses with air conditioning and on-board entertainment. Due to Belize measuring smaller than the US state of Maryland (less than 9,000 square miles), it only takes a few hours to get from one end of the country to the other. I always prefer to save the money and take the cheaper bus, but taxis and charter busses in the country are affordable as well. You can find bus schedules from Belize City to other major cities such as San Pedro, San Ignacio, and San Jose online or grab a time schedule from your hotel or hostel.
Learn to Love Beans and Rice
It’s the national dish of Belize, and there is a LOT of it. If you do not eat meat, beans and rice will be an everyday meal while visiting Belize. Cooks typically make the rice with coconut milk, giving the rice a lot of flavor and creaminess. However, for picky eaters and non-meat eaters, I’d pack some snacks to get you through the trip.
If you are visiting Belize from the United States, Canada, or European countries, the tap water in Belize may not be safe for drinking water. Traveler’s diarrhea is a common occurrence for travelers in Belize. To avoid this, drink bottled water or bring a refillable water bottle with a filter as well as some over the counter medications. I always travel with a Life Straw water bottle and Pepto Bismol tablets in case of uncomfortable stomach issues. Using tap water to brush your teeth or shower is generally fine.
Pack Bug Spray when Visiting Belize
The mosquitos in Belize are intense. It may be because I traveled to Belize in July, but the mosquitos were the worst I had ever seen, even after living in Florida for six years. Huge black clouds of them swarmed us! We had difficulty finding good quality insect repellent while there, so pack what you can to save your skin. Cover up while in the denser parts of the jungle as well, especially if it has rained recently. I highly recommend packing lightweight rain jackets and long sleeve hiking clothes to keep you covered and cool. The worst mosquitos we faced were while observing howler monkeys at a rescue in the middle of the jungle right after a rain. If you don’t want to check a bag or deal with TSA for liquid bug spray, check out these bug spray wipes! They seemed to work better for me while in the jungles of Belize and Ecuador compared to sprays. Always use bug spray with DEET. If you are concerned about mosquito diseases, talk to a doctor about vaccinations before your visit to Belize.
Include Visiting Belize Mayan Sites
The ruins in Belize and national parks were my favorite part of the trip. Don’t just stick to the widely advertised ones! Every ruin I visited had its own personality, and the smaller locations, like Cahal Pech, are often less crowded. Hiking through an empty ruin site was quiet, and even allowed me to see some rare Belize wildlife like a toucan flying through the trees. Be sure to grab some travel insurance before your trip. There are a lot of steep climbs, unstable rocks, and wildlife around many of the ruins and you will want to be protected, just in case.
Belize has the Best Snorkeling!
The snorkeling and diving at the Belize Barrier Reef are some of the best in the world. Do yourself a favor and book a tour to see the reefs. You will be amazed by the colors of the corals, the abundant wildlife, and the warmth of the water. I highly recommend booking an eco-friendly tour. Do not book tours that feed animals to attract them to you or advertise direct interaction with sea life. The best way to keep the coral reefs intact and undisturbed is NOT to touch them or invite large numbers of animals that will throw off the fragile ecosystem. In addition, reef-safe sunscreen is a must to keep the corals and sea life healthy and thriving around Belize.
Skip the Tourist Food Traps
Around popular tourist sites the food is expensive, the booze watered down, and the atmosphere crowded. You will find the most authentic food just by walking a few more blocks away. Belize can be a fairly cheap country for backpackers, but touristy areas definitely drive up the prices for everything. If you want to stick to a budget, find other accommodation and food. USD is commonly accepted, and English is the national language, so no need to worry about sticking to tourist areas!
Explore Belize
It’s the traditional tip, but it’s true: simply explore the cities and towns you will be visiting. Wandering through the cities was incredible! I found some of the BEST tacos I had ever had in a shack on the side of the road near the Mexican border for $0.25 USD. We also found a paintball arena tucked up in the mountains that we never would have spotted if we hadn’t wandered around San Jose.
Belize is a beautiful country full of wildlife, ruins, and beautiful beaches. The touristy areas are definitely expensive, but by exploring outside you will find delicious food, cheap hostels, and even cheaper drinks. I definitely recommend visiting this country!
Looking for a discount? Use my name, Stacia Mintner, as a reference for your next EF Ultimate Break trip and receive a lowered rate.
Another fantastic company, Loop Abroad, offers veterinary and animal conservation internships for US and Canadian students in Belize and other countries worldwide. You can use Humane Nature (my podcast!) or Stacia Mintner for a $100 discount on your first internship.
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The part about public transportation is so true! We got tired of the taxi drivers and started using the bus, and even though the conditions aren’t great, paying a quarter and going on an adventure is so worth any discomfort!
It’s honestly so much more fun too. I saw so much more of the cities on the bus than I would have otherwise, and met some interesting people!
I would love to travel to Belize! Thanks for the tips on not eating at the tourist places. I like to save$$
Love budget travel!