One Week In Belize – The Perfect Itinerary For 2024
The ultimate itinerary for one week in Belize, based on all our favourite experiences when we visited
We spent a week in Belize during our travels through Central America and fell in love with the country and the people. It was where we did our first dives as certified divers, swam with sharks and climbed empty Mayan ruins with no one else around.
Are you ready for the perfect Caribbean getaway? One week in Belize is an ideal way to spend your hard-earned vacation time. Also, definitely don’t skip Belize if you’re backpacking through Central America. This paradise will allow you to soak up the sun on warm Caribbean islands and head inland to explore jungles and Mayan ruins.
There are endless things to do in Belize that will make your trip unforgettable. In this post, I will share a detailed Itinerary including recommendations for places to stay and eat. As well as all the best things to do.
So let’s dive right in!
One Week In Belize Itinerary;
In theory, it doesn’t matter which way around you do this Itinerary, so if you were coming from Guatemala you could simply just do it backwards.
Days 1-2 In San Pedro
We suggest starting your trip in San Pedro. On the largest of Belize’s Islands, San Pedro is the perfect base for one of the most EPIC things there is to do in Belize. Unwind and begin to enjoy island life and get ready for some fun adventure.
Best things to do in San Pedro
#1. Visit the famous Blue hole
San Pedro is also an ideal place to see the infamous Blue Hole from. There are boat trips or if like me your dream is to see it from above then you can fly directly from here. We enquired at the airport and the price is $295 USD per person for a 1-hour flight. So it was sadly out of our budget for this trip. We will be back.
#2. Hire a golf car to explore the island
You won’t find too many cars on San Pedro island as most locals and tourists get around using golf cars. This means if you fancy exploring more distant parts of the island then your best bet is to hire one for yourself for a few hours.
#3. Relax at Island Wonder Beach Club
San Pedro is home to many wonderful Beach Clubs but Island Wonder is certainly one of the most popular. Spend an afternoon lazing on the beach or in a hammock with a drink in hand, admiring the beautiful blues of the ocean.
#4. Snorkel with rays
You don’t have to swim too far from the shore to have some incredible wildlife encounters in these waters. Grab a mask and snorkel and go and see what ocean life you can spot.
Where to Stay In San Pedro
In San Pedro, we stayed at Sandbar Beachfront Hostel & Restaurant and can highly recommend it. They have a great restaurant and bar, a pool with lots of space to chill, good-sized dorms with AC and private rooms. They are right on the beachfront with their own private pier with sun beds.
👉 Book your stay at Sandbar Beachfront Hostel Here!
If you are looking for a little more luxury then this Alaia Belize resort is really amazing. Right on the beachfront with a stunning pool and incredible views. You can’t go wrong with this one.
👉 Book your stay at Alaia Belize Resort Here!
Where To Eat In San Pedro
We really enjoyed the Pizzas at Sandbar Beachfront Restaurant. They even did a Vegan Pizza!
Juice Dive is another great spot to grab a healthy meal or a yummy fruit smoothie.
How To Get To San Pedro
The best way is by boat from Belize City. The ferries usually stop at Caye Caulker on the way to San Pedro. The ferry takes around 1.5 hours to get to San Pedro and is a fairly smooth journey.
When you get to Belize City just ask any taxi driver to take you to the ferry port and they will know exactly where to go. Once you arrive at the port there is only one route and you just buy your tickets at the desk, there is no need to book in advance.
You can also fly into the island but most flights will come from Belize City airport first and will be a pretty expensive way to get to the island.
Days 3-5 in Caye Caulker
Caye Caulker is a much smaller island that is now technically 2 islands thanks to Hurricane Hattie in 1961. The area in between the two islands is now called ‘The Split’. Caye Caulker has a much more relaxed and calm vibe making it the perfect hub to spend a couple of days relaxing on its beautiful white sandy beaches.
Best things to do in Caye Caulker
In Caye Caulker you are also closest to Hol Chan Marine Reserve, the second biggest barrier reef in the world, so that makes this the ideal spot to take a boat trip to explore the marine reserve.
#1. Boat trip to Hol Chan Marine Reserve
We did a full-day boat trip that included diving (you can also snorkel) at Hol Chan Marine Reserve. Here we saw sea turtles and various different rays including eagle rays.
We then snorkelled with the nurse sharks at Shark Ray Alley before heading on to a spot where we got to snorkel with a manatee which was surreal. We then headed onto Caye Caulker Island for lunch and a few hours of exploring. Here we were also taken to a spot where sea horses can be seen.
This boat trip was the highlight of our time in Belize and ticked so many items off of our bucket lists. The total per person for the whole day including all diving gear and lunch was $150. As we said, Belize is pricey but this was definitely worth it!
⭐️ Check out this popular tour to book your spot at Hol Chan Marine Reserve!
#2. Spend an afternoon at the Lazy Lizard
We recommend heading to ‘the split’, to the lazy lizard, where you can enjoy the amazing turquoise waters and a cheeky cocktail. It is free to enter and swim and enjoy the atmosphere you just have to pay for whatever food and drinks you want while you’re there. Luckily, there is no minimum spend.
#3. Treat yourself to a relaxing massage
Caye Caulker is the perfect place to take it slow and indulge in a little bit of self-love. Julz Holistic Massage Studio is a popular spot right on the beach from to enjoy a massage to the sound of the ocean.
Where to Stay In Caye Caulker
Blue Wave Guesthouse is a perfect place to stay for those travelling on a slightly tighter budget. It is right on the oceanfront and has really great reviews.
👉 Check out Blue Wave Guest House Here!
If you are looking for a little more luxury then we have just the place. Island Magic Beach Resort has its own private access to the beach, a beautiful clean pool and a lot of fun outdoor spaces to hang out. The rooms are large and light and the staff are known for being incredibly friendly.
👉 Check out Island Magic Beach Resort Here!
For all the BEST places to stay in Caye Caulker, we wrote a dedicated post with all of our top recommendations!
Where To Eat In Caye Caulker
Namaste Cafe is a great spot for a healthy bagel or some fresh local fruit.
Ice and Beans Cafe was our favourite spot to grab a delicious coffee. They also have a great selection of Bagels, wraps and waffles for a nice lunch by the beach. This place has a lovely outdoor seating area and lots of hammocks too.
How To Get To Caye Caulker
The only way to access Caye Caulker is by ferry. The same ferry that heads to and from San Pedro also stops at Caye Caulker along the way.
If you don’t like to travel around too much and would rather just visit one of the islands then check out our detailed comparison of both San Pedro and Caye Caulker.
Days 6-7 In San Ignacio
San Ignacio is a hub of activity and a great place to end your week in Belize. Being the small town that it is we were pleasantly surprised by just how much there is to do here. There is a huge range and also in price too, so there is something for every budget.
Best things to do in San Ignacio
Perhaps the most famous and well-known things to do in San Ignacio are;
#1. Visit the ATM cave
This is a very sacred cave and the whole experience sounds like a huge adventure. The visit includes swimming through the cave and squeezing through some rather tight spaces.
Cameras are strictly forbidden inside the cave due to some of the ancient human remains being damaged recently by a tourist dropping their camera on it! That means there aren’t many images available so this tour remains a huge surprise and by all accounts exceeds expectations.
However, this activity will set you back $125 USD so we decided to skip this one but it is one of the most popular things to do in San Ignacio.
👉 Book your tour of the ATM cave here!
#2. Caracol Mayan Ruins and Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve
If you have the budget to spend $125 USD but want to get a little more for your money. You can also do a day trip that takes you to visit the Caracol Mayan ruins, deep in the jungle, have lunch then head to the forest reserve to swim and jump in Big Rock Waterfall.
👉 Book your tour of Caracol Mayan Ruins Here!
#3. Cahal Pech Ruins
This activity is perfect for anyone travelling on a smaller budget like us. Cahal Pech ruins are located just on the edge of San Ignacio, roughly a 30-minute walk from the town centre. It costs around €4.50 each to enter the site and you are likely to have the whole place to yourselves.
Cahal Pech isn’t advertised anywhere but the guy working in our hostel mentioned it so we went to check it out and we were the only ones there the entire time!
It’s a relatively small area but so fun to explore. You are allowed to climb on all of the structures and the main temple is pretty big. It gives you a great view of the whole complex.
You can check out our guide to Cahal Pech for more details on how to find this hidden gem.
#4. Explore the local market
San Ignacio has a really nice local market with stalls selling fruits and vegetables as well as souvenirs and local crafts. It’s a nice place to have a look around and get a super cheap meal if you’re hungry.
You can find the location of the Market here.
Where to Stay In San Ignacio
In San Ignacio, we stayed at Kawoq hostel in a private room and again can highly recommend staying here. It is perfectly located 2 minutes from the centre of town but was nice and peaceful. It has large common areas both inside and outside and is the perfect place to mingle with other travellers.
👉 Check out Kawoq Hostel for yourself Here!
However, if you prefer some privacy and have a little more budget to spend then I would recommend staying at Maya Mountain Lodge. Tucked away in the lush green hills just outside of the town this place has some incredible views and is lovely and peaceful.
Not to mention they have a pool to cool off in after a long day exploring and fully equipped apartments.
👉 Check out Maya Mountain Lodge for yourself Here!
Where To Eat In San Ignacio
Our favourite place to eat in San Ignacio was The Spot Cafe and Lounge. We ate in here a few times because their menu is great and the food was spot on too.
If you like the smaller local diner-type places then give Pops a try.
How To Get To San Ignacio
The best way to get to San Ignacio is by either a public chicken bus or a private tourist shuttle. We took a private tourist shuttle from Belize City that we booked at the ferry port once we got off the ferry.
It was really convenient and they time the buses to leave not long after the ferry arrives at the port with all the tourists who want to move on to the next destination.
What To Do If You Have Extra Time In Belize
If you have more than a week and the budget to spare then we also heard a lot of good things about the beach town Hopkins, further south along the coast. We had originally planned to visit Hopkins but once we started spending we knew we wouldn’t have the budget.
We heard Hopkins also has a very relaxed, fisherman village vibe and is perfect for lazy days on the beach.
When Is The Best Time To Spend One Week In Belize
The best time of year to visit Belize is during the dry season of December to April. We went in December and it was spot on. Check out our full post on this.
How To Get To Belize
There are a few different ways to enter Belize, depending on where you are coming from but not to worry, we will cover them all here for you.
How to enter via Mexico
We visited Belize on a backpacking route from Mexico and we had a little bit of drama on our journey across the border. Don’t worry though we learnt our lesson and can now share the full dos and don’ts so you don’t have the same problems we did.
Your easiest option is to book a shared tourist shuttle in any Mexican town (they all sell tickets). The best options probably being Bacalar or Tulum. This will then take you straight across the border and usually all the way to Belize City. Easy peasy. This however isn’t the cheapest option.
A slightly more budget-friendly option is a more DIY-style journey. Jump in a Taxi from Bacalar or Chetumal and head straight to the border. Waiting at the border on the Belize side are more taxi drivers who can take you to Corozal. From there you can get a local chicken bus to Belize City.
It sounds complicated but this is what we did and it is fairly straightforward.
IMPORTANT TO NOTE*** At the border, you will need to pay an exit tax…don’t try and pay this online in advance to be efficient like we did. They won’t even look at it and will just make you pay for it again.
So make sure you have around 400 pesos in cash on you as they do NOT accept cards. We had to go all the way back to Chetumal to the ATM, oops.
How to enter via Guatemala
If you’re coming from Guatemala you will want to jump on a shuttle or take chicken buses/taxis to San Ignacio. There are a lot of tourists who do this journey so there are plenty of taxis and buses and anyone will be able to help point you in the right direction.
In our experience everyone was very helpful, so don’t worry!
Arriving by Air
Of course, if you are just visiting Belize on vacation then you will most likely be flying in. Belize City airport is a short taxi ride to the ferry port to get you to the islands and there is a fixed Taxi price of $25 dollars for the journey, so that makes things a little simpler.
✈️ If you haven’t booked your flight yet then you can compare prices here!
One Week In Belize – How To Travel Around
Once you’re in Belize, we suggest starting from Belize City. You won’t want to stay here but it’s the best place to get transport to any other destination. There are regular ferries to the islands. The ferries all stop first at Caye Caulker and then head to San Pedro, and vice versa on the way back.
When travelling on the mainland you can either opt for the local chicken buses which are by far the cheapest options. They are just a lot slower and can get super crowded. Or you can book onto a shuttle bus, basically just for tourists but they are a lot faster. You can book a seat on a shuttle from the ferry port or on any of the islands.
One Week In Belize – Good To Know Before You Go
Belize is a small country so getting around from place to place is fairly quick luckily. There shouldn’t be the need for any crazy overnight buses here.
We need to say this now, if you’re on a shoestring budget you are going to find Belize a challenge! We went way over our budget here and it is the main reason why our visit was only a week. With that being said we are still really glad we went.
In Belize, the main language is English, amongst Spanish, Creole and Mayan languages.
The currency is the Belize Dollar and we found most places would accept cards and there were banks and ATMs everywhere we went. The value of 1 Belize Dollar is easy to remember, 1 US Dollar is 2 Belize Dollars.
What To Budget For One Week In Belize
As I mentioned earlier, we found Belize to be pretty expensive. To give you an idea here are some of the things we paid for;
Transport costs
5-minute taxi ride in Belize city – $10 BZD / €4.50
3-hour chicken bus ride – $12 BZD each / €5.70
Return ferry ticket to San Pedro – $117 BZD each / €58
3-hour tourist shuttle ride – $40 BZD each / €17
Accommodation costs
1 bed in a 12-bed dorm in San Pedro – $33 BZD / €15 per night
Private room in a hostel in San Ignacio – $69 BZD / €32 per night
Food and drinks
A meal in a restaurant for 2 people in San Pedro – $77 BZD / €36
1 coffee – $5 BZD / €2.30
Buying veggies at a local market and a bag of pasta to cook yourself – $9.75 BZD /€4.50
1 beer in a bar – $6 BZD / €2.80
Activities
Diving and snorkelling full day boat trip in San Pedro – $300 BZD each / €140
Entrance to Cahal Pech ruins in San Ignacio – $10 BZD each / €4.50
Day trip to Caracol ruins or ATM caves – $125 USD each
One Week In Belize – Final Thoughts
And there you have it. Everything you could possibly need to know to plan an awesome week in Belize. Regardless of whether you are just visiting on a short vacation or passing through on a longer trip, this magical country will be sure to leave you wishing you could stay longer.
As always we are more than happy to answer any questions so always feel free to get in touch if you want to know more.