Here's how I spent 11 days in Belize as a solo, female traveler
I visited 5 different areas of the country, so I'm going to break it up by each town!
Belize, Stop #1: Belize City
Well if you're coming to Belize, the city will be your first stop as it's the only international airport in the country. You have to remember Belize is pretty small, more like a state in the US. It's about a 2 hour drive from the coast to the inland border.
I chose to stay a night in the city because I didn't want to do all of my traveling in one day (and I also wanted to check it out). Not going to lie, there's not much going on in the city. This is where cruise lines will stop if Belize is one of the ports. There's a "tourism alley" where all the cruisers go to buy souvenirs and such. There's also a Belize museum that has 3 stars on Google, lol. Nothing really worth checking out.
The south side of the city is known for having more crime. The US has a different level travel advisory for the area south of Haulover Creek. I didn't have a ton of time to explore, as I only stayed one night, but I asked a taxi driver to take me around the city before I left for the islands. And honestly, there's really no reason tourists would go to the south side anyway, it's mostly residential. The crime is opportunistic as it's a poor area.
The hotel I stayed at was close to the port- Harbour View Cottages. Super cute place to stay! It's run by a mother and daughter team, and it doesn't feel like you're in a city when you stay there. There are one and two bedroom cottages, two pools, a spa, and a cafe all on the grounds. They also do yoga and there's a meditation area. Overall, it's just really peaceful. I enjoyed taking a dip in the pool and reading my book in my hammock. The food at the cafe was also good, and they had vegetarian and gluten free options. I always like to take note of this as this can be a huge issue for some travelers. It's nice to find places that are accommodating. I had the stewed chicken which is a traditional dish in the area.
Belize City Travel Tip: If you want to visit tourist alley, and you're not coming by cruise ship, you need to apply for entrance at least 24 hours prior.
Belize, Stop #2 : San Pedro, Ambergris Caye
From Belize city, most people travel up to the islands Ambergris Caye (pronounced key) or Caye Caulker. Both areas are very popular with tourists. There are two options to get there- ferry or flight. I took the ferry there and a flight back because I wanted to experience what both were like. The ferry is pretty bare bones, there are no amenities, it's basically a water bus. It takes about an hour to get to Caye Caulker, and another 30 minutes to Amgergris Caye. The flight is a 15 minute ride, but it's in a "puddle jumper," which I wasn't so thrilled about. But I survived, lol. Price wise, the ferry is around $35 vs the flight which is around $100. There are two ferry companies and two flight companies to choose from.
I stayed in San Pedo on Ambergris Caye which is much larger than Caye Caulker. I didn't make it to the smaller island, but I've heard the vibe is chill. It just doesn't have as many options as the larger island.
Everyone drives golf carts on the islands. I knew this ahead of time, but I didn't know there was going to be so many. Like everyone has a golf cart, so I decided to rent one last minute. They're not crazy expensive, I paid around $90 for the three days I was there. It was worth it in my opinion.
The island is split between north and south, cut by a waterway that connects the bay to the ocean. The south part of the island is much more developed and where "downtown" is. If you want to be around the hustle and bustle, you'll want to stay in this area. If you want to stay in a more quiet spot, you'll want to go more north.
I stayed at Pur Boutique Cabanas- it's an small adults only property with a taco bar. It seems like the vibe depends on the guests. The first night I arrived, it was much more of a party atmosphere, but when that group of guests left, it was much more relaxed. They have a pool as well.
I was surprised that there's really no beaches on the island except for Secret Beach (which isn't so secret anymore). I did check it out, but it was a bit too party vibe for me. Think of Secrets in Ocean City vibes. They have the tables in the water, and there's always music going. The ride there can be bumpy, as it's not paved all the way out. Definitely proceed with caution, especially if you're going with a rented golf cart. Many companies won't cover any damages occurred on this road. To get to secret beach you have to travel north, and then you cut over to the west coast.
The northern side of the island is being heavily developed. The road isn't paved all the way up there, but there are a ton of new resorts in the area. I'm sure it will be paved eventually, but something you'll want to consider when deciding where to stay on the island.
The big attractions in the area are snorkeling and diving. South of the island is Hol Chan Marine Reserve (translates into tiny channel). The reef that hugs Belize's coast is the second largest in the world (great barrier reef is #1) and runs north into Mexico and south into Honduras. The area is very protected, and you must go there with a guide. They charge you a $15 entrance fee (which you need to pay in cash for).
I signed up for two snorkels- one in zone a on the reef, and one in zone d with the nurse sharks. The reef was lovely and truly the best reef I've seen since Australia. I saw some animals I haven't seen before like an octopus (finally) and a reef shark. I also saw a manta ray and sea turtle which I'll never get enough of! They're so graceful in the water.
I wasn't sure what to expect with the nurse sharks. I guess they don't have front teeth, so they're "safe" to swim with lol. You have a choice of jumping in the water with them, or you can stay in the boat to watch them. My group of 8 went half and half on this choice. They feed them chum to get them to come over. I did get a little nervous when soooo many were coming for the food. They're the size of me which was a bit intimidating, especially when you see 10-15 swimming towards you. But I just gave myself some space, and I was okay. I wasn't in the swarm of them like the one guy lol. Overall, I was glad I did it as it's the largest animals I've swam with, YOLO!
San Pedro Travel Tip: You can rent reserve a golf cart ahead of time, and they will meet you at the ferry or airport (depending how you arrive). This way you don't have to worry about grabbing a cab.
Belize, Stop #3: Placencia
Once I arrived back in Belize City, I grabbed my rental car and drove down the coast to Placencia. It was around a three hour drive.
Placencia is a peninsula. Some of it is very thin, but it widens out at the bottom. At one point, the air strip and ocean are just across the road from each other.
There are a lot of ex-pats living in this area. You can tell a lot of rich Americans decided to build mansions on the water to retire in. There are still open waterfront lots, but you can tell it's being developed.
The main part of town is really just a strip along the water. There's a main driving road, and there's a walking path that runs parallel. At the very end of the walking trail, there is a pier. Towards this end is where it's more "hoppin." It was definitely giving me Florida vibes. There were restaurants, bars, shops, all along the path- including the big titty rum bar.
I stayed probably a five minute walk from there at Caribbean Beach Cabanas. It's an adults only property, and it's been my favorite on the trip. It's small- they said 20 guests max at a time. It's right on the beach, and the staff is lovely. They have a pool and bar that serves food during the day. They also have complimentary breakfast that they deliver to your room each morning, lovely!
I mostly just relaxed during the time I spent here. The sea was super calm, and the water was so clear. The resort had kayaks, sup boards, and tubes you could borrow. I floated around in the tube for a while- it was so relaxing. Highly recommend this spot if you need some quiet R&R!
Belize, Stop #4: Hopkins
On my way to Hopkins, I stopped at Mayan World Destinations to see the waterfall. I rode a horse out there, but you can also drive or take an ATV. The area you can access has three waterfalls with pools to swim in. And they've somehow managed to get a bar/grill up there too.
The water was soooo clear. There's moments in Belize where it doesn't feel like real life. Like it's too pretty to be real. Definitely recommend stopping here if staying in Placencia or Hopkins. They also have ziplining and waterfall repelling on site.
Now Hopkins is a little beach town- smaller than Placencia. It's technically a Garifuna fishing village. The Garifuna people originated from St Vincent and their culture is known for their drumming and dancing.
I honestly didn't do much in the area besides relax. My room was right on the beach, and it was just lovely. I stayed at Coconut Row, which I would also recommend. They have a pool and restaurant/bar on site. They also do snorkeling/fishing charters right from the shore. A great spot to rest.
Hopkins Travel Tip: Bring coconut oil to wear when you're on the beach, especially at dusk and dawn. Those no-see-ums are no joke!
Belize, Stop #5: Teakettle
My last stop was to head inland to check out the jungle and the ATM cave. The greenery and water is beautiful out this way.
I stayed in Teakettle but took day trips to San Ignacio and Belmopan. Many people stay in San Ignacio to visit the Mayan ruins out that way (near the Guatemalan border). Belmopan is the capital, and I really liked this area. Cute neighborhoods, restaurants, and overall vibe. I would consider staying here next time. Where I stayed was nice (Dream Valley), but it was a 3 mile drive on dirt roads to get there. It got annoying to have to drive that every time I wanted to go in/out.
Belize has made a ton of progress in paving their roads the last few years, but it's mainly just the highways. Anything off the highway is going to be a dirt road. I definitely recommend getting a 4wd if you're exploring this area.
Now, the ATM was AMAZING, even though I was super nervous about doing it! And not going to lie, it was pretty challenging physically, but wow, what an experience. If you go to Belize, this is a MUST DO. I don't have any pictures to share because they don't allow cameras after tourists kept dropping their phones and breaking the artifacts.
Teakettle Travel Tip: Do the Actun Tunichil Muknal cave! Bring water sandals with closed toe and nice thick socks for the journey, trust me!
If you're interested in traveling to Belize, I would love to help you plan your trip! You can schedule a consultation below.