Sick of traveling to Mexico or the Caribbean? Want to try a new beach destination? What about the beaches in Belize?
Belize is a tropical paradise situated just south of Mexico’s famous Yucatan Peninsula. It’s just a quick flight away from the USA, and the best beaches in Belize will blow you away.
You can hop on a flight from most major USA hubs in the morning and be on the beach in Belize before lunchtime. Belize has been blessed with 240 miles of coastline and more than 450 islands, which they call “Cayes.”
The Belize Barrier Reef system is the second-largest reef system in the world, after the Great Barrier Reef in Australia. If you’re looking for a quick beach getaway, here is our list of the best beaches in Belize to visit.
Best Beaches In Belize
Our first trip to Belize was in 2011, and it was there that the idea to quit our jobs to travel the world was born. Fast forward two years later, we quit our jobs and boarded a one-way flight to Belize.
We’ve spent over a month in Belize. It’s our favorite country in Central America. On our last trip, we rode the chicken buses in Belize all across the country (and even killed a chicken on a chicken bus on accident). Here are our personal favorite beaches in Belize, and they are in order of our favorites.
1. Placencia Belize
Three hours away from Belize City is the Placencia peninsula. It’s a three-hour drive or only a 30-minute flight. There are direct flights starting around $120 one-way with Maya Island Air. We chose the local bus, which takes 4-6 hours and is quite an experience.
Why Placencia Is One of the Best Beaches in Belize
The Placencia peninsula has 16 miles of gorgeous white sand beaches. There are several resorts available, as well as local guesthouses. We loved everything about Placencia.
The town is set up great for tourists. There’s a pedestrian-only boardwalk that runs along the beach for miles. Claimed to be “The World’s narrowest main street,” the boardwalk runs from one end of the village to the other end.
Along the boardwalk are many restaurants, beach bars, and local souvenir shops.
There are tons of things to do in Placencia, and they all revolve around the ocean. If you love snorkeling or diving, get out on a day trip with Splash Dive Center and explore the Belize Barrier Reef.
Rent a beach cruiser and ride up and down the beach until you find the perfect spot for the day.
Where to Stay in Placencia Belize
There’s a wide range of accommodations in Placencia, from luxury beachfront resorts to budget guesthouses, – or – you can even rent a yacht for the night. If you want unique accommodation or are traveling with others, consider renting a house on Vrbo, it’ll be cheaper than a hotel.
We stayed at Chabil Mar for a few nights of luxury in a one-bedroom ocean-view villa. This is a great option if you are looking for a luxury resort or traveling with children. We also spent a night at Lydia’s Guesthouse, a local guesthouse just steps from the ocean; for only $20 a night, the price can’t be beaten.
Best Restaurants in Placencia
Placencia is full of restaurant options, but make sure to try the local Garifuna street food as well. It’s a must to try the salbutes from the street cart at the end of the boardwalk.
- Best Beach Bar In Placencia: Barefoot Bar is right on the beach with great daily specials and happy hour drinks
- Best Dessert in Placencia: Tutti Frutti offers 18 different flavors of gelato. Our favorite was the peanut butter & dark chocolate.
- Best Street Food in Placencia: Carmen & Maria’s tasty street food where two can eat cheap
2. Caye Caulker Belize
Caye Caulker is an island off of Belize accessible by water taxi from Belize City. The ferry takes 45 minutes. We went with the company Ocean Ferry Belize, which has several departures per day.
You can also take the ferry to/from San Pedro, Ambergris Caye, which is only 30 minutes away. It is possible to fly to Caye Caulker from Belize City. Flights are around $75 one way and are less than 15 minutes.
Why Caye Caulker is one of the Best Beaches in Belize
An island where the motto is “Go Slow,” and that is exactly what the island does. There is no reason to be in a rush on Caye Caulker. Everything is within walking distance, no cars – just bicycles.
Caye Caulker is a great place to get a taste of island life in Belize. A day on Caye Caulker involves lots of snorkeling and naps in a hammock under a palm tree. If you get a little restless on the island, there are day trips to the Belize ruins and cave tubing in Belize.
There isn’t a ton of action going on in Caye Caulker, so most people spend around 2-to 3 nights, but we could easily spend a week in Caye Caulker.
Where to Stay in Caye Caulker
Caye Caulker is a small island with more backpacker guesthouses than luxury hotels. We stayed at the Caye Caulker Plaza for $75 a night but had friends stay at De Real Macaw for under $50 a night. The cheapest guesthouses and luxury condos are listed on Vrbo.
Best Restaurants in Caye Caulker
Hopefully, you’ll be traveling during the lobster season in Belize, which is June 15th through February 15th so that you can try a grilled Caribbean lobster. If you miss the lobster season in Belize, don’t worry; there are tons of other great dishes to try. Don’t miss the conch, either.
- Best Beach Bar In Placencia: The Lazy Lizard is located right on the split with tables in the water. They have great drinks and food. A bucket of 6 beers is $12.50 USD.
- Best Restaurant in Caye Caulker: Fran’s Grill for one of the tastiest grilled lobsters & jerk chicken served with UNLIMITED rum, garlic bread, breadfruit, and chocolate cake.
3. Silk Caye Belize
Our favorite day trip in Belize brought us to Silk Cayes. Unfortunately, there is no accommodation on Silk Cayes, but it still is one of the best beaches in Belize and a great place to spend the afternoon.
On our day trip out to the Cayes, we had a beach BBQ on Silk Caye.
The snorkeling at Silk Caye is amazing; don’t forget your GoPro and GoPro dome for fun split shots. Right from the beach, you’ll see tons of nurse sharks and stingrays swimming by.
There are several companies offering tours out to Silk Caye, from diving trips, snorkeling trips, and private boat trips, click here to see all options and book online.
4. Hopkins Belize
Hopkins is 2 hours away from Belize City and 1 hour from Placencia. Traveling to Hopkins is easily accessed by car or bus. Many hotels in Hopkins have airport pickup services if arriving by plane.
Why Hopkins Is One Of The Best Beaches In Belize
Hopkins is a small Garifuna village with one of the best beaches in Belize. Hopkins is considered “The Friendliest Village in Belize” and a great escape.
Hopkins is surrounded by mountains and the Cockscomb Basin, which is excellent for day trips and hiking. We rented a car in Hopkins and explored the surrounding area on our own.
Where to Stay in Hopkins Belize
We spent a week in Hopkins and split our time at a high-end resort at the end of town and a cute beachfront cabin right in town. We loved our own little beachfront apartment at Coconut Row, where we walked out the door right onto the beach. Coconut Row is located right in town and within walking distance of everything.
Two miles outside of town, we stayed at Hopkins Bay Belize for a more luxurious hotel stay. Hopkins Bay Belize, has 1,2, and 3-bedroom villas that are great for a week in Belize or families. The resort is right on one of the best beaches in Belize, and since it’s outside of town, it’s very private.
There are over 60 listings on Vrbo in Hopkins, with some gorgeous oceanfront properties with private beaches.
Best Restaurants in Hopkins
Hopkins is full of restaurant options, but make sure to try the local Garifuna street food as well.
- Best Beach Bar In Hopkins: Driftwood Beach Bar & Pizza Shack is located right on the beach, serving up the best pizza in Belize and ice-cold Belkin beers
- Best Local Restaurant In Hopkins: Innie’s Restaurant tries the famous Garifuna dishes Hudut and Darasa while enjoying some local Garifuna drumming & dancing.
5. Ambergris Caye Belize
Ambergris Caye is the largest island in Belize and is accessible by water taxi or air. There are 11 daily flights to Ambergris Caye with Maya Island Air prices average of $86 one way. This would be an epic view of the islands of Belize and is worth the money.
The water taxi from Belize City takes 75 minutes and costs $31. We went with the company Ocean Ferry Belize, which has several departures a day. You can also take the ferry to/from Caye Caulker, which is a 30-minute ride away and costs $21.
Why Ambergris Caye Is One Of The Best Beaches In Belize
The island is 25 miles long and one mile wide, boasting some amazing white sand beaches. Ambergris Caye is best explored by golf carts and bicycles. The main town of San Pedro has tons of restaurants, shops, hotels, and companies to book day trips with.
Some of the most popular things to do in Ambergris Caye are snorkeling and diving. The most popular spots are Shark Ray Alley and Hol Chan Marine Reserve. Snorkel trips can be arranged for less than $95 a person here. It’s a popular destination for divers due to the Belize Barrier Reef, the second-largest reef in the world. The Great Blue Hole is on all diver’s bucket lists, but if you aren’t a diver like myself, jump in a helicopter for an epic view.
Where to Stay in Ambergris Caye
When we visited, we stayed at a hotel far away from San Pedro, and we wouldn’t recommend the hotel because of the location. When looking for accommodation this time, I found the best selection and value was on Vrbo. You can rent luxury condos that will fit several people for under $200, or we would go for this modern apartment for $75.
Best Restaurants in Ambergris Caye
- Best Beach Bar In Ambergris Caye: Palapa Bar & Grill has the best and freshest seafood. We ordered the kingfish and watched a fisherman arrive 10 minutes later with my kingfish, doesn’t get any fresher than that. The restaurant & bar is located at the end of a long dock literally on top of the water. They have innertubes floating in the water where they can send a bucket of beers down too.
- Best Bar In Ambergris Caye: Lola’s is located right in San Pedro and is a popular spot for ex-pats and tourists. There is a great selection of drinks, tons of TVs to catch a game, and lots of Chicago Cubs memorabilia.
- Best Restaurant In Ambergris Caye: Waruguma is known for its lobster burritos and HUGE portions. Not only is it the best restaurant in San Pedro, but the best value. If there is a line, just wait and grab a Belikin beer. It’s worth the wait.
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Have you traveled to Belize? What do you think is the best beach in Belize?
