Belize

North America

Belize

Belize packs jungle and reef into a small, English-speaking corner of Central America. The Belize Barrier Reef, the second-largest in the world, centers on the perfectly round Great Blue Hole and draws divers from everywhere, while inland, Mayan ruins like Caracol and Xunantunich rise out of dense rainforest still home to jaguars and howler monkeys. Caye Caulker's barefoot, golf-cart pace sums up the coastal mood: slow, sunburnt, and unhurried.

Why go thereDiving & snorkelling Islands Nature & landscapes Ancient ruins Beaches Wildlife Adventure sports Indigenous cultures Culture & heritage Food Rural traditions

Main destinations

Food & drink to try

Rice and beans

Rice cooked in coconut milk with red beans, served with stew chicken and potato salad.

Stew chicken

Chicken browned in recado and sugar until dark, the country's Sunday centre.

Fry jacks

Puffed fried dough triangles eaten at breakfast with beans, cheese or honey.

Main destinations

Other destinations

Comfort in January · by notability

Food & drink to try

Rice and beans

Rice cooked in coconut milk with red beans, served with stew chicken and potato salad.

Stew chicken

Chicken browned in recado and sugar until dark, the country's Sunday centre.

Fry jacks

Puffed fried dough triangles eaten at breakfast with beans, cheese or honey.

Hudut

Garífuna fish in coconut broth with mashed green and ripe plantain.

Sere

Coconut fish soup thickened with plantain, the base of Garífuna cooking.

Salbutes

Puffed fried tortillas topped with chicken, cabbage and pickled onion.

Panades

Fried corn pockets of fish or beans, served with habanero onion sauce.

Garnaches

Crisp tortillas with refried beans, cabbage and cheese, sold three for a dollar.

Tamalitos

Small plain corn tamales steamed in husk, eaten beside stew.

Cow foot soup

Gelatinous broth with okra and dumplings, a Creole weekend dish.

Johnny cakes

Coconut-milk biscuits baked hard, split and filled with ham or cheese.

Conch fritters

Minced conch in batter, fried and eaten with lime on the cayes.

Cashew wine

Fermented cashew fruit from Crooked Tree, made in the village each May.

Chiltepin sauce

Habanero and carrot sauce on every table, hotter than it looks.

Entry & health

Set your passport

belizepolice.bz countrycode.online en.wikipedia.org

Advisory only — AI + web search, may be out of date. Confirm official sources before you travel.

Tipping & local customs

Tipping isn't deeply ingrained in local culture, but it's expected from tourists: a 10–15% tip at sit-down restaurants is standard if a service charge isn't already added, and 15–20% is common for bartenders and tour guides; some hotels and restaurants add a 10% service charge automatically, so check your bill.

Life runs on relaxed "Belize time" — don't expect strict punctuality from locals or services.
Haggling is uncommon and considered rude outside of street markets.
It's illegal to buy, remove, or export Maya artefacts, shells, or coral — leave archaeological items where they are.
Ask permission before photographing local people, especially in Maya or rural villages.
Public displays of affection, especially for LGBTQ+ couples, are best kept discreet as social attitudes remain conservative in parts of the country.
Avoid littering, especially at reefs and cayes — Belize prides itself on its marine environment and eco-consciousness.

Advisory only — AI + web search, may be out of date. Confirm official sources before you travel.

Before you go

Stay connected

Get an eSIM for Belize — mobile data the moment you land.

via Airalo

Travel insurance

Cover trip cancellation, medical care and delays.

via EKTA