Grab a rental car and explore this beautiful Central American & Carribbean gem. In our opinion, only seeing the islands of Belize isn’t really seeing Belize at all! You’ll notice our itinerary isn’t jam-packed, this is the kind of place where you’ll find fun and adventure without even trying.
Day 1: Flight to Belize
- Pickup Rental Car (Crystal has the best review for a reason. They were super easy to work with and helped us with transportation to our water taxi when we returned the car. Note: if you follow our itinerary, you MUST book a 4×4 vehicle. Much of what is outlined below required this type of car.)
- Drive to Placencia (stop at Belize Zoo)
STAY: Green Parrot Beach Resort. We really like Green Parrot and understand it has gone through quite a few renovations since our last visit. There is live music and great food nearly every night; the beach cabana views are incredible and you really can spend all your time just hanging out at the resort using their paddleboards, pool, playing games on the beach, etc. This isn’t the swankiest place you’ll stay but it’s WONDERFUL.
Day 2: Placencia
- Hike Cockscomb Jaguar Preserve – we did a long hike which ended at a waterfall and jumped in for a swim before our return! There’s also a great little local shop at the end of the dirt road before you enter the Preserve, lots of cool trinkets to take home.
STAY: Green Parrot Beach Resort
Day 3: Placencia
- Monkey River Tour
STAY: Green Parrot Beach Resort
Day 4: Placencia > San Ignacio
- Horseback Tour at Outback Trails
- Roadtrip Stops: Bertha’s Tamales, St. Herman’s Cave, Lamanai Chocolate
STAY: Table Rock Lodge
Day 5: San Ignacio
- Mountain Pine Ridge Forest (with a picnic lunch!)
- San Ignacio was our FAVORITE city with some of the best food of our lives. Strongly recommend exploring, dining out and getting to know (and love) this charming town. A few recommendations include: Cenaidas, Guava Limb, Ko-Ox Han Nah, Crave and the Farmers Market!
STAY: Table Rock Lodge
Day 6: San Ignacio
- ATM Cave Tour – book early, you must have a guide! We went with Pacz & drove to the meeting place to save $$
STAY: Table Rock Lodge
Day 7: San Ignacio
- Canoe on the Macaw River – we canoed over to the Rainforest Medicinal Trail at the Lodge at Chaa Creek and also stayed in their pool for awhile.
STAY: Table Rock Lodge
Day 8: San Ignacio > Caye Caulker
- Return Car
- Water Taxi to island
STAY: Colinda Cabanas
Day 9: Caye Caulker
- Snorkel
- Our favorite places in Caye Caulker included Namaste Cafe (free yoga EVERY DAY and great food), Sip N Dip, Lazy Lizard, Errolyn’s Fry Jacks, and the very best lunch of our lives (we went daily) >> Chef Kareem’s. Caye Caulker is all about going sloooow, don’t overbook or make many plans, let the island take you away 🙂
STAY: Colinda Cabanas
Day 10: Caye Caulker
STAY: Colinda Cabanas
Day 11: Caye Caulker > Home
If Not Now, Never 