Best towns to stay in Belize
Ambergris Caye
A long, slender barrier caye, Ambergris Caye is the largest island in Belize, and the main destination for travelers to this western Caribbean nation. Ambergris Caye is noted as being a fabulous island getaway with an excellent atmosphere and stunning settings. A vacation here is about absolute relaxation and bliss.
Ambergris Caye is one of Belize’s top destinations, especially for divers and snorkelers who want to explore Hol Chan Marine Reserve. The island offers diving as its most popular tourist activity, boasting exceptional diving sites and respected as a diver’s paradise. Almost every hotel on Ambergris Caye and certainly all the resorts offer scuba diving packages. Here you will find the Belize Barrier Reef providing crystal-clear waters that are perfect for snorkeling. Viewing tropical fish, nurse sharks, sting rays and several different types of corals is a popular pastime.
Of course, no vacation to Ambergris Caye is complete without a trip to the immensely popular Great Blue Hole, a huge submarine sinkhole that is more than 120 meters deep. This amazing feature of nature is populated by midnight parrotfish and hammerhead sharks and is lined with intricate limestone formations that create a spectacular scenery.
San Pedro, Ambergris Caye
San Pedro is a town in the southern part of the island of Ambergris Caye. This town deserves distinction as the atmosphere, offerings and general culture is very different here as opposed to the rest of the island.
The town has the largest concentration of visitor accommodations in Belize with its hotels, fishing and diving facilities being some of the best in the country. Still, San Pedro is not about glitz and glamour. It’s a small, quaint town that’s easy going and laid back with a rather vintage feel. It’s for those who wish to sail on the open waters, go fishing out at deep sea, or simply enjoy the culture, meeting Belizeans and enjoying their customs whether it may be Garifuna art, creole music or Mayan history. San Pedro also holds the distinction of serving Belize’s widest variety of dishes prepared by the best local chefs.
Conveniently located, the town makes a fine base for excursions to nearby attractions and the more distant islands and atolls. If you prefer to stay in town, you will find a wide range of restaurants, bars and souvenir shops.
Stann Creek District
Bordering the Belize District to the north, Cayo to the west and Toledo to the south, Stann Creek is home to a number of popular hotspots. Belize’s south has become an increasingly popular destination for visitors and Stan Creek stands as a major testament. Stann Creek is Belize's second largest district, fit for the adventure traveler. Here, the coast is dotted with quaint towns and buzzing fishing villages that offer excellent cultural experiences for the avid traveler.
Visitors here get a chance to visit Maya villages, the world's first jaguar preserve as well as a wealth of tropical forests. Today’s Belize’s forests bear witness to the might of nature with some of the largest plants and animals to be found within the Americas. Indeed, Stan Creek is about adventure, from hiking to dirt bike riding, exploring the forests and plains of Stan Creek with prove to be a worthwhile journey of discovery.
Placencia Town, Stann Creek
A pulsating, thriving hub with a predominant Creole culture in Stan Creek, Placencia deserves distinction due to its special flair. The town is located at the tip of Placencia, a 16 mile long peninsula in southern Belize that is also home to Maya Beach and the Garifuna village of Siene Bight.
What was once a simple fishing village in Belize has now quickly become a haunted attraction for tourists and adventure seekers. Placencia is located near the Mayan ruins and is full of natural and artificial beauties.
Famous for white sandy beaches and crystal clear water, this area of Belize is considered paradise by many. Staying here, you will always be footsteps away from the beach where you can enjoy a host of endless water adventures including snorkeling, diving, boating, sailing, fishing and fly-fishing. Further inland, there are excellent nature trails offering sites of native species of fauna and flora as well as Mayan ruins.
Cayo
Cayo is a district in the west of Belize. Belizeans from Western Belize are fond of boasting that “the west is best!” Indeed, they do have a lot to be proud about as the Cayo District is the most popular inland tourist destination in Belize. In fact, Cayo has one of the largest concentrations of retirees and expats in the country, testament to its easy going nature.
In this frontier land of rivers and rain forest, there are rolling hills and sweeping farmlands. As such, Cayo has some of the most scenic attractions in the country. Visitors will find clear, meandering rivers, lush jungles, green hillsides, towering cliffs, thundering waterfalls, huge limestone caverns, two mysterious Mayan ruins and an exotic jungle. Horseback riding, hiking and golfing are popular here. This district is also the gateway to Guatemala, offering easy access to trans-border tours to the well-known Guatemalan sites, cuisine, shopping and cultural activities. In addition, Cayo is home to the capital City Of Belmopan, a vibrant city surrounded by stunning scenery and wildlife.
In the city, there is much to experience, including the energetic downtown, especially the bustling Market Square area or the more centralized section where you can meet and greet Belizeans at stores, restaurants and cafes. On the outskirts of city are the spectacular Guancaste Park as well as the astonishing Hummingbird Highway.
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