Backpacking Belize: A Complete Guide (2023)
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Looking to backpack Belize? So many backpackers skip Belize entirely but that is such a big mistake! It’s one of the most beautiful countries we have ever travelled to, and I cannot recommend it enough.
There’s also a running rumour in the backpacking world that Belize is ‘expensive’. Well, some parts are, but if you’re on a budget, it can still be done! In fact, we found some parts of Belize to be even cheaper than Mexico!
In this post, I outline everything you need to know about backpacking Belize. From safety, to where to eat, how to get there, how to make friends and where to travel to after.
So, let’s get planning and start backpacking Belize!
Other backpacking Belize posts:
- Backpacking San Ignacio: COMPLETE Guide!
- Backpacking Caye Caulker: Everything You Need To Know
- Snorkeling in Caye Caulker: COMPLETE Guide!
- How To Get From San Ignacio To Flores: Backpacker Guide
Backpacking to different locations around the world? You need to be using eSIMs! Simply download and connect to local data within minutes. Hunting down free Wifi is a thing of the past! You can check out eSIM prices and compatibility options here.
Backpacking Belize: A Summary
In general, Belize is a safe place to travel (including solo female travellers). The transport system is good, and it’s easy to get around. There are plenty of hostels to choose from, and there’s a buzzing nightlife on the islands. Plus, the country is tiny, so you can see quite a lot of it in a short time!
English is the national language of Belize (which makes communication a lot easier if your Spanish is anything like mine). It’s also home to the second-largest barrier reef in the world, as well as a ton of Mayan history and ancient ruins to explore.
When backpacking Central America, travelling through Belize is a great way to enter Guatemala. San Ignacio, one of Belize’s most popular backpacking towns, is just 20 minutes from the Guatemalan border.
Belize is also only a short boat ride from Mexico, so it’s worth stopping off between countries.
If you’re on the fence about whether or not to include Belize in your backpacking trip, don’t be. It was one of our favourite countries in Central America for so many reasons.
With its abundance of wildlife, epic diving, friendly locals, beautiful national parks, once-in-a-lifetime bucket list experiences and incredible landscapes, it’s a country not to be missed!
Backpacking Belize: Route
If you’re looking at where most backpackers travel to in Belize, this is a common route and Belize itinerary (which can also be followed the other way around).
- Chetumal (Mexico) > Caye Caulker
- Caye Caulker > San Ignacio
- San Ignacio > Flores (Guatemala)
Other locations some backpackers stay in whilst visiting Belize include:
- Hopkins: a beachside, sleepy town
- Placencia: a resort, holiday-like town
- Belize City: although it’s not a popular choice with most backpackers, and isn’t known to be the safest of places
- San Pedro: another Caribbean island near Caye Caulker with a big party scene
- Tobacco Caye: another island but on a much smaller scale
- The Hummingbird Highway: an epic jungle road from Dangriga to San Ignacio. You can stop off along the drive to hike through the jungle and visit the caves and watering holes and do this as a day trip from San Ignacio.
- Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve: a large national park that can be accessed as a day trip from San Ignacio.
How do I pronounce ‘Caye Caulker?’
Surprisingly, it’s not pronounced ‘Caye’ (c-ay) Caulker at all. It’s pronounced ‘key’ (k-ee) Caulker. We didn’t learn this until after arriving in Belize!
How many days should you spend in Belize?
If you are backpacking Belize for the first time, 2-3 weeks is enough to see the highlights. If I was to visit Belize again, I would do the following.
- 7 nights in Caye Caulker
- 3 nights in Hopkins
- 4 nights in San Ignacio
Of course, there are other areas in Belize you can visit, such as Placencia and San Pedro.
How to travel around Belize
There are a few different ways to travel around Belize. They are:
- By shuttle bus (most popular backpacker option)
- By public bus (cheapest option)
- Ferry (to travel between the islands)
- Hiring a car
- Hitchhiking
We opted for both the shuttle and hiring a car, and of course, the ferries when travelling to and from Caye Caulker.
Shuttles in Belize
Shuttles around Belize are safe, easy and reliable. They pick you up from your hostel and take you directly to your next destination (for example, San Ignacio to Flores or Caye Caulker to San Ignacio).
Of course, they’re not as cheap as a public bus, but if you want an easy option, I’d highly recommend them. Whilst in Belize, we never paid more than £20 ($23 USD) for a one-way shuttle.
If you need a reputable company to use and you’re already IN Guatemala, I highly recommend Mayan Adventures. We used them all over Belize and into Guatemala, and they were reliable and reputable.
🦉 TOP TIP: I only recommend using Mayan Adventures if you are IN Belize/Guatemala whilst reading this blog post. If you would like to pre-book online beforehand, I recommend one of the following shuttle companies:
They’re often the same shuttle buses anyway, and using a third-party website gives you a little more insurance than emailing a random person and confirming a shuttle online!
Public buses in Belize
There are a lot of public buses in Belize that you can use to travel around the country. In other Central American countries, they are often referred to as ‘chicken buses’, but in Belize, they’re just known as the public bus. Public buses in Belize run all over the country.
Most buses have a sign at the front of the bus stating where they are going. As the national language of Belize is English, it’s easy enough to tell the driver or ask where they are going if you are unsure.
Prices for public buses in Belize cost under a pound/dollar a journey. It’s definitely an experience, and if you want to immerse yourself in to the Belizean way of life, it’s one not to be missed!
TOP TIP: Keep a few BZ dollars spare for the locals who sell fresh fruit on the buses (expect them to poke their head through the window!)
Ferries in Belize
If you are travelling between the islands (like San Pedro and Caye Caulker) or travelling from Mexico to Belize from Chetumal, you will need to board a ferry.
Again, these ferries are safe, easy and reliable. They’re a little small, especially the boats between Mexico, Caye Caulker and San Pedro, but that’s all part of the fun!
If you need to know more about the ferry journey from Mexico to Belize, check out my post: How To Get From Chetumal To Caye Caulker (Belize).
Hiring a car in Belize
Hiring a car in Belize was our favourite way to travel around. By hiring a car, we were able to stop off in locations that were off the beaten track. For example, we hired a car to explore the Hummingbird Highway and Mountain Pine Ridge. If we didn’t have a car, we wouldn’t have been able to explore in the way that we did.
Driving in Belize is straightforward and safe. We were stopped at two police checkpoints, where they simply checked the insurance sticker on the windscreen and then waved you on. The roads are well-maintained and easy to drive on, with little difference to driving in the UK or US.
Just bear in mind cars in Belize drive on the right-hand side of the road (which is the opposite of the UK).
Worried about driving in Belize? I’ve written a complete guide on driving in Belize to help!
Hitchhiking in Belize
We didn’t hitchhike in Belize, but we met many other backpackers who did! Hitchhiking is a popular option in Belize because there are so few roads (there are only 4 main highways!) and so few directions to take between towns.
We saw many locals and backpackers at the side of the road with their thumbs out, waiting to be picked up!
If you’re confident and have your wits about you, hitchhiking is a great budget-friendly way to travel around Belize!
How to get to Belize
Flying into Belize is easy, and you’re most likely to arrive in Belize City. From there, you can travel by shuttle, ferry or bus to your destination (I don’t recommend staying in Belize City, as it’s not the best place for backpackers for a few reasons).
If you’re backpacking south through Central America, you’re likely to enter Belize from Mexico. This can again be done easily, and if you need more information, you can check out my post How To Get From Chetumal To Caye Caulker (Belize). This post explains where to travel to in Mexico to cross the border into Belize.
Alternatively, if you are travelling north through Central America, you may enter from Guatemala. This is usually done via a land crossing from Flores to San Ignacio and can easily be done via shuttle, and you can find out more information about the journey here!
Best hostels in Belize
Each area in Belize has its own hostels that we loved. For more information on hostels in specific places, take a look at the following posts:
- BEST Hostels In San Ignacio, Belize: Backpacker Guide
- Best Hostels In Caye Caulker For Backpackers
- Backpacking San Ignacio: COMPLETE Guide!
- Backpacking Caye Caulker: Everything You Need To Know
Visas and requirements for entering Belize
If you are a UK or US resident, you will automatically get a 30-day visa when entering Belize. This means you do not need to apply for any other visa.
Belize daily costs
Everyone talks about how expensive Belize is, but after arriving in Mexico, we didn’t find this to be the case! In most instances, things were cheaper than what we had paid in places like Isla Holbox and Tulum.
| Accommodation (per night) | Food (per day) | Activities (some activities are free!) | |
| Low-budget backpacker | Shared dorm: £8-15 | £20-30 | £0-50+ |
| Mid-range backpacker | Private room: £40-60 | £20-50 | £0-80+ |
Prices will vary and depend on the time of year that you are visiting. My biggest tip when backpacking Central America is to book hostels in advance. We found the nicest and most popular hostels in Belize book up quickly, and if you don’t book with enough time, you could end up missing out!
TOP TIP: Most places in Belize only take cash. But, this is changing, and some now take card (just expect a 5-10% fee on top).
If you do need to withdraw cash, there are ATMs to use in all major towns like San Ignacio and islands like Caye Caulker. You can check out my post explaining the ATM situation on Caye Caulker here.
Bucket list experiences in Belize
Backpacking Belize means having the opportunity to do some of these incredible bucket list activities. Our personal favourite was snorkelling with nurse sharks, stingrays and manatees, but even if you’re not a water person, there is still so much to see and do!
- Snorkelling with manatees, nurse sharks and stingrays (££)
- Taking a scenic flight over the Blue Hole (£££)
- Feeding the stingrays at the Iguana Reef Hotel (free)
- Scuba diving with manatees, sharks and stingrays (£££)
- Taking a sunset cruise in Caye Caulker (£)
- Kayaking on the Caribbean Sea (£ or free with your hostel)
- Tubing in the Caribbean Sea (£)
- Visiting the only Iguana Sanctuary in Central America (£)
- Hiring a 4×4 and driving the Hummingbird Highway or visiting Mountain Pine Ridge Reserve (££)
- Delving into Mayan history at the Cahal Pech Ruins and the Xunantunich ruins (£)
- Experiencing the ATM cave with a guide and tubing along the cave waters (£££)
Looking to plan your Belize trip? Check out my posts full of all the best things to do in San Ignacio and amazing things to do in Caye Caulker here!
Free and cheap things to do in Belize
If you’re on a tighter backpacker budget, there are still plenty of things to do in Belize. They include:
- Swimming at the Split and diving off the 20ft platform in Caye Caulker
- Kayaking around the islands (most hostels allow you to use their kayaks for free, for example, Go Slow Hostel does!)
- Seeing the stingrays at sunset at the Iguana Reef Inn in Caye Caulker
- Having a traditional Caribbean BBQ
- Partying at the Sports Bar in Caye Caulker (5 BZ rum punch!), taking part in the pub quiz or karaoke
- Hiring a bike to cycle and explore
- Watching the sunset from the Split in Caye Caulker
- Grabbing a beer from the shop and sitting by the Caribbean Sea
- Volunteering at the animal shelter in Caye Caulker (opposite Ice and Beans)
- Getting a morning coffee and watching the world go by
- Going for a walk and exploring the island at your own ‘go slow’ pace
- Visiting the Iguana Sanctuary (roughly £9/$10 per person)
- Walking around the San Ignacio market (free)
- Exploring San Ignacio town (free)
- Drinking a beer at Tandoor, overlooking San Ignacio square (£2/$3 per beer)
- Visiting the Cahal Pech ruins in San Ignacio (£3/$4 per person) which is walkable from the main hostels
- Exploring the Xunantunich ruins, although you will need to hire a car or grab a taxi to reach them. They’re around a 10-minute drive from San Ignacio’s main town.
- Hiking through the Mountain Pine Ridge Reserve – but again, you will need either car or a tour to reach the reserve. Cars start at $65 USD per day.
Check out my posts full of all the best things to do in San Ignacio and amazing things to do in Caye Caulker here!
Local foods and drinks in Belize
FOOD
The national dish of Belize is rice and beans. This is served with most meals, especially if you get a BBQ meal in a restaurant or Belizean stew chicken in a restaurant. Other common foods in San Ignacio include Belizean stews, coconut rice, fry jacks, classic American dishes like hamburgers and fries, and even Mexican burritos!
DRINK
Belize’s national drink is rum punch, but we weren’t able to buy this in most places in San Ignacio. Whilst there were cocktails, we found it was easier to just by a Belikin beer, which is Belize’s national beer (which is super cheap).
Wildlife in Belize
We saw so much wildlife whilst backpacking Belize! There is an abundance of wildlife, and it’s pretty much everywhere you look (especially in the water!)
When backpacking Belize, you can expect to see:
- Gibnuts – especially around the Mayan ruin sites
- Howler monkeys – we spotted lots of monkeys in the trees at the Xunantunich ruins
- Tapirs – we saw tapirs in both Mountain Pine Ridge and the Xunantunich ruins!
- Hummingbirds
- Iguanas (and lots of them)
- Geckos
- Wild dogs
- Nurse sharks (with a chance of swimming with them!)
- Stingrays (every night at the Iguana Reef Hotel in Caye Caulker)
- Manatees (whilst snorkeling)
- Dolphins (whilst snorkeling)
- Sea turtles (whilst snorkeling)
- Pelicans
- Seahorses (at the Iguana Reef Hotel viewing area in Caye Caulker)
- Eels (at the Iguana Reef Hotel viewing area in Caye Caulker)
- Starfish
- Tarpons
- Hermit crabs
- Crocodiles (although I don’t recommend finding these! They live on the north island)
Making friends in Belize as a backpacker
As a backpacker, you’re going to want to make friends to make the most of your experience in Belize. If you’re a solo traveller with a lot of confidence and an extroverted personality, this is going to be easy. But for some of us, it just isn’t!
We actually found it easy to make friends in Belize. There were many other backpackers and tourists, as well as locals who were exceptionally friendly and welcoming. We made friends pretty much everywhere we went, even when we stayed in private rooms!
Here are my best tips for making friends whilst backpacking Belize, regardless of if you’re travelling in a couple, solo, with friends or you’re a bit of an introvert (like me!)
- Use shuttle buses to get around. This may sound odd, but it’s one of the ways we made most of our friends in Belize! The shuttles are full of other backpackers so it’s impossible to not get chatting on your journey.
- Book tours! In Caye Caulker, our snorkelling tour was full of other backpackers who we inevitably became friends with. You can find out the company and more about this tour here.
- Stay in a hostel (even if it’s a private room). Our hostel in Caye Caulker – Go Slow – had outside decking, right in front of our room, which we shared with other backpackers. We made a lot of friends here without having to do anything!
What to pack for a trip to Belize
When packing for your Belize 7 day itinerary, make sure you have the following items:
- All the obvious holiday wear (swimwear, sunglasses, sandals, beach clothes)
- Trainers to walk/hike in, especially for the Hummingbird Highway (I wear these trail running shoes for all hikes whilst backpacking)
- Sun cream (my favourite reef friendly one can be bought here)
- Day backpack for hikes and day trips
- Reusable filter water bottle (you cannot drink tap water in Belize!)
- Shower gel, shampoo and conditioner (these are really hard to buy in Central America!)
- Skin cream (skin dehydrates quickly in the sun; this is my favourite skin cream which I wear every day whilst backpacking!)
- GoPro waterproof camera to film all of your underwater footage – especially whilst snorkelling!
Is Belize worth seeing?
Yes! Belize is so worth visiting. If you are backpacking Central America or want a budget-friendly holiday from the UK, Belize is an amazing choice. From the abundance of wildlife to paradise beaches, crystal clear waters, epic adventure activities, jungle scenery and plenty of things to do, Belize is so worth visiting.
Where to go after Belize
Where do you head to after you’ve finished backpacking Belize? The most popular options are either Bacalar, Mexico or Flores, Guatemala, depending on which way you are travelling.
San Ignacio, Belize is the gateway to Guatemala, so most backpackers spend a couple of nights here before heading into their next country. It’s an easy land crossing from San Ignacio to Flores (Guatemala).
Need help getting from San Ignacio to Flores? Check out my post: How To Get From San Ignacio To Flores.
If you visit Belize after Guatemala and BEFORE Mexico, I recommend travelling to Bacalar (Mexico) next.
Bacalar is easy to reach from Caye Caulker. You’ll board the water taxi, then it’s only a 30-minute bus away from Chetumal (the location where your water taxi drops you off in Mexico).
It’s a popular destination in Mexico due to it’s brightly coloured blue lakes and party atmosphere. All information about the boat between Belize and Mexico can be found here: How To Get From Chetumal To Caye Caulker (Belize).
Is Belize safe for solo female travellers?
Yes, Belize is a safe place for solo female travellers to visit. Throughout the entire time I spent in Belize, I felt safe. This includes on my own during the day and at night.
The locals were kind, welcoming and friendly. Yes, you do get a bit of heckling and asking whether you’d like a rum or other suspicious items, but it’s nothing harmful.
In fact, backpacking Belize was where I felt safest throughout our Central American travels.
But everyone’s experiences of Belize are different. What might feel safe to me, might not feel safe for you. But in general, I found there to be no issues or problems in Belize, no immediate threat of danger and most importantly, the people were kind!
As always, make sure you have travel insurance to have extra peace of mind. As a previous solo female traveller myself, I always use SafetyWing for insurance. They have the best cover for backpackers, and signing up is easy! You can check out their cover here.
Other Central American backpacking locations
If you’re backpacking Central America, go you! It’s such an incredible part of the world to travel, and I’m so glad you’re here, reading this and considering it.
Not sure what route to take? You’re in the right place! This blog is full of Central America backpacking advice.
If you’re not sure what other countries to visit in Central America, this is the most common route backpackers take:
- Mexico
- Belize
- Guatemala
- El Salvador
- Honduras
- Nicaragua
- Costa Rica
- Panama (ending with the San Blas Island trip to Colombia)
How long you stay in each location is down to you, but if you need more information about any of these locations, sign up to my newsletter and keep an eye on the blog for when they’re published!
Best backpacker travel insurance for Central America
If you’re visiting Central America as a backpacker, or even for a short vacation, it is so important to have travel insurance. And if you ended up on a post that’s called ‘epic party tips’, you know (just as well as I do) that you definitely need travel insurance.
Personally, I recommend SafetyWing. As a digital nomad and world traveller myself, I can confirm it is the best travel insurance out there. And one of the cheapest – they have deals that start at just $42 USD per month.
I know, I know, you’re thinking ‘but I can’t afford that!’. I was the same! It’s tough to fork out $42 a month on something ‘you might not need’. But what if something DOES happen? That extra Mezcal shot results in you falling down the stairs, or you eat something dodgy from a street food van.
If you need medical help at any point whilst in Central America, you need travel insurance.
With SafetyWing, you’re covered on travel emergencies, basic medical costs and medical expenses throughout your trip, so you can travel without worry (at a backpacker’s price!)
Don’t even think twice about getting travel insurance for Central America. Trust me, I have heard enough horror stories about backpackers who haven’t had insurance and have ended up in a lot of debt. Don’t be that person!
If you’ve been putting the job off because it takes a lot of time and effort to research the best travel insurance companies, I understand. That’s why I’ve done the hard work for you. Sign up for SafetyWing, and the job is done!
Backpacking Belize: In a Nutshell
So, there you have it! Nearly 5000 words later, and you should know everything about backpacking Belize! Phew, if you’ve got this far, I’m impressed!
When you’re planning a trip to Belize, make sure you let me know over on Instagram or in the comments below. I’d love to know about your experience in Belize and if you found it as special as I did!
If you haven’t come across my blog before, I write informative and honest posts directly aimed at backpackers. Researching and planning your trip whilst backpacking can be so overwhelming, so I’m here to make it as easy as possible!
I’m currently backpacking Central America with my boyfriend (read more here!), whilst creating guides and itineraries for you to follow our footsteps!
Keep an eye out for more Belize content, all written from a personal and realistic point of view. You can sign up for my newsletter and juicy travel updates here!
As always, thanks for reading and supporting the blog!
Happy travelling 🙂
Jennie x
Other Belize posts:
- Backpacking San Ignacio: COMPLETE Guide
- Snorkeling in Caye Caulker: BEST Company
- Best Hostels In Caye Caulker For Backpackers
MEET THE AUTHOR!
Hi! I'm Jennie! As a part-time travel blogger based in London, I'm using my 10+ years of travel expertise to encourage & inspire you to step out of your comfort zone through sustainable, mindful and purposeful travel.
If I'm not writing, I'm either reading, drinking coffee or taking a wild swim (all at the same time if I'm feeling impressive).
