Hummingbird Highway Belize: Ultimate Guide + Stops (2023)
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Planning to drive along the Hummingbird Highway in Belize? This was one of our favourite day trips from San Ignacio, and I highly recommend adding it to your Belize itinerary.
In the following post, you’ll find everything you need to know about the scenic Hummingbird Highway; from how to get there, where to eat, where to stop and what to do. When we visited the Hummingbird Highway, we drove from San Ignacio. We rented a car, left early in the morning and had all day to explore the area.
It’s good to know that you do not need to spend more than a day exploring the Hummingbird Highway to enjoy it. It can easily be enjoyed as a day trip from Hopkins, San Ignacio or Dangriga.
So, let’s find out everything there is to know about one of Belize’s most beautiful roads, so you can appreciate it just as much as I did.
You might also like…
- Snorkeling in Caye Caulker: COMPLETE Guide!
- Best Restaurants in San Ignacio Belize (Backpacker Guide 2023)
- How To Get From Tulum To Caye Caulker: Backpacker Guide 2023
- Backpacking Belize: A Complete Guide (2023)
🤩 Backpacking Belize for the first time? Check out my epic 7-day itinerary here!
Hummingbird Highway Belize: A Summary
The Hummingbird Highway is one of the 4 major highways in Belize, connecting the George Prince Highway and the Southern Highway. It stretches almost 54 miles long, cutting through the scenic Maya Mountains.
Most backpackers or tourists will road trip the Hummingbird Highway to soak up the jungle views, hike through some of Belize’s most beautiful national parks and swim in the famous Inland Blue Hole.
If you drive from one side of the Hummingbird Highway to the other, it will take under 2 hours. This means you have plenty of time to stop off along the way and enjoy some of the home-cooked food, nature trails and viewpoints.
Even if you only use the Hummingbird Highway to travel from the east coast of Belize to the mainland in the west, it’s just as beautiful from behind your car window.
The best way to explore the Hummingbird Highway is to rent your own car. Car rentals in Belize are most commonly done in person, in either Belize City, Dangriga, San Ignacio or Hopkins, or pre-booked online.
Worried about driving in Central America? I’ve got you covered and written a complete guide to driving in Belize.
Looking to plan your Belize trip? Check out my post full of all the best things to do in San Ignacio here!
Where to stop on the Hummingbird Highway Belize
Whether you’re visiting the Hummingbird Highway for the day or overnight, there are many places to park and explore. Most stops can be completed even on a day trip, especially if you are willing to wake up and start early.
If you do have the luxury of time on your side, I recommend booking accommodation on the Hummingbird Highway to explore some of the areas in more depth, especially the Billy Barquedier National Park. But if you only have a day, you can still visit the Hummingbird Highway.
Below I have listed some of the most popular stops on the Hummingbird Highway. If you are driving from San Ignacio, the furthest stop is the Billy Barquedier National Park. Or, if you’re starting from Hopkins or Dangriga, you may want to go as far as Belmopan, the country’s capital.
Some great Hummingbird Highway Belize stops include:
- St Herman’s Cave
- Inland Blue Hole
- Sleeping Giant Rainforest Lodge (viewpoint)
- Santa Marta village
- Five Blues Lake
- Angel Falls
- Billy Barquedier National Park
- Bonus: Belize’s capital city; Belmopan
There are, of course, other places to visit on the Hummingbird Highway, and you can simply drive down the road and see where interests you. There are also a number of food and drink stops, which we will discuss later!
Did you know?
Belize City is not the capital of Belize! It is in fact Belmopan, a city with a population of just 20,000!
1. St. Herman’s Cave
St Herman’s Cave is one of the most accessible caves in Belize and is a popular tourist attraction. You will pay a small fee to walk through the jungle and eventually reach the cave entrance, which is a set of vertical, stone steps leading into seemingly perpetual darkness.
Entrance to the cave is around £8 ($9 USD) each, and this covers both the cave and the Inland Blue Hole (just be sure to not lose your ticket). The two attractions are not far from each other in distance, but if you’re only visiting the Hummingbird Highway for a day trip, I highly recommend driving between the two (there are car parks at both).
If you are visiting St Herman’s Cave without a tour guide, you can only walk around 200m into the cave. To do it without a guide is simply too dangerous. At the entrance, you can pay 5 BZD to rent a headlamp, and ask a guide to take you further into the cave if you wish. Oh, and bring your steady feet to walk down the slippery steps and into the heart of the cave!
Once in the cave, you can admire the sparkles of the limestone rocks, or even take a tube to gently float along the cave’s main water streams. It’s not one for the faint-hearted due to how dark it is, but it’s definitely an experience!
There are two trails you can take to St Herman’s Cave, the Lowland Trail and the Highland Trail. The Highland Trail is actually shorter, but it takes hikers further up into the mountains (so most of it is uphill). The Lowland Trail is an easy, flat path through the jungle, which visitors of any fitness can do. At the end of the trail is the entrance to the cave, where you can decide if you want to head any further or just admire some more of the jungle views.
BACKPACKING BELIZE? You might also like my detailed guides on San Ignacio, Caye Caulker, and my overall guide to backpacking Belize!
2. The Inland Blue Hole National Park
Another popular stop when driving the Hummingbird Highway is the Inland Blue Hole National Park. You may have seen photos of the crystal blue waters, which look similar to a Mexican cenote. Formed due to a collapsed cave, this freshwater natural pool is the perfect swimming spot!
There are changing rooms and toilets, so you don’t need to worry about getting changed beforehand. It can get pretty busy, so I recommend doing this stop as early as possible on your Hummingbird Highway road trip.
The Inland Blue Hole is accessible to most, as the car park is just a 5-minute walk away. It has a series of well-built steps with a handle rail leading right into the water.
However, after speaking to a local, we learnt it has not long been like this! Just a couple of years ago, the entrance to the pool was via swinging off hanging vines and cliff jumping. A lot more adventurous, but I’m glad it’s changed!
3. Sleeping Giant Rainforest Lodge (viewpoint)
We came across the Sleeping Giant Rainforest Lodge viewpoint by complete accident, and I am so glad we did. There are signs for this accommodation on the Hummingbird Highway, labelled ‘viewpoint’, and we thought we better take a look.
You’ll park in the hotel’s main car park, and then take a short 5-minute walk to the entrance of the viewpoint. We had the trail to ourselves, and the only other people we saw were the guests staying at the resort (which is beautiful by the way, you can check it out here).
To reach the viewpoint, you will need to hike through the thick jungle up a mountain path. It is truly stunning – the jungle is dense and noisy, with the overwhelming sound of animals and insects. It’s worth the hike to just experience this!
When you reach the top, you’ll be hit with breathtaking views of the Maya Mountains and seemingly endless jungle.
Want to extend your stay and sleep in the heart of the Belizean jungle?
⮕ Book a few nights at the Sleeping Giant Rainforest Lodge here!
4. Santa Marta Village
Home to the Five Blues Lake National Park, St Margaret (Santa Marta Village) can be found at mile 31 on the Hummingbird Highway. It is a small village made up of Belizeans, Guatemalans, Hondurans and Salvadorans, and is worth visiting for its food, culture and access to the Five Blues Lake.
5. Five Blues Lake
Unsurprisingly, Five Blues Lake National Park is home to five different blue lakes on the Hummingbird Highway. It is a 10-acre national park, which is located at mile 32. It’s perfect for hiking, swimming and trail walking, and on a sunny day, the lakes shine a beautiful crystal blue.
It’s also a great place for bird watching, as there are over 200 species of birds populating the national park. Either walk around on the self-guided trail or take a tube and float in one of the lakes. At the visitor centre, you can rent mountain bikes and kayaks if you’d like to add a bit more adventure.
The park is open between 8 am – 4 pm daily.
🤩 Backpacking Belize for the first time? Check out my epic 7-day itinerary here!
6. Angel Falls
Angel Falls is home to the fastest and longest zipline in Belize and is known for being one of the best adrenaline-filled adventure parks in the country. Made up of a set of waterfalls and thick, green jungle, you can fly through the jungle on eight separate ziplines!
Whilst it’s not quite the most budget-friendly activity (prices start at $100 per person), it’s a fun place to visit if you have more than one day to experience the Hummingbird Highway.
You can book a tour or view prices for Angel Falls here.
Looking to plan your Belize trip? Check out my post full of all the best things to do in San Ignacio here!
7. Billy Barquedier National Park
A must-visit location on the Hummingbird Highway Belize is the Billy Barquedier National Park on mile 17. Known as the ‘gem of the emerald valley’, the national park is known for its abundance of wildlife, waterfalls, fauna, forest and hiking trails.
If you have the time, hike up to the Billy Barquedier National Park observation tower. This can be found via the ‘Jaguar Trail’, and sits at over 1200ft after a 45-60 minute uphill climb. From the top, you can enjoy views of the Maya Mountains from an exceptionally rickety wooden tower! (It’s worth it, I promise).
Aside from the observation tower, you can hike through the national park spotting wildlife and take a dip in the Billy Barquedier Falls. There are trails to suit all kinds of walkers, from the most to least experienced, so it’s definitely worth a visit!
8. Bonus: Belmopan, Belize’s capital city
One final stop you can make on the Hummingbird Highway Belize is Belmopan. Belmopan is the capital city of Belize, but is only home to a population of 20,000 people, making it the smallest capital city in the continental Americas by population!
However, it’s not one to be overlooked. Whether you just drive through Belmopan or stop off for some food, it’s worth a visit. Most locations along the Hummingbird Highway are also technically located in Belmopan, including the Inland Blue Hole and St Herman’s Blue Cave.
Things to do on the Hummingbird Highway Belize
When driving the Hummingbird Highway, you may want to stop off along the way for some activities. Whilst some of these activities need a guide, some can be done independently!
Some of the best things to do on the Hummingbird Highway include:
- Hiking and cave tubing through St Herman’s Cave (don’t forget your headlamp!)
- Spotting wildlife such as hummingbirds, tapirs and peacocks
- Swimming in the Inland Blue Hole
- Ziplining, rappelling and swimming at Angel Falls
- Cave kayaking, hiking and tubing at the Billy Barquedier National Park
- Hiking to different viewpoints, such as the Sleeping Giant Rainforest Loop
- Taking photos at the Hummingbird Gap, the highest point on the Hummingbird Highway
- Eating tamales at Ms Bertha’s Tamales
- Simply enjoying the scenic drive through Belize’s most beautiful road
Check out my post full of all the best things to do in San Ignacio here!
BACKPACKING BELIZE? You might also like my detailed guides on San Ignacio, Caye Caulker, and my overall guide to backpacking Belize!
Where to stay on the Hummingbird Highway Belize
If you would like to stay on or around the Hummingbird Highway, there are a few options. Most of the accommodations in the Belizean jungle look incredible, with some including all activities and park entrance fees in their prices.
Some of the best places to stay on the Hummingbird Highway include:
- Sleeping Giant Rainforest Lodge: a resort located in the middle of the Hummingbird Highway, where you can stay in riverside cottages and watch the world go by in your own private hot tub. Prices vary depending on the time of year, but this is the perfect luxury accommodation if you can treat yourself. The lodge even has its own animal farm and jungle mountain viewpoint!
- Jaguar Creek: Jaguar Creek is an eco-lodge nestled on the Hummingbird Highway. As well as offering a unique jungle lodge experience, Jaguar Creek supports the local community by sourcing goods and services from the surrounding community. It’s a great place to stay if you want to experience the heart of the jungle, packed full of adrenaline-pumping adventures.
- Bocawina Rainforest Resort: Bocawina Rainforest Resort is an all-inclusive jungle experience on the Hummingbird Highway. If you choose to stay here, all of your activities, adventures, meals and entrance to hiking trails are included. It’s a little more expensive than your average backpacker accommodation but totally worth it for a once-in-a-lifetime jungle experience.
If you would prefer to stay in San Ignacio on a more backpacker-friendly budget, check out the next section.
Where to stay in San Ignacio as a backpacker
San Ignacio is a small town which can be walked around on foot. All of the main hostels are in the town centre.
There are a few hostels which backpackers tend to stay in and prefer. These are great as you can book your shuttle, tours and transport to Flores, Guatemala through them.
If you’re visiting San Ignacio for the first time as a backpacker, I recommend staying in one of the following hostels because of their low budget and good location:
Fancy something different? We stayed in a cabin just on the outskirts of San Ignacio, and it was absolute paradise. I wouldn’t recommend it if you’re solo, but if you’re backpacking with your partner, it’s a great option to experience some of the San Ignacio countryside! You can check it out here.
Where to eat on the Hummingbird Highway Belize
The food on the Hummingbird Highway is just as good as the scenery. And the scenery is pretty good, so you can have high expectations!
If you’re looking to grab some breakfast or lunch on the Hummingbird Highway, check out:
- Ms Bertha’s Tamales: “Everyone in Belize knows about Ms Bertha’s tamales”. Enjoy a perfectly cooked chicken and corn tamale with Ms Bertha’s homemade hot sauce at this family-run kerbside restaurant. Sadly, Ms Bertha recently passed away, but her family are working hard to keep the restaurant going and allow her tamale legacy to live on.
- Kropf’s Bakery: A quick bathroom and snack stop, serving fresh pastries and cakes.
- Cafe Casita del Amor: When you first arrive at Cafe Casita Del Amor, you’ll notice this place looks similar to an old haunted house…or a century-old gothic cottage. Don’t let that put you off (or entice you, as it did for me), grab a coffee and enjoy the experience.
- Marie Sharp’s Factory and Farm: The furthest food stop on the list, but one of the best. Marie Sharp’s is another family-owned shop, serving homemade jellies, jams and her famous hot sauce. In fact, you might have seen the Marie Sharp hot sauce on almost every restaurant table in the whole of Belize! Yep, she’s well-known across the country, and it’s definitely worth a visit.
Hummingbird Highway Tours
Alternatively, you can visit the Hummingbird Highway in Belize through a guided tour. All of the tour guides we had in Belize were kind, welcoming and knowledgeable. If you’re booking a tour to visit the Hummingbird Highway, I recommend the following:
- Xunantunich and Inland Blue Hole Tour: This combines the love of two of the best places in Belize (both not to be missed!) ⮕ BOOK TOUR NOW
Want to visit Xunantunich independently? Check out my full guide on Xunantunich here!
- Thrilling Zipline Adventure at Bocawina Rainforest: an epic day out zip lining through the jungle! ⮕ BOOK TOUR NOW
- Xunantunich Maya Pyramid and Barton Creek Cave canoeing combo: Another combo of two epic activities in Belize! ⮕ BOOK TOUR NOW!
Driving in Belize
Renting a car in Belize isn’t the cheapest option, but it’s one of the best ways to see the hidden gems of the country, especially if you want to experience the Hummingbird Highway to its fullest.
Whilst backpacking Belize, we hired a car to explore the national parks and areas around San Ignacio. Yes, we could have done this with a tour, but we like to get off the beaten track and explore places by ourselves.
So, is it safe to drive in Belize? Of course, we had our doubts, like we did when we hired a car in Jordan for the first time (and then realised that was incredibly safe).
When I was researching our trip to Belize in England, I looked more at shuttles and taxis, as I just didn’t think driving through a Central American country would be the safest way to get around. I was totally wrong!
Driving in Belize is just as safe as driving in the UK. The roads are well-maintained and not too busy (well, you may encounter the odd traffic jam at rush hour), and the police at the checkpoints are friendly and just want to check your vehicle is insured.
However, rules, signposts and behaviour do differ slightly from the UK. For example, Belize drives on the right-hand side, whereas the UK drives on the left.
But the attitudes of other drivers on the road were pretty relaxed – we didn’t come into contact with any drivers with road rage or aggression.
If you want to know more about driving in Belize, check out my post: Driving in Belize: Ultimate Car Hire Guide.
Renting a car in Belize
If you want to make the most out of a trip backpacking Belize and exploring the surrounding areas of San Ignacio, Hopkins and the mainland (such as the Hummingbird Highway and the Mountain Pine Ridge Reserve), you will need to hire a car.
We hired a 4×4 because the roads within the Mountain Pine Ridge Reserve can be bumpy, and it had been raining the day before so some of the side roads were quite muddy. However, the main roads in Belize are smooth, easy to drive on and safe.
If you’re hiring a car in San Ignacio, we used Matus Car Rental. We had a great experience with them, found the owner to be super helpful and loved our 4×4. If they don’t have availability, there is also Caye Auto Rentals.
Prices for car rentals in San Ignacio start at $65 (USD) per day.
Worried about driving in Belize? I have a guide to help! You can check it out here: Driving in Belize: Ultimate Car Hire Guide.
BACKPACKING BELIZE? You might also like my detailed guides on San Ignacio, Caye Caulker, and my overall guide to backpacking Belize!
Wildlife on the Hummingbird Highway Belize
If you’ve read any of my blog posts before, or know anything about me, you’ll know that my biggest love when travelling is spotting wildlife. And luckily for me, Belize is a wildlife paradise.
And of course, the Hummingbird Highway is one of the best places in Belize to spot wildlife – and not just in the depths of the jungle. There are multiple signs along the highway cautioning drivers to take it slow across designated ‘animal’ crossings.
When visiting the Hummingbird Highway, look out for:
- Tapirs – Belize’s national animal
- Jaguars
- Hummingbirds
- Snakes
- Peacocks
- Ocelots
- Howler monkeys
- Spider monkeys
- Giant iguanas
- Tarantulas
- Armadillos
- Woodpeckers
- Giant ants
- Deer
- Toucans
- Herons
- Gibnuts
- Coatis
This isn’t an exhaustive list, as the wildlife in Belize is endless. Just keep an eye out – sometimes the wildlife can be tricky to spot, or may be hiding in the trees!
Hummingbird Highway Belize: FAQs
Can you visit the Hummingbird Highway without a tour?
Yes! You do not need a tour to experience the highlights of the Hummingbird Highway in Belize. However, you will need to rent a car.
Why is it called the Hummingbird Highway?
The Hummingbird Highway is one of the most beautiful roads in Belize, and it is known for its abundance of hummingbirds. You are likely to spot one of these tiny, colourful birds at any of the stops listed on this Hummingbird Highway itinerary!
Which two villages are located on the Hummingbird Highway?
Belize connects the capital Belmopan to Dangriga, Stann Creek, but runs through a number of small villages and towns.
Where does Hummingbird Highway start?
The Hummingbird Highway connects the capital of Belize, Belmopan, in the north to Dangriga on the south-eastern coast.
When was the Hummingbird Highway built?
The Hummingbird Highway Belize was built and completed in 1994. Since then, it’s been one of the best tourist attractions in Belize, and is known as the most beautiful road in the country.
Is it hard to drive in Belize?
No, driving in Belize is safe, easy and straightforward. Sometimes there may be the occasional pothole in the rural areas, but in general, driving in Belize is similar to driving in the UK or the US (with way fewer cars and traffic).
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Is San Ignacio Belize safe?
It’s impossible to say whether a place is totally safe or not, but from our personal experience, the low crime rates of the town and other visitors’ experiences, San Ignacio is a safe place to visit. If you’re a solo female traveller, it is safe to walk around Belize, but as always, use common sense and check out my Central America safety guide here.
As a solo female backpacker, you may also experience some heckling or looks from locals across Central America. As I walked around by myself, I found this was quite common but never harmful. It stopped as soon as I didn’t respond. This can be quite annoying, but don’t let it disrupt your travels.
🤩 Backpacking Belize for the first time? Check out my epic 7-day itinerary here!
What are the best areas in Belize for backpackers?
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.
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 round).
- 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
- San Pedro: another Caribbean island
- Dangriga: where the Ragga Sailing tour ends from Caye Caulker
- 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.
- Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve: a large national park that can be accessed from San Ignacio.
More on all of these locations coming soon!
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!
Hummingbird Highway Belize: In a Nutshell
So, there you have it! Everything you need to know about the Hummingbird Highway in Belize, and how it can be an epic day trip from San Ignacio.
When you’re planning a trip to Central America, make sure you let me know over on Instagram or in the comments below!
If you haven’t come across my blog before, I write posts aimed at first-time backpackers on a budget. I’m currently backpacking Mexico with my boyfriend (read more here!), whilst creating guides and itineraries for you to follow in 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 Belize: A Complete Guide
- Driving in Belize: Ultimate Car Hire Guide
- How To Get From Tulum To Caye Caulker: Backpacker Guide
- Xunantunich From San Ignacio: Day Trip COMPLETE Guide
- Best Restaurants in San Ignacio Belize (Backpacker Guide)
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).
