Don’t Miss These Beautiful Beaches in Belize!
Belize is known as the jewel of Central America and is one of the region’s best travel destinations. The country is located between Mexico and Guatemala. It used to be a colony of British-Honduras, and that’s why it is also the only Central American country with English – not Spanish – as its official language. Belize is mainly known for its breathtaking Caribbean coast and the country’s laid-back atmosphere. You are sure to be blown away by its diverse culture and the numerous diving and snorkeling spots. But the main point of attraction are the numerous beaches in Belize. We have checked out and created a list of the best ones for you.
Placencia
The small coastal town of Placencia is located in the southern part of the country and is widely known to be home to some of the best beaches in Belize. This area has a 25 kilometers long coastline with many pristine beaches. Locals even recommend you just stay barefoot for the entirety of your visit.
This vacation spot in the eastern Caribbean is located on a peninsula and surrounds the beautiful Placencia Lagoon. During your stay, you will be able to relax on beautiful, white sandy beaches and have the opportunity to try out a wide variety of activities. You could, for example, go snorkeling, try your hand at sailing or even dive with whale sharks. You can also go on day trips and explore the Belize Barrier Reef.
Ambergris Caye
Ambergris Caye is the largest island in northern Belize and is home to one of the best diving sites in all of Central America! Due to this fact, the city of the same name is usually more crowded with tourists than many of the other beach towns in the country. If you want to spend some time away from the city’s busy streets, you can go to one of the many piers, rent a boat and head to the north of Ambergris Caye.
There, you can relax on a beautiful beach and, for a while, just enjoy the peace and quiet. After spending some time at the beach, make sure to also not miss out on a visit to the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef, more commonly known as the Great Mayan Reef. Along the reef, you will find numerous protected areas such as the aforementioned Belize Barrier Reef, the Cayos Cochinos Marine Reserve and the Arrecifes de Cozumel National Park.
Turneffe
This atoll is located by the coast of Belize City and, in combination with the islands of Glover’s Reef and Lighthouse Reef, forms the Belize Barrier Reef. It is also considered to be the largest coral island of the country and even of the entire Mesoamerican Barrier Reef. Turneffe Atoll is an official marine reserve and home to many endangered species.
For this reason, Turneffe Atoll is one of the region’s top diving spots for beginners and experts alike. Here you will find a great variety of marine life such as, for example, stingrays, corals and larger fish. This island is also a great place to go snorkeling and fishing. You could, of course, also simply relax on the beach and marvel at the fascinating mangroves that surround the island.
Sapodilla Caye
Belize is a country of more than 200 cayes; they are small, flat islands made up of coral and sand deposits. Located 65 kilometers east of Punta Gorda and by Belize’s border with Guatemala, Sapodilla Caye is known to be the country’s southernmost caye. As a part of the popular Mesoamerican Barrier Reef, the island is a marine reserve and is even recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The reserve is, among other things, home to 14 mangroves and some picture-perfect sand cayes. The surrounding water is not only crystal clear but also the natural habitat of a wide variety of marine life, including sea turtles, dolphins, manta rays and whale sharks. Snappers, marine angel fish, parrot fish and leaf scorpion fish are some of the area’s other interesting aquatic lifeforms.
Caye Caulker
Many people consider Caye Caulker to be a true Caribbean paradise! From Belize City, the island can easily be reached by water taxi. As cars are not allowed on the island, there is no background noise to keep you from fully enjoying Caye Caulker’s laid-back atmosphere. This island is the perfect destination for couples or backpackers looking for beaches in Belize which they can have all to themselves. Caye Caulker also isn’t all that big, so the best way of exploring the island is by renting a bike or simply taking a walk.
Hopkins
Hopkins is located on the country’s east coast and is reputed to be the friendliest village in Belize. It is a traditional Garifuna village, meaning that the people are the descendants of former west African slaves and the Caribbean’s indigenous population. When you pay a visit to the town’s beach, you won’t come across any modern streets, buildings or beach cleaners. Palm leaves, seaweed and fallen coconuts are the only things you will be able to see. As such, Hopkins is the perfect place to just soak in the traditional atmosphere and enjoy the sight of untouched nature spreading as far as the eye can see.
Laughing Bird Caye
This island is located 18 km from the popular village of Placencia and was declared a national park in 1991. Laughing Bird Caye is the perfect destination for tourists who want to try water sports such as kayaking, snorkeling and diving. The island got its name from the laughing black-headed gulls that once inhabited the island.
While the black-headed gulls have left the area, you will still be able to spot plenty of exotic birds such as, for example, green herons and brown pelicans. You can also visit the national park. It consists of three areas: the buffer zone, the recreational zone and the preservation zone. Inside the national park, you will have the opportunity to see crabs, eels, barracudas, lobsters, stingrays and many other animals living by the coast.
Goff’s Caye
This small and sandy island is situated right between Belize City and the Turneffe Atoll. It sports a truly breathtaking pearl-white beach and is surrounded by shimmering turquoise water. The lush coral reef near Goff Caye’s beach is the perfect place to go snorkeling. While underwater, you can marvel at the wide variety of colorful fish and sea turtles simply going about their lives in their natural habitat.
South Water Caye
South Water Caye is considered to be one of Belize’s hidden treasures. The island is home to a 15-hectare hidden beach that practically invites you to go diving or snorkeling. Its shores are covered in a distinctive powdery white sand, which you can enjoy at the Pelican Beach Resort.
With lots of coconut trees and hammocks, this is another one of the beaches in Belize that invites you to just relax and enjoy the beautiful views. What’s great about it, is that the reef is located close enough to the beach that you can reach it by simply swimming from the shore. The South Water Caye is ideal for reading a book and winding down at the end of the day.
Conclusion
Belize is considered to be the jewel of Central America and, as such, is a popular tourist destination. It is a country full of stunning beaches with magnificent views. Furthermore, the waters surrounding the beaches in Belize are full of diverse marine life, making it the perfect spot to try water sports like swimming, snorkeling or scuba diving.