Where to Stay in Belize → 6 BEST Towns & Hotels (2024)

Hello traveler and welcome to your online guide to Belize! This lovely country is known for its mind-blowing coral reefs, impressive Mayan Ruins, and stunning white-sand beaches! In this article, I’ll help you decide where to stay in Belize!

I researched all the best towns to base yourself, hand-picked top-rated hotels, and sorted them nicely by budget so you can easily book your ideal stay in minutes.

San Pedro, the main city on the country’s largest island, is the best place to stay for first timers! It’s stunning and has so much to do and see, including the most fabulous coral reefs! But for the best experience in Belize, I recommend splitting your stay into two: inland and on the islands!

Before we start, I want to remind you to book your Belize hotel in advance so you don’t miss out on the best prices. Many places offer free cancellations, so don’t worry if you change your mind!

Quick Picks for Your Stay

Book the best hotels to stay in Belize’s San Pedro now:

This practical map highlights all the best towns and places to stay in Belize:

1. San Pedro (Ambergris Caye) – where to stay in Belize for the first time

Ambergris Caye (pronounced “key”, meaning a low-elevation sandy island) is the biggest island in Belize spreading 40 km (24 miles) along the country’s coast. It’s the most developed island (and destination, really) for tourism in Belize.

The Belize Barrier Reef stretches along the coast of Ambergris Caye, and here you will discover incredible caves, beautiful beaches, lagoons with mangroves, and museums where you can learn about the island’s culture. And if you are into watersports, you can practice many activities such as diving, fishing, snorkeling, sailing, and kayaking. 

You’ll find accommodation across the island, but the highest concentration of the best hotels is in San Pedro, the main and southernmost city of Ambergris Caye. San Pedro is an hour-and-a-half ferry ride from Belize City (where the main international airport is)!

Meso-American Barrier Reef (that encompasses Belize Barrier Reef) is the 2nd largest in the world! It’s 1,126 km (699 mi) long (the only larger reef is the Great Barrier Reef in Australia). 

The magnificent Hol Chan Marine Reserve (map) and the Shark Ray Alley (map), both being part of Belize Barrier Reef, are located really close to the coast of San Pedro. This is why San Pedro precisely is considered one of the best places to stay in Belize for snorkeling!

Get ready to see white corals, sharks, manatees, sea turtles, and so much more! Do note that you can only access these reserves on a guided tour.

Another highlight of San Pedro is the nightlife, which is one of the best in Belize! You will find numerous seafood restaurants, beach clubs, and lively bars. If you are a luxury traveler, San Pedro also has one of the best upscale hotels with stunning beaches.

GETTING AROUND: Different ways to get around Belize include a car rental (best for inland), water taxi (connecting Belize City, San Pedro, and Caye Caulker), small plane (faster but more expensive than water taxi; Maya Island Air and Tropic Air operate the flights), private transfer, and tours. Main water taxi terminals are located in the 3 cities above, and you can buy tickets at the terminal or online. You can even take a water taxi from San Pedro to Chetumal in Mexico!

Other accommodation options in San Pedro

Things to do in Ambergris Caye 

• Go on a sailing tour and discover the best snorkeling spots in Ambergris Caye
• Rent a golf cart (map) and drive along the island
• Chill at the most popular beach in Ambergris Caye, Secret Beach Belize (map)
• Join a tour to see reefs at ​​Hol Chan Marine Reserve and swim with sharks at Shark Ray Alley
• Explore the underground caves of San Pedro with a kayaking tour
• Eat at the iconic Truck Stop (map), Belize’s first food truck park

2. San Ignacio – where to stay in Belize to learn about Mayan Culture

San Ignacio is located in the far West of Belize just by the border with Guatemala, some 2 hours drive from Belize City Airport. Being the palpitating heart of Belize’s Cayo District, San Ignacio (known by locals as El Cayo) is the best town to stay to discover Mayan culture and historical sites. I guarantee that if you’re a history lover and culture buff, you’ll have a blast here! 

The area is home to the Mayans (a term used for indigenous people living in the region, including Guatemala, Mexico, and Honduras), so it’s really a great spot to enjoy less touristy and more local, immersive, and authentic experiences.

In and around San Ignacio, you can see the impressive Mayan ruins in at least 3 archaeological sites: Xunantunich (map), Cahal Pech Archaeological Reserve (map) which is the oldest Mayan site in Belize, and Caracol (map), which is a 2-hour ride away. For full immersion, I recommend you book tours to these places that take anywhere from 4 hours (for Xunantunich) to 10 hours (for Caracol).

PRO TIP: Climb Xunantunich’s El Castillo ruin (the heart of the show) which stands over 130 feet (39 meters). You’ll be gifted with beautiful views of the jungle and bordering Guatemala!

Apart from amazing historical sites, San Ignacio also offers spectacular landscapes perfect for hiking. You can go to Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve (map), discover impressive caves at the archeological site of Actun Tunichil Muknal (map), or take a day trip to the beautiful Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary (map).

I also love the tiny authentic restaurants of San Ignacio serving local food like Cenaida’s Belizean Food (map). This is a super affordable place to eat with delicious rice and beans, fajitas, cilantro shrimp, and other delicacies!

Now let’s talk accommodation:

Other accommodation options in San Ignacio

Things to do in San Ignacio

• Discover Mayan Ruins at Cahal Pech Archaeological Reserve
• See the ancient Mayan archaeological site, Xunantunich
• Go shopping at the local San Ignacio Market (map)
• Take a day trip to the archeological site at Actun Tunichil Muknal Cave
• Join a tour to discover Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve
• See wildlife at the Green Iguana Conservation Project (map)

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3. Caye Caulker – the best place to stay in Belize on a budget + for diving

Caye Caulker is an island on the East coast of Belize that can be reached from Belize City by plane (10-minute flight) or water taxi and ferry (one-hour ride). This paradise island offers one of the best diving and snorkeling spots full of amazing marine life and stunning reefs!

This island is really laid-back, has fewer accommodation options, and is just a short ferry ride from San Pedro (30 minutes), making it a great option for a day trip. The accommodation here is in the affordable range, making it a nice place to stay for budget travelers.

This island’s signature slogan is “go slow,” so it’s great to relax and forget all your worries! No cars are allowed on this island, so you’ll only find buggies, golf carts (here‘s a good place to rent), and bikes (many hotels offer free bikes here).

You will also find many nice beaches, local seafood restaurants, and cute bars. The center of daytime activity is along Avenida Langosta (map) in the Southern part of the island, but the best nightlife is in the North at the so-called Split (map)!

Of course, due to proximity to the reef, dozens of scuba diving schools and tour operators align the East coast of Caye Caulker. Sunrise Scuba Snorkeling (map) is the top-rated one.

And here are the best hotels to stay in Caye Caulker.

Other accommodation options in Caye Caulker

Things to do in Caye Caulker

• Go on an organized snorkeling tour of the Belize Barrier Reef
• Have a delicious meal at Pasta Per Caso (map)
• Discover the fun bars at the Split
• Have a lobster in one of many Belizean restaurants
• Go to the Seahorse Reserve Caye Caulker next to Iguana Reef Inn (map)

4. Placencia – a beautiful town to stay in Belize for families + for beach

Placencia is a laid-back fishing village located off the East coast of Belize, some 100 miles (180 km) South of Belize City, and it’s one of the safest places to stay in Belize. Placencia Village is located on a peninsula that’s also called Placencia.

If you are looking for a laid-back vibe, Placencia is your place! Here, you can enjoy beautiful beaches without crowds, go fishing, snorkeling, and diving in amazing spots with your family.

You should not miss the white sand beaches here like the Maya Beach (map)with some incredible turquoise water! The beaches here are public and free, you’ll just need to pay for the beach amenities (like chaiselongs) if you want to use them!

Placencia’s Main Street is really just a sidewalk. It’s one of the narrowest main streets in the world – it is only 4 feet (1.2 mt) wide!

FUN FACT: It was Christopher Columbus and the Spaniards who gave Placencia its name (it means “Point Pleasant” in English). They discovered the peninsula in 1502, and the area quickly became known as the most pleasant region in Spain’s overseas territories. 

In Placencia, you will find excellent local seafood restaurants, cafes, and family-friendly hotels for all budgets. The hotels I picked in Placencia have spacious rooms and kid-friendly facilities, and they are near the beaches with shallow water – a perfect choice for families with kids!

Other accommodation options in Placencia

Things to do in Placencia

• Go for a stroll at Placencia Municipal Pier & Plaza (map)
• Visit the Art n Soul Gallery (map)
• Chill out at the Barefoot Beach Bar (map)
• Go for a fishing adventure on a guided boat trip (map)
• Swim and snorkel in turquoise waters at Laughing Bird Caye (map)

5. Hopkins – best area to stay in Belize for a local experience

Hopkins is a small village just an hour’s ride from Belize City, and it’s a great place to experience the richness of Belize’s culture. This is one of the main cities in which Garifuna people live. 

In 1635, a ship carrying enslaved Africans was wrecked in the Caribbean. The survivors (Garifuna people) settled along the coast, avoiding persecution. They now populate Belize’s coastal towns of Dangriga and Hopkins (among others).

If you want to really immerse yourself in the vibrant culture of the place, I recommend spending at least one day here. Take a traditional drumming lesson or take a cooking class – this is the best way to learn more about the place! Also, check out the nice little eateries, and maybe even swim in the Caribbean Sea in this historic village. 

Of course there are also nice beaches too – Hopkins Beach (map) for instance, has clear waters and has less sea grass compared to other beaches in mainland Belize.

Hopkins is also really close to some beautiful national parks like the Cocksomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary (map) with beautiful hiking trails, Maya King Waterfall (map) and Mayflower Bocawina (map) where you can spot antelopes!

NOTE: Entrance to national parks of Belize cost from US$5 to US$15. A bug repellant is a must for trips here!

Other accommodation options in Hopkins

Things to do in Hopkins

Belize City is the largest city in the country. It’s home to major cultural and historical landmarks, nice shops, and delicious Belizean restaurants. This is a great place to stay if you have more time in Belize and want to be close to the airport for your departure. Also, here you’ll find the big hotel chains like Best Western and Ramada just in case you’re more into global brands!

Here you can stroll through beautiful streets and admire the colonial architecture. Also, visit the Museum of Belize (it used to serve as a prison!) and St John Anglican Cathedral (map), the main one in the city. Then, during sunset, head to the seaside and pick one of many nice restaurants to have delicious food with a view of the Caribbean Sea. 

Some fun things to do from Belize City include scuba diving in the Meso-American barrier reef, the Great Blue Hole (off the coast of Belize), and Half Moon Caye Wall. Book your trip here.

Great Blue Hole (map) was declared by Jacques Cousteau as one of the world’s best 5 spots for scuba diving in the world!

Luxury hotel

Golden Bay Belize Hotel

Spacious and clean suites with sea views in Golden Bay Belize Hotel are ideal for luxury travelers. Enjoy daily breakfast, a central location by the ocean, and lavish and comfortable beds with that royalty feel.

Other accommodation options in Belize City

Things to do in Belize City

• Visit the Museum of Belize to learn some cultural facts
• Take a water taxi to go island hopping from Belize City
• Join a diving tour ​​to see the incredible barrier reef and the Great Blue Hole
• Embark on a day trip to the Belize Zoo and Tropical Education Center
• Go to the Altun Ha Archaeological Site and learn about Mayan culture
• Check out the beautiful view at Baron Bliss Lighthouse (map)
• Take postcard-style pictures at the Belize Sign Monument (map)

FAQs about where to stay in Belize

🗺️ What is the best part of Belize to stay in?

San Pedro is a top destination for first-timers for an island vacation, while San Ignacio is the best city inland.

🤔 Is Belize dangerous for tourists?

Belize is moderately safe for tourists. The hotel areas and touristy places are safe for travelers, but it is better to be careful walking on the streets at night and leave your valuables in your hotel.

🐠 Where to stay in Belize for diving?

Thanks to the world’s second-largest barrier reef, Caye Caulker Island is the best town to stay in for diving in Belize.

👨‍👩‍👦‍👦 Where to stay in Belize with family?

☀️ What is the best month to go to Belize?

The best time to visit Belize is from December to April. This is the dry season, and most tourists visit this Central American destination during this period.

🇧🇿 Where to stay in Belize for a local experience?

Explore inland towns of Belize City, Hopkins, or Dangriga for the best local experience. 

✅ What is the safest tourist area in Belize?

Placencia is one of the safest places to stay in Belize, but the Ambergris Caye and San Pedro are also considered safe.

🇨🇷 Is Belize nicer than Costa Rica?

Costa Rica is better for eco-tourism, Belize wins the race in snorkeling and other water activities. Costa Rica also has more inland activities but lacks Mayan ruins since it was never part of this civilization.

🏖️ What part of Belize has the best beaches?

Placencia has the longest stretch of white sand beaches, which are called “barefoot perfect,” making it the most popular beach destination in Belize. Secret Beach in Ambergris Caye is also praised for its beauty.

Final thoughts on where to stay in Belize

It is time for me to say goodbye, dear traveler! In this blog post on where to stay in Belize, I discussed the best places to stay in Belize, from luxury to budget, as well as Airbnbs in each area. I also gave you some information about the things you can do there so you can pick the perfect one for you!

If you’re still feeling picky, these are my 2 favorite hotels in Belize’s San Pedro:

Remember to book your hotel in Belize in advance! As with any tropical destination, hotels here sell out quickly, so you don’t want to miss out on the best deals!

If you have any suggestions or questions about Belize and Central America, please leave me a comment below. I’ll be glad to help further!

Enjoy your Belize vacation,

Darija

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