How to Plan An Adventurous 9-Day Itinerary to Belize
Our Belize itinerary was full of wonder, relaxation, surprises, and adventure. It’s what happens when you plan half of it on the beach and the other half in the jungle. Combined, it proved to be one phenomenal vacation, showing us new terrain and cultures, delicious food, kind people, and more caves than we knew was possible.
Over the course of our trip from Denver, we spent four nights in the Caribbean Sea and then four nights inland near San Ignacio. This proved to be the perfect breakdown, giving us plenty of things to do, including water activities, Maya history, caves, and more.
Inside, you’ll get a 9-day Belize itinerary to help you plan a 10/10 trip to Central America, leaving you with endless memories.
9-Day Itinerary in Belize: How we planned our trip
Below is a day-by-day breakdown of how I’d plan a 9-day trip to Belize. Because we stayed on a small private island for the Caribbean portion, this doesn’t exactly mirror my experience. For this Belize itinerary, I have the Caribbean section in Ambergris Caye/Caye Caulker and the inland portion near San Ignacio.
Where we stayed in Belize:
Shaka Caye All-Inclusive Private Island & Jade Jungle Resort
Day 1 – Land in Belize, head to your hotel
You’ll quickly realize the Belize City airport is small and basic. It took us hardly any time to get through Customs. I’m pretty sure getting our bags took the longest. Then we found our ride to the boat transfer.
For most of y’all, you’ll want to go from the Philip Goldson International Airport to the Belize City water taxi. I’d estimate it’s a 25-minute drive (Book an airport shuttle here).
How to get to the islands: Take the water taxi (45 minutes and $29 to Caye Caulker; 90 minutes and $34 to San Pedro) or a puddle jumper (much more expensive but way faster).
Day 2 – Relax, swim, and enjoy the beach
Take the day to get situated, sleep in, enjoy the beautiful beaches, drink some yummy drinks, and enjoy your time on the Caribbean Sea.
A couple of fun tour ideas if you’re staying on Ambergris Caye:
- Wrap up your first full day with a sunset cruise.
- Go Parasailing
- Take a food and history tour
- Maybe do multiple days of snorkeling. It’s that good!
We only visited Caye Caulker and enjoyed the Lazy Lizard. Their drinks are strong and delicious!
Day 3 – Snorkel Day in Belize
Leave the crowds behind and explore one of the most unique places on earth: The Great Blue Hole and Lighthouse Reef Atoll.
This would be a full-day snorkeling adventure, but you’ll be one of the few boats out here, getting to explore incredible coral reefs and snorkeling opportunities.
You’ll get breakfast and lunch on board, along with drinks, making for a really fun day out on the water!
A less time-intensive option would be to book a snorkel tour closer to the Cayes. Something like this could work well. (Also, side note: Most Shark Ray Alley/Ho Chan tours include snorkeling as well, so you’ll have to decide if it’s overkill to do a fully dedicated day to snorkel.)
I LOVED our snorkeling. We saw so many colorful fish, healthy, vibrant coral, and even a manatee and a stingray—such a wonderful experience to see the beauty under the sea.
If you’re looking to take photos underwater, I highly recommend this underwater housing for your phone. Super cool and isn’t too expensive!
Day 4 – Shark Ray Alley Adventure Day
This was one heckuva day for us. Due to slight weather issues, we combined snorkeling and a visit to Caye Caulker/Shark Ray Alley into a single day.
The ride to Caye Caulker was gorgeous, and we even saw dolphins cruising through the turquoise waters. Such a magical moment.
After lunch and exploring the island, we started off the fun with stingrays!
Let the fun begin
We hopped out of the boat and walked onto the beach, where dozens of them were swimming in the shallow water. Obviously, our minds went to Steve Irwin. These rays were incredibly docile – especially if you remain calm – and they swam over our toes. A wildly insane experience.
Next up was feeding Tarpon fish. These are prehistoric fish dating back 100 million years and are MASSIVE. Get a couple of anchovies, pinch the tail between your fingers, hold them out over the water (keep your fingers straight), and wait for a fish to jump up and snatch it. This was so cool and unexpected.
Last but not least, it’s time to swim with nurse sharks. Our boat was one of the last to arrive, so we had all the sharks on us in minutes. We got in and swam around towards the sharks. I honestly didn’t know what to expect, but it probably wasn’t what occurred. We had 20-some sharks all battling for fish chum, and it was a crazy experience.
I tried to keep my distance, but the current would push me in. I definitely felt too close at times!
After 25 minutes, the fish bait had been exhausted, and we began to swim back. As we did, the sharks began to take up residence on the ocean floor, waiting for their next meal.
Day 5 – Move Inland to Explore the Jungle
It’s moving day! Time to pack up from the beach and head to the Belize jungle and make this trip a real adventure.
Make sure to get your ferry and shuttle transfers all lined up to ensure a smooth travel day. Double-check with your inland hotel to see if they offer a shuttle service. We had one at Jade Jungle Resort.
One thing to double-check when you’re picking hotels inland: See if they have AC. During winter, maybe it won’t matter much. But as you get into May, June, or July, I think you’ll want air conditioning!
Day 6 – Zip Lining and Cave Tubing
Getting out to ziplining and going cave tubing was super fun! The ziplining is about average. Nothing crazy cool but also not unfun.
Now, the cave tubing portion was awesome! I mean, you float along, but getting to spend so much time inside the cave (maybe 35-40 minutes) was so unique.
The intricate details, formations, and even a small waterfall were outstanding. Definitely a great addition to your Belize itinerary.
After you exit the cave, you’ll get to float through the Belizean jungle for another 25 minutes, soaking up the sun and lovely views. Jaimie and I loved this activity. Totally incredible.
A good spot to stop at for lunch nearby is Teaky Tavern.
Day 7 – ATM Cave
This is the crown jewel of cave tours in Belize. The ATM Cave, known fully as Actun Tunichil Muknal, is insanely popular. It’s a two-part tour. First, a 1.5-mile hike with three water crossings that are usually pretty mild. Then, you head into the cave, getting a taste of what it feels like to venture into the Maya Underworld.
The inside is phenomenal. We were the first ones in thanks to staying at Jade Jungle (it’s one of the pros for staying there). We swam, waded, and enjoyed the cave’s structures. Then, we reached the main chambers, where we removed our shoes and put on socks. For the next 30 minutes, we looked upon 1,000-year-old pottery remains, sacrificial objects, skulls, and other relics of the Ancient Maya.
The final point of the tour is the full body remains of the Crystal Maiden, laid to rest over 1,000 years ago. One interesting thing we learned after talking with a notable archaeologist in Belize is that while there were baby sacrifices in the ATM Cave, there weren’t adult sacrifices. So the lore you’ll hear from guides is stretched to attract more attention.
Lastly, no cameras, phones, or other devices for documenting the cave’s interior are allowed. This has been in place since 2012, when damage occurred due to a lens cap.
Day 8 – Maya Ruins and Barton Creek Cave
The last full day in Belize. Let’s make it count. I can’t think of a better way to go out than to visit the Maya Ruins. We went to Xunantunich, near the Belize/Guatamala border. I’ll list other tour options at the bottom.
This was a special place to visit. But first, we had to board a hand-cranked ferry to cross the Mopan River. After parking, we began the short uphill climb to the ruin area. The crowning achievement is the 130-foot El Castillo Pyramid that dominates the region. (We could see it driving in.)
But there’s a decent more to see and learn about. Our guide gave us a nice tour and weaved in the history and how people lived in the region. Towards the end, we climbed the steep stairs to the top of El Castillo, giving us unparalleled views of Guatemala to the west and Belize to the north and east.
One thing to know is there’s little shade here. So bring a hat, sunblock, and at least 1L of water – maybe more.
Barton Creek Cave
After lunch, we bounced down a long dirt road to reach the mouth of Barton Creek Cave. Neither of us knew much about this – other than it looked cool. We had no idea how far in. I assumed it would be a quick in-and-out and we’d be done.
But no! We were inside for 45 minutes. I think our guide said we went in 900 meters (2700 feet, which is over half a mile). It was so, so, so cool! We even saw a skull high up on the cliff ledge, along with other broken pottery.
I so highly recommend this on your Belize Itinerary. Yes, it’s a little long to get to with the dirt road, but you’ll be incredibly impressed. And you can go swim and hang out in the area for longer if you want to.
Day 9 – Head Home
Final day of your Belize adventure! Enjoy a slow morning, pack up, and head to the airport. We arrived 2.5 hours before our flight. It took us about 7 minutes to check our bags and go through customs.
Unfortunately, there are no lounges at the airport, but there are a few restaurants. There’s also not really an eating section, so be prepared to eat from your lap.
As you pick your seats, make sure to sit on the right side of the plane. This will give you water views as you head north. Very worth it!
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Best time to visit Belize?
You can visit Belize year-round, if you want to! But the summer months are far wetter (technically hurricane season… though they don’t usually get whacked as the southern US does) and more humid. Many prefer the winter months as they are drier and cooler, making for a perfect vacation destination.
However, as with any busy season, there are far more crowds, pushing up hotel prices across the board. So, if you want the best weather months, be prepared to spend more money.
Take a look at all tours from San Ignacio
See what tours are available from Belize City
What was it like to visit Belize in June?
Overall, pretty dang good! It’s the start of the rainy season, but most of June isn’t really wet. It’s just the technical start, which means fewer crowds, lower prices, but pretty decent weather.
The only day it rained was when we landed. After that, clear skies, though it was warm and humid. On the beach side, that was totally fine. Inland, though, was very warm during the afternoons.
One thing to note is that sargassum typically builds up from June through October (with little during the dry winter months, which is peak holiday travel). In 2026, however, it started much earlier. March/April saw sargassum buildup along the eastern shores of Ambergris Caye, Caye Caulker, Hopkins, and Placencia. As ocean temperatures warm due to a changing climate, more sargassum is expected for longer periods.
All of this said, not every island or area gets sargassum. At Shaka Caye, we had zero. We were so stoked and got to swim freely for our four days there.
Travel Tips for Visiting Belize
Current US State Department Advisory
As of summer 2026, the US State Department’s Travel Advisory for Belize is a Level 2 – Contains Areas with higher security risk. This is basically the same as many European countries, though slightly higher thanks to potential gang violence in the southern part of Belize City. (Avoid that area and you’ll be golden.)
We felt very safe in Belize
There wasn’t a single moment where I felt unsafe or uneasy. This was partly due to being at two all-inclusive resorts and having a driver while inland. That said, there wasn’t a situation where things could have spiraled.
I’d simply stay away from South Belize City, and I don’t believe you’ll have any issues when visiting Belize.
No drones without intensive paperwork
Unless you have the correct paperwork, there’s a strict no-drone rule in place for Belize. They’re in the midst of creating new policies, and until that is rolled out, they’re prohibiting all drones unless you have an official job in the country.
And because I wasn’t going for a job, I didn’t want to deal with the hassle of customs and whatnot. If you’re going to Belize for fun, leave the drone at home.
2:1 Conversion Rate Makes it Easy
The Belize Dollar is pegged to the US dollar at 2:1. So if you see something priced at $12 BZ, it’s $6 USD. If you can’t tell what currency it is, ask. Most of the time it will be $BZ. (When we pulled money out of an ATM, we thought it was in USD because that was what our card was… and then realized it was BZ after the money came out. A dumb mistake on our part.)
On that note, you can usually pay in either Belizean or US Dollars, or use your credit card. If you’re going to local booths, you’ll need to use cash. Other establishments, though, will take a card.
Would I change anything in our itinerary/what was disappointing?
First, nothing was disappointing. We had a lovely time. However, I was hoping/expecting more wildlife when we were inland. We did see a toucan, and I got a photo, so that was one thing I was hoping to acquire.
That said, we didn’t see any monkeys or anything else. I’d later learn that more birds are in the southern part of the country, and the animals, well, you can never guarantee sightings.
So, if you are coming in with high expectations, maybe tamp those down a smidge.
Final Thoughts on our 9-Day Belize Itinerary
You are in for a treat when you visit Belize. While it was all enjoyable, there were a few highlights that we particularly loved.
First, the snorkeling and water activities were incredible. Getting to see a manatee and swim with nurse sharks will stay with me forever. Second, (thanks to little research) I had no idea how immense the Belize cave systems are. Getting to do a cave tour per day was amazing. Definitely recommend that.
Thirdly, the food. Oh my gosh. All of our meals were fantastic. You’ll love them.
I hope you leave Belize as stoked as we were because this place is a true gem.
Until next time, adventurers, stay safe.
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