One week in Belize: a perfect itinerary for first-time visitors

Belize is the perfect destination for those seeking a blend of adventure, culture, history, and relaxation — all in one place.

This small country—the second smallest in mainland America—surprises with its variety of experiences. From crystal-clear waters brimming with marine life to exploring caves and tropical forests, from Mayan ruins to the vibrant colors and flavors of Caribbean culture, Belize offers stunning landscapes and fascinating stories that exceed expectations and create unforgettable memories..

We visited Belize as part of a combo trip with Guatemala: ten days in Guatemala and a week in Belize, making for one of our most epic adventures while the girls were still young.

This trip marked a turning point for us. Visiting what was seen as a “dangerous” country and another relatively “unknown,” it was here that we discovered traveling with kids could be so much more than theme parks, resorts, or just the usual European highlights. Our perspective shifted, and there was no going back.

Join me, with or without kids, and explore this one week itinerary in Belize.

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Belize one-week itinerary overview

Our one-week itinerary in Belize was fantastic and made the most of our time. We used two cities as our bases: San Ignacio, on mainland Belize, and San Pedro, on the island of Ambergris Caye.This setup allowed us to avoid constantly switching hotels.
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Day-by-Day Itinerary:

1️⃣ Arrive by land from Guatemala, visit the Xunantunich ruins; overnight in San Ignacio

2️⃣ Explore the Cahal Pech ruins and the Iguana Conservation Center (option: visit the El Caracol ruins); overnight in San Ignacio

3️⃣ Go cave tubing, travel to Belize City, and take a boat to Ambergris Caye; overnight in San Pedro

4️⃣ Ambergris Caye; overnight in San Pedro

5️⃣ Ambergris Caye; overnight in San Pedro

6️⃣ Ambergris Caye; overnight in San Pedro

7️⃣ Go to Guatemala City

If you’re short on time, consider cutting one day from San Ignacio and one from Ambergris Caye. If you prefer jungle activities over beach time, add a day in San Ignacio and reduce a day on Ambergris Caye.

For more details on activities in each location, check out our post What to do in Belize – the best of San Ignacio, Ambergris Caye and Caye Caulker.

Ambergris Caye is an island in Belize located in the Caribbean Sea. Nearby is Caye Caulker, a smaller, more laid-back island that’s equally charming. In our post about what to do in Belize you’ll find more information about each island to help you choose where to stay.

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How to get from Guatemala to Belize (and vice versa)

As I mentioned in the Guatemala itinerary post, we decided not to rent a car and instead relied on public and private transport. It wasn’t easy to find reliable information, but don’t worry — I’ll lay it all out for you here.

Belize and Guatemala share a 266-kilometer border, a straightforward line that separates Belize to the east and Guatemala to the west. However, it’s a bit complicated: in 1859, a treaty defined the boundaries between the two countries, but Guatemala still claims about 11,000 square kilometers (nearly half of Belize's current territory), so the matter remains unresolved. Despite this tension, crossing the border was simple and stress-free.

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Getting from Guatemala to Belize:

Our last stop in Guatemala was Tikal, where we stayed at the Hotel Jaguar Inn Tikal, conveniently located next to the Mayan ruins. I highly recommend this hotel (or one of the few others nearby), but a heads-up: it’s quite isolated, with no town nearby. The closest town is Flores, where most visitors usually stay.

To take public transportation, we would have first needed to go to Flores by shuttle, about a 1-hour journey, and then catch a bus. It wasn’t worth the extra time, so instead, we arranged a shuttle directly to our next destination, San Ignacio in Belize, through Hotel Jaguar Inn Tikal.

After breakfast, our car was ready and waiting to take us to the Belize border. We got out there, went through border formalities on foot (stamping out of Guatemala, walking about a hundred meters, and entering Belize). There’s no entry fee, but there is an exit fee (twenty US dolars by land; by air, it’s usually included in the ticket price).

With our passports stamped, we bid farewell to our Guatemalan driver, and a Belizean car and driver were ready to greet us. From there, it took about 30 minutes to reach our first stop in Belize, the Mayan ruins of Xunantunich. Our driver waited for us and then took us to our hotel in San Ignacio, the Cahal Pech Village Resort.

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Getting from Belize to Guatemala:

Our final day in Belize was focused on the mission of getting from Ambergris Caye to Guatemala City (where we had an early morning flight home the next day).

I looked into flights, as they would be the simplest, quickest option. However, there’s only one flight from Belize City to Guatemala City, operated by TAG, and at the time, the one-way ticket cost more than a round-trip flight from São Paulo to Guatemala City! Naturally, I wasn’t about to pay that. So, we opted for a more adventurous journey—and a good story to tell.

I booked a flight from Flores (in Guatemala) to Guatemala City, but we set off to Belize not entirely sure how we’d make it back to Flores in time for the flight.

Embracing the spirit of adventure, we figured we’d sort it out when the time came. And it worked out, without too much hassle.

We left our hotel early, took a van to the pier, and then caught the ferry to Belize City. We traveled in March (in-season but not high season) and were able to buy ferry tickets on the spot without prior reservations.

Arriving in Belize City, we caught a bus to Flores right from the ferry terminal. It was one of those classic Central American buses: bags tied to the roof under a tarp, and everyone squeezed into the hot, somewhat stuffy seats with the windows wide open, unsuccessfully trying not to sweat too much.

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The border procedures were the same as on our way in: exit Belize (paying the US$20 exit fee), walk to the Guatemalan side, enter Guatemala, and re-board the bus (now with a Guatemalan driver) waiting for us just across the border.

However, as expected, the bus was running late. If we had gone all the way to the bus station in Flores and then taken a taxi to the airport, we would have missed our flight to Guatemala City and, subsequently, our flight back home the next day. I checked Google Maps and saw that the bus route would pass directly by the airport, so I asked the driver if he could drop us off there. Not only did he agree, but he even climbed onto the roof to untie our bags and then secured the remaining luggage back in place. A really kind guy (probably amused by these crazy people with two little kids in tow).

It was a bit of a mad dash at the airport, but we made it onto our flight. Once we landed in Guatemala City, we grabbed a taxi to our hotel, the Meraki Boutique Hotel. Five different modes of transportation, covering over fifteen hours, all in a single day. We survived, and opened a new chapter in our journey: it is indeed possible to travel with kids, with excitement and a little bit of hardship.

If you’d prefer to book your transportation from Belize to Flores in advance, here are some options that look smoother than the route we took.

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Where to stay in Belize

Where to stay in San Ignacio

In San Ignacio, we spent two nights at the Cahal Pech Village Resort. It was great value for money — the facilities were excellent, the girls loved the pool, and the sunset view was stunning. The hotel is located just in front of the Cahal Pech Mayan ruins, which you can reach on foot.

Other options I had considered were the San Ignacio Resort Hotel, which has spacious rooms and an inviting pool, and the charming Yumas Riverfront Lodge, though it's a bit farther from town.

Where to stay in Ambergris Caye – San Pedro

The main town on the island of Ambergris Caye is San Pedro, and if you want to stay close to restaurants and local shops, this is the place to be.

We stayed at Xanadu Island Resort, which had a spacious two-bedroom apartment with a full kitchen and a huge living room. The pool was a bit small, but it was perfect for the kids to enjoy themselves.

Ambergris Caye offers a range of accommodations for all tastes and budgets. Alaia Belize was under construction during our stay but looked incredible, as did the Victoria House Resort & Spa For more budget-friendly options, consider the Caribbean Villas Hotel or, in downtown San Pedro, La Casa de Paz Hotel and the Hotel del Rio.

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Sargassum in Belize

Belize, like other northern Caribbean destinations, has its fair share of issues with sargassum.

This seaweed, from the genus Sargassum, proliferates excessively, floating en masse on the water’s surface and eventually drifting ashore with the ocean currents.

Once it hits the beaches, it dies, creating heaps of organic matter that — predictably — begin to decompose, producing a pungent odor reminiscent of rotten eggs and sulfur.

Unfortunately, even the nicest hotels can’t entirely fix the problem by cleaning the beach. There’s just so much seaweed; it’s like trying to sweep snow in a blizzard. You can clear it one moment, and new sargassum arrives the next. It’s a twenty-four-seven cycle, and each morning, fresh piles await. Swimming in the sea is also tricky with so much seaweed around.

We visited Belize in March and encountered a lot of sargassum. I can’t say if there’s a particular season with less of it, or if it fluctuates year by year. According to locals, we might have just had some bad luck, but it seems there’s usually sargassum to some extent year-round. On some days, the smell was stronger, while other days it was barely noticeable — likely depending on the wind, which occasionally carried the odor away.

Belize’s National Meteorological Service offers a “Sargassum Forecast“ which is worth checking out. At the time I’m writing this, the forecast shows a low probability of sargassum and low impact.

Would I return to Belize’s beaches, even knowing about the sargassum? Absolutely. I loved the islands’ tropical atmosphere, our excursions were unforgettable, and we found beautiful beaches that weren’t impacted by the seaweed. To me, a beach trip is about so much more than just lounging on the sand and swimming; it’s about embracing the climate, the views, the food, the local hospitality, and all the adventures, both on land and at sea, that a destination has to offer. As I mentioned earlier, Belize did not disappoint.

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Currency and exchange rates in Belize

Belize was once an English colony and only gained independence in 1981! Today, it remains part of the British Commonwealth, and you’ll still find Queen Elizabeth on its banknotes. However, the currency is called the Belizean dollar, or simply the Belize dollar.

The exchange rate is fixed: US$1 = BZ$2

U.S. dollar bills are widely accepted, and it’s common to pay in one currency and receive change in the other — or a mix of both.

During our one-week Belize itinerary, we didn’t need to exchange currency at all; we used the U.S. cash we had and relied on our multi-currency credit/debit card. By the end of the trip, we’d used up all our Belize dollars without a bill to spare — not even one to save as a souvenir!

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Language and safety in Belize

Did you know Belize is the only country in Central America where English is the official language? The accent has a unique blend, mixing British English with Caribbean influences, but we quickly got used to it, and communication was easy and smooth.

We had no issues with either communication or safety while we were there. Everyone we met was friendly and welcoming, and at no point did we feel unsafe.

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What to do in Belize

For more details and in-depth info on what to do in Belize, check out our full post where we share everything we did, our favorite experiences, and tips to help you make the most of your time in Belize.

But here’s a quick overview of the main highlights from our one-week itinerary in Belize:

What to do in San Ignacio

Explore Mayan Ruins: Belize has numerous Mayan archaeological sites, many of them around San Ignacio: Xunantunich, Cahal Pech, and El Caracol. in this post , I go into the details of each of these sites. Other fascinating ruins to visit include Lamanai, Cerros, Labaantun, and Nim Li Punit (these last two are often visited together).

Go Cave Tubing and Cave Exploring: One of our favorite experiences in Belize was cave tubing! For those up for more adventure, I highly recommend visiting the ATM cave — Actun Tunichil Muknal. You can find all the details in in this post.

What to do in Caye Caulker and Ambergris Caye

Diving and snorkeling: Belize boasts the largest barrier reef in the northern hemisphere and the second-largest globally, making it a dream destination for marine life enthusiasts.

Enjoy the beach: On Ambergris Caye, I recommend visiting Secret Beach.

Rent a bike: Take a scenic ride around the island, whether on Ambergris Caye or Caye Caulker.

Visit the Altun Ha Mayan Ruins: Although located on the mainland, Altun Ha is easily accessible from both Caye Caulker and Ambergris Caye.

You can find more details about all these activities in our full guide on what to do in Belize — be sure to check it out!

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Enjoyed our Belize guide? Check out the blog for tips on what to do in Belize and Guatemala, which we visited on the same trip. And if you have any more questions, feel free to reach out to me on Instagram!

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All our posts about traveling in Brazil, be sure to check them out before planing a trip to my home country:

• Brazilian Amazon - How to visit the Amazon Rainforest
• What to do in Alter do Chão: Exploring amazonian beaches and rainforests in Brazil
• What to do in Chapada dos Guimaraes, Mato Grosso
• The best tours to do in Bonito, Brazil, in 4 days
• Ultimate Guide to Bonito: Exploring the Southern Brazilian Pantanal's Hidden Paradise
• Bonito, Brazil with kids: When is the right age to visit?
• Complete guide to visiting Lençóis Maranhenses: Tips and essential itinerary
• What to do in Pirenópolis: ecotourism and history in the interior of Goiás

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Stay Connected!

Got comments or questions? Feel free to leave a comment here or connect with me on social media—I love chatting about travel 😉.

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