SMALL COUNTRY BIG ADVENTURES

Cruise to Belize City, Belize

With all the heart of a Central American country and all the soul of a Caribbean isle, Belize and its bustling cruise port city open the door to a nation ripe for exploration. Here you can choose your adventures – from trekking ancient Maya ruins to snorkelling the Belize Barrier Reef that teems with colourful fish and unforgettable coral formations. During your cruise to Belize, hike rainforest trails and take a zipline through lush treetops. Or hop on an inner tube and float through spectacular limestone caves and past tumbling waterfalls along the network of rivers flowing to the Caribbean. Divers and snorkellers come here from all over to explore the world’s second-largest barrier reef, and the famous Great Blue Hole. And along the 320-kilometre-long coastline, you’ll find hundreds of tiny islets called cayes (pronounced 'keys').

National Language English, Belizean Creole, Spanish, Mayan Languages

Currency Accepted Belize Dollar (BZD)

Things To Do in Belize City

Scuba divers in Belize's Great Blue Hole

DIVE-DREAM COME TRUE

Snorkel or dive the Great Blue Hole. About 300 metres wide and nearly 120 metres deep, this undersea sinkhole is visible from space. The revered dive site is part of the Belize Barrier Reef, a protected underwater wonderland that spans 300 kilometres of the coastline.

Engraving on Mayan Caracol ruins, Belize City

SKY-HIGH SIGHTS

Cruise to Belize and trek to the tallest building in the nation – an ancient temple built by the Maya. Standing at 42 metres tall, the pyramid ruins of the Sky Palace, El Caana, preside over Caracol, one of the country’s 900 pre-Colombian archaeological sites.

Stingray swimming on the ocean floor in Shark Ray Alley, Hol Chan

MEET THE LOCALS

Set sail to Shark Ray Alley, a shallow part of the Hol Chan Marine Reserve, and snorkel alongside nurse sharks, southern stingrays and colourful coral. The resident sea creatures are eager to meet you and will swim right up to the boat when you arrive.

LOCAL CUISINE

Local cuisine fuses a variety of influences in dishes like hearty meat stews, tacos and tostadas, and deep-fried meat-stuffed pastries called panades. Get your fresh seafood fix with ceviche and fritters made with conch. And be sure to spice things up with hot sauce— an essential condiment in Belize.

SHOPPING

Check out the Tourism Village on Fort Street, right at the harbor. You’ll find recommended and guaranteed stores with duty-free deals on luxury items. Most shops even accept US dollars, so you won’t have to exchange your money first.