I first discovered Under30Experiences when my friend convinced me that traveling with a bunch of strangers to Costa Rica would be the perfect way to celebrate our 30th birthdays. During that trip, I fell in love with Central America. Those “strangers” quickly became my new best friends, and we made so many lasting memories together.
That experience awakened the wanderlust inside me, and I was beyond thrilled when I got the chance to be a part of the inaugural Over30Experiences trip to Belize a few years later.
The Belize tour was absolutely magical and included some of the coolest things I’ve ever done. If you’re wondering where to vacation in Belize, this is it!
Here’s a recap of my five-day trip to Belize:
Day One: Belize City; Welcome to Belize!
My friend and I met our Trip Leader Rey and the rest of our group at the Philip S. W. Goldson International Airport (BZE) in Belize City. Rey and the group were easy to find in the dining area of the small airport. We changed out of our travel clothes (I had come from 20ºF in the Midwest!) and loaded up on a bus with our amazing driver we would have for the duration of our time inland.
The scenic bus ride gave us our first look at the rolling hills of Belize. Our driver told us that many of the grassy mounds we saw contained yet-to-be-discovered Mayan ruins underneath.
After checking into our charming three-story hotel, Midas Belize, in San Ignacio, the group grabbed some drinks from the hotel bar and jumped in the pool to start getting to know one another.
Later, we changed into dinner attire and dined at Cahal Pech Resort Restaurant, which boasted hosting Prince William and Duchess Kate Middleton earlier in the week. At dinner, we played some icebreaker games and continued to bond with our new tripmates.
Day Two: Xunantunich Mayan Ruin & Cave Tubing
(aka. My Favorite Day in Belize!)
On day two, we woke up early in San Ignacio and headed to one of the most popular archaeological sites in Belize, Xunantunich. To get to the Mayan Ruins, we took a hand-cranked ferry to cross the Mopan River. At Xunantunich, a local guide walked our group through the ruins, telling stories of how the ancient Mayans lived and of the ritual ceremonies they performed there. We climbed the El Castillo pyramid and took in the breathtaking views of the site, even catching a glimpse of iguanas and Guatemala from the top!
After exploring the ruins, we stopped for lunch and had our first taste of soursop juice, a delicious local drink that many people use for medicinal purposes.
Then, we put on our tubing gear and ventured into the Belize jungle, where we encountered enormous trees and waded through the waters to reach the picturesque caves. With our tubes tied together, we floated down the crystal-clear Sibun River, with only our headlamps to light the way. As we floated, our guides explained to us the spiritual significance of the cave and river to the Mayan people. Inside the cave, we took a break from floating to explore sparkling crystal rock formations to take turns cliff-jumping into a cenote.
After a long day exploring Belize’s history and culture, we checked out of our first hotel and took a water taxi to the beautiful island of Caye Caulker. Once we checked into our ocean-side hotel, Seaside Cabanas, our group enjoyed dinner together and discovered the nightlife of the island.
Tips for your trip to Belize:
- Belize has a subtropical climate. The average temperature in Belize is 74-84 degrees Fahrenheit. Be prepared for moderately hot and humid days.
- Don’t forget to hydrate! Bring a reusable water bottle for convenience and sustainability. The tap water in Belize is unsafe to drink, and bottled water is more expensive than beer! You will be able to refill your water bottle at your hotel.
- Bring a raincoat. Belize’s rainy season is typically June through October, but during our March trip, there were still some short sporadic rains.
- If you want your phone with you while you’re tubing, bring a waterproof case.
Day Three: Snorkeling & Beach Day
Caye Caulker has a motto: “Go Slow,” which perfectly encapsulates the laid-back island lifestyle you’ll find there. After breakfast at a local outdoor diner, we lounged on the beach in the VIP area at Northside Beach Club while waiting for our boat.
We spent the day snorkeling Hol Chan Marine Reserve, the second-largest barrier reef in the world. There, we swam with turtles, sharks, and countless fish species, while exploring the reef with our guides.
After snorkeling, we enjoyed rum drinks and ceviche on the boat for lunch. Back at the beach club, we spent the afternoon swimming in the saltwater pool, watching the sunset, and dining at their patio restaurant.
Tips for Snorkeling in Belize:
- Don’t forget to bring reef-safe sunscreen (sunscreens that do not contain oxybenzone and octinoxate) in order to protect the corals and marine animals.
- I brought a waterproof diving case to take underwater photos while snorkeling, and I do not regret it!
Day Four: Go Slow
After a couple of adventure-packed days, we took a break to embrace the “Go Slow” life and explored the island of Caye Caulker. Most of our group chose to get massages on a rooftop overlooking the ocean. For lunch, we discovered the best fish I have ever eaten from a local BBQing barracuda on the beach.
Afterward, we shared some drinks at the Sip ’N’ Dip tiki huts and got to watch stingrays come in for their daily feeding by locals at “Stingray Beach.” Some in our group even waded in the water with the stingrays while I observed from the safety of the dock near the seahorse reserve, where I spotted my first wild seahorse! We wrapped up the day watching the sunset as a group from a popular area known as “The Split,” where Hurricane Hattie created a channel, splitting the island into two.
After sunset, we dressed up for our final group dinner, where we did Under30Expierences’ classic “Rose, Bud, Thorn” exercise. Everyone shared their favorite moments from the trip and reflected on our time together. After dinner, some of us went out for a night of dancing on the island.
Belize Travel Tip
-Try Marie Sharp’s hot sauce. It’s so good I still buy it online to have at home to this day!
Day Five: Saying Goodbye to the Group
On our final morning together, I woke up early to catch the sunrise view from the pool of our hotel. Several of us were extending our trip in Belize, so we said our goodbyes to those leaving and charted a boat for the day. We swam in the ocean and hand-fed tarpons with our new friends. I chose to spend an extra couple of days on San Pedro Island, renting a golf cart to explore the island and “Secret Beach".
My 5-day Belize tour was a wonderful mix of relaxation and adventure. I thoroughly enjoyed learning about the Mayan culture and getting to see so much marine life. As a person who is scared of heights, jumping into the cenote while being cheered on by my friends will be a memory I cherish forever.
Additionally, I’ll never forget the squeals and laughs we had while hand-feeding the tarpons. I hope to one day return to Belize and to be able to share its beauty and charm with my loved ones.
Under30Experiences and Over30Experiences both make it easy to have an amazing adventure without the stress of planning an itinerary. It gives you a chance to immerse yourself in another culture while making lasting friendships with like-minded individuals. Ready to Experience Belize for yourself? Check out Under30Expierences Belize.
