Belize volunteering guide
From IDing sea turtles to building boardwalks – read our guide to find out more.
Family holidays in Belize
The kids weren't too impressed at the notion of seeing more Mayan temples at Xunantunich, until we told them we could go there by horseback. That really helped us get that 'travelling back in time' feel.![]()
On so many levels, Belize is simply the best for family travel. Especially if you really go for the Indiana Jones type of adventure, canoeing, caving, climbing, with plenty of Creol-ing and Caribbean-ing thrown in. A small country, it is easy to get around with families, enabling you to take in Mayan architecture in the morning, but go snorkeling on its Barrier Reef in the afternoon. The food is superb, so hollow legs are always filled on Belize family holidays. And the beer and rum ensure that empty glasses of exhausted, but exhilarated adult family members are always filled too.
Belize tailor made family holiday
Outdoors, jungle, beach, wildlife and ancient ruins
From
£2250 to £3250
14 days
ex flights
Mexico and Belize family holiday
A winning combination for an adventurous family holiday
From
£2750 to £3400
15 days
ex flights
Belize and Guatemala family holiday
Adventurous family holiday packed with variety
From
£3250 to £3800
14 days
ex flights
Belize family wildlife holiday
A tailor made wildlife adventure for families
From
£3350
10 days
ex flights
Belize small group family holiday
Mayan sites, tropical islands and wildlife
From
£2910
14 days
ex flights
Activities for families in Belize
Explore the river
One of the best ways to share Belize’s beauty and history is by canoeing down the Belize River, and wild camping along the way. Passing small villages en route, you will share local life well away from tourist hubs, spot a bevy of birdlife basking on jungle covered cliffs, and generally enjoy Belizean life as it is meant to be. Going with the flow.
Keeping up with the Indiana Joneses
Don’t tell your kids that when you visit caves at Actun Tunichil Muknal, they will not only get to climb, tube and swim through ancient underwater worlds, they will also see crystallised remains of sacrificed Mayans. Less spooky, but equally scream inducing, go ziplining through the jungle canopy or rafting on the Mopan River. All very ‘Fortune and glory kid, fortune and glory.’
Bring on the chocolate
Belize is not a country for those families intent on sugar bans. Home to many traditional Mayan cocoa growers and chocolatiers, especially around Toledo, where the not-for-profit Toledo Cacao Growers Association (TCGA) has more than 1,000 members. Go on cocoa farm tours or visit a chocolate festival. All in all, there is a lot of general blissing out on beans to be done.
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Tips for families
Polly Alford, from our supplier Reef CI, marine conservation holiday specialist, shares her tips for family holidays in Belize: “I love the jungle. Toledo in Southern Belize is known as the ‘forgotten south’ and has the most amazing caves, waterfalls, Maya ruins and zip lining.”
Dan Hancock, from Audley Travel our leading supplier in tailor made trips to Belize, perfect for families:
“Visit the Actun Tunichil Muknal Cave. Taking a tour through this cave in the forest setting of Belize’s Cayo District is a must for anyone seeking adventure and Mayan history. A sacred Mayan site is located deep within the cave, where the Mayans used to leave offerings and conduct rituals. To get to the site you have to cross a river, swim through the entrance of the cave and scramble around rocks, Indiana Jones style. Swimming and wading through parts of the cave, you come across ancient Mayan pottery – preserved intact as it was originally discovered. The site has been left untouched, with just tape to stop you treading on things that you shouldn’t.”
“I would also really recommend staying at Stay at Lamanai Outpost Lodge I love the journey to this isolated jungle lodge in Belize’s Orange Walk District. It stands by a narrow lagoon, and a small boat whizzes you to the door through a maze of rivers and canals. Once here, the lodge arranges a series of nature tours as well as a visit to a local Mayan site - a favoured hang-out for howler monkeys - and to a local community. Definitely try the night-time spotlight safari in search of caiman.”
“I would also really recommend staying at Stay at Lamanai Outpost Lodge I love the journey to this isolated jungle lodge in Belize’s Orange Walk District. It stands by a narrow lagoon, and a small boat whizzes you to the door through a maze of rivers and canals. Once here, the lodge arranges a series of nature tours as well as a visit to a local Mayan site - a favoured hang-out for howler monkeys - and to a local community. Definitely try the night-time spotlight safari in search of caiman.”
Responsible Travel would like to thank Belize for their sponsorship of this guide.
More Belize articles
Wondering about the best time to visit? Temperatures are fab year-round, with refreshing rains starting in June.
Our guide reveals that it’s not all about the sea – there are also Maya temples, Caribbean culture and wildlife hiking trails.
Belize’s highlights are scattered across land and sea, with a jungle-lined coast, plus hundreds of cays and islands.
Read about the history, where to see the great sites, and what sort of adventures await on our Maya journeys in Belize.
Head south to Toledo on a Garifuna cultural holiday to meet this community.
Explore inland Belize with local guides who can illuminate the culture and beliefs of their communities.
Belizean cuisine reflects the country’s multicultural population and its magnificent Caribbean coast location.
As well as exploring the much celebrated marine life, wildlife holidays in Belize will take you inland.
Lionfish spearing in Belize tackles an invasive species causing serious destruction.
Diving and snorkelling helps conserve the world’s second-largest barrier reef.
Belize kayaking holidays can take you along jungle-clad rivers or along the Barrier Reef between idyllic cayes.
While it has plenty of paradise beaches, Belize is very much a honeymoon destination for adventurous couples.
An extraordinary array of birdlife, from kingfishers to hawks, can be spotted.
Marine conservation holidays in Belize all revolve around its Barrier Reef Reserve System.
Tailor made holidays in Belize give you more freedom in where you go, and what you do.
Read tips from our partners and travellers who have explored its coral reefs, tropical forests and ancient Maya cities.
Read more about responsible tourism in Belize, where sustainability is taken seriously.
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