What to do in Belize: the best of San Ignacio, Caye Ambergris and Caye Caulker

Belize is one of the smallest countries in Central America — second only to El Salvador — but don’t let its size fool you. There’s plenty to explore.

With lush tropical forests, fascinating Mayan ruins, and idyllic beaches with turquoise waters, Belize combines the best of Central America’s natural beauty and history.

I’ve already shared a post with our one-week Belize itinerary, where you’ll find all the tips you need for planning your trip and organizing your itinerary. In this post, I’ll dive deeper into what to do in the two regions of Belize that we visited: San Ignacio, located inland, and Ambergris Caye, a beautiful island in the Caribbean Sea.

We visited Belize as part of our journey through northern Central America, spending ten days in Guatemala and a week in Belize. It was one of the most unforgettable trips we took when the girls were still little.

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Where to stay in Belize

During our trip to Belize, we based ourselves in two main areas: San Ignacio, to explore the country’s inland attractions, and San Pedro, on the island of Ambergris Caye, for a few relaxing beach days.

In San Ignacio, we stayed at Cahal Pech Village Resort, conveniently located near the Cahal Pech Mayan ruins. This hotel offered great facilities, a nice pool, and excellent value for money. I’ve listed other accommodation options in this post if you’re looking for alternatives.

For our time on Ambergris Caye, we chose Xanadu Island Resort, where we had a spacious apartment with two bedrooms, a full kitchen, and a large living room. The pool was a bit small, but it was perfect for the kids to enjoy. You can find more accommodation suggestions for Ambergris Caye in our Belize itinerary post.

On Caye Caulker, accommodations are generally simpler than those on Ambergris Caye. Barefoot Beach Belize offers a beachfront location with a pool, while Colinda Cabanas, though without a pool, looked equally charming. For a slightly more upscale option that still keeps Caye Caulker’s rustic charm, El Ben Cabañas is worth considering.

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What to do in San Ignacio

Xunantunich Mayan Ruins

Belize is home to many Mayan archaeological sites, with several located in the San Ignacio area. But the main highlight here is undoubtedly the Xunantunich Mayan ruins.

Close to the Guatemalan border, getting to Xunantunich Mayan ruins is straightforward. The site is about 1,5 km from the main highway connecting Belize to Guatemala. To reach the ruins, you’ll need to cross the Mopan River on a small ferry and then follow a short road up to the parking lot — you can walk this stretch, but it’s a bit of a hike uphill.

Xunantunich features six plazas and over twenty five temples and palaces, making it one of the most impressive Mayan sites in Belize.

The tallest pyramid, known as El Castillo (the Castle), stands forty meters high, with intricate carved friezes on its east and west sides. The east side frieze depicts the Sun god, framed by the Moon and Venus, which has been preserved under a fiberglass replica. I highly recommend climbing the steps to the top of El Castillo—it’s worth the effort!

We toured Xunantunich without a guide, and in hindsight, I realized that was a mistake (so here’s a tip for you!). Having a guide would have enriched our experience immensely, providing insights into the Mayan civilization that once thrived here and shedding light on the many intricate details of the site. It was only once we were there that I recognized how valuable a professional guide would have been. Fortunately, we didn’t make the same mistake later when visiting other historical sites like Angkor Wat or Brazil's Serra da Capivara. Lesson learned!

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Mayan Ruins of Cahal Pech

Cahal Pech Cahal Pech is one of the oldest archaeological sites in Belize, with its earliest settlements dating back to approximately 1200 BC. The site consists of around 30 structureses arranged across 8 interconnected plazas, featuring various buildings with administrative, civic, ritual, and elite residential functions.

When we visited, we had the entire complex to ourselves—imagine exploring a Mayan ruin with no one else around! Later, a few other tourists showed up, but it remained a wonderfully quiet experience.

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Mayan Ruins of El Caracol

Caracol was the largest and most powerful Mayan settlement in Belize. At its peak around 650 AD, it had an estimated population of over 100,000, rivaling Tikal in Guatemala in significance.

The tallest structure at El Caracol, called Caana or the “Sky Palace,” is a pyramid standing about 43 meters high, still the tallest man-made structure in Belize today. The site includes numerous plazas, temples, stelae, and causeways that link different residential and ceremonial areas.

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Cave tubing

One activity that was an absolute must during our visit to Belize — and one I highly recommend — is cave tubing, a type of gentle rafting through cave systems.

We did our cave tubing tour with Branch Cellars. After being outfitted with life jackets and helmets, we began with a 30-minute hike along a forest trail, which led us to the banks of the Caves Branch River. That’s where the adventure truly started: each of us had our own inner tube, all tied together to form a kind of “floating centipede” as we drifted downriver. We floated through caves and forests, surrounded by impressive scenery. Along the way, we spotted various birds and were thrilled by a family of capuchin monkeys playing in a tree near the river. We even heard the distinct calls of howler monkeys echoing in the distance. The kids absolutely loved it!

There are several similar tours available in Belize, and I highly recommend adding at least one of them to your itinerary.

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ATM Cave – Actun Tunichil Muknal

When planning our trip to Belize, one place at the top of my list was the Actun Tunichil Muknal cave, commonly known as ATM.

This full-day adventure involves a forty-five minute hike that includes crossing three rivers (no bridges!), followed by swimming into the cave’s entrance. Once inside, you continue on foot through the dry sections of the cave, eventually reaching an area once used by the Mayans, where you can see ritual artifacts and skeletal remains, some of which are nearly complete skeletons.

Swimming skills are essential for this tour, and since our daughters were still very young at the time, we decided to save Actun Tunichil Muknal cave for our next trip to Belize.

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What to do in Belize – Ambergris Caye and Caye Caulker

We spent three full days in Ambergris Caye, enjoying some relaxation by the Caribbean Sea after over two weeks of traveling through Belize and Guatemala.

Unfortunately, the beach in front of our hotel wasn’t ideal for swimming due to an excess of sargassum. On days when the seaweed smell wasn’t too strong, it was still nice to spend late afternoons on the sandy stretch by the hotel, making for a pleasant end to the day.

The activities I suggest below can all be done from either Ambergris Caye or Caye Caulker.

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Snorkeling and diving in Caye Ambergris and Caye Caulker

With the largest barrier reef in the northern hemisphere — and the second largest in the world—Belize is a paradise for marine life enthusiasts. The Belize Barrier Reef is so significant that UNESCO has designated it a World Heritage site.

One of the most popular tours in the area is snorkeling at the Hol Chan Marine Reserve and swimming with sharks at Shark Ray Alley — yes, you read that right: swimming with sharks! On our first day in Ambergris Caye, we visited a local agency in town and booked our tour for the following day.

The boat picked us up right from the pier in front of our hotel, and after about a fifteen-minute ride, we arrived at the Hol Chan Marine Reserve. Hol Chan is one of the best spots for snorkeling in Belize — and since Belize is one of the top snorkeling and diving destinations worldwide, you can imagine how incredible this experience was. The variety and sheer number of fish and marine life were unbelievable.

From there, the boat continued on to Shark Ray Alley. Suddenly, a swarm of nurse sharks and southern stingrays appeared around the boat. It turns out the guides throw bits of fish into the water to attract them. They explained that this spot was once a fishing area before it became a reserve. Fishermen used to clean their catch there, tossing the remains into the sea, which attracted sharks over time as it became a reliable food source.

Then, it was time to jump in. Though the guides reassured us it was safe, I felt a bit nervous, with the "Jaws" theme song playing in my head! But then I thought, “When will I ever get the chance to swim with sharks again?” So, I took the plunge and soon found myself swimming alongside these incredible creatures—a memory for a lifetime!

The complete tour lasts around 3.5 hours and can also be done from Caye Caulker.

There is also a full day touroption that, in addition to these two stops, includes several snorkeling stops along the way and a visit to Caye Caulker.

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Great Blue Hole

One of my must-do activities in Belize was visiting the famous Great Blue Hole, one of the largest of its kind in the world.

This remarkable natural wonder formed from a collapsed cave when sea levels were much lower. Now, it’s a near-perfect circular coral reef, three hundred meters wide and one hundred twenty four meters deep, situated about seventy kilometers off the coast of Belize.

While snorkeling is an option, the real thrill lies in diving into the Blue Hole’s depths.

Tours to the Great Blue Hole are full-day adventures, with a boat ride of about two to three hours each way and several hours spent at the site. But beware — the Blue Hole is located in open sea, so the boat ride can be quite rough, and seasickness is common. We were forewarned about this by our tour agency, and, in the end, we didn’t take the tour.

Another fantastic way to experience the Blue Hole is from the air, via a helicopter tour. Unfortunately, we couldn’t make this happen either.

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Secret Beach

Despite the name, it’s no secret that Secret Beach is the best beach on Ambergris Caye. Think Caribbean paradise: powdery white sand, turquoise waters, no waves, and warm, inviting water. This is Secret Beach.

When we were there, it was the only beach on the island free from the troublesome sargassum seaweed. Since it’s on the west side of the island, facing the mainland, ocean currents carrying the algae don’t reach Secret Beach.

The best way to get to Secret Beach is by renting a golf cart! In fact, golf carts are the easiest way to get around the island. We rented one for two days from a small rental place on the road between our hotel and the town center, which cost about half of what the hotel would’ve charged us — and it was absolutely worth it.

If you’re staying on Caye Caulker, I’d recommend making the trip to Ambergris Caye to spend some time at Secret Beach. At the pier on both islands, you’ll find boats going back and forth; just show up and negotiate your fare.

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Cycling and golf cart riding around the island

Our Hotel on Ambergris Caye provided bikes for guests, which became our main mode of transportation between the hotel and San Pedro’s town center. Many hotels offer complimentary bikes, but if yours doesn’t, there are plenty of places to rent them.

For the more adventurous, biking to Secret Beach is possible, but since we had our young kids with us — one on the back of an adult bike and the other on a small children’s bike — we decided to rent a golf cart instead.

As we discovered, renting a golf cart really is the most convenient way to get around Ambergris Caye.

We found a local rental shop on the way to downtown San Pedro, haggled over the price, and set a pick-up time for the following morning. We spent the day exploring by cart and returned it that evening. I took a photo of the place so we’d remember it the next day, check it out up above. But besides this one, there were several similar places around town where you can easily rent a cart.

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Mayan Ruins of Altun Ha

Altun Ha a fascinating Mayan ruin site, is located on the Belize mainland. Even if you’re staying on the islands of Caye Caulker or Ambergris Caye, it’s possible to visit Altun Ha on a day trip.

Since we had already explored several Mayan ruins in both Belize and Guatemala, we decided to save Altun Ha for another visit. However, if you’re not planning to head to the San Ignacio region, a trip to Altun Ha could be a great option to experience Belize’s rich Mayan history.

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Which island to stay on in Belize: Caye Ambergris or Caye Caulker?

With most of the key activities in Belize’s coastal area accessible from either Ambergris Caye or Caye Caulker, it comes down to choosing the island that best matches your travel style.

Ambergris Caye is the larger and more developed of the two islands. It’s ideal if you’re looking for a base with ample amenities, a broader range of accommodations (including more comfortable hotels), and plenty of restaurants and bars in San Pedro. For families, Ambergris Caye can be a convenient and comfortable option; we chose it while traveling with young children, and it offered the ease and facilities we needed.

Caye Caulker, on the other hand, is a smaller, quieter island with a relaxed atmosphere. The pace is noticeably slower, echoing the island’s motto, “go slow.” It’s an ideal choice if you’re looking for a more laid-back experience, and it tends to attract backpackers and travelers on a tighter budget who appreciate the island’s easygoing charm.

Both islands have their charm, so it ultimately depends on what kind of experience you're looking for.

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I hope you enjoyed our guide on what to do in Belize! For more details on our complete Belize itinerary , along with all our tips to Guatemala (which we visited on the same trip), check out the blog. And if you have any 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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