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When most people think of traveling to Central America, they opt for Costa Rica or Mexico, but if you don’t consider traveling to Belize, you’re missing out! Belize has so many things to do and because it’s a small country, you can do them all easily. These are 18 Ideas for What to Do in Belize for a Week!
Read our full One Week Itinerary for Belize.
These 18 ideas for what to do in Belize are broken down into different places you can visit in Belize. This will help you plan your trip for your one week in Belize.
What to Do in San Ignacio, Belize
1. San Ignacio
The first idea of what to do in Belize for a week is something that so many people skip over. You need to visit San Ignacio!
San Ignacio is an inland city near the border with Guatemala. There isn’t a beach, which is why most don’t visit. However, there is so much more for you to do in San Ignacio!
It’s surrounded by jungle, caves, and Mayan ruins. This means you can see all of this AND go relax on the beach—which you’ll see later on this list—all in one week in Belize!
San Ignacio, not only has a lot to do, but it’s also much more of an authentic travel destination in Belize than the eastern beaches and cayes of Belize.
Keep reading to find out what to do in San Ignacio!
2. ATM Cave
One of the absolute best things to do in San Ignacio, and all of Belize, is to visit the Actun Tunichil Muknal Cave, or as its more commonly known: the ATM Cave.
The ATM Cave in Belize is a cave deep in the jungle that was once used by the Mayans as a sacred place where they sacrificed people to the gods.
It’s definitely an adventure to get into the ATM Cave, but it is not super challenging and most people can do it. Find out what you need to know before visiting the ATM Cave in Belize.
Aside from the natural beauty of the cave, the main highlight is the Crystal Maiden. This is the human skeletal remains of someone who was brought into the cave and sacrificed.
There is a lot of evidence of human remains inside of the ATM Cave in Belize, which is why it is one of the best things to do in San Igancio and Belize!
3. Visit Tikal
Visiting Tikal one of the top things to do for a week in Belize, even though it is technically in neighboring Guatemala.
Tikal is a massive, ancient Mayan city that is filled with ruins. It is actually the largest uncovered Mayan site with about 3,000 structures that date back to 1000 BC.
No only is Tikal one of the most impressive places in Central America, it is an easy day trip from San Igancio, Belize, so it’s definitely something you can easily do during one week in Belize.
Read all about Visiting the Tikal Ruins from Belize.
4. Xunantunich Mayan Ruins
If you are not willing to swing the full day trip to Tikal from San Igancio, the Xunantunich Mayan ruins are another fantastic option to see that are closer to San Ignacio and avoids crossing into Guatemala.
5. Trin’s Bar
No matter what you decide to do in San Igancio, a cold drink at a relaxing local bar is exactly what everyone needs, and there is not better place to do that than at Trin’s Bar.
This unassuming, hole-in-the-wall bar has some of the best vibes and welcoming hosts in San Ignacio. It’s definitely a place you will want to have a cold one after exploring everything to do in San Igancio.
What to Do in Ambergris Caye
6. San Pedro, Ambergris Caye
Ambergris Caye is is one of the larger cayes off the eastern coast of Belize, and its main city is San Pedro. If you are trying to get the full Belize experience in one week, you will want to head to Ambergris Caye after San Igancio.
San Pedro, and Ambergris Caye as a whole, is much more touristy than inland San Igancio with its resorts and beaches. However, there is a lot to do in Ambergris Caye too, and assuming you want to relax on the beach a little, it’s definitely a place to visit in Belize.
Read about 7 Things to Know Before You Travel to Belize.
7. Snorkeling in Hol Chan Marine Reserve
The Hol Chan Marine Reserve is located between Ambergris Caye and Caye Caulker and is your next stop on what to do in Belize for a week. It’s right in the Belize Barrier Reef, the second largest barrier reef in the world!
You can book a snorkeling tour of the Hot Chan Marine Reserve to see natural beauty of the Belize Barrier Reef and all the animals that live there.
If you’re lucky, you might even see a manatee!
8. Swim with Sharks
While this is typically included in the Hol Chan Marine Reserve snorkeling tour—make sure it is—you can swim with sharks in Shark Ray Alley!
This is one of the most surreal experiences as your are surrounded by sharks as you snorkel and bob in the water. They swim by eating food as you watch from a close distance.
It’s definitely frightening, but also something to add to your what to do in Belize for a week list.
9. Secret Beach
With the adventure and adrenaline of snorkeling with sharks out of the way, you can rent a golf cart and drive up to the Secret Beach in Ambergris Caye.
The Secret Beach is about a 20 minute drive from the center of San Pedro and is a relaxing escape from the city. This peaceful beach isn’t exactly totally away from society as there are bars, restaurants, and people selling things, but it is still a relaxing beach.
Just make sure to avoid the people trying to sell you on all the restaurants or goods and have a fun time relaxing.
10. Elvi’s Kitchen
As far as food goes and what to do in Ambergris Caye, you need to eat at Elvi’s Kitchen. This has been a San Pedro staple for about 40 years!
They have absolutely delicious seafood and other Belizean cuisine!
What to Do in Caye Caulker, Belize
11. Caye Caulker
Caye Caulker is a smaller, more local spot off of mainland Belize that offers a chance to relax on beaches, snorkel, and experience another part of Belize than San Igancio or Ambergris Caye.
You will never be asking what to do in Caye Caulker because it has so much to offer, and in our opinion, is way better than Ambergris Caye.
If you opt to just visit Caye Caulker, you can also visit Hol Chan Marine Reserve and swim with the sharks from here too!
12. Koko King Beach
Caye Caulker was split in half by a devastating hurricane in 1961 creating two separate islands.
On the northern half is one of the best beaches in Caye Caulker: Koko King Beach.
Koko King Beach is actually a private beach that is accessible by boat. The quick boat ride is free, if you buy something at the beach (food, drinks, etc.).
Koko King Beach really is a remarkable beach that is not too crowded and makes for a fantastic place to relax in Caye Caulker. You can take the water taxi to Koko King on the far western side of Calle del Sol.
13. Belize Chocolate Company
Another idea for what to do in Caye Caulker is to visit Belize Chocolate Company.
The Belize Chocolate Company in Caye Caulker not only has wonderful, smooth chocolate, but they have been a long time staple on the island and sustainably and ethically source all their beans from indigenous farmers in Southern Belize.
They also get all their sugar from northern Belize cane farmers, who are mostly of Yucatec Mayan descent.
This means that not only are you getting world-class chocolate, but your money is going to support locals by avoiding middlemen so your money has more of an impact on the local community.
14. Tarpon Feeding
All the way east on Calle La Post is a dock where you can feed tarpons. You can purchase a smaller fish to hold out as the tarpons jump out of the water and snatch the fish right from your hand.
The tarpons are really big, so it’s quite the sight to see even if you don’t want to risk your hand!
15. Seahorse Ranch
Just south of the tarpon feeding dock is a Seahorse Ranch, which is basically what it sounds like. This is the perfect thing to do in Caye Caulker as you’re walking along the water before sunset.
While the seahorses are small are not the easiest to spot, you will most likely be able to see them, which is a really cool thing to see!
16. Falafel Place
What would visit a place be without finding the perfect place to eat? Well, the next two ideas for what to do in Caye Caulker, Belize are outstanding places for food.
Falafel Bar has some of the best falafel ever and is the little place to stop in for a quick, but delicious, bite to eat before further exploring everything to do in Belize and Caye Caulker.
17. Southside Pizza
Another wonderful and welcoming place to eat in Caye Caulker is Southside Pizza. Sure, it’s not authentic Belizean cuisine, but everyone loves pizza.
They have a chill patio with excellent service and delicious pizza that anyone can enjoy. Southside Pizza is definitely one of the best places to eat in Caye Caulker.
18. Eat Fry Jacks
The last thing on this list of ideas for what to do in Belize for a week is to eat a fry jack.
Or better yet, eat a ton of fry jacks!
This is a very traditional Belizean food that you will find all over Belize. It’s delicious, cheap, and authentic.
While it’s traditionally eaten for breakfast, you can eat a fry jack at any time of the day and not be disappointed.
Belize has so much to offer visitors and is definitely a country that you should consider visiting on your next trip to Central America.
If you are still looking for more ideas for what to do in Belize for a week, make sure to check out our Belize page with all our Belize posts.
Also, if you want help planning your trip, ask about travel planning services where we will work with you to design the trip of your dreams, no matter how long or short, so you can get the most out of your travels!
