Plan Your Perfect Belize 7 Day Itinerary!

As a self-declared beach/ paradise expert, trust me when I say that a trip to Belize is oh so worth it. Not only do you get crystal blue water, but you can explore ancient ruins, swim with sharks, attempt to hold iguanas (or fail, as I did and drop them…more on that later.) In any case, Belize is the perfect escape from living the cube life, so you should probably just go ahead and plan a trip there. Here’s your perfect Belize 7 day itinerary!

Day 1| Xunantunich Maya Ruin

Assuming you arrived the evening before, wake up bright and early in San Ignacio, Belize. Hint: this is inland because we’re saving the beaches and relaxation for the end…you have to earn your rum drinks!

First off, swing by the Farmer’s Market and stock up on fresh fruit for your stay; we grabbed a starfruit, pineapple, bananas, etc. You can’t go wrong. Next up is Xunantunich, an ancient Mayan ruin. Climb up the pyramids, visit the ancient ball court, and brush up on your ancient carvings. Visiting the ruins requires a lot of walking uphill, and in 90 degree weather, make sure to pace yourself. Also, I’d recommend scheduling some nap time and pool time for the afternoon to recover!

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Day 2| Adventure Day!

So you have a couple options for your second day of your Belize 7 day itinerary. First is visiting the Actun Tunichil Muknal cave, where you can swim through crystal blue water and discover the secrets of the Mayan underworld. Your other option is to go cave tubing and zip lining. I personally opted for the second option because I can’t turn down flying through a forest. Also, turns out cave tubing is pretty legit. As a word of warning, some parts of the cave are pitch dark, so don’t freak out.

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Day 3| Activities in San Ignacio

For your last full day in San Ignacio, start your day with a chocolate class. Learn how to make chocolate, and of course, eat the samples. Next up, walk on over to the Green iguana conservation project where you can hold iguanas. Full disclosure: I think I might be terrified of iguanas. I tried to hold one, but it started crawling up my arm and gave me a scary stare, so I dropped him…he didn’t look pleased, so I’d recommend trying to avoid dropping your iguana. After this moderately traumatic experience, finish up your day with a traditional Belizean cooking class, and of course, some rum drinks. Click here for my complete guide to San Ignacio, Belize!

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Day 4| Travel to Caye Caulker

Day 4 is mostly a travel day, so get up bright and early and catch the bus back to Belize City. If you have a few extra days in Belize, you can hang out in Belize City since it’s a jumping off point for many excursions. A couple options are to take a helicopter tour of the Turneffe Islands and the Blue Hole, or if you prefer to keep your feet on the ground, explore a howler monkey sanctuary and hike the monkey trails. I would have loved to see the Blue Hole from above (it’s seriously in every picture of Belize), so maybe next time. If you don’t have a few days to spend in the city, then catch the ferry to Caye Caulker. You should arrive early afternoon, which will give you enough time to wander around the island, grab a tasty beach lunch, and of course, hit up the beach bars.

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Day 5| Snorkel with Sharks and Rays

This may have been my favorite day of my Belize 7 day itinerary…hop on a catamaran and sail over to Hol Chan Marine Reserve for a day of snorkeling. Not only did I get to see all sorts of colorful tropical fish, but I also swam with (friendly) sharks and rays! Definitely an unforgettable experience. Also, you can eat lunch on a beach, so can you really ask for any more out of life?

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Day 6| Beach Day

After your oh so stressful day sailing and snorkeling, you should probably calm down and have a good old beach day. Head down the main street of Caye Caulker and plop your butt down on the beach under one of the many palm trees. There’s plenty of vendors with drinks and snacks, so you know it’s going to be a good day. Make sure to pencil in time for a nap that afternoon, because you have a big night ahead of you! Head to Barrier Reef Sports Bar and Grill for trivia night…this isn’t your normal trivia night though. After trivia ends, the tables are cleared, the DJ comes out, and it becomes the hottest place on the island. Read here for my complete guide to Caye Caulker!

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Day 7| The Split

You might need to sleep in on your last full day of this Belize 7 day itinerary, so indulge…you’re on vacation. Also, if you end up a wee bit under the weather like I was, go to Errolyn’s House of Fry Jacks. What are fry jacks, you ask? Basically heaven for your mouth…fried dough with endless cheese, eggs, and deliciousness. Fry jacks are also an excellent hangover cure, so power one down, and head over to the Split for some relaxation. While you’re there, make sure to hit up the Lazy Lizard and grab a last few rum punches before you have to go back to reality.

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And there you have it, a magical Belize 7 day itinerary designed to make you forget you have any responsibilities or life outside of Belize…just make sure you’re responsible enough to catch your flight out in the morning!

Logistics

Flights to Belize: I’d recommend searching through eDreams.net. They scan tons of different travel discount sites and feature special flight deals.  Fly into Belize City, and grab the bus to San Ignacio or ferry to Caye Caulker!

Where to Stay in San Ignacio, Belize:  I personally opted to stay at a VRBO vacation rental. I was traveling with friends, so it was easily the most cost efficient, plus we had our own kitchen and access to a pool…perfect for those steamy Belize afternoons. If you opt to go the hotel route, definitely look into Rainforest Haven Inn. You can’t beat the location, and they serve excellent rum punch. For a budget option, you can’t go wrong with D’s Hostel. It’s clean, new, and close to the center of town.

Where to Stay in Caye Caulker, Belize: For the best value on the island, check out Caye Caulker Beach Hotel, which is literally one minute from the beach. Another top pick in Caye Caulker are the Seaside Villas where every unit has a balcony with ocean views. For the backpacking crowd, check out Go Slow Hostel…great vibes and you’re right by the Lazy Lizard!

Have you been to Belize? What were some of your favorite things to do? Share in the comments below! 

P.S. This post contains affiliate links. If you click on one and make a purchase, I might make a little extra spending money, at no extra cost to you. As always, all opinions are my own. 

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19 Comments

  1. I’ve been DYING to go to Belize…and this post is the perfect motivation. Thanks for the detailed itinerary ?

  2. Wow, such an great itinerary of Belize. Belize is definitely on my bucket-list and you have some great activities to do. A visit to the Mayan ruins, a snorkel with sharks & rays plus a visit to Caye Caulker. Pinned this for later! Thanks for sharing ?

  3. Me and my wife were very amazed by Maya ruins in Palenque when we visited Mexico. We were able to climb up to every pyramid.
    And I was disappointed on Chichen Itza coz there climbing was forbidden. So Belize seems to me like other interesting destination to explore Maya ruins as well as place for a perfect snorkeling and explore underwater world.

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