Central America Belize The Ultimate Guide to Backpacking Belize an a Budget

The Ultimate Guide to Backpacking Belize an a Budget

Share

Belize is a country on the eastern coast of Central America, and it is the only country in Central America whose official language is English.

Although Belize is technically part of Central America, it feels more like the Caribbean. After speaking, or should I say, attempting to speak Spanish for months, it definitely threw us off when we greeted Rastas with a friendly “Hola” and they replied with “Ya Man, Wha a gwaan?”

However, it didn’t take long for us to readjust and fully immerse ourselves in the Caribbean culture. The locals are very welcoming and laid-back. Not to mention the food is simply delicious.

Belize also has one of the lowest population densities in Central America, and it offers a rich variety of wildlife and nature. The lack of development, billboards and other modern crap makes Belize one of our favorite countries.

However, its beauty comes with a heavier price tag than its neighboring countries. Even experienced budget travelers will spend more money in Belize than anywhere else in Central America, but don’t let that keep you from visiting. With careful planning and our tips below, you can significantly reduce your costs and stay within your budget.

What You’ll Find in This Guide

Best Time to Go Backpacking in Belize

Late November to mid-April is considered the dry season in Belize, which means less rain but also more tourists and higher prices for tours and accommodation. The rainy season starts around June, so if you are on a budget, want to avoid the crowds and don’t want to get rained on then late April to early June is the best time for you to be backpacking Belize.

Check flights to Belize from the USA (starts at $190 RT)

Belize Visa & Entry Requirements

Most people entering Belize do not need a visa and will receive a 30-day entrance stamp upon arrival. There is no entrance fee, but all visitors who stay in Belize for more than 24 hours are required to pay a $18.75 USD exit fee. If you want to stay longer than one month in Belize, you will have to visit a local immigration office and get a new 30-day stamp for $25 USD.

The Split, a popular hangout spot for tourists and locals alike.

Is Backpacking Belize Safe?

Belize City is considered the most dangerous place in Belize, so use caution when walking outside of the tourist zone, especially after dark. However, the rest of Belize is quite safe, as most crime here is gang related and rarely affects tourists. Just stay alert, without being paranoid, and you should be fine.

How Much Do Things Cost in Belize?

Transportation

Public buses are by far the cheapest mode of transportation around the country. Although those old North American school buses can get crowded sometimes, they are just as efficient as private shuttles and taxis. Belize is a pretty small country, and a ride from east to west takes about three hours. Fares cost between $1-10 USD, depending on how far you go.

The island ferries cost around $15 USD one way. If you buy a round-trip ticket you can usually save a couple of bucks.

Food

Did we mention the food is pretty damn delicious in Belize? If you like seafood, you will love it here. Eat at local places and avoid any touristy place that will charge you double the price. Depending on what you order you can expect to pay around $4-6 USD for a basic, yet tasty meal. No matter what you do, you have to try the coconut rice and beans. It will have you wondering what else in life you have been missing out on :)

We ate some pretty amazing lobster (with a drink and dessert) in Placencia and paid $25 USD for the both of us. That was the priciest meal we have had on our travels so far, but it was definitely worth it.

Accommodation

We recommend you avoid booking accommodation in advance (unless you are traveling during high season), and simply walk around town to find the best deal. Many small establishments are not listed on the internet, so you could possibly be missing out on a great bargain. Expect to pay around $15 USD for a dorm room in a hostel and $20+ USD for a private double room in a guesthouse.

If you are traveling during high season or prefer to book your accommodation in advance, we have listed our favorite spots for you below. Keep reading or click here to go directly to our favorite places to stay in Belize.

Beautiful view of the Caribbean sea from Caye Caulker, Belize
Aleksandar Todorovic / shutterstock.com

Money Saving Tips

Below are some money saving tips for Belize for even more awesome tips on how to save money while traveling, click here.

1.) Travel During Off-Season

Low season does not necessarily mean rainy season. In the two weeks we were there, it maybe rained once or twice for a couple of minutes. Even if it does rain a little bit, the money you’ll save while traveling off-season will make up for the rain in the long run. Prices are negotiable during low season, and many times you can save up to 50% off of popular activities, such as scuba diving, caving and more. So, bargain as much as you can, because accommodation owners know they won’t have too many customers.

2.) Use Public Transportation

As stated earlier, public buses will save you a big chunk of money. Avoid private shuttles and travel the local way.

3.) Happy Hour

Alcohol can be very expensive in Belize, and it can drain a backpacker’s budget very fast. Fortunately, many bars offer happy hour specials such as 2 for 1 or even all you can drink for $20 USD.

4.) Hitchhiking

Hitchhiking is very common in Belize and locals do it too, so again, travel like a local. If you are open to this idea, go for it because you will save big in the long run.

Best Places to Stay in Belize

Belize is home to many hostels and budget hotels but below are some of our favorite places to stay.

Caye Caulker

San Pedro (Ambergris Caye)

Hopkins

  • The Funky Dodo: Located in the center of Hopkins Village and a 1-minute walk from the beach. Basic, but clean rooms.

Placencia

  • Lydia’s Guesthouse: Private rooms with a balcony and fan. Communal kitchen and shared bathrooms.
  • Anda Di Hows Hostel: Basic, but clean rooms with a private bathroom and shared kitchen. Best value in Placencia.

Orange Walk

San Ignacio

  • Bella’s Backpackers: Located in San Ignacio town, close to restaurants and other attractions. Shared kitchen, lounge and BBQ facilities.

Top Things To Do In Belize

The Cayes

No visit to Belize is complete without visiting at least one of the beautiful islands on the coast of Belize. The most visited islands are Caye Caulker and Ambergris Caye. Ambergris is the biggest and most expensive of the two. Caye Caulker is a more ideal location for backpackers. What’s nice about Caye Caulker is that you won’t find any cars. The locals and tourists get around on golf carts, bikes or simply by walking. There is not a ton of stuff to do on the island, but for people who simply want to relax and enjoy the laid-back lifestyle, this is the place to be.

Beautiful caribbean sight with turquoise water in Caye Caulker island, Belize.
Aleksandar Todorovic / shutterstock.com

Actun Tunichil Muknal

Actun Tunichill Muknal, also known as the ATM Cave, is a beautiful cave near San Ignacio. The cave used to be a Mayan site and it still contains ancient skeletons and ceramics. Unfortunately, the cave can only be visited with a rather expensive guide, so expect to dig deep in you pockets for this tour. The ATM Cave tour costs around $110 USD during high season and $80 USD during low season. The price usually includes lunch, the guide and equipment, depending on the tour company you use. Although the price is rather steep, Jazzy and I decided to do the tour and you know what, it was well worth it. The cave was absolutely breathtaking and we would recommend it to even the most frugal travelers. If you can save the money elsewhere and spend it on the ATM Cave, do it. Trust us, you won’t regret it.

Note: According to our tour guide, low season is the best time to visit because they are not in a hurry and can take their time explaining things. Plus you might even get a guide all to yourself, like we did.

Belize Zoo

The Belize Zoo started out as a rescue center for wild animals and has since become one of the most visited tourist attractions in Belize. The zoo is settled upon 29 acres and exhibits over 150 animals, all native to Belize. The entrance fee is $15 USD for adults and $5 USD for children.

Mayan Cacao Farm

We loooove chocolate. Real Mayan chocolate is the best chocolate we have ever had. The ancient Mayans invented chocolate, and experts suggest that Belize is the “Cradle of Chocolate”. So while in San Ignacio, we visited one of the many Mayan cacao farms around the area. There, Mayan descendents showed us how they make chocolate from the raw cacao bean by hand, without machines. It was very interesting to see the whole process, but what was even more interesting was the tasting part. If you are a fan of chocolate and want to know how real chocolate is supposed to taste, visit one of these farms. They are usually free to visit and are located all over the country.

Making chocolate from cocoa beans

The Great Blue Hole

The Great Blue Hole is an underwater sinkhole off the coast of Belize. It is one of the top ten scuba diving sites in the world. Divers can dive in crystal clear water and find several species of fish.

An aerial view of the famous diving spot, Blue Hole off the coast of Belize
Tami Freed / shutterstock.com

Belize Barrier Reef (Hol Chan Marine Reserve)

The Belize Barrier Reef is the second largest coral reef system in the world after the Great Barrier Reef in Australia. It is home to a wide diversity of plants and animals and is one of the most diverse ecosystems in the world. Apparently, only 10% of all species have been discovered there, which makes snorkeling the Hol Chan Marine Reserve one of the most popular things to do in Caye Caulker.

Snorkeling in the Hol Chan Reserve in Caye Caulker, Belize

Caracol

This ancient Mayan site is one of the largest in the country. Caracol used to be a city larger than modern day Belize City and supported more than twice the population. Unlike Altun Ha, this site is less restored and is still mostly covered by thick jungle. The entrance fee is $15 USD.

Ancient Maya Mask Temple located in the jungle of Belize.
Johnny Habell / shutterstock.com

Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary

This sanctuary is located in southern Belize and is the only jaguar preserve in the world. It is also known for its spectacular waterfalls, mountain views and nature trails. The park offers camping grounds for overnight visitors for $10 USD per person per night.

Fishing

You can either go fishing with an organized tour and pay a big chunk of money, or you can buy a fishing line and a hook at the store and join the locals fishing by the pier. There are many people barbecuing on the streets and for a small fee they will cook your catch for you.

A local fishing at the pier in Caye Caulker, Belize

How Much Did We Spend?

Together, Jazzy and I spent about $800 USD in two weeks. That is a bit more than we usually spend in other places, but it was still within a reasonable price. We loved Belize, and the extra amount we spent was well worth it.

Backpacking Belize doesn’t have to empty your bank account. By using some of the tips above, you will be able to spend less and save more. Just keep in mind that Belize will not be as cheap as Guatemala or Mexico. Knowing that will save you from a heart attack later, when reviewing your spendings :)

Get Insured Before Backpacking Belize

No matter how long or short your trip, don’t forget to purchase travel insurance. You never know what will happen and trust us, you don’t wanna get stuck with thousands of dollars in medical bills. As a wise man once said, “If you can’t afford travel insurance, you can’t afford to travel.” So don’t leave home without it. We use and recommend SafetyWing.

Even if you don’t get travel insurance with SafetyWing, please make sure to get travel insurance from somewhere.

More Information On Backpacking Belize

If you are more of a book person and would rather carry a physical guide with you while backpacking Belize, we recommend Lonely Planet Belize. Remember though, don’t follow it step by step, use it as a guide instead.

If you enjoyed our backpacking Belize on a budget guide, please share it on social media and consider coming back to plan your next trips with our other detailed backpacking guides.

Share

Comments

  • Thanks for writing this post! We are currently trying to figure out a good 2 week trip and this was super helpful! If we go it will be in high season, so I think we’d book at least most accommodation ahead. Cheers! :)

  • I love the budget-conscious suggestions. I’m always looking for ways to save money while I’m traveling and love posting about my findings on my website as well! Thank you for sharing.

  • If you want to fly to Belize cheaper, then fly into Cancun, and take the ADO bus down to Chetumal, and from there a Belize bus to Belize City.

  • Hey guys I’m planning on doing a little bit of backpacking through Belize, I’m a little short on time as I’m trying to visit Belize, Guatemala and El Salvador (maybe Cuba also…) in potentially 2.5 months. How long would you recommend I need to see all the amazing locations/spot in Belize without feeling too rushed? I was thinking 3 weeks?

    Thanks,
    Gabi

    • Yup, I think 3 weeks is a good time frame to visit Belize without being rushed. But I have to warn you that parts of Belize will hold you hostage, you may never want to leave.

      Safe travels, Gabi

  • The cover page to your article is NOT a picture of Belize…it is a picture of Trunk Bay, St. John’s in the Virgin Islands…why would you mislead your readers?

    • The cover page of our article is of Belize because we took it ourselves… The pintrest one is not ;(… We got it using flicker … So error on our part. We didn’t mislead our readers on purpose, though Belize islands do have gorgeous water as such!

  • Great to hear that you hitched in Belize and that things can be done reasonably cheaply there. Was there much free / budget camping going on that you saw?

    • Hitchhiking is very common in Belize and many of the locals do it as well. As far as camping goes it really depends on where you are heading but there are definitely a few camping grounds around plus you can always ask at a hostel/hotel if you can pitch your tent on their property for a small fee.

  • I’ve heard Belize is great for snorkeling, too. Always wanted to go there.

    • It sure is Tami. Belize has the second largest barrier reef in the world with an abundance of marine living there.

  • Talk about inspiration! I haven’t been to Belize yet but your pictures alone make me want to pack. However, $800 – fantastic!

    • Haha thanks Beth. Belize is beautiful and should not be missed by lovers of crystal clear beaches and coconut trees :D

  • I really want to go to Belize but about the only time of year we’ll be able to go will be October which I’ve heard is the worst time of year to go weather-wise. Wondering if it’s worth it?

    • We were in Belize at the end of September – beginning of October and the weather was awesome. It rained a few times during the afternoons but only for like 15 minutes to an hour. Rainy season doesn’t necessarily mean that it is going to rain everyday all day. It just means that it rains more than during the dry season, usually in the afternoons or in the morning. In our opinion the money that you can safe, far outweighs the risk of having a few hours of rain. We travel a lot during rainy season and we have yet to say “this trip sucked because it rained 24/7.”

  • Wadda gwan. Visited and now have lived here for 8 years. I love it…and you are right, the food is AMAZING, travelling by bus is the CHEAP way and it’s not always cheap. Great post.

    • Thanks Rebecca. I am sure you love it there. Who knows maybe we too will settle in Belize one day.

  • Great post! Belize was one of the places we wanted to settle in after leaving the U.S. The primary reason was being an English speaking place. We ended up in Malta :-)

    • Interesting. Why did you choose Malta over Belize?

      • Malta is also English speaking. What decided it was the fact that it was closer for me to be able to visit home (Nigeria) and closer to my husband’s family as well (Rome).

  • This post was great, made me feel so nostalgic. I went to Belize about 7 years ago so I imagine it’s more expensive than it was then. Glad you got to experience the Caribbean vibe! It’s quite interesting, isn’t’ it? ^_^

    • Thanks Francesca. Seven years is a long time so probably it is a little bit more expensive now. Definitely is, we love the Caribbean and can’t wait to go to Jamaica soon.

  • I lived in Belize for a short while. The money is interesting there. Prices go down as people get to know you and consider you a local.

    I only spent 1500 for three months staying on the beach in our own private house and eating out every meal everyday.

    • Hey so I saw that you stayed in your own private house. Do you still know the website or how you found that ?

      • You must be mistaken. We stayed in local Guesthouses all throughout. If you are looking for an apartment I recommend you check out either Airbnb or look around the neighborhood for signs or ask the locals

        • Hey guys! Thanks so much for the info. I will be visiting Belize for the first time with my best friend (both females going alone) in a few weeks so we’re kind of nervous but extremely excited. We’re currently checking out all of our options.. Did you leave your belongings in the private room? Did you have a private restroom as well? We’ll only be staying a couple of days because that’s what works for our hectic schedules.. If you were to choose 2 or 3 activities, which ones would you choose? Do you know what city is best to stay in that’s close to those activities/tourist sites?

          • Hey Angela, sorry for the late reply! If you are only staying in Belize for a couple of days, I recommend you stay in one location as traveling to and from different areas can take up too much time, though it does not take much time to get from one end of the country to the other. As for activities, it depends on what you like doing or interested in. But personally if I had to say 2, I would say the ATM CAVE and Snorkeling the Barrier Reef (both expensive but totally worth it). Every location has at least one amazing thing to do, unfortunately all the activities are not all in the same spot. But we really enjoyed Caye Caulker (of course it will be more expensive than the inland because it is an island) because we pretty much did nothing but relax, eat a bunch of seafood and kayaked. We stayed at Pause Hostel and the Vista Mar Guesthouse. In both places we stayed in a private room with shared bath (cheaper) and we left all our belongs in the room.

            Hope this helps Angela and if you have any more questions feel free to ask! Enjoy Belize, it is one of our favorite country in Central America!

    • Yeah I can imagine this is pretty much the case in every non-westernized country. That’s a good budget for three months, I wish we had some local hookups :D

  • Thanks for this review…..we choose to go to Nicaragua last summer when we wanted to hit Central America, but Belize is next on out list. You’ve given us some great info!

  • It seems flight fare to Belize is a lot more expensive than going to other tropical places; any suggestions on how to get a cheap flight there?

  • I love Belize.
    Spend some time there a few years ago and really liked the sense of humor of the people and the laid back atmosphere.

    • Yeah the atmosphere and the people definitely make Belize one of our favorite countries. Fortunately, tourism hasn’t changed it too much.

  • I’ve heard Belize is more expensive than other CA countries but I see, it’s well worth it. Neat review and I had no clue English was spoken regularly in Belize. Neat to know, although I can break out my gringo Spanish here and there LOL as I did in Costa Rica. CR was also expensive relative to other Central American lands, and much more expensive than here in Bali YET cheaper compared to the US, when I go home ;) Sometimes I lose Western perspective on the road. Or, NJ perspective lol. Thanks for the review guys!

    Ryan

    • Thanks Ryan. Yea Belize is a little bit more expensive, similar to Costa Rica, but it is totally worth it. Don’t worry I think losing the western perspective on the road is normal for most travelers. :D

Leave your comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.