So often you read about a location and someone gives you a list of 100 things to do somewhere. While it might be good to see all your options, I’m a bottom line girl – tell me the must dos! Then I can add other things in the time I have left. So here are the top, top, top…absolutely best things to do in Belize. But don’t worry, I added extras so you’re still covered.

One of the coolest things about Belize travel is that it’s a 2 for 1 vacation. You can visit 2 separate areas and have 2 totally different experiences. The Cayo district is a jungle with Mayan Ruins, Caves, Ziplining and other adventures. The Cayes, are gorgeous beach destinations with white sand beaches, crystal clear, turquoise water, and “unBelizeable” water activities. Read on to see the best of the best to help plan your itinerary.

#1 Actun Tunichil Muknal Cave Tour
This ATM Cave Tour is the number one thing to do in this area of Belize. It’s a Raiders of the Lost Arc kind of adventure, climbing though caves, wading in water up to your waist, burial sites, preserved skulls and skeletons and more. You have to take a licensed tour and I’ve been told that it’s physically challenging. The people that have done the ATM Cave tour said it was fantastic. We had limited time and made the tough choice to go to Tikal instead.

#2 Tikal Mayan Ruins
How can a Mayan Ruin site in Guatemala be one of the top things to do in Belize? San Ignacio is only 10 minutes from the Guatemala border and everyone we met was heading over to check it out. You might know that I’m going to 50 new countries as part of my World Travel Challenge so I couldn’t pass up the chance to cross the border and go to Guatemala to see the most amazing ruins at Tikal. It’s a Mayan Citadel (think Kingdom), about 10 times the size the famous Mayan City of Chitzen Itza, with 4,000+ structures.

#3 Other Unique Things to Do in the Belize Cayo District

There are a myriad of activities available in the Cayo district. So #3 is to pick one or a bunch of them depending on how long you stay.

• Cave Tubing at Barton Creek Cave – You can do a cave tubing or canoe trip in the morning, floating down a river, in and out of various caves in Mountain Pine Ridge Reserve.
• Zip lining – Also a half day activity, you can go ziplining through the jungle canopy in the afternoon.
• More Mayan Ruins – Xunantunich Maya Ruins, Cahal Pech Mayan Ruins and Caracol Mayan Ruins are right nearby and incredible in their own right.
• Horseback Riding – Riding can be combined with activities like seeing Mayan Ruins or you can just go out for a ride and picnic.
• Farmer’s Market – mingle with the locals at the Saturday Farmer’s Market in San Ignacio. Try the pupusas, an El Salvador specialty that everyone is wild about in Belize. Drink the water out of a chilled, freshly cracked coconut. For dessert, get a huge, sweet papaya cut open for you.
• Belize Cooking or Mixology Class – Ka’ana Resort had the most fun Mixology class where I learned to make a Watermelon Mojito and a Mango Habanero Margarita.
• Belize Botanic Gardens is a slice of garden heaven with a tropical fruit orchard and rainforest trail. It’s 15 minutes from San Ignacio.. It’s open every day, has tours and volunteer opportunities.
• Birdwatching, Butterfly farms and the Belize Zoo – Belize is a nature lover’s paradise. Outside of this area but worth mentioning for people that love nature reserves is the Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary.

#4 The Great Blue Hole is a Belize Must See

You know when you get really excited to see something and it doesn’t measure up to your expectations. Well, the Great Blue Hole does not disappoint. It was better in person than we hoped. This world famous 400′ deep sinkhole off the coast of Belize has some of the most amazing, advanced diving in the world but the best vantage point is from the air. You can either take a helicopter tour or we took a plane flight. It’s expensive but completely worth it. The helicopter is booked by helicopter making it really expensive for just 2 people. The Tropic Air 1 hour plane flight had all window seats. They circled the Blue hole 2 times in both directions so everyone got an amazing view for the perfect photo. Pro Tip: Ask if you can ride in the co-pilot seat. It’s first come, first served. There are also boat tours to go diving and snorkeling. Keep in mind that diving at the great Blue Hole is only for advanced divers.

#5 Hol Chan Marine Reserve

The Belize Barrier Reef, a UNESCO Heritage site, is the 2nd largest reef in the world running along 185 miles of Belize coastline. Because of it’s protected status, the marine life provides top notch diving and snorkeling opportunities. The Hol Chan Marine reserve is only 4 miles off the coast of Ambergris Caye making it one of the best things to do there. There are 4 distinct areas – Coral Reefs, Grass Beds, Mangroves, and Shark Ray Alley. Each has their own marine life. You can spot anything from beautiful coral, sea grasses, large schools of brightly colored fish, lobsters, sea turtles, sting rays, and nurse sharks.