When To Go

Planning Your Trip to Belize

As Belize is a small country it is possible to visit two or three regions easily in one holiday. A popular holiday is to combine reef and rainforest where you spend several days at a jungle lodge and then transfer to the coast for a few days relaxation or diving/snorkelling on the coral reef.

When to Go

Holidays to Belize occur all year round with the high season in Belize between December and May/June and peak season, when hotels charge a premium, around Christmas and Easter. Hotels are mostly small and independently owned with fewer than 40 rooms (no chain hotels), therefore in High season hotels can get booked up far in advance.

To stay in Belize over the Christmas period, it is advisable to book at least 9 months in advance, particularly for hotels on Ambergris Caye. It can rain anytime in Belize, but rainy seaon generally starts late May to early June, then dips slightly in July and early August building up to the heaviest rainfall through September and October. The shoulder months of November to December can still see rain. The rainy season can be a good time to visit Belize as it is quieter and many hotels charge lower rates during the summer months with excellent discounts available for stays during this time.

The official hurricane season is from June to November but historically hurricanes have tended to occur late August through the months of September and October.

Climate

Belize has subtropical temperatures that are generally coolest in December and January where they average 24°C and then gradually rise to average 30°C for the summer months of May through September before cooling again. During February, March and April the temperature gradually increases and these months are generally dry and clearer. April is consistently the driest month and one of the hottest, however, also one of the sunniest.

It can be windy in the months of March through June and this can sometimes prevent smaller boats travelling outside the reef. Historically October and November have seen less winds. The dry season is between January and May although rain can occur any time. The summer months tend to feel very tropical and are hot and humid. When it rains it tends to fall in short, refreshing bursts, mainly in the afternoon and early morning. Thunderstorms tend to build towards the evening and overnight. Rainfall increases significantly from north of country(60 inches) to the south (170 inches) during this time.

Average Daily Temperatures (Celsius)

Average rainfall in Belize (mm)

As Belize has many diverse landscapes from mountains and rainforests to coastal lowlands, the climate can vary by region for each month of the year. Contact us to recommend the ideal time for you to visit depending on activities and interests at info@naturallybelize.co.uk

Eating and Drinking

The main dish in Belize is rice and beans, often with stew chicken, stew beef or fish. Fresh seafood is readily available at the coast. There are seasons for lobster and conch due to overfishing of both. Lobster is available between July and January, and conch season is between September and July.

A delicious dish is ceviche which is uncooked seafood marinated in lime juice with onions, peppers, tomatoes and spices. Most restaurants and hotels serve continental food. The main beer in Belize is Belikin beer and be sure to try the Belizean cocktail favourite, the rum based PantyRipper