The best times to visit Belize to avoid the heat or rainy season

07.01.2024 - 07:31 / lonelyplanet.com

Tiny, tropical Belize is where Latin-flavored Central America meets the captivating culture of the Caribbean, but it pays to think about when to go.

You’ll get the best out of Belize’s Maya ruins, vine-draped rainforests and impressive barrier reef (the largest outside of Australia) during the dry season from December to April. At other times, crowds evaporate and prices plummet, offering a more relaxed taste of the tropics.

Many visitors swear by the shoulder season in November and May, when there’s still plenty of sunshine, but much less competition for towel space on Belize’s Caribbean beaches.

Some activities, though, are definitely better in the dry – rain can put a real damper on diving in the spooky Great Blue Hole at Lighthouse Reef or exploring the flooded caverns of Actun Tunichil Muknal.

Plus, the summer heat can be a lot to handle. Here’s our guide to help you decide the perfect time to visit Belize. 

Brilliant blue skies. Birdlife checking in along the Caribbean Coast. Belize's dry season (December to April) offers prime weather for birding, sunbathing, swimming and diving on the beaches of Caye Caulker, Ambergris Caye and hundreds of other islands along the Belize Barrier Reef. Accordingly, hotels and transport operators bump up their prices by 30% to 50%. 

Although the dry season only really gets underway in late January, the post–New Year holidays see a huge influx of people and a big increase in prices, so those extra-high “peak” prices apply from mid-December to mid-January. Reservations are essential if you plan on enjoying some Christmas sun.

There are big NYE parties in San Pedro and horse races at Burrell Boom. Cyclists ride from Corozal to Belize City for the Krem Annual New Year's Day Classic.

In February, prices for accommodation remain high, and there’s lots of demand for space on boats to the cayes and trips inland to caves, ruins and jungle reserves. Lagoons and rivers begin to dry up and birds become easier to spot, as they congregate around the limited remaining water sources. 

The dry season is also the best time to explore the Maya wonders of the country, from the stepped pyramids of Caracol and Altun Ha to the menacing masks adorning temples at Lamanai and Xunantunich.

Cavers can take advantage of the dry weather to wriggle and wade deep underground in sacred caves such as Actun Tunichil Muknal and Nohoch Che’en Caves Branch Archaeological Reserve.

Belize celebrates Easter with passion, so expect extra crowds during the April weeks before and after Semana Santa (Holy Week).

The crowds die down on either side of the peak dry months. However, most of Belize’s attractions stay open and hotels offer wallet-friendly prices. Temperatures stay warm in November and May, there are plenty