Belize City
Belize City is the country's largest city and its former capital, on a small peninsula where the Belize River meets the Caribbean Sea. Good options include a walk through the colonial center and galleries, a cave tubing trip, the Maya ruins, and reef trips reached by boat.
The most reviewed first. Prices are per person, booked with our partner, Shore Excursions Group.
Shark Ray Alley and Caye Caulker Beach Break by Boat
Altun Ha Mayan Ruins and Tropical Jungle Monkey Reserve
Jungle Jeep Adventure And Sibun Wildlife River Cruise
Altun-Ha
Altun-Ha is a Maya ruin site outside Belize City, dating from about 200 BC. Visitors come for the Temple of the Sun God and the two main plazas.
Belize Zoo
Belize Zoo is a wildlife park that shows the animals of Belize in forest enclosures. Visitors walk the paths and see native species up close.
Shark Ray Alley
Shark Ray Alley is a shallow snorkel site on the reef off Caye Caulker, reached by boat. Nurse sharks and stingrays gather here, and snorkelers often see them close by.
Old Belize
Old Belize is a museum and beach complex at Mile 5 on the Western Highway. Visitors see relics of Belize's past, then spend time on Kukumba Beach.
Fort Street Tourism Village
An open-air market village in Belize City, with courtyards, duty-free local stores, snack bars and restaurants.
Caye Caulker
Caye Caulker is a small island off Belize City, reached by a daily water taxi. Most visitors come for a laid-back island day, with sand, reef water and an easy walk from the dock to everything.
Belize Cave Tubing
Belize Cave Tubing is a tour into an underground river cave system, where you float on inner tubes with headlamps for light. It is one of the main ways visitors see caves near Belize City.
Community Baboon Sanctuary
Community Baboon Sanctuary is a reserve outside Belize City where black howler monkeys live in the forest. Visitors go to watch them on a full-day trip from Belize City.
Belize Jungle Dome
Belize Jungle Dome is a ranch in the jungle where visitors ride horses on trails past rivers and teak plantations. Experienced riders can gallop the trails.
Government House
Government House is the former residence of the British Governor General in Belize City. It is now a House of Culture open to visitors, with colonial exhibits inside.
Museum of Belize
The Museum of Belize sits in the city center in a former prison. It is one of the easiest museum stops in Belize City.
St. John's Cathedral
St. John's Cathedral is an Anglican cathedral in central Belize City, and one of the oldest buildings still standing in the city. Visitors come for the history and the stone walls that have stood since 1812.
Commercial District and Fort George District
The Commercial District and Fort George District are the old heart of Belize City, where most sights and water taxi docks sit close together. Albert Street runs through the commercial core, and Fort George has a tourism village by the water.
Good to know
Caves and cenotes
Belize Cave Tubing is the most-booked tour in Belize. You float on inner tubes through underground river passages, with only a headlamp to light the way. Tours run five to six hours. Some combine tubing with a zip line or a nature walk. Most tours start from the city.
Ancient sites
The Maya sites here sit outside the city and are reached by coach or jeep. Altun-Ha is a ruin dating back to about 200 BC, often paired with a city overview. Lamanai, one of the largest Maya sites in Belize, is a longer trip. Expect a guided walk through plazas and temples, then the drive back to the city.
When to go
Good to know
- Bring water, sunscreen and your passport.
- Pay in US dollars if you like; many merchants accept them, and the Belizean dollar is fixed at two to one.
Coming by ship
Ships usually stay about 9 hours in Belize City, and most arrive between 7 and 9 am.
Getting ashore and around
From the Tourism Village, the city center and the Fort George area are a short walk. Most of the sights are in the Commercial and Fort George districts, which are considered safe during the day. For anything farther away, such as Old Belize or the Maya sites, take a taxi, identifiable by green license plates.
Questions people ask
Can I go cave tubing from Belize City?
Yes. Belize Cave Tubing runs tours from Belize City. Tours last about five to six hours and need comfort in the water. Book the tour in advance.
How far is Altun-Ha from the port?
The Altun-Ha ruin is reached by coach or jeep, and it is usually combined with a city overview tour lasting around four hours.
Can I walk around Belize City?
The Fort Street Tourism Village is near the city center, and the Commercial and Fort George districts are safe and walkable during the day. Use a taxi to reach places farther out, such as Old Belize.
These places share what it's known for.
