In Belize, English is the official language and U.S. dollars are widely accepted, making it an easy getaway for many Texans. Best of all, there are ways your credit card rewards can help you save on your visit to Belize.

Belize is a small country in Central America that boasts the second-largest coral reef system in the world, after the Great Barrier Reef in Australia. Its coastline along the Caribbean Sea is dotted with more than 450 sand and mangrove cayes (pronounced “keys”). These low-lying sandy islands, along with atolls, lagoons, estuaries and reefs, collectively form the 185-mile Belize Barrier Reef System.

I recently visited several resorts on two islands to find the best places to stay, eat and play along the Belize Barrier Reef.

Getting to the Belize Barrier Reef

To get to the Belize Barrier Reef, you’ll need to first fly to Belize City on the mainland. Located just south of Quintana Roo, Mexico, Belize City is accessible from the U.S. with nonstop flights from several U.S. cities. 

From Belize City, a 15-minute domestic flight to San Pedro on Ambergris Caye will take you close to the UNESCO-protected barrier reef. Or you can opt for a slower, more budget-friendly route by taking a water taxi to San Pedro. 

Belize island accommodations with barrier reef access

Whether you dream of kayaking in the Caribbean Sea or swimming with nurse sharks in Shark Ray Alley, you’ve got plenty of options for island accommodations in Belize. Ambergris Caye is the largest Belize island and has resorts within 200 yards of the Belize Barrier Reef.

Where to stay with Marriott Bonvoy points: Alaia Belize

Alaia Belize, Autograph Collection is a beachfront property on Ambergris Caye, just 600 yards from the barrier reef. Rates for this boutique resort start at 54,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night. 

Opened in 2021, Alaia is the first Marriott International Autograph Collection hotel in Belize. Its onsite PADI 5-star Dive Center has certified dive instructors and snorkel guides. Guests can book an excursion or private charter to explore the reef. 

Where to stay with World of Hyatt points: Matachica Resort & Spa

Matachica Resort & Spa is an adults-only SLH hotel on Ambergris Caye, for guests aged 16 and up. Rates start at 21,000 World of Hyatt points. 

Thatched casitas and villas create a beach-meets-jungle vibe a mere 200 yards from the barrier reef. Bikes, kayaks and snorkel gear are complimentary for guests. You can kayak for 10 to 15 minutes to find great snorkeling or pay for an excursion to snorkel in the Hol Chan Marine Reserve. 

Located north of San Pedro, Matachica is further from local restaurants than other resorts. A trip into town by golf cart will take 20 to 25 minutes. 

Where to stay with Hilton points: Mahogany Bay Resort 

Mahogany Bay Resort & Beach Club, Curio Collection by Hilton is a sprawling property that is not on the beach. A 15-minute boat ride takes you to a private beach club. The onsite concierge can help you arrange excursions, from snorkeling and diving to sailing and fishing. Rates start at 66,000 Hilton points. 

The property is spread out like a large neighborhood, so renting a golf cart may be a good idea. This area is under construction in the off-season, and some of the resort’s many restaurants and amenities might be closed. 

The two-mile trip from Mahogany Bay Resort to San Pedro takes 15 to 20 minutes by golf cart. For a closer experience, walk down the road to Victoria House for dinner at Palmilla Restaurant or an aromatherapy massage at the spa. 

Where to stay with cash-back rewards: Victoria House Resort & Spa

Victoria House Resort & Spa on Ambergris Caye has rooms starting at $225 per night, if you’d rather use cash-back credit card rewards than redeem points. You may even opt to spend a little extra for a cozy thatched-roof casita or a beachfront suite. 

This is a more intimate property, and it’s an easy stroll from your room to the two ocean view pools, spa, restaurant, bar and beach. You can see the barrier reef breaking from the beach — it’s only a mile offshore. Borrow a complimentary kayak to tour the area or join a snorkeling or diving excursion at the on-site dive shop. 

To visit more of the island, ride one of the resort’s bikes or rent a resort golf cart by the hour. 

Where to stay for a bucket list vacation: Cayo Espanto

Cayo Espanto is a gorgeous, palm-tree-laden island ringed with seven secluded oceanfront villas. Book a stay here if a once-in-a-lifetime five-star Belize experience is your goal. I went with my husband to celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary and it was truly magical.

This private island provides the ultimate all-inclusive experience, with custom meals and delicious snacks served at picturesque locations around your waterfront villa. Rates start at $2,095 per night for two people. 

You’ll have easy access to snorkeling in clear, fish-filled water right from your private dock, as well as complimentary use of a catamaran, kayak and stand-up paddle boards. Or you can pay extra for a private tour to enjoy reef fishing, snorkeling or diving. 

Most snorkel and dive excursions are 20 minutes by boat and leave directly from the island. 

Free boat transportation is offered daily if you want to visit San Pedro on Ambergris Caye, which is three miles away. 

Where to eat on Ambergris Caye

No matter where you stay, you can visit other resorts or head into San Pedro by golf cart or taxi for more restaurant options. If you’re not staying on Ambergris Caye, you can arrive by boat, regional plane or water taxi to enjoy a day trip on the country’s largest island. Here are a few restaurants worth trying. 

Taco Shack in Mahogany Bay Resort

Taco Shack is a few miles from San Pedro, but worth the trek for a visit with the charismatic Orlando Carballo. Carballo owns the small shop with his wife, Carmen, and says he has been “dropping knowledge and tacos since 2016.” 

Order a Real Deal breakfast burrito and get a side of Belize history from Carballo, a former science teacher. He might get out his Belize flag to give you a lesson and a pop quiz (Be prepared: The answer to what makes the Belize flag unique is that it’s the only national flag with people on it). Carballo is a delight and will give you a new appreciation for the country you’re visiting and its people.

Elvi’s Kitchen in San Pedro

Elvi’s Kitchen serves up a four-course Mayan Feast on Friday nights, but it’s also open for lunch and dinner every day except Sunday. Take a taxi or golf cart to the town of San Pedro to enjoy this local culinary experience. 

El Fogon Restaurant in San Pedro

Another local favorite is El Fogon, which serves up Belizean “firewood-style cooking.” A fogon is a fire pit or firewood stove used for cooking stews, soups and meats. Specials include fish empanadas and pork pibil tacos, which originated in the nearby Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico.
Reservations are recommended. 

La Palmilla Restaurant at Victoria House Resort

Dine indoors or out at La Palmilla, with views of the Caribbean Sea. The soups are delicious and the chef’s specials are large enough to share. Reservations are recommended for dinner.
If you’re staying anywhere within two miles of Victoria House Resort & Spa, you can request complimentary transportation to and from the restaurant. 

Excursions and day trips in Belize

Most resorts offer excursions for a fee, or you can plan your own. Here are a few favorites.  

Snorkeling in Hol Chan Marine Reserve

A mile off the coast of Ambergris Caye, Hol Chan Marine Reserve is a protected area. Its zones include the reef, seagrass beds, mangroves and Shark Ray Alley. 

Excursions to Hol Chan last a few hours, with guided snorkeling along the barrier reef followed by the chance to swim with nurse sharks in Shark Ray Alley. These sharks are known as the “puppies of the sea,” but their size can still be intimidating at up to nine feet long. 

Scuba diving in Blue Hole

The Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System is a UNESCO World Heritage Site made up of seven marine protected areas with pristine reef ecosystems, including the Blue Hole National Monument. 

The Great Blue Hole is a stunning sinkhole believed to have formed during the last Ice Age, so large it can be seen from space. Certified divers can explore underwater stalactites, stalagmites, dripstone sheets and columns in Blue Hole’s interconnected caverns. This dive excursion is a full-day trip. 

Aerial tours are also available if you’d prefer to see this natural wonder from above, via plane or helicopter. 

Seahorse Reserve in Caye Caulker

Hop on the Belize water taxi to reach Caye Caulker from Belize City or San Pedro and walk over to Iguana Reef Inn. There is a tiny seahorse sanctuary next to the inn that is free to visit. 

It can be tricky to spot the small seahorses hiding in about four feet of seagrass by the dock, but if you visit around 5 p.m. you may catch the stingray feeding. It’s also fun to hang out at the hotel bar. 

Mayan ruins on mainland Belize 

Many resorts offer half- and full-day adventure tours to the Belize mainland to see Mayan ruins dating back to about 300 A.D. 

Victoria House Resort & Spa, for instance, has air and boat excursions to the Lamanai Mayan ruins that include ground transfers, food and a guide. If you’re lucky, you may see spiders or howler monkeys on your trip. The resort also offers a visit to the Mayan ruins of Xunantunich followed by a Belizean lunch, a jungle hike and cave tubing in Xibalba: “the underworld.” 

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Cover photo Heidi Gollub.

 

Heidi Gollub and her husband recently celebrated their wedding anniversary in Belize.