Belize
Central America · BLZ
Editorial Snapshot
Why Go To Belize
Belize is one of the easiest small-country trips in the Americas if you want reef time, jungle ruins, and a route that mixes water and inland days without huge transit demands. Most first visits are strongest when split between one cay and one western inland base, rather than trying to overnight across every marine and jungle stop in the country.
Popular For
Things To See
- Belize City
- Ambergris Caye
- Caye Caulker
- San Ignacio
- Great Blue Hole
- Caracol
Best Months
Know Before You Go
- December through April is the easiest broad season for a first trip.
- Belize works especially well when divided into one reef stop and one inland stop.
- Boat connections and small flights are useful, but short trips should stay selective about how many bases they add.
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Flights
Hotels & Accommodations
Compare stays across major booking options
Open hotel and accommodation options for Belize.
Guidebooks
📚Browse Belize Guidebooks on AmazonTours & Activities
Country Data
Stats At A Glance
Practical travel, safety, climate, and quality-of-life stats for Belize.
Quick Facts
- Capital
- Belmopan
- Population
- 417,634
- Area
- 22,966 km²
- Region
- Central America
Languages
- Belizean Creole
- English
- Spanish
Currency
Belize dollar ($)
BZD
Exchange rate unavailable for USD.
Cost of Living (World Bank)
53.5
Price level index (US = 100)
- Groceries
- 52.6
- Restaurants
- 39.3
- Rent
- 13.6
Safety & Peace
higher score = safer everyday environment · derived from World Bank homicide data
Monthly Climate Averages
These weather averages are based on data for Belmopan (17.25°N, 88.77°W).
LGBTQ+ Friendly
22/100
Traveler LGBTQ score
- Legal protections
- 20/100
- Lived safety
- 27/100
This score blends legal protections with lived-safety context so strong laws alone do not automatically push a country to the top of the ranking.
- Homosexuality legal✅
- Relationship recognitionNone
- Adoption recognition❌
- Anti-discrimination laws❌
- Employment protections❌
- Legal gender recognition❌
- Conversion therapy ban❌
Human Development Index (UNDP)
0.721
High human development
- 5-year change
- -0.002
- 10-year change
- -0.003
- Trend
- stable
- Data year
- 2023
- Gender Dev. Index (GDI)
- 0.981
- Gender Inequality Index (GII)
- 0.428
- Planetary-adjusted HDI (PHDI)
- 0.670
UNESCO World Heritage Sites (1)
- 🌿
Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System
Inscribed 1996
Natural Beauty (World Bank)
- Protected land area
- 37.3%
- Forest cover
- 54.5%
Source: World Bank.
Wildlife & Birdwatching
- Threatened mammal species (IUCN)
- 10
- Threatened bird species (IUCN)
- 8
Source: World Bank / IUCN Red List. Higher counts indicate richer biodiversity, typically in tropical rainforest, island, and savannah ecosystems.
Food & Cuisine
46/100
Food and dining score
Built from two layers: dining-scene breadth and open prestige signals. We combine restaurant density, cuisine diversity, distinguished restaurants, and gastronomy-city recognitions from open data sources.
Luxury Infrastructure
26/100
Luxury & premium accommodation score
Based on OpenStreetMap luxury hotel density and World Bank international tourism receipts.
US Travel Advisory
Reconsider travelto Bahrain due to terrorism and armed conflict. On March 2, 2026, the Department of State ordered non-emergency U.S. government employees and family members of U.S. government employees to leave Bahrain due to safety risks. Armed Conflict Following the onset of hostilities between the United States and Iran on February 28, there has been an ongoing threat of drone and missile attacks from Iran and significant disruptions to commercial flights. Terrorism There is a risk of terrorist violence, including terrorist attacks and other activity in Bahrain. Visit the U.S. Department of State’s country reports on terrorism to learn more. Terrorist groups continue plotting possible attacks in Bahrain. Terrorists may attack with little or no warning. Targets may include tourist sites, transportation hubs, markets, shopping malls, and religious sites as well as government and military facilities. Aviation Safety The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued an ongoing Special Federal Aviation Regulation and Notice to Airmen (NOTAM). This is due to risks to civil aviation operating within or nearby Bahrain. For more information Americans should consult the Federal Aviation Administration’s Prohibitions, Restrictions and Notices.
Read full advisory →Data current as of June 2026 and subject to change. Travel advisory information is sourced from the U.S. State Department and reflects conditions at the time of data collection, not real-time conditions. Do not rely solely on this information for travel decisions. Always check current government advisories for your nationality. Terms of Use · About our data