7 Day Belize Itinerary (with Map)
Belize is a small yet diverse country, bordered by Mexico, Guatemala, and the Caribbean Sea. Often overlooked by travellers (unfairly in my opinion), Belize was one of my favourite places in Central America!
It’s an amazing destination for adventure seekers, history lovers, and those looking to unwind in front of beautiful blue waters. With its English-speaking locals, stunning coral reefs, ancient Mayan ruins, and lush jungles, Belize is a dream destination for backpackers and holidaymakers alike!
This 7 day Belize itinerary will help you experience the best of the country while keeping things exciting and manageable. So let’s get started!
7 Day Belize Itinerary in Short
This itinerary is designed to maximize your time while keeping travel logistics manageable. It includes four nights on the stunning island of Caye Caulker, followed by two nights in San Ignacio, Belize’s adventure capital. You’ll have the chance to snorkel among vibrant marine life, fly over the world-famous Great Blue Hole, explore ancient ruins, and venture into the mysterious ATM Cave.
- Caye Caulker (4 nights)
- San Ignacio (2 nights)
How to use this 7 Day Belize itinerary: This itinerary covers what I think is the best week in Belize for first-timers. It covers a bit of everything, balancing adventure and relaxation, without visiting anywhere off the beaten path. You can swap the order of destinations but keep in mind that if you plan to scuba dive, you’ll need to allow time for a decompression day before flying.
Belize Itinerary Map
7 Day Belize Itinerary in Full
How many days do you need in Belize?
Belize is compact and easy to explore, making it ideal for a short (yet very fulfilling) getaway. One week in Belize is enough to experience the country’s top attractions. You can spend a full week enjoying the tropical seas, or split your time between the jungle and the seas.
Of course, more time is always better, and Belize has plenty more to offer. Two weeks in Belize would allow you to visit more islands, explore more Mayan ruins and venture into Belize’s more remote regions.
How to get around Belize?
Getting around Belize is simple, with public transportation, ferries, and shuttles readily available. If you’re a backpacker like me, Belize is super easy to navigate by public transport, so this is my preferred option. I’ll outline what to do, down below…
Renting a car is an option, but for this itinerary, it’s unnecessary since most of the journey involves boats, buses and shuttles. Plus some places (like Caye Caulker), don’t even have cars!
7 Day Belize Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive at Caye Caulker + Explore the island
Your first day in Belize will inevitably involve arriving in Belize. Most flights into Belize land at the Philip S.W. Goldson International Airport in Belize City. Since you’ve got one week in Belize, I recommend leaving Belize City almost immediately, as the highlights are elsewhere!
Take a taxi from the airport to the ferry terminal (approx 30mins), where you can get the 45-minute water taxi to Caye Caulker (approx $21 USD or a return for $30 USD). The last water taxi is at 17:30, so if your flight arrives after this, you will need to spend a night in Belize City and catch the first ferry in the morning.
NOTE: If you are backpacking and travelling south from Mexico (probably Bacalar), you can skip out Belize City using the ferry border-crossing from Chetumal.
Once you arrive, drop off your bags and settle into your accommodation. Then you can spend the rest of your day relaxing and exploring the local area on foot – Caye Caulker is very walkable!
Head to The Split, a popular swimming and sunbathing spot, and grab a drink at The Lazy Lizard while enjoying the sunset. Afterwards, you can feast on a well-earned dinner at one of the many seafood restaurants on the island.
Overnight: Caye Caulker
Day 2: Snorkelling at Hol Chan Marine Reserve and Shark Ray Alley
Belize is home to the second-largest barrier reef in the world, and the largest living barrier reef! This means you can’t really visit without snorkelling in Caye Caulker – and you won’t be short of options!
Book a full-day snorkel tour or a half-day tour to visit Hol Chan Marine Reserve and Shark Ray Alley. Here, you’ll swim alongside nurse sharks, stingrays, sea turtles, and vibrant coral formations.
I personally recommend doing a full day if you have the budget, as you get a few more hours on the boat and snorkelling in such an amazing place. If you go on a half-day, you can use the rest of the day to chill, rent a bicycle or do some yoga.
Most full-day tours include a stop where you can see tarpons jumping out of the water. But if not, you can visit the tarpon feeding dock when you get back for a unique experience. It only takes a few minutes but it’s a fun little activity… Just try not to get your hand bitten off!
Overnight: Caye Caulker
Day 3: Fly over the Great Blue Hole
One of Belize’s most iconic sights is the Great Blue Hole, a massive underwater sinkhole in the middle of the reef (which you can see all the way from space).
The best way to appreciate its size and beauty is by taking a scenic flight over the reef. It’s expensive, but truly a once in a lifetime experience. If you go with a group of people, you can split the cost, so expect to pay around $200-$300 per person.
The duration of the Blue Hole flight is usually around one hour. They depart from the airport at Caye Caulker (and also San Pedro). You arrive around 30 minutes beforehand, so this experience will only take the morning out of your day.
Once you’re back from your amazing experience, it’s time to do a little of what Caye Caulker is known for – chilling out! Find your favourite sea-side hammock and soak up the island vibes!
Spend the afternoon at Iguana Reef Inn, a great spot to see stingrays, pelicans, and even seahorses while enjoying a sunset cocktail.
Overnight: Caye Caulker
Day 4: Scuba Dive or Kayak
What I love about Caye Caulker is that you can spend time chilling out and relaxing, or there’s plenty of activities to do! For your last day on this island, opt for whatever you feel you’ve missed out on!
If you’re a certified diver, today is your chance to explore Turneffe Atoll or Caye Caulker Marine Reserve on a scuba diving excursion! You can also dive the Great Blue Hole, but it’s more expensive and not as impressive from surface level.
There are four dive shops on the island, so speak to them about what they offer for your budget and experience.
If diving isn’t for you, or if you’re like me (with a backpackers budget and not-so-great sinuses), consider exploring the rest of the island. I rented a kayak and paddled over to the less-developed north island of Caye Caulker. It was fun to get out on the water and do something un-organised for once!
NOTE: The last ferry from Caye Caulker to Belize City is at 17:00 each day. If you don’t mind travelling in the evening, you could try to catch this so you have a full day in San Ignacio. Personally, an early start the next day offers largely the same outcome.
Day 5: Travel to San Ignacio + Xunantunich Ruins
Morning: Travel to San Ignacio
The remainder of your trip through Belize will be inland, exploring the jungles of San Ignacio.
Start the day by taking the ferry back to the mainland – the first one is at 6:30am. Follow this with a 2-3 hour shuttle or bus ride to San Ignacio – check out my full guide on how to do that here.
Afternoon: Mayan Ruins
In the afternoon, visit Xunantunich, one of Belize’s most impressive Mayan ruins. Climb to the top of El Castillo for breathtaking views of the jungle and neighbouring Guatemala.
If time allows (or if you’re fed up of buses and don’t want to visit Xunantunich), you can also explore Cahal Pech, a smaller archaeological site within walking distance from the town.
Overnight: San Ignacio
Day 6: San Ignacio – ATM Cave Tour
Today, embark on the Actun Tunichil Muknal (ATM) Cave tour, one of the most thrilling experiences in Belize. This full-day excursion takes you deep into an ancient Mayan ceremonial cave filled with swimming passages, rock scrambling, and preserved artifacts.
As someone who’s not a complete history-buff, I still found it super interesting as the experience is combined with adventure and nature!
It’s a pretty full-on day. You will need some level of physical fitness as you will be on your feet most of the day scrambling over and squeezing in between rocks. But this challenge makes it all worth it as you get a rare glimpse into Belize’s fascinating past.
NOTE: Avoid if you get claustrophobic as there are a few sections where the cave gets rather tight.
Overnight: San Ignacio
Day 7: San Ignacio + Leaving Belize
On your last day in Belize, you probably don’t want to stray too far from your accommodation. Particularly if you’ve got a flight to catch!
Thankfully, there are several activities to do around the town of San Ignacio.
If it’s a Saturday (which often travel days are), start your morning at the San Ignacio Farmers Market where you can experience local culture and sample fresh produce. It doesn’t take long to wander around, plus you can grab souvenirs or snacks for your onward journey! The market is open on other days of the week, but it’s not as impressive.
Afterwards, visit the Green Iguana Conservation Project to learn about Belize’s wildlife conservation efforts. Here you’ll find out more about the local iguanas and how to handle them! (Watch out for the young ones – they’re very cute)!
It should only take an hour, so this leaves you time to travel in the afternoon.
Afternoon: Leave Belize
From San Ignacio, it’s a two-hour drive to Sir Barry Bowen Municipal Airport in Belize City.
Alternatively, you could continue your trip by crossing into Guatemala. If so, Flores is the obvious next stop… The Belize-Guatemala land border is open from 6am until 10pm, which gives you more time! Check out my complete guide to travel from San Ignacio to Flores.
1 Week Belize Budget
Below is a breakdown of the largest costs from this 7 Day Belize itinerary. It doesn’t include flights, insurance, SIM cards, nor smaller day-to-day costs and activities.
- Ferries: $30 USD
- Transport: $50-100 USD (if using shuttles)
- Accommodation: ~$15-$25 per night (budget hostels)
- Food: $100-$150 USD
- Snorkel Tour: $90 USD
- Blue Hole Flight: ~$250 USD
- ATM Cave Tour: $100 USD
If you want to save money in Belize, going for budget hostels and public transport will save you some money. However, the biggest savings will come from skipping activities like the Blue Hole flight or diving. Activities are what drain your budget most in Belize, but only you can decide what gives you value for money.
More than 1 week in Belize
If you have more than 7 days in Belize (or didn’t need the travel time accounted for in this itinerary), here are a few ideas. Of course, you can also check out my 2 week Belize itinerary for a complete guide!
Sailing trip: If you want to check out some of Belize’s deserted tropical islands, booking a sailing tour is a fantastic way to spend 3 days. To work this into your extended itinerary, book a trip starting in Caye Caulker, ending near Hopkins. Once you’ve explored the south, you can head north again towards San Ignacio to complete the loop.
Lamanai Archaeological Reserve: This Mayan site is out of the way from the popular destinations in Belize, but that doesn’t mean it’s not worthwhile! Most tours to Lamanai depart from Belize City, and involve a boat through the jungle followed by a guided tour. Xunantunich is easier to get to and cheaper, whereas Lamanai is more remote and better preserved. Caracol is another popular Mayan ruin near San Ignacio.
Pine Ridge & Big Rock Falls: There is so much more nature to explore around San Ignacio, you just need time to see it. In this part of the country, things are more spread out, so a car is helpful to have.
Before you go
This 7-day Belize itinerary for backpackers is designed to give you the best mix of island life, adventure, and cultural experiences. Whether you’re snorkelling, exploring ancient ruins, or relaxing by the sea, Belize is sure to leave a lasting impression!
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Happy travelling!