I went to Belize for five days to celebrate my 28th birthday and it was amazing! I wanted a blend of culture and relaxation since it was my first international trip since the pandemic started. My last trip was in November 2019 to Peru.
Below, I’m sharing recommendations on places to eat, stay and play in Belize. I split my time between the mainland, around the capital city of Belmopan, and the Caye Caulker island.
Where to stay
Where to eat
Where to play
Sleeping Giant Rainforest Lodge
Sleeping Giant is the epitome of seclusion and an authentic jungle experience. Although it’s technically in Belmopan, Sleeping Giant is actually located at the base of the Maya mountains. It’s situated alongside the Sibun River and surrounded by the Sibun Forest Reserve, which is a protected rainforest.
Activities & amenities
Because of its location, there are acres of land you can explore. They have many activities/tours you can enjoy onsite and throughout Belize. From hiking up their gazebo for stunning views and river-tubing down the Sibun River. To cave exploration and cooking classes. And if you’re looking to relax, they also have a shared pool and hot tub.
Food
There are two restaurants located on the property – The Grove House restaurant and Don Tonito’s:
The Grove House
Open every day, with specified breakfast, lunch, and dinner hours. This restaurant has many accolades including Belize’s 2019/2018 Restaurant of the Year and ranked #1 in Belmopan on Tripadvisor.
The food is influenced by the unique culture of Belize and some ingredients are grown on the property. Other ingredients are sourced from local villages and markets. I had breakfast and dinner here, which were all delicious and very filling, and their drinks were also very yummy. The prices are reasonable, but they do charge a “resort fee”. For two dinners, one breakfast, and quite a few drinks, the total was $138 for two people.
Don Tonito’s
Don Tonito’s is their pizza restaurant and is only open Thursday-Sunday. Unfortunately, I didn’t get to eat here since I stayed Monday-Wednesday, but I loved the decor at the restaurant.
Rooms
There are different room options to choose from based on your budget and amount of people. I picked the Riverview suite, which included a beautiful enclosed outdoor space and plunge pool.
The views from the plunge pool were impeccable, and I loved hearing the sounds of nature throughout the day. But especially in the morning and evening. There isn’t any WIFI in the room or TVs, so you’re really one with nature. I love that the room includes a water dispenser and robes.
Weezie’s Ocean Front Hotel and Garden Cottages
Weezie’s is a boutique hotel in Caye Caulker that’s perfect for relaxation and has two locations. One location for the oceanfront hotel and another for the cottages – both are only five minutes from each other.
Activities & amenities
Weezie’s offers complimentary snorkels and masks, paddle boards, fishing rods, and kayaks. You can also rent a bike for $5 per day. They also offer different activities/tours including yoga, jet skiing, and even mainland tours. I didn’t book anything because I wanted to relax, which was easy to do because of their multiple pool options.
However, I got a surprise birthday massage, thanks to my friend. They offer beach-side or in-room massages for 60 or 90 minutes. I HIGHLY recommend getting a massage beachside because it’s absolutely peaceful.
Food
There’s a restaurant located on the property called Weezie’s Patio Cafe and Bar. The cafe is open for breakfast and lunch, and their bar is open until 7 pm every day. I only ate breakfast here and the food was pretty basic but good. I loved the atmosphere at the cafe, and the drinks were yummy.
Rooms
Weezie’s offers an oceanfront penthouse, four oceanfront suites, two loft suites, two small studios, and two large studios. I stayed in their lower white cottage, which was very spacious and had a pool directly outside. The kitchen is fully equipped with a stove, microwave, sink, water dispenser, utensils, and more. They provide beach towels, and there’s a TV and WIFI in the room.
Benny’s Kitchen
A good restaurant to eat near the Xunantunich Maya ruins. They serve authentic Belizean cuisine like rice and beans with meat and empanadas – which I tried and it was delicious. I also tried their fresh pineapple juice, which was good.
Maggie’s Sunset Kitchen
After a long day of traveling from Belmopan to Caye Caulker, I wanted to stay close to the room and relax. Due to the pandemic, Maggie’s offers delivery service throughout the island.
Communication throughout the delivery process was great and they packed everything beautifully. I got their frozen red sangria, and cilantro whole fish with fried plantains and garden salad. All of it was reasonably priced and absolutely delicious, I definitely still think about the frozen red sangria.
Reina’s
It may not have the curb appeal but don’t judge a book by its cover. The food here is delicious and full of flavor. The owner, chef, server, and bartender was named Elvis. He immediately greeted us and told us the specials for the day. I got the pineapple shrimp, which was spicy and sweet, and a frozen mango daiquiri which was delicious. The portions were great and the prices were reasonable.
Lazy Lizard Bar & Grill
One of Caye Caulker’s most famous attractions because of its proximity to the Split. Lazy Lizard is a nice hangout spot to eat, drink, and listen to music. You can watch the sunset, or even jump off the platform into the water. I got their boozy strawberry lemonade slushie and lemon snapper, both were so delicious. Lazy Lizard is pricier than other restaurants on the island, but I expected this due to its location.
Visit Xunantunich and Cahal Pech Maya Ruins
Seeing Maya ruins was honestly the biggest thing I wanted to do, and I got to visit two! Through Sleeping Giant Rainforest Lodge I booked this tour and I’m so happy I did. It cost $116 per person and lasted for roughly 5-6 hours. Our tour guide, Orlin, was very informative about the Maya civilization in Belize, and the history of Belize.
I’ve visited Chichen Itza and cenotes in Mexico where I learned about the Maya civilization. So I was excited to see other archeological sites, especially in a country that once had a large Maya population.
