5 Awesome things to do while Backpacking in Belize

I have always REALLY wanted to go to Belize to do a volunteer project with GoEco, an eco-tourism company who specialise in affordable and, more importantly, ethical volunteer experiences all over the world. However, as this project lasts 1-8 weeks, I’d love to explore more of what the country has to offer so here are 5 things I’d love to do in Belize.

If you have read my South and Central America post, you’ll know that I hope to travel to Belize with the intention to get my PADI qualification if I don’t already have it, and most of the activities I wish to do here are diving related.

Hol Chan Marine Reserve

Better know for the zone aptly called ‘Shark-Ray Alley’, swimming here is one of the most popular things to do in Belize. You’ll need to visit via a registered tour which can be quite pricey, and it’s definitely something you need to research as some tours have bad, unethical reputations. Stressless Eco Friendly Tours seems to be the most ethical company, here’s a review from Journey of a Nomadic Family and their experience with them.

Visit one of the many Mayan archeological sites

The are Mayan ruins all over South and Central America, however each site is unique and different so it’s always worth a visit, even if you’ve been to others elsewhere before. The general rule for visiting these often tourist hotspots is to do LOTS of research to work out the best times to go and the least known and visited sites. Often it seems that the quieter ones are actually the best to visit as they’re not as ‘commercial’ and are more geared towards education and preservation.

Swallow Caye Wildlife Sanctuary

This is one of the only places in the world you can ethically snorkel with Manatees and be guaranteed to see some. There are also loads of other activities to do here like kayaking, river tours and opportunities to see a wide array of wildlife.

If you do also decide to do this please make sure you chose a reputable tour company and avoid any that promote touching Manatees or swimming with them in captivity.

Visit National Parks and Conservation Areas

There are many National parks and conservation areas in Belize, Guanacaste being one of the popular ones. With hiking trails, gorgeous swimming holes, and a vast array of wildlife you could spend the whole day here for less than £2 ($3)! I love spending time outdoors hiking and swimming so this is a must visit place for me, especially considering it won’t break the bank and I could go on multiple different occasions and still do and see new and different things each time I visit.

Another is the Rio Bravo Conservation area, however, you may want to hold off swimming here because of the Crocodiles who call it home! Rio Bravo is much much larger than Guanacaste and is known for playing a key role in the battle against climate change. There are also two field stations where you can stay if you wish, La Milpa and Hill Bank, both of which accommodate 30 people. This would be a great experience for any animal/nature lover, or someone who simply wants to participate in some of the many activities run by these centres.

The Great Blue Hole

Most people have heard of this major Belize attraction, especially popular with scuba divers and free divers, however it’s an incredible sight to see for anyone. Personally, I’d love to go diving and free diving here, despite the price tag, as it’s something I have wanted to do for a VERY long time and it’s such a unique experience, even though there are many blue holes across the world.