Honeymoon in Belize

Belize is a Central-American destination that gives honeymooners the option to experience the jungle and the beach, and choose their level of comfort between adventure and relaxation. It’s filled with historic Mayan ruins, breathtaking honeymoon resorts and plenty of opportunities for romance.

Geography of Belize

Belize is a small nation in Central America, east of Guatemala, south of the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico, and west of the Caribbean Sea. It has miles of coastline with beaches visitors flock to, as well as many islands (or “cayes” as they’re called) to consider for your honeymoon.

Major tourist cities include Belize City, San Ignacio, Hopkins, Ambergris Caye and Caye Caulker. Its capital was moved from Belize City to Belmopan, a city more inland, after a hurricane in the 1960s.

Official Language of Belize

Historically, Belize was a British colony and was formerly known as British Honduras. It’s the only English-speaking country in Central America (English is its official language). However, you may hear various other languages spoken, including Kriol, a language many Belize locals speak.

Belize’s Time Zone

Belize is in the Central Standard Time Zone. They do not observe Daylight Savings Time. If it’s 2:00pm in New York during April, for instance, it’s noon in Belize.

Currency in Belize

It’s easy to figure out currency conversations while you’re visiting Belize for your honeymoon because it’s simply 2:1. $2 Belize dollars equals $1 USD. If you buy something that’s $50 Belize dollars, it’s equal to $25 USD.

Major credit cards are widely accepted all over Belize. Additionally, merchants all over the country will accept US dollars for purchases though you can exchange currency in Belize or withdraw money from local ATMs for cash.

LGBTQ+ Community in Belize

According to the law, homosexuality is legal in Belize though gay marriage is not. The country has made great strides to progress social norms in the past five years, including legislation that has helped advance gay rights.

LGBTQ+ couples will feel comfortable honeymooning in Belize. However, Gaytravel.com cautions, “…best to avoid public displays of over affection. Some people will be shocked by gay PDA, so be discreet and mindful of the country’s attitudes.” They’re a small country so they don’t have an abundance of gay clubs and bars, but members of the LGBTQ+ community should feel welcomed everywhere heterosexual people are.

Weather in Belize and Best Time to Visit

Temperatures are favorable all year, around 83 to 89 degrees, no matter the season. They have a dry and wet season (February to May, and June through December, respectively) and humidity around 85% year-round. The wettest months are June and July. Hurricane season, June through November, mostly brings on tropical storms and high winds, which are monitored and tracked by Belize’s National Emergency Management Organization (NEMO).

Most Americans travel to Belize during the winter months when it’s cold up north, so summer tends to be less busy in Belize yet it’s never too crowded.

Flying to Belize

You’ll travel from your home to Philip Goldson International Airport for your honeymoon (airport code BZE). It’s right next to Belize City and it is a relatively small airport.

We looked up flights from three major cities for a week during the first half of December:

• From New York City: $650 roundtrip, with one stop and 6.5 hours of travel time.
• Los Angeles: $570 nonstop, and just under 5 hours of air travel.
• Houston Area: $940 nonstop, and under 3 hours of flight time.

You can arrange transportation to your resort ahead of time so you’ll quickly be on your way after you clear Customs (having the immigration form you fill out on the plane in hand) and grab your luggage. Or plan to book a rental car.

Though Belize was under British rule for one and a half centuries, they drive on the right side of the road. There’s a good network of highways and streets in Belize even though it’s a small nation.

Passport and Visa Information for Visiting Belize

You’ll need a valid U.S. Passport to visit for your honeymoon but you don’t need a visa if you’re visiting for less than 30 days. (And if you’re staying for more you simply need to get your visa re-stamped for every month you stay and pay a fee.)

Your passports need to have at least one blank page per stamp you’ll receive in the country.

Vaccinations for your Honeymoon

Travelers visiting Belize don’t need any particular vaccinations.

Regulations during Covid-19 to Arrive for a Belize Honeymoon

Travel to the country is open; no one is prohibited from traveling there but they do have some regulations upon entry.

You can either provide proof of a negative COVID-19 PCR test taken within 96 hours of your arrival or you can provide proof of immunization with the COVID-19 vaccine. A third option is to provide proof of a negative COVID-19 rapid test taken within 48 hours of your arrival in Belize for your honeymoon. If you get to Belize and do not have proof of a negative COVID test they will administer one for $50 at the airport.

You must also have the Belize Health App – available for iOS and Android devices – downloaded. You can begin filling out your health information 72 hours before your arrive in Belize on the app.

Lastly, yet importantly, you must have plans to stay at a Gold Standard hotel if you travel to Belize during the pandemic. This is a list safe hotels that been approved to open and operate by the country.

Things to Do and See during your Honeymoon in Belize

Belize has an incredibly biodiverse ecosystem. But to simplify their land, especially for honeymooners, we can break it down into three areas: the jungle, beach and your honeymoon resort, of course! We’ve suggested popular things to do in each area, below.

Things to do in the Jungle Area of Belize

Head to the Maya Mountains for a hike. These mountains run from Belize to Guatemala and provide a beautiful natural landscape. Mountain Pine Ridge Reserve is one of the most popular areas in the Maya Mountains to explore by foot.

You can also zip-line through the forests in the country; there are several options throughout Belize, near all major cities tourists frequent.

A tour through Actun Tunichil Muknal Cave (ATM Cave) will take you on an easy hike to arrive at the cave, then through water-filled narrow passages inside the cave. Your guide will help you climb rock formations underground to reach artifacts inside.

If you love history you’ll appreciate the Mayan ruins in Belize. There are several to visit, of varying sizes. Cahal Pech in San Ignacio is a small ruins site when compared to the larger Mayan Ruins of Xunantunich, which are 30-minutes west of San Ignacio, on the border of Guatemala. If you only want a taste of Mayan ruins visit Cahal Pech for an hour or two. But if you want to spend at least half a day at a bigger site, visit Xunantunich, and consider signing up for a guided tour. Another option to see Maya ruin is to visit the Mayan City of Caracol, three hours south of Xunantunich.

Belize Things to Do at the Beach and on the Coast

One of the most famous sights in Belize is in the water, right off the coast of Ambergris Caye. Hol Chan Marine Reserve, or the Blue Hole as it’s called, is a fantastic area to snorkel and see coral reefs, with an abundance of tropical fish and sharks.

Take a boating excursion or participate in water sports. You can go parasailing, deep-sea fishing or kite surfing. You can also go kayaking to explore the coastal mangrove forests and Belize barrier reef.

Honeymoon Resorts in Belize

Belize is a popular destination for honeymooners, so be sure to ask any of the honeymoon resorts you inquire with about options for a honeymoon package. Here are five suggestions of where to stay:

• Stay at one of the hotels owned by Francis Ford Coppola. The property he once owned in Belize was a private hideaway for his family before he opened it up to the public in the 1990s. Family Coppola Hideaways include Blancaneaux Lodge, Turtle Inn and Coral Caye in Belize.
• Coco Plum Island Resort is reachable with a boat transfer from the mainland. Their all-inclusive option allows honeymooners to book a reservation including meals, transfers, water sports, cave tubing, snorkeling, zip-lining and more, depending on the amount of nights booked. You won’t have trouble finding an ocean view at Coco Plum, since the resort is surrounded by the Caribbean sea.
• The beauty of The Lodge at Chaa Creek, in the Cayo District of San Ignacio, is enhanced by the tropical jungle that surrounds it. It’s one of the most modern and luxurious all-inclusive resorts in the country. Enjoy a candlelight dinner as part of your all-inclusive romance package as well as a couples massage. They have several different suites with various amenities to choose from. Or, if you prefer, they have onsite cabins to stay in.
• Victoria House Resort and Spa gives honeymooners the option to rent a villa (complete with its own infinity pool), casita, a suite or stateroom in Colonial-style buildings. The resort is on the water on Ambergris Caye; you can arrange for a romantic candlelight dinner on the beach, or eat at one of their onsite restaurants. (Be sure to ask about their Reef Romance package.)
• Stay at Almond Beach Resort at Jaguar Reef on the coast of Belize, in Hopkins. This boutique-style resort offers guests a 24/7 view of the beach and some rooms have a private plunge pool. Enjoy welcome cocktails, their Butterfly Spa, and beach rentals as part of your honeymoon getaway.

Register for your Honeymoon in Belize with Honeyfund

If you dream of exploring a coral reef, or lounging on beach beds at an oceanfront resort in Belize, you can let family and friends assist in turning those visions into reality. When you start a honeymoon registry with Honeyfund, your loved ones can give experiences for your wedding presents, instead of “things” for your house. Begin with our sample Belize starter registry.