Belize: An Ethel Travel Guide

Discover the must-visit attractions, hidden gems and best places to stay for an unforgettable adventure!

By
Published March 11, 2025
Tobacco Caye in Belize
Tobacco Caye in Belize (Shutterstock)
Shutterstock

Belize: Travel Guide

1. Recommend a hotel/motel in a town/city:

We recently spent nine days in beautiful Belize. I'd highly recommend a visit there. It's very laidback and just so lovely, with loads to do. We flew into Belize City and then caught a quick flight over to Placencia. We stayed four nights at Miramar Suites, within walking distance of everything in the village and right on the beach. The staff were incredible and the suites are very spacious. Each room has AC and a large TV. From there, a drive picked us up for the three-hour car ride to Mystic River Resort, nestled on a steep bank of the gorgeous Macal River. Again, most rooms had a fireplace as well as a small pool and outdoor shower. It was like staying in a luxury treehouse.

2. Recommend a restaurant in your town/city:

In Placencia, Omar's in the village has the best fish creole and lobster. The Barefoot Bar on the beach has fabulous food and great cocktails. Each evening the bar also offers various forms of entertainment, everything from limbo contests to live music. Also fabulous are Rumfish y Vino and Wendy's Creole Restaurant & Bar. At the Mystic River Resort, most everyone eats their meals at the on-site restaurant adjacent to the bar there. Overlooking the river, the food is excellent.

3. What's a must-see in your town/city?

In addition to the walking food tour I mention below, don't miss the ATM Cave Tour that departs from San Ignacio near the Mystic River Resort. It's a full day of activity and many say that, while a bit grueling, it's an unforgettable experience. If you stay at the Mystic River Resort, you can arrange all sorts of excursions, everything from a half-day cooking class with a pair of Mayan women (which was so much fun!) to an all-day visit to Tikal in Guatemala. There's truly something for everyone in Belize. You can lounge by the pool or beach and do very little or you can go diving and snorkeling and fishing and have an action-packed vacation.

4. What makes your town/city fun for tourists?

If traveling to Placencia do not miss the best walking food tour I've ever done — and I've done a lot in cities around the world. We went on a nearly four-hour dinner walking tour from 4 p.m. to nearly 8 p.m. through Taste Belize, right on the main drag in the heart of the Placencia village. We visited seven different spots, had amazing cuisine and learned so much about the history of the area. It is not to be missed! In addition, Belize is rich in Mayan history and has numerous Mayan archaeological sites that travelers can see, such as the towering “El Castillo” pyramid of Xunantunich.

5. What should you avoid when visiting your town/city?

Just a warning that wine is quite expensive everywhere you go in Belize. If you enjoy your drink, go for the local beer, Belikin or a rum drink. Also, the months of May and June should be avoided due to the heat. Many places close down in September, when there are almost no tourists. The best time to visit is in January, February and March. Make sure to bring bug spray with you although, if you forget, there are plenty of markets to buy everything you need. Also, we signed up for the Monkey River tour in Placencia that almost every tourist seems to do. Starting in Placencia, you'll first enjoy a cruise through mangroves to the mouth of the Monkey River. Then you get out to hike and see the howler monkeys. Be forewarned that you'll be hiking through mud — a lot of it very thick mud — and you'll be surrounded by bugs so don't forget the bug spray. And wear hiking shoes that will get muddy.

Shelley Emling, Editor-in-Chief of The Ethel Newsletter and The Girlfriend Newsletter from AARP

Shelley Emling is Senior Director, Specialized Media at AARP, and Executive Editor of The Girlfriend, The Ethel, The Girlfriend Book Club, Instagram, The Ethel Circle and The Ethel On-The-Go. Previously she was a longtime foreign correspondent for Cox Newspapers, based first in Miami — covering Latin America and the Caribbean — and then based in London — covering Europe. She's also the author of five books and has three children. She and her husband divide their time between Montclair, NJ and the Catskills. More information can be found at shelleyemling.com.