Picking your favorite stretch of sand in Belize is nearly impossible.
A Central American country, Belize often styles two different vibes.
Mainland Belize is located between Mexico and Guatemala.
Its jungle areas hide Mayan ruins like Caracol’s towering pyramid, Lamanai, and Altun Ha.
Caribbean Belize has three atolls and around 200 sandbar-styled islands or ‘Cayes.’
This amounts to over 240 miles of Caribbean Sea coastline.
An English-speaking country, Belize is known for world-class saltwater fly fishing and life-altering scuba diving thanks to its thriving barrier reef.
The Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System is a remarkably pristine ecosystem.
This is why the world’s second-largest MesoAmeric barrier reef is also home to scientists and observation stations like Carrie Bow Caye.
Unfortunately, getting to most of these paradisiacal spots requires a boat, which is not necessarily bad.
But if you are looking for a beach just steps from the hotel, make sure you choose a Caye-based resort.
10 Best Beaches in Belize
1. Placencia Peninsula
Placencia is located about 160 miles south of Belize City.
Adored by locals and tourists alike and dubbed “barefoot perfect,” Placencia Peninsula is a 16-mile-long continuous beach.
It is also the mainland’s longest sandy stretch.
It includes Maya Beach, Seine Bight, and Placencia – all with their flavor and vibe.
Placencia Village Beach, with its golden white sands, is lined with bars, nightclubs, and beach grills.
If quieter sands are the goal, the powder-white stretches of Seine Bright and Maya Beach may be preferred.
2. Half Moon Caye
Half beach and half sanctuary, Half Moon Caye is the iconic crescent-shaped beach with warm winds and coconut palms.
A part of the Lighthouse Reef Atoll, it is a protected UNESCO World Heritage Site.
And the only way to access the area is through a private charter or tour.
This is a rustic no-frills island where visitors share the sands with protected turtle-nesting sites.
The littoral forest, home to the endangered red-footed booby, occupies the other half of the Caye.
Half Moon Xaye has been ranked among the top 10 ‘Best Dive Sites in North America,’ providing easy access to the Great Blue Hole.
The area is also a haven for all water enthusiasts, including SUP boarders and kayakers.
3. Pelican Beach
South Water Caye sits 14 miles off southern Belize’s Dangriga coast.
Relatively undeveloped, the islet is home to just two resorts.
Part of the South Water Caye Marine Reserve, Pelican Beach is famous for powdered sands caressed by aquamarine waters.
Though secluded, Pelican Beach has some of the region’s best snorkeling and shore diving.
And a great place to play some volleyball or soak up rays before enjoying drinks and a stunning Caribbean sunset.
Pelican Beach is fabulous for kayaking and stand-up paddle boarding (SUP) activities.
Because of its isolation, birds, and animals willingly share their sands with human visitors.
4. Ambergris Caye
Ambergris Caye is a 25-mile-long island with Belizean pride of place just off the northeast tip of Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula.
San Pedro is the island’s main town.
Ambergris Caye hosts iconic restaurants and come-as-you-are beach bars.
The city is also the center for watersport gear rentals and every type of tour under the Caribbean sun.
If you prefer warm sands and quiet surroundings, look to the tips of the Caye.
There you will find the best stretches of sand on la isla bonita.
Part of The Hol Chan Marine Reserve, its waters teem with life.
The area offers unparalleled snorkeling and scuba diving experiences.
One of the Xaye’s most iconic and mysterious ocean floor oddities is the bucket-list-worthy 400-foot Great Blue Hole.
These unique and barely understood sinkholes are meccas for the world’s curiosity.
5. Hopkins Village Beach
Hopkins Village Beach is a five-mile sandy mainland stretch lined with coconut palms.
It is full of local flavor with colorful cabanas and Belizean restaurants where you can find an authentic plate of hudut, a fish coconut stew with mashed plantains.
The beach offers a glimpse into the MesoCaribbean life with local street drummers serenading village residents.
Getting to Hopkins Village is easy via a local shuttle or a 40-minute drive.
Bikes are available from vendors, as is typical beach gear.
Shops and upscale casual restaurants can be found nearby False Sittee.
6. Caye Caulker
Caye Caulker is a stunning hideaway along the northern coast of Belize.
Cars are not allowed on the Caye Caulker.
The islet is only accessible by water taxi or ferry from Belize City or the Tropic Air airfield on the south part of the island.
A perennial favorite, this breathtaking islet is budget-centric.
There are numerous hotels, Bed & Breakfasts, and hostels.
However, there are a few upscale shops and beach casual restaurants for a celebratory evening.
And the beach bars offer perfect vistas for watching the iconic Caribbean purple-pink sunsets.
Caye Caulker has its vibe, where hammocks rule the day.
For a leisurely change of pace from sunbathing, reef snorkeling offers visitors a glimpse of the island’s abundant marine life.
But for the truly adventurous, head inland for a Caye Caulker specialty – cave tubing.
7. Laughing Bird Caye
Another of Belize’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites, Laughing Bird Caye, is a 1.8-acre island named for the laughing gull bird population.
Because it is a protected National Sanxturay, there are minimal public facilities.
A short hour’s boat trip from Placencia, it is only accessible through guided day tours.
Whether it is a beach excursion or a day of area diving and snorkeling, the tiny island holds one of Belize’s most pristine beaches.
Its sugar-white sands are lined with very noisy (bird-filled) palm trees.
And calm, shallow, crystalline waters make this area kid-friendly.
8. Bannister Caye
Also known as Starfish Island, Bannister Caye is an easy 20-minute ferry ride from Old Belize City.
It is nestled between Manatee Caye to its north and the private island of Brewer’s Caye to the south.
Bannister Xaye is the home base to rustic hotels and a popular day excursion for cruise passengers debarking in Belize City.
It is a long island with a protected fish-hook bay on the eastern shore.
While it compares to other Belizean islands for stunning reef snorkeling and scuba diving.
Bannister Caye is also of great archeological value, with still visible remnants of Mayan ruins.
9. Kakumba Beach
An artificial lagoon in Old Belize City, Kakumba Beach, is close to downtown and fun for the family.
Once a mid-20th-century Kakuma (cucumber) port, it now boasts a towering 90-foot water slide, casual restaurants, museums, and a train ride.
Kakumba Beach is roughly five minutes from the cruise ship port and immediately adjacent to the Old Belize Marina.
10. Stingray Beach
A 15-minute boat ride from the mainland, Stingray Beach is also on Caye Caulker.
This iconically Caribbean islet is surrounded by crystalline, emerald blue waters that complement the golden-white shores.
What makes Stingray Beach different is the local population.
Pelicans rule the sands, but the marine denizens fill the shallows.
This part of the Belize Barrier Reef has four unique ray species, including the popular Southern Stingrays.
Stingray Beach is also a favorite haunt to the docile nurse sharks, a known bottom feeder.
Day excursions provide the chance to swim and scuba with the reef kings.
While restaurants, bars, and nightclubs line the beaches.
Belize Safety Overview
READ THE FULL REPORT: Belize Safety Review
Safety Index:
- OVERALL RISK: MEDIUM
- TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: MEDIUM
- PICKPOCKETS RISK: HIGH
- NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: MEDIUM
- MUGGING RISK: HIGH
- TERRORISM RISK: LOW
- SCAMS RISK: MEDIUM
- WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: MEDIUM
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Belize?
Belize is part of Central America’s east coast.
Mexico is due north, and Guatemala is south and west.
Technically Belize is part of the Yucatan Peninsula, 17° north of the equator.
When is a good time to visit Belize?
Late November to mid-April is excellent beach weather in Belize.
No one can argue with minimal rain, blue skies, and 80-degree weather.
But tourists love Belize in the wintertime.
And crowds are at their largest, and prices are highest anytime between December and early April.
Hurricanes are rare in Belize thanks to the ocean topography, humidity is high, and temperatures rarely dip below the 90s.
Are Belize's beaches public?
In Belize, all beachfront property is free to access and open to the public.
But this may not include beach furniture or water toys.
If you are near a resort, there may be a cost to the beach villas.
It is a good idea to check, but as a rule, you can swim at any of the Belizean beaches.
Why is the water in the Caribbean so clear?
The waters in the Caribbean are crystal clear and, at times, painfully blue.
This is because there is very little plankton or other sediment in the water.
The shallow ocean floors reflect the sunlight – enhancing the neon and emerald blue-green effect.
In my opinion, Belize offers an incredible variety of beautiful beaches, each with its own unique charm and activities to enjoy.