Places
Explore key regions, cities, sites, and routes in Belize.
Why Belize
Belize brings together barrier reef beauty, rainforest retreats, and diverse communities—ideal for impact teams, donor gatherings, and alumni retreats. Belize City and Belmopan anchor partnerships in education, healthcare, and social enterprise, while the Cayo District offers Mayan heritage and jungle collaboration. Garifuna villages along the south coast share rich music and culture, and Ambergris Caye provides donor appreciation moments after inland programming. With bilingual partners and accessible travel, leaders can focus on storytelling, generosity, and long-term support via our travel commissions guide.
Belize offers both service opportunities and retreat-friendly downtime—choose a base that fits your team’s size, goals, and comfort level.
Top Highlights by Theme
- Belize City & Belmopan: St. John’s Cathedral, Government House, artisan markets, and education or health hubs.
- Cayo District: San Ignacio, Xunantunich Mayan ruins, ATM Cave (adventure), Barton Creek canoe reflections, and jungle lodges.
- Southern Coast: Hopkins (Garifuna culture, drumming workshops), Dangriga, Placencia beaches, and reef conservation.
- Ambergris Caye & Cayes: San Pedro town, Hol Chan Marine Reserve snorkeling, catamaran sunset cruises, and donor dinners on the beach.
Sub-Regions & Routes
Belize City & Belmopan
- Launch in Belize City for history and community context; visit Belize River House, Swing Bridge, and St. John’s Cathedral.
- Travel to Belmopan for government hubs, leadership briefings, and NGOs addressing education and community health.
Cayo District & Inland Retreats
- Base in San Ignacio; explore Xunantunich, Cahal Pech, and ATM Cave (for fit teams) or alternative cave experiences.
- Combine with eco-lodges offering canopy walks, zip-lines, and night sky briefings under the stars.
Coastal & Island Retreats
- Hopkins and Dangriga highlight Garifuna music, drumming workshops, and youth outreach.
- Ambergris Caye and Caye Caulker provide reef retreats, marine conservation, and beach downtime.
Trip Length & Pacing
6 Days
- Arrive Belize City; orientation, welcome dinner, and service day with partner school or nonprofit.
- Travel to San Ignacio; Xunantunich ruins, community project, and jungle reflection.
- Optional beach downtime (Ambergris Caye) before departure.
8 Days
- Adds Hopkins or Placencia with Garifuna cultural immersion and coastal rest.
- Includes additional service day (water filters, medical clinics, youth programs) and leadership workshop.
11 Days
- Comprehensive circuit: Belize City/Belmopan, Cayo District, Hopkins, Ambergris Caye, plus reef conservation add-on.
- Adds multiple donor appreciation events, jungle retreat, and storytelling nights under the palms.
Best Time to Go
- Dry season (December–April) offers sunny days and lower rain—ideal for on-the-ground projects and outdoor activities.
- Shoulder months (May–June) bring brief showers; hurricane season (June–November) requires flexible scheduling and contingency plans.
- Heat and humidity are consistent; we schedule rest, hydration, and indoor shade in the afternoons.
Group Logistics
- Airport: Philip S.W. Goldson International (BZE) near Belize City.
- Transport: private vans, buses, boats to cayes, and small flights (Tropic Air, Maya Island Air) for islands.
- Lodging: partner guesthouses, jungle lodges, beach resorts, and retreat centres with meeting space.
- Meals: Belizean cuisine—rice and beans, stew chicken, fry jacks, fresh fish, and tropical fruit; dietary needs accommodated.
- Mobility: light to moderate—boat boarding, jungle paths, and island docks; we plan accessible alternatives and rest stops.
- Fundraising moments: rooftop receptions in Belize City, jungle bonfires, Garifuna drum circles, snorkel briefings, and sunset catamaran dinners.
Extensions & Combos
- Pair with Guatemala (Tikal, Antigua) or Mexico (Yucatán) for Mayan heritage circuits.
- Add Honduras (Roatán) or Dominican Republic for Caribbean comparisons.
Safety & Stewardship Notes
We coordinate safe lodging, vetted drivers, and hurricane monitoring. Local leaders guide where and when to serve; we balance collaboration with rest to keep teams healthy and effective.
FAQs
- Q: Do we need visas? A: U.S. travelers receive a 30-day stay on arrival; passports need six months validity.
- Q: Are vaccinations required? A: No, but hepatitis A/B and typhoid are recommended; we brief teams on food, water, and mosquito precautions.
- Q: How do we balance service and rest? A: We design itineraries with structured project blocks plus downtime on jungles, rivers, or beaches.
- Q: Can donors join? A: Yes—Belize provides meaningful engagement and comfortable retreat lodging to thank supporters.
- Q: How far ahead should we plan? A: Reserve 6–9 months ahead for dry-season travel, jungle lodges, and reef excursions.
Review fundraising ideas in our travel commissions guide, or add Belize to your request via the lead form when you’re ready to plan.
Highlights
- Belize City & Belmopan: heritage walks, education projects, and cultural storytelling
- Cayo District: Mayan ruins, jungle reflection, and community development
- Hopkins & Garifuna coast: music-rich culture, youth outreach, and coastal downtime
- Ambergris Caye & reef: donor appreciation, marine conservation, and snorkel days
Fundraising for Churches
How Churches Use Belize
- Belize City church services, school partnerships, and urban outreach that connect teams with long-standing ministry networks
- Cayo District projects supporting rural education, water filters, agriculture, and cross-cultural discipleship under the jungle canopy
- Hopkins or Dangriga sabbath days where Garifuna worship and coastal rest refresh leaders and donors alike
- Ambergris Caye reef retreats offering snorkeling devotion, marine conservation, and donor appreciation dinners
What Works Well
- 7–9 day itineraries combining Belize City ministry with Cayo outreach and one coastal retreat block
- Morning worship/teaching windows in mission compounds, jungle lodges, or beach venues before service projects
- Heat-aware pacing with hydration, shade, and evening debrief to process impact and steward team health
- Fundraising moments: rooftop worship, jungle bonfires, reef sunset cruises, and Garifuna drum-led testimony nights
We coordinate logistics, safety, and partner communication so pastors can shepherd teams, honor donors, and deepen relationships with Belizean leaders.
Sample Ministry Focus
- Arrival devotion in Belize City, orientation with partner church, and evening cultural dinner
- Cayo service day (school build, clinic, VBS) followed by river devotion or cave adventure
- Hopkins coastal sabbath with Garifuna worship, youth outreach, and donor appreciation dinner on the beach
- Ambergris Caye snorkeling excursion with creation care teaching, prayer walk in San Pedro, and small-group rest before departure
What ETS Tours Provides Here
- Custom routing across Belize City/Belmopan, Cayo District, Hopkins/Dangriga, and Ambergris Caye with vetted guides and ministry liaisons
- Worship logistics: church permissions, portable sound, translation, communion, and lanai or beach worship setups
- Transportation: private vans, boats, domestic flights, and alternative routes if weather affects ferries
- Ministry partner vetting: churches, schools, clinics, water projects, reef conservation, and social enterprises
- Hospitality touches: mission guesthouses, jungle eco-lodges, boutique resorts, and Caribbean cuisine experiences
- Fundraising support: donor gifting (coffee, artisan crafts), storytelling assets, generosity prompts, and post-trip follow-up templates
- Safety management: hurricane monitoring, medical support coordination, and contingency plans for remote service sites
Talk with us to design your Belize ministry itinerary, or add Belize to your request at the lead form.
Ready to explore Belize with your group?
We’ll map a simple plan, budget fit, and timeline.