we are going to Belize in January. we are staying in San Ignacio. we will go to the zoo, cave tubing . zip lining and hopefully ATM. do we need to worry about the bugs? do we need special bug spray or bug bands? we want to be prepared.

Cayo is surprisingly bug free-ish and Jan is not a particularly buggy time of yr. Bottleass bugs in the Mtn Pine ridge, sometimes.

https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destina...er/none/belize

We haven't been plagued with bugs in those locations but like to be prepared. Our go-to bug juice is Ultrathon; Sawyer's is another brand that has a time-release deet formulation. I'd at least carry little packets like these:
https://www.rei.com/product/750941/b...-package-of-12

They don't have to be in your TSA ziplock bag (you ARE flying carryon only, right?) and are light and easy to tuck into a day pack.

We've been to Belize in January, February and May and the only trip we found biting insects to be a problem was in May and that was mostly along the coast. Even in May, Cayo wasn't too buggy.

Thanks we will take something just in case.
Sorry to disappoint but we will be checking bags.
Can’t wait to get there