56 Best Hotels in Belize

Casa Nova is an unexpected pocket of paradise just a stone’s throw from busy Secret Beach, but you'll feel miles away from earthly concerns at the intimate bed-and-breakfast. As a matter of fact, you are miles away from anything in San Pedro—about 3 miles on the bumpy, swamp-lined road, and another 3½ to San Pedro Town. Restaurants in North Ambergris, like Aji and Rain, are somewhat closer. Fortunately, Secret Beach offers plenty in the way of entertainment: karaoke, live music, swimming, paddleboarding, drinking in the water, drinking on the beach---did we mention drinking? Casa Nova's owners are a dynamic duo: architect Kevin Parel designed the beautiful wooden (and hurricane-safe) structure, while wonderful host Nova Parel will help you map out your getaway. Here’s one great way to spend the afternoon: take a kayak out and bar-hop along the shore of Secret Beach until sunset. Casa Nova is adults only, so the clientele is mostly couples. 

This luxe resort gives the impression of a Mediterranean palace---or maybe a fun Las Vegas version---with its colonnades and grottoes rising from the swimming pools. Indeed, the two pools are the real pull at Coco Beach, but this top condotel also has lovely interiors, featuring Balinese rattan furniture and Spanish tiles in the various rooms and suites. Kitchens feature granite countertops and stainless steel appliances. Five penthouses boast amazing views of the sea and Barrier Reef. The main restaurant, Cocoblanca, is a baroque display of chandeliers, alcoves, and silken upholstery. Unfortunately, the food is overpriced and underwhelming. Coco Beach and other Sandy Point Resorts often offer deep discounts, so check specials before you book.

It all comes down to this: recline in a hammock on your cottage veranda, sip a cold daiquiri, and contemplate the Caribbean at this intimate all-inclusive private-island resort. Aside from the traffic of geckos and pelicans, this 16-acre island will never feel crowded. But you'll make your share of friends with other guests, staff members, and maybe the nurse sharks that patrol the waters. Coco Plum, whose operation is famously well run, offers seafront cabanas that are remodeled, air-conditioned, and decked out in tropical colors. The fabulous chef, Miss Jude, prepares masterful, homestyle meals (served in a daily set menu, so choices are limited). Most rates include snorkel trips to the reef just a few miles out. Be aware that the included alcohol often facilitates a beach-party atmosphere. Coco Plum is definitely a place for all-inclusive travelers, not the independent adventure travelers that Belize often attracts. Coco Plum's sister resort Manta Island, which opened in 2021, has soft white sand, coral-rich waters, and the benefit of sitting on glorious Glover's Reef Atoll.

Nearly every hotel on Ambergris Caye claims that it can arrange fishing trips, but this resort, opened in 1974, has the best angling resources, plus plenty to do for companions with other passions (half the guests are snorkelers and divers). Ask the folks here about fishing and they'll rattle off lists of pancake flats, back-reef flats, turtle-grass flats, and all their inhabitants. Loosely described as a \"fishing camp,\" the main lodge is actually a handsome white colonial with comfortable rooms and a nice swimming pool. Adjoining the lodge in two groupings, each with a pool, are deluxe private villas. The restaurant has delicious farm-to-table (and sea-to-table) daily menus, with one seating for the prix-fixe dinner. Many guests arrive as part of a fishing package; check the website for package deals. The resort has a fly-fishing shop and offers lessons.

Drive deep into the Mountain Pine Ridge and you’ll find, perched on a steep hill above the Five Sisters waterfalls, this elegant lodge and staging ground for exploration. All is decorated to appear distinctly Belizean—canopied thatch cabanas hold local hardwoods, handmade furniture, and art in tropical tones. A small, open-air tram will carry you to the Privassion River if you'd rather avoid the 286 steps, and there you can swim in the natural spring or recline riverside on lounge chairs. Note that with no children under 12 allowed, no pool, no television, and Internet only in the restaurant, this is ideal for a couple’s retreat rather than a family vacation. The lack of pool helps earn Gaia’s eco-friendly status, as does its hydropower system and garden, which grows 60% of the restaurant’s produce. Packages with its sister resort Matachica on North Ambergris Caye give you entry to reef and rainforest excursions.

Thoughtfully designed apartments are ideal for family retreats at this well-run \"condotel\" in quiet southern Ambergris Caye. The spacious two- and three-bedroom units are quite luxurious and have full kitchens and comfortable furnishings. The balconies, rooftop, and glassy pools are undoubtedly the highlights of the hotel. As there's no dining on-site---not even a shop for snacks---this is a truly self-catering location. Conveniently, a \"pool bar\" is about a mile away---you can place your order with the bartender and it will be delivered directly to your condo. The nearest grocery store is even farther, so renting a golf cart is a must. The friendly concierge and staff can help you with such details of your vacation. One thing that makes Hol Chan Reef a rarity? There's an elevator. 

This adventure lodge has gone upscale, adding hillside \"treehouse suites\" with jaw-dropping views, a multilevel swimming pool with whirlpool, and a botanical garden featuring orchids and bromeliads. Less-expensive cabanas with outdoor showers are offered, too, along with suites and bungalows. Manager Ian Anderson and his highly trained jungle and cave guides offer more than 20 wilderness adventures in a 58,000-acre private reserve. On the River of Caves trip, you spend hours floating around underground lakes and crawling past stalagmites into dry chambers.

Spend your days here snorkeling in the shallows, doing acrobatics on a water trampoline, and, most dramatically, diving at \"The Pinnacles,\" where coral heads rise 40 feet from the ocean floor. After a lobster or fish dinner and a few Belikins on a pier 100 feet into the Caribbean, wander back to your rustic cabin, a breezy retreat built of tropical hardwoods. The cabins are more or less utilitarian, but you're unlikely to spend much time in them. Given its air-conditioning and 24/7 electricity, Isla Marisol has more amenities than many resorts nearby. With 40 miles between you and the Belizean coast, this is an exhilarating place for fishers and divers, midrange for remote islands in Belize.

If you're longing to hearken back to a simpler time and immerse yourself in nature, you can experience the jungle with a luxurious cabana and some of the comfiest beds in Belize at this eco-resort. They are situated on 300 acres of primary forest, with three swimming holes, hanging bridges, and farms, not to mention a Maya site to explore. Dinner is communal and lit with oil lamps. Although there isn't Wi-Fi in the rooms, there's plenty to keep you busy, including birding, hiking, Maya cooking classes, and yoga classes, all included with your stay.

Expansive villas command the beachfront, all named after precious jewels like Opal and Emerald---and they really do dazzle. The design is inspired by Mexican, Moroccan, and Maya traditions, evident in the arches, alcoves, rugs, and sensuous tones of rose and mango. Hand-hewn furniture and deluxe kitchens enhance the spaces. The villas range from two to five bedrooms; with a group, they can be more affordable than a hotel. Plus, you’ll still enjoy concierge service and a shared pool. A few restaurants are within walking distance or, more comfortably, golf-cart distance.

The all-white dazzle of Las Terrazas will make you want to don your chicest beachwear---but even if you can’t rival the style, this is a welcoming luxury resort. You can enjoy complimentary extras like Hobie Cat sailing, kayaks, paddleboards, and bikes. The spacious condo suites boast travertine tile floors, granite countertops, and handcrafted Belizean furnishings. A glassy infinity pool makes a gorgeous property centerpiece. If there's room in your vacation budget, Serenity Spa offers special treatments like Belizean chocolate facials. At the water, an unusual, two-level curved pier, which sweeps out into the sea, makes an ideal spot to watch the waves break over the Barrier Reef. Take bait and rods to the pier for $10 and the chef will cook your catch.

At Hopkins' original upscale resort, Jaguar Reef's original whitewashed duplex garden and beachfront thatched cabanas is supplemented with newer colonial suites with local artwork, salt-tile floors, and custom-made hardwood furnishings. Although the beach here is good (for Belize), there's a nice pool with swim-up tiki bar. Meals are served in a beautiful glassed-in beachside palapa with a soaring ceiling set off by locally made basket lights.

Jaguar Reef offers frequent summer (July--August) web-only specials.

The pulse of south Ambergris is changing with this 60-acre townlet of white, colonial-nostalgic villas by Hilton's Curio brand, complete with boutique shopping, a clubhouse, a taco truck, a spa, and all the trappings of a planned community in the States. Rooms, including cute garden cottages, are chicly designed. Think distressed wood and strong contrasting lines, offset by white fabrics that give the spaces a signature freshness. The development faces the lagoon, not the sea, but a complimentary boat runs on the hour to ferry guests to the \"Private Beach Club\" on the back side of Ambergris (note that sometimes there's a line for the boat). There you'll find a glittering beach where you can order expensive cocktails from an over-the-water daybed. Being on the lagoon, the beach has no sargassum seaweed but there are occasional annoying \"sea lice\" in the water. Mahogany Bay's tremendous Great House holds the restaurant Verandah and a deck-side bar, Shaken, and there are plenty of other places on-site to drop loads of cash. Overextended staff means service is far less personal than that found at smaller resorts. Mahogany Bay has something for everyone, but the massive resort isn't for everyone. It's easy to forget you're in Belize. This property has met controversy over its dredge-and-fill practice when making the mangrove habitat ready for construction. 

This small, intimate lodge has six well-designed cabanas set in the shade on a low hill, with pimento walls, thatched roofs, and furniture handmade at the lodge and elsewhere in Belize. They're outfitted with everything you'll need, down to flashlights, purified-water coolers, and umbrellas. Meals are served in the main lodge building, which also has a bar, an art-filled guest study, and a gift shop. The lodge is not on the river, but it has an attractive swimming pool.

The name doesn't do justice to this intimate lodge on Glover's Atoll, which focuses on diving (sites are a four-minute boat ride away), but snorkeling, fishing, bird-watching, and stargazing aren't to be overlooked. With only five cabanas, you may feel the coral island was conjured all for you. Depending on your point of view, you'll find the small wood cabins, composting toilets, and outdoor rainwater showers either eco-rustic or very utilitarian. Tasty meals are served family style in a beachfront thatch palapa with sand floors. Off the Wall has a seven-day minimum stay. Gear and dives are additional costs, as are alcoholic drinks, fishing, and some other services.

A freshwater pool surrounded by hibiscus and jungle geranium make the centerpiece at Pelican Reef, which is one of the most popular spots on the island. Large butter-yellow three-story buildings house the apartments, which are all tastefully decorated, equipped with modern kitchens, and perfect for families and groups who'd like some privacy and creature comforts. Oceanfront units have especially stunning views, but all units are pleasant. The outdoor restaurant, Pelican's Nest Bar & Grill, is open for breakfast (a nice choice of dishes is included with the room) and lunch. You can enjoy amenities like complimentary paddleboards, kayaks, bikes, and snorkel gear. With its friendly atmosphere, Pelican Reef is a hit with kids. 

This luxury-meets-adventure resort embodies Belize as a destination: cabanas with ragged crowns of thatch, wonderful people, imperfect beaches, and, when not plighted by sargassum, exquisite water. The exteriors and pool are showing their age, but the rooms are unlike anything back home: they feature tropical hardwoods, sultry doorless bathrooms, handpainted sinks, and bamboo bed frames. Honeymooners and families alike are welcome. The Green Parrot Bistro has decent food at special-occasion prices; you may want to explore other dining options up north. Portofino has a dive shop, spa, and all the other trappings of a seasoned resort.

Variety is the spice of beach life here, with an assortment of rooms, suites, and villas, some of which can be combined into uber-suites for families. Butterflies, the full-service spa here, is located next to the hotel's coffee shop. Complimentary bikes and kayaks are available. The same management group operates several hotels in the area and around the country and can arrange combo packages that include stays at its beach and rainforest properties.

Organic forms characterize these six exotic villas, whose curved walls echo the slate floors that sweep under cathedral ceilings. Private but not too stuffy, you'll have plenty of space for yourself. Each 3,200-square-foot villa has a sunken living room, an outdoor garden with hot tub, and unobstructed sea views. If resort culture isn’t for you, this would be great for an extended family or group who can swing the price tag (though Seascape caters to adults more than kids). You can even hire a personal chef. It still has the trappings of resort amenities, like complimentary bikes, kayaks, a tennis court, and tennis gear.

For an all-inclusive, family-friendly option, this playful getaway---the only thing on the 6-acre caye---is a special experience. Sea kayaking around the mangrove biome, swimming, and playing chess on a giant chessboard make great activities for kids. You won't be roughing it: newly renovated comfortable cottages, set fairly close together, have turndown service, TV, and other amenities. Decor and furnishings feel a little sterile, but you're unlikely to hang out in your room much. The 2022 face-lift brought about a spacious gym and an indoor, air-conditioned hangout spot ideal for children. Families with kids can enjoy movie nights at the Coral Room or simply wind down while reading a book. Though not quite as polished as some luxury island resorts, the casual, intimate atmosphere is what makes it lovable. The boat ride is a mere 25 minutes.

Sister property to the extravagant Grand Caribe, Sunset Caribe is a stunning resort facing the leeward side of Ambergris Caye. Its most recent building is home to a top-notch café as well as a gorgeous lobby facing two unusually expansive pools. While you won't be in front of the sea (which can be a hidden blessing during sargassum season), the striking sunset views will take the sting out of it. Each bedroom comes with its own balcony that allows you to admire the bay, and if you need some fresh air, the rooftop terrace on the seventh floor allows you to gaze all the way to Secret Beach. Guests can cross the street to Grand Caribe to dine at Rain or Aqua, but if you'd prefer to cook in your kitchenette that comes with every room, Sunset offers grocery delivery from their Beach Basket store as well. 

High above a bend in the Macal River is this remarkable, relaxing lodge whose grounds are right next door to the 45-acre Belize Botanic Gardens. From a vantage point 30 feet above the forest floor on the covered deck and canopied walkway, you'll see iguanas sunning in the trees. You can swim and dive off the rocks from the sandy river beach below. The food is excellent, and there's always a vegetarian option. The lodge also offers horseback riding and a full range of tours.

Kick back in a hammock and listen to the river trickle by and the birds chirp on your private veranda in these eco-friendly jungle cabanas. Set on a 100-acre rain-forest reserve, with farm-to-table dining and lovely pool area, Table Rock is a friendly and serene choice for lodging in the jungle. Technically in the tiny village of Cristo Rey, it's about 5 miles south of San Ignacio town.

Thatch Caye is all about you and your private-island vacation; after a day of sea adventures return to elevated bungalows, some entirely over water, at this adventure lodge. Stylish accents like distressed wooden bed frames and sliding barn doors make the design more chic than on many islands, though it can feel too rustic for some guests. Cabanas have high, open-air widow's walks where you can watch the sunrise. You can walk the island from end to end in less than half an hour and poke around the three small natural beaches; however, shore snorkeling isn't very good. Expect to get social at meals (eaten together at a long table) and cocktail hour at the over-the-water Starfish Bar. A host of packages are available, but the basic all-inclusive package runs BZ$350 per person per day. A resort in the Muy'Ono hotel group, Thatch Caye has five sister hotels all over Belize and has a strong eco-conscience.

The sound of the surf is the only night noise at this smart, red-roofed resort, where you'll commune with others who love fishing and other water activities as much as you do. Opened in 1981 by Karen and Craig Hayes, Turneffe Flats sits on the northeastern side of the atoll on a private point with a white-sand beach and a wadeable bonefish flat. It has earned accolades for its focus on sustainable tourism. The lodgings, fitted with elegant hardwoods, are a far cry from the bare-bones fishing camp that occupied this site in the early '80s. You probably won't spend much time in your room, in any case. The social heart of the resort is a lodge with bar, dining room (meals are served group style), and two levels of decks with sea views. You can dive at Turneffe Flats—dive boats are on standby and the reef is only 200 yards from shore—but the ubiquitous fishing-pole racks suggest that bonefish, permit, and tarpon are still the main draw. For these fish you usually go out on 16-foot flats skiffs, with two anglers and a guide per boat. You pay a pretty penny to indulge your passion, however. Fishing and dive packages are available, the latter costing somewhat less.