35 Best Hotels in Belize

Relax beside a meandering jungle river, listen to otters splash, and admire colorful tropical birds and butterflies at this small lodge on 30 placid acres beside the Rio Grande. This is a birder's paradise: 350 species have been recorded within 5 miles (8 km) of the lodge. There's a pool, six original thatch cabanas, and three newer hardwood cabins with a/c, with or without kitchenette. You can take meals in the main lodge for an additional fee.

One of the oldest hotels and restaurants in northern Belize, Tony's Inn is still going strong, with spacious, refurbished rooms and a popular bayside restaurant and bar, all on beautifully landscaped grounds. For the most enjoyable stay, choose the upgraded deluxe rooms with modern baths, mahogany furnishings, comfortable beds, and new air-conditioning units.

This cluster of turquoise cottages, each with a hammocked porch, is steps from the sea, and while accommodations are simple---just above backpacker level---the Caribbean is your playground. Here, there's a bit more room for stretching out than at other lodges on Tobacco Caye, as the property extends from the sea on the east to the island's back side. A bar is set away from the cabins. Rates do not include Marine Reserve fees or transportation. 

Right in the middle of things, the Belcove is a popular budget hotel just south of Swing Bridge, literally at the edge of Haulover Creek. You can sit on one of the balconies of this three-story wood hotel, painted sunflower yellow, and watch the boats on the river. Some of the rooms are barely larger than the beds in them, but they're clean, and the staff is helpful and friendly. "Deluxe" doubles with a/c are around BZ$105 including tax, with cheaper budget rooms available.

The breezy Fort George seaside location of this hotel is its strongest point, and some would say its only one. Behind the charming colonial-style exterior—it was formerly a hospital—some of the rooms and public areas badly need upgrading and refurbishing. With a complete makeover, this well-located hotel could be a prime property in Belize City. For the time being, however, there's a lot that needs improving. Some scenes in the 1980 movie The Dogs of War were filmed here, and not too much has changed in the intervening years. Don't expect everything to work perfectly—your room's louvered windows might not close, defeating the air-conditioning, and you may share your room with a few six-legged friends.