Inspiration for your own tailor-made trip
A Family Adventure in Belize From the Jungle to the Beach
Belize – Lamanai – San Ignacio – Placencia – Hopkins
After a whirlwind stopover in Belize City, kick things off in Lamanai, home to Mayan ruins and lush jungle. After time spent exploring the forest with a naturalist guide, discovering an ancient archaeological site and spotting wildlife from owls to manatees, it’s time to head to San Ignacio, where even more Maya sites, cave canoeing and a meeting with a friendly local family awaits.
Then, swap inland Belize for the coast as you’re privately transferred to Placencia. Spend your days here diving into the Belize Barrier Reef (the second largest in the world) and snorkelling at Laughing Bird Caye, keeping an eye out for tropical fish, turtles and even the occasional dolphin.
Your family adventure comes to an end in Hopkins, another coastal gem steeped in Garifuna culture. Enjoy two days entirely at leisure, whether your clan would rather set off on underwater and jungle adventures or simply sunbathe on the sand (or a little bit of both). Parents and children alike are sure to return home raving about this lesser-visited South American gem – and you’ll have a stuffed-to-the-brim camera roll and golden tan to back you up…
Itinerary
100% customisable for you
Bags packed and sunnies at the ready: your family adventure to Belize begins today. Head to the airport, speed through security and enjoy some nibbles in the lounge before boarding your ten-hour flight to a US hub city, where you’ll be whisked to a nearby hotel for an overnight layover.
After a good night’s sleep, it’s back to the airport for your two-and-a-half-hour flight to Belize City. When you touch down, you’ll be met and privately transferred by car and boat to your lagoon-side lodge, set just ten minutes from the legendary Lamanai archaeological site.
Check in for the next two nights and spend the rest of the day settling into your new surroundings. The real adventure begins tomorrow...
Today is all about diving into Belize’s wilderness. Rouse the children bright and early for a wander through the misty jungle with a naturalist guide, watching as the native fauna awaken, while learning more about the elusive jaguar that calls this area home. Your guide will also fill you in on the medicinal plants that grow within the jungle, originally discovered by the Mayans but still used today.
Then, it’s time to visit Lamanai itself, wandering between the fascinating ruins of this ancient Mayan city. Suitably wowed, grab a paddle and canoe for a sunset cruise, watching for the fairytale-like manatees that frequent these waters.
If your youngsters are night owls, embark on a night boat safari, keeping your eyes peeled for sleek jaguars or sly crocodiles, or set off on an after-dark stroll through the tropical forest to silently observe the evening wanderings of native monkeys, owls and bats.
This morning, wave goodbye to Lamanai as you’re collected and privately transferred to San Ignacio, a three-and-a-half-hour drive away. When you arrive, check in for three nights in a cosy lodge on the banks of the Macal River and spend the rest of the day however you please.
If the teens are raring to go after the drive, wander down to the river and hop into a canoe, admiring the impressive cliffs and rock formations and keeping an eye out for cormorants and kingfishers flitting about above your boat.
Prefer a lazy afternoon? Stroll through the gardens, set off on a leisurely cycle along the nearby trails or simply cool off in the perched bar with a cocktail (or mocktail, for the youngsters), enjoying incredible views over the forest.
Lace up your walking boots and head out early today for a guided tour of Xunantunich, an ancient archaeological site set on Belize’s western border. After making the ferry crossing over the Mopan River on a 19th-century boat, spend the day exploring the ancient ruins, which are perched on one of the highest plateaus in the region. Be sure to stop at El Castillo, the site’s largest temple, for panoramic views over your surroundings – cameras at the ready…
Next, continue to Barton Creek, an ancient cave once used by the Mayans for traditional rituals and ceremonies. Here, board another canoe (yes, really) and grab a torch from your guide before paddling gently along the river, passing through the impressive limestone cave system.
Later, head back to your hotel for a chilled evening and some authentic Belizean fare.
Go easy on breakfast today, as you and the youngsters are heading out to meet a local Mayan family for a day of cooking and calligraphy. This is the perfect opportunity to immerse yourself in authentic Mayan culture, so grab an apron and start chatting.
After you’ve been familiarised with traditional ingredients and spices, you’ll have the chance to chop, stir and season your way to a local feast. You’ll also be treated to a tasting, allowing you to sit down with the locals and learn about customs and cuisine passed down from generation to generation.
Suitably stuffed, it's time for a Mayan calligraphy workshop, during which you’ll explore the meaning of ancestral symbols and characters. Be sure to note these down in your travel journal – they might come in handy for the rest of your trip...
Bundle the whole family into the car this morning as you begin the private transfer to Placencia, a pretty village on Belize’s Caribbean Coast. The route takes you along the Hummingbird Highway, one of the most beautiful roads in the country, dotted with scenic viewpoints, gushing waterfalls and snack stops. Along the way, stop at St Herman's Cave to stretch your legs as you wander your way between stalactites, stalagmites and other fascinating underground rock formations.
After a tasty lunch, hit the road again to arrive in Placencia. The rest of the day is yours for the taking, whether you’d rather rest and relax after the journey or head out on a stroll along Placencia Lagoon’s sparkling shores.
Your time on the Placencia peninsula is entirely dedicated to the water. Over the next two days, mask up and dive down along the Belize Barrier Reef, keeping your eyes peeled for groupers, turtles and even the occasional dolphin.
On one of your days here, hop into a boat with a private guide and sail to Laughing Bird Caye, a small island and marine sanctuary named for its population of English laughing gulls. After the teens have spotted a few of these noisy natives, grab a snorkel and jump into the water, gliding over kaleidoscopic coral formations and looking out for even more marine marvels.
If you fancy staying on dry land, visit some of the storied Mayan sites situated along Placencia’s lagoons and tropical forest.
Come evening, enjoy ultra-fresh seafood dinners and perfectly sweet sundowners before heading to a local bar for a reggae concert, sure to have even the most cynical teen tapping their toes.
It’s time to travel to another coastal gem today as you’re picked up and privately transferred to Hopkins, a one-hour drive north. This pretty village is largely populated by the Garifuna, an Afro-Indigenous community, and their vibrant culture soaks into every corner of the storied shores.
When you arrive at your beachfront hotel, check in for two nights and spend the rest of the day as you please. Rock in a hammock, relax on the private terrace or swim laps of the pool – whatever you choose, you’ll be guaranteed a postcard-perfect panorama of the clear Caribbean sea.
We’ve left your final day free for some quality time together. After a leisurely breakfast featuring some ridiculously fresh fruit, slap on some SPF, grab your sunnies and head out to explore.
Keen to dive back into the water? Head out on snorkelling and diving excursions to nearby marine reserves, such as South Water Caye or Glover’s Reef, or keep your head above the surface with paddleboarding, kayaking or sailing trips. For an immersion in nature back on solid ground, we can also arrange a visit to Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary, the world’s only jaguar preserve.
If you’re travelling with some miniature music maestros, delve deeper into local culture with a Garifuna drumming workshop, or head into town to watch a traditional dance performance, complete with vibrant colours and rhythmic beats.
Come evening, enjoy a sundowner with your toes in the sand before heading to a local restaurant to toast to your trip over traditional Garifuna cuisine. Family time doesn’t come much better than this.
It’s sadly time for your family adventure in Belize to come to an end. After one last beachfront breakfast, you’ll be privately transferred two hours to Belize City Airport, where you’ll board your overnight flight home.
With another speedy stopover en route, the journey will take just under a day, and you’ll arrive back in the UK the next morning, having dreamed up your next family getaway on the plane.
Suggestions
Everything in this itinerary is entirely customisable, down to the smallest details. Here are some more suggestions of what could be included
ZIPLINE AND CAVE TUBING IN SAN IGNACIO
If your youngsters are thrill seekers, jazz up their time in San Ignacio with a day of ziplining and cave tubing in the jungle. Begin on a high note (literally) by whizzing through the canopy on a series of ziplines, marvelling at the incredible views over the forest from almost 500ft above the ground. Heart rates suitably heightened, hop in a tube and drift between limestone arches and shimmering stalactites in the forest’s intricate cave system, following your guide as they point out native flora and fauna. Parents might need a lie-down after this one…CRUISE ALONG THE MONKEY RIVER
Swap canoes for a traditional boat today as you embark on a gentle cruise along Placencia’s Monkey River. As you weave your way between a maze of mangroves and miniature islands, keep an eye out for the incredible wildlife that call this river home, including turtles, birds, iguanas, crocodiles and, of course, howler monkeys. If you’re lucky, you might even see manatees, a protected species, before you stop for a tasty lunch at a restaurant on the riverbank.EXPLORE COCKSCOMB JAGUAR RESERVE
For even more wildlife sightings, spend a day exploring the Cockscomb Nature Reserve, the first wildlife sanctuary entirely dedicated to protecting the majestic jaguar. With an expert guide, hike through the jungle’s winding trails, keeping your eyes peeled to hopefully catch a glimpse of this elusive big cat. Along the way, you can also cool off at a waterfall and enjoy an exciting river tubing adventure, all the while watching for some of the reserve’s other flora and fauna, including almost 300 bird species.
Why visit Belize with Original Travel ?
Each of our trips is entirely tailor-made with originality, quality and cultural immersion in mind. Our team of destination specialists will craft itineraries based on your tastes, using their first-hand knowledge and the help of our in-country team of Concierges and guides. All trips are accompanied by a wide range of additional services, including a 24-hour helpline, the Original Travel app, fast-track airport services and much more.
Enquire nowA few of the benefits of travelling with us to Belize
- Our local Concierges
- The Original Travel app
- Destination Dossier
- 24-hour helpline
- Expert guides
- 100% carbon absorption
