Ultimate Belize 1 Week Itinerary + Map
TL;DR
Our perfectly paced Belize 1 week itinerary that takes you from reef snorkelling and Caribbean beaches to jungle waterfalls, ancient Mayan ruins, and unforgettable cave adventures – without the planning headache.
Trying to figure out what to do in Belize for a week can feel overwhelming. Beaches or jungle? Snorkelling or ruins? Chill or adventure? If you’re planning 1 week in Belize and don’t want to spend hours stitching together blog posts, bus routes, and half-baked itineraries, you’re in the right place.
Our Belize 7 day itinerary is built from firsthand experience and balances the very best the country has to offer – without rushing. In one week, you’ll snorkel the Belize Barrier Reef, relax on Caribbean beaches, explore ancient Mayan ruins, hike to waterfalls, and venture deep into caves. It’s a realistic, well-paced Belize travel itinerary designed for travellers who want variety, not burnout.
Our guide breaks down exactly where to go, how long to stay, and why each stop earns its place. Think laid-back island vibes, rich culture, and unforgettable adventures – all wrapped into an epic one week itinerary for Belize.
Belize One Week Itinerary
7 Day Belize Itinerary Map
2 Days on Caye Caulker
Day 1 – Snorkelling on Caye Caulker
Caye Caulker is the definition of a relaxed Caribbean Island.
Snorkelling is a must on Caye Caulker! Your two main options are a half-day snorkelling tour to Caye Caulker Marine Reserve and a full-day tour to Hol Chan Marine Reserve. We have written a full comparison to help you figure out which one is right for you:
Here’s a quick breakdown of the Caye Caulker Marine Reserve snorkelling tour: Our first stop was Shark and Ray Village. Here, you can swim with more nurse sharks and rays than you can count. Note that the animals get fed, so it’s not exactly environmentally friendly. Afterwards, you do two snorkel stops: one at a channel and one in a beautiful coral garden. Normally, you have a quick pitstop to see seahorses, but conditions were too choppy when we went. Instead, we went in search of Manatees and even found one off-season.
Day 2 – Go Slow on Caye Caulker
A perfect way to start your day is Yoga at Namaste Cafe – their roof terrace offers a nice view.
The quintessential place to spend your lazy days on Caye Caulker is the Lazy Lizard at The Split.
Of course, you can also rent a bike and explore the island if you feel more active. There’s even a small ferry that helps you to get to the less developed northern part of the island – you can also take your bike on the ferry.
For sunset, head to Iguana Reef Inn or go on a sunset cruise.
Here’s our complete Caye Caulker travel guide:
2 Days in Hopkins
Day 3 – Way to Hopkins & Relaxing
Hopkins is our favourite place in all of Belize. The beach is beautiful – in contrast to Caye Caulker, where the waterfront is mostly beachless. The vibe is laid-back, with many amazing restaurants and a variety of activities.
Here’s our full Hopkins travel guide:
To travel from Caye Caulker to Hopkins, you first have to take the ferry to Belize City. Here, you can catch one of the southbound buses.
Hopkins is the perfect place to relax after your travel day from Caye Caulker. Grab a coconut and spend your day at the beach. It’s also a nice place to explore Garifuna culture.
If you don’t go on a full moon (like we did), you can explore a bioluminescent lagoon. Of course, there are also plenty of other adventures, as well as snorkelling in the Belize Barrier Reef, in case you easily get bored on the beach.
Day 4 – Day Trip to Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary
The Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary is the world's only Jaguar Preserve. You probably won’t find a Jaguar. What you will find is plenty of hiking trails. The tiger fern trail is the prettiest. It ends at a beautiful waterfall. Make sure to explore the second pool as it’s more secluded and nicer for a dip. The trail is around 6 km (3.7 mi) round trip and is mostly uphill on the way to the waterfall and mostly downhill on the way back. You can also go tubing.
If you don’t have your own car, going by public transport is a bit complicated. Your best option is the 7:00 a.m. bus to Dangriga. Hop off at the Hopkins sections and wait for a southbound bus to Maya Centre. From here, you have to walk to the entrance. It’s an 8 km (5 mi) hike on uneven ground. If you’re lucky, you can hitchhike.
Of course, you can also book a tour.
3 Days in San Ignacio
Day 5 – Way to San Ignacio & Exploring the City
San Ignacio is our favourite city in Belize. It features amazing street food and is also the hub for adventure excursions in the west of the country.
To get from Hopkins to San Ignacio, first, you have to make your way to Belmopan on a northbound bus. Here you have to change to a westbound bus to San Ignacio.
After your transfer, it’s time to explore the city. Make sure to explore the vibrant market and try some pupusas. You can find a lot of bars and restaurants along Burns Avenue. Many travel bloggers recommend Ko-Ox Han Nah and rightly so – the food is delicious and affordable, and the service is lovely.
You can also head to Macal River, visit the Green Iguana Conservation Project, or Cahal Pech Archaeological Reserve.
Here’s our full San Ignacio travel guide:
Day 6 – Day Trip to the ATM Cave
The ATM Cave is the adventure of a lifetime. You climb and swim through a cave, whilst you can explore Mayan artefacts and history – a unique combination.
A 40-minute hike leads to the entrance of the cave. You have to cross the river three times. To reach the cave entrance, you have to swim for a few meters. Afterwards, you wade through less or more deep water.
In the middle of the tour, you climb a little higher to the dry part of the cave. Here, you are walking on socks among Mayan ceramics and even bones, as the cave was used for sacrifices in the old times. An experience you’ll never forget!
You need a guide to enter the cave, so it’s easiest to book a tour. The experience is totally worth it. We went on this tour and wrote a complete review about it:
Day 7 – Caracol, Rio Frio Cave, and Rio On Pools
Caracol is the biggest Mayan ruin in Belize, and it’s totally worth a visit – especially if you’re a history buff. As it’s super remote, you won’t have to share it with many tourists. Additionally, you can still climb many of the structures and enjoy the amazing views.
You can interrupt your drive there with the Rio Frio Cave, a huge cave with a beach inside. To get your swimming fix, you can stop at the Rio On Pools on the way from Caracol. They are a series of natural rock pools and waterfalls that are interconnected with natural water slides that you can try out if you’re brave enough.
The road from San Ignacio to Caracol is not in great condition. The drive will take you around three hours. If you decide to rent a car, you should opt for a 4WD.
We opted for a tour that stopped at the Rio Frio Cave on the way to Caracol and the Rio On Pools on the way back.
Here’s our complete review:
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