Belize

A Magical Family Stay in Belize: What to Do With Kids

Hi friends! Belize officially became Country #56 on our family travel journey! We knocked out four incredible countries this summer traveling around Central and South America, and after visiting colorful Bogotá with our kids and meeting up with our team in El Salvador, we headed to Belize for some much-needed relaxation.

Belize had been on my radar for a long time, mostly for the famous Great Blue Hole. But when we looked into it, a flyover for our big family was going to run around $3,000, and scuba diving doesn’t give you that iconic view. We decided to save that money, skip the Blue Hole, and honestly? Belize delivered so much magic that we didn’t miss it for a single second! From the moment we arrived, Belize’s famous “go slow” motto completely took over. 

Whether we were lounging by the sea, snorkeling the barrier reef, or soaking in the peaceful pools at Grand Caribe Belize, it was the exact balance of luxury, adventure, and pure relaxation our family needed. 

So, if you’re planning a trip to Belize with kids, here is our complete guide on where to stay, the best kid-friendly activities, and real travel tips for your stay!

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Understanding Belize’s Geography: How to Get Around with Kids

Before you book your stay, you should probably learn about Belize’s layout so that, once you arrive, you don’t get a surprise that might slightly ruin your trip. The country is split into the inland jungle: the Cayo District and San Ignacio areas, and the tropical cayes or islands scattered along the barrier reef.

Let me tell you about the island we stayed on! We went to Ambergris Caye, most people call it San Pedro because that is the city on Ambergris Caye that you fly to or take a water taxi to. But the island itself is actually called Ambergris Caye. 

Fun fact: Madonna’s song La Isla Bonita is from San Pedro! She actually says San Pedro in the song and she is rumored to have stayed at Victoria House, which we saw on a boat as we drove by (make sure you listen to the song on your way there!). My kids were like, “Who’s Madonna?” Makes you feel really old! But there’s a reason Madonna wrote a song about this place, it is absolutely beautiful. 

Also, “Ambergris” actually means whale vomit; we learned from one of our tour guides. But it’s actually really expensive and used in perfume, so there you go!

In order to get over to Grand Caribe Belize or anywhere on Ambergris Caye or San Pedro, you cannot drive. First of all, it is an island, and if you look on the map, just north of it is Mexico. So it’s actually across the water right from Belize City, which is probably where you’re going to fly into. That’s where we flew into, and we found out then from there you have two family-friendly transit options:

• Option 1: Take a Flight (I highly recommend this for families). We ended up booking the flight and taking Tropic Air right from the airport. It’s only a short 13-minute flight from BZE to San Pedro.  It is easy, simple, perfect for families with small kids or lots of kids (like us) and they will probably enjoy the views! Just make sure to book with time in order to get the best prices.

• Option 2: Water Taxi. You can take a 30-minute taxi from the airport to the Belize City marine terminal, then board a 90-minute public ferry (like Caribbean Sprinter or San Pedro Belize Express). It is cheaper, but can be expensive, bumpy, and chaotic if you are managing heavy luggage and a large crew!

Where to Stay with Kids in Belize: Choosing the Right Area

Now you know about Belize’s transportation, but how to choose the best place based on your interests? Many activities in Belize have very different starting points; some start in the San Pedro Island but others in the Caye Caulker Island. So just be sure to pick the correct area or hotel based on the activities or places you’d like to visit during your Belizean stay. But here’s a quick guide on what you can find in each area:

• Stay in Ambergris Caye (San Pedro) if: You want classic beach vibes, world-class snorkeling steps from shore, golf-cart activities for the entire family, and amazing, quality luxury resorts.

• Stay in San Ignacio or Cayo District if: Your family wants jungle adventures, cave exploration, wildlife spotting, and ancient Maya ruins. Take into consideration that these activities require more energy for the littlest ones!
  
• Stay in Placencia or Hopkins if: You want a quiet, slow-paced coastal beach town where you can easily drive to both the reef and the jungle without needing a boat or flight.

• Stay in Caye Caulker if: You want a smaller, quieter, and slow island experience. It’s completely car-free (everyone walks or rides bikes), budget friendly, and perfect for families with older kids or teens who want a relaxed, bohemian beach town with easy access to the reef.

Where to Stay in San Pedro, Belize with Kids: The Best Family Resort

Our Grand Caribe Belize Family Review

If you want the ultimate, stress-free luxury experience on Ambergris Caye, Grand Caribe Belize is the undisputed crown jewel for families. Located just 2 miles north of San Pedro Town, it has the perfect balance: it’s close enough to explore the island, but peaceful enough to feel like a private oasis. 

Grand Caribe Belize picked us up at the airstrip with an amazing driver and went straight to the hotel. Full disclosure: They did host our stay, but man it was incredible! I’m going to give you my true and honest review as always: I 100% would recommend staying there, it was amazing and our kids loved it! 

Here is our family review and exactly why Grand Caribe is built for parents traveling with kids:

• True Condo-Style Living: Unlike standard hotel rooms where everyone is sleeping in the same space, Grand Caribe offers spacious one-to-five-bedroom oceanfront condos. We stayed in the 4-bedroom condo and my kids felt like kings and queens! Usually they have to share beds in two hotel rooms, so to have all this space was unreal.
  
  The condo was massive: It had a full kitchen, three other bedrooms all with their own private bathrooms, a kitchenette, and fast Wi-Fi, which is super important since we are almost always working while traveling and the views from the balcony were just incredible!

• The Best Pools on the Island (not joking): We love a relaxing and fun pool day, and Grand Caribe’s pools exceeded our expectations! There are six pools (yes, six)! The main pool overlooks the ocean and is so much fun; it has a bridge, different levels of depth, and a swim-up bar where you can get drinks or even have dinner. There are two hot tubs and two other pools very close to that main pool, plus three other pools throughout the property if you want a more private experience. They’ll even come over and serve you drinks!
  
• Free Water Sports and Ocean Access: We jumped right off the dock into the ocean to enjoy the amazing temperature and crystal-clear waters of Belize. We took the kayaks and paddleboards straight from the resort (which are included in your stay) and explored a little bit. It was really fun!

• Seamless On-Site Conveniences: As parents, convenience is everything. The property has an on-site fitness center, a full-service spa, several restaurants, and its own grocery store right on site. (The Beach Basket)
  
• Unrivaled Peace of Mind (Medical Care): Safety is our #1 priority when traveling, and Grand Caribe Belize is home to Belize Medical Associates, an on-site urgent care clinic. I can’t tell you how many times we have been traveling where my kids are in the water all day and boom: there’s an ear infection, or a weird skin rash… Having immediate access to certified medical care right on the property changes the game for parental peace of mind!

• Activities and Excursions: Their expert concierge team can coordinate seamless door-to-door family adventures, picking you up from the airstrip or launching snorkeling boats right from the resort’s private pier.

Getting Around: Golf Carts!

On the island itself, golf carts are the main mode of transportation. We rented a six-passenger golf cart directly from the hotel. And incredibly, it fit all of us there, making it a great experience to go out and see a little bit of the island. There are other golf cart companies, but if you rent from the hotel, you don’t have to worry about parking somewhere else.

Here’s our 7WayFinders Pro-Tip: Book a multi-bedroom ocean-front unit. The incredible views of the barrier reef from the balcony are breathtaking; you won’t regret it.

Unforgettable Things to Do in Belize with Kids

When you’re visiting Belize, you get pretty much the best of both worlds: super clear ocean water right off the coast and fun jungle adventures just a quick trip away. For this vacation, we decided to take it kind of easy and mostly enjoy the resort, but we also got out to explore!

1. Snorkeling at Hol Chan Marine Reserve and Shark Ray Alley

This is hands-down a must-do when staying in San Pedro! And many tours offer this, so book the one that is closest to your hotel or one that offers pickup and drop off. We booked a tour straight from the hotel to go snorkeling and they picked us up right from the dock at Grand Caribe, super duper easy!

This was my little one Grace’s first time snorkeling in the ocean. She was a little bit nervous, but she had a great time seeing turtles, sharks, stingrays, and lots of fish!

At Shark Ray Alley, you can swim with nurse sharks. That may sound kind of scary, but nurse sharks don’t actually have teeth like you would normally think a shark does: they just have plates, so they suck their food in like a stingray and grind it up. They’re really not dangerous. Once they eat, they just settle down in the seagrass. Our guide told us they don’t see very well during the day either, so they mostly use sonar. It was a very cool experience that I would highly recommend! 

So, if you can’t book this activity in your hotel, here are a few options we suggest for you:

• Ridge and Reef Belize Tours: This is a morning tour that will let you discover the Hol Chan Marine Reserve and Shark and Ray alley while doing some snorkeling. You will be able to get up close to nurse sharks, stingrays, and hundreds of species of fish and coral formations. So, if your kids are into swimming, this is an activity you can’t miss!

• Hol Chan Catamaran Tour: This tour is pretty much similar to the one above, but the difference is they offer lunch and you’ll do it in a catamaran plus a short excursion to Caye Caulker. 

To us, this one is a must, as your kids will get the coolest experience swimming right next to nurse sharks, stingrays, sea turtles, and tons of colorful fish in shallow, super clear water. It honestly feels like swimming inside a giant fish tank! The water is calm and shallow, making it super easy even for little ones or nervous swimmers.

2. Cave Tubing and Ziplining Through the Jungle

If your family loves a good adventure, heading over to the main part of the country (starting from Belize City) for ziplining and cave tubing is something you’ll be talking about forever!

• CaveTubing or Crystal Cave: What I like about this tour option is they have different options depending on how active your family is and if you have little kids. So, if you like to swim and hike, like our crew, you will absolutely love exploring the forest, crossing the river, and navigating through cave systems!
  
• Altun Ha Temple and Cave Tubing: Here, you’ll also explore the caves, but it also includes the Altun Ha ruins, plus a traditional Belizean lunch. It is a day long trip so just be sure to pack some snacks and portable chargers!

3. Meeting Rescued Wildlife at The Belize Zoo

If you have animal lovers in your group, make sure to stop by the Belize Zoo. It’s nothing like a traditional zoo you’ve been to before! 

• Belize Zoo Tickets: If you get a chance to travel to the Belize Zoo, you won’t regret it. It is filled with Belize’s native animals like jaguars, toucans, tapirs, spider monkeys, and many more species your kids will love to see. 

This isn’t a place with concrete cages, it’s a big nature center set right inside the natural woods, featuring only rescued native animals. Your kids will be able to get super close to the local animals while learning all about them.

• Exploring the Xunantunich Mayan Ruins

Take a step back in time with a day trip to Xunantunich, an amazing ancient Maya site near the town of San Ignacio, right near the Guatemalan border. Just be mindful that also for this tour you’d have to get away from the Caye Caulker and San Pedro Islands!

• Xunantunich Ruins and Jungle: If you have older kids or teens looking for a real bucket-list adventure, you cannot skip the famous ATM Cave tour! This day trip takes you hiking through the rainforest, crossing rivers, and swimming directly into a cave. Since there’s a lot of adventure involved, we’d recommend you only go if you have very active kids!

The fun starts before you even get to the ruins… your car crosses the river on a hand-cranked ferry, which will probably be something your kids will love! Once you’re there, kids can climb all the way to the top of “El Castillo,” the main temple, for incredible views over the trees all the way into Guatemala.

Real Talk: The Cost of Food in Belize

I will say, food in Belize was so expensive… I did not anticipate that! Restaurant costs were about the same as (or slightly more than) the U.S. for our family. So I thought, “Okay, we’ll just cook since we have this full kitchen,” but grocery store prices were crazy too!

We drove our golf cart to a farther-away supermarket, but I don’t think that was worth it. The resort’s on-site supermarket at Grand Caribe was actually great, very well-stocked, and had everything you probably want for your stay (pastas, sauces, canned items, eggs, milk). Just plan and budget better for the food costs overall!

What to Pack for a Belize Family Vacation

Packing for a trip that mixes beach days with jungle fun takes a little planning! Here are the main things we brought along to keep everyone comfortable and ready to go:

• Swimsuits for the entire family: The most important thing! Your kids will practically live in the water.
  
• Reef-Safe Sunscreen: Belize protects its ocean life, so safe, mineral-based sunscreen is required for swimming and snorkeling.
  
• Kids’ Water Shoes: A total must-have for protecting little feet from sharp rocks during cave tubing and walking along the water. Also, perfect if the sand is a bit hot while playing on the beach!

• Bug Spray and Insect Repellent Wipes: Bugs can pop up in the woods, especially around sunset. Bug wipes are a lifesaver for easily wiping down toddler faces without spraying their eyes!
  
• Swim Shirts: Long-sleeve swim shirts save you from constantly putting on sunscreen during hours of swimming in the sun.
  
• Waterproof Phone Bag or a Dry Bag: Keeps your phones, cameras, and dry clothes safe while on boats or floating down the river/ocean.

Overall, we loved Belize and would absolutely go back! Whether you’re swimming with nurse sharks out on the reef or just relaxing poolside at Grand Caribe, Belize gave us that perfect mix of easy comfort, real adventure, and slow-paced quality time together that makes traveling as a family so worth it. I promise, if we can do it with all these kids, you can do it too, and you’re going to have a great time!

Pack those bags, book the flight, and get ready to go slow! See you guys on the next adventure!

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