Thanksgiving in Belize: Exploring Both Inland and the Coast

We landed and were picked up at the airport by our private transfer driver. The car was basic, but comfortable and our driver was very knowledgeable about Belize and pointed out lots of sights on the way to our hotel. It is under 2 hours from Belize City Airport to San Ignacio.

We spent three nights inland — staying at Gaia River Lodge. Another option is Blancaneaux or Hidden Valley. Accommodations consist of wooden cabanas with roofs made from bay leaves, waterfall or forest views. The property is well-maintained with lots of greenery. They have a waterfall as a pool, which is accessed by a funicular. We received a walkie-talkie and were even able to order cocktails and ceviche to be served at the waterfall. It really is magical. The staff here was incredibly attentive. They remembered our names and we had the same server each night, very friendly and personable. A lot of their food is grown on site, and you can taste it. Every meal was delicious and fresh. From this region there is easy access to Mayan ruins, cave tubing, hiking, waterfalls and daytrips to Guatemala. November is characterized by beautiful sunsets, warm days, cool evenings. Potential for rain, but short-lived. Cave tubing is a great family-friendly activity, good for all ages. Lots of ruins to choose from. Xunantunich is the most popular in the region. Cahal Pech is good for a shorter visit. Right in San Ignacio's town.

San Ignacio Forest

After San Ignacio, we moved to the beach side. The coast of Belize has two types of stays available for younger kids. Ambergris Caye would be my recommendation. Rent a golf cart, go to a secret beach, explore San Pedro, go to Caye Caulker, swim with nurse sharks, etc. There are hotels there with more of a resort feel. For a quieter trip, head to Placencia (which is what we did), Turtle Creek or Itzana are great options. There is the option to have Thanksgiving dinner at a resort, all the expected ingredients (turkey, potato, pumpkin) but often presented as a plated meal. Placencia is a very thin peninsula, so there is not much to do in town as ‘town’ is more of a strip. There are plenty of excursions, fishing, snorkeling, scuba diving and going to the Blue Hole. Itz’ana has a boutique resort feel, amazing and peaceful pool. The beachfront is well-maintained. Due to the reef, there is limited sargassum, which is an amazing bonus.

Placencia

We returned to Belize City by small plane. It was amazing. Flying low, we were treated to a birds-eye view of the entire coast of the country, seeing beaches, marshes, jungle and forest.

I recommend booking well in advance. The resort I stayed at was fully booked early as they are boutique properties with limited space. Be prepared to relax, take in the views, do the excursions, but also make time to just enjoy nature. There are very few places that are so accessible that they are as unspoiled as Belize is. It's a great Costa Rica alternative.

For more inspiration and insider recommendations, visit our Belize page.