Belize is situated in between Mexico and Guatemala. It brags as one of the biggest tourist destinations in Central America. If you ask me, well, I’d say that it’s definitely one of my favorite countries to visit. Why do I love Belize? The answer to this is pretty simple. The nature and the people. Barrier reef of Belize draws the fans of scuba diving and snorkeling from all over the world, and at the same time a place for all birdwatchers to satisfy their desires. Apart from that, interesting sites of ancient Mayan like Lamani, Caracol and Altun Ha are simply fascinating. The local people are extremely friendly, the food are good, and the weather is pleasant. I spent a few weeks there and I still want to go back there.
Accommodation and Food
Prices for a hostel usually start at USD15 but in famous touristy areas, the cost starts at about USD20. For budget hotels, most would cost you around USD35 per night. To learn more about the culture of a particular country, I always suggest travelers to try local food. Matter of fact, it is always the cheapest way to save more on budget. Local restaurants in Belize usually cost you about USD4 per meal and a nice sit-down restaurant meal complete with drinks can be expected to be between USD15-USD25. Fruit in Belize are cheap and abundant. So, I usually snacked on them.
Transportation and Activities
The cheapest travel option in Belize is none other than the public buses, with fares costing each person between USD1-USD10, depending on the final destination and distance traveled. For USD5, you can expect to pay a trip of city taxis and ferries are available to islands with cost ranging between USD15-USD20. As for the activities, I figured out that diving trips will cost me a standard of USD100 and depending on if meals and entrance fees are included, a full non-diving trips will be about USD40. Most national parks and entrance to Mayan ruins would cost me around USD10.
Money Saving Tips
Based on my personal experience, traveling off-peak will definitely save more on budget. Bear in mind that between October and April are the most expensive season to visit Belize. I learned this the hardest way and I can assure you that traveling in the off-season is a lot more better and cheaper. Other than that, try camping if you want to save your money on accommodation costs. For USD4 per night, you can pitch your tent. As I said earlier, traveling by public buses will help to reduce your budget more as well. Do not use shuttle services since these are designed for tourists and instead of that, go for the public buses.
Belize is a place for travelers to keep falling in love with the nature, the people and the wonderful moments there. I said this because I am one of those travelers who would still want to go back to Belize in a heartbeat. As long as you stick to the simple rules of planning and budgeting, you will always be able to go on a vacation on a low-cost budget.