A list of the Best Hotels (+ restaurants) in Belize (Central America)
Anyone who shouts Central America might shout 'We want Mexico!'. We get it, really. You're just not the only one. That's not necessarily a bad thing, but sometimes a little uniqueness is nice, right? Then let your holiday light shine Belize! This country in Central America, much less known to the Dutch, is located directly below Mexico, bordering Guatemala, and has both beautiful beaches and wonderful nature. A pearl where you travel from the green jungle to the pearly white beach in four hours - everything equally beautiful. Oh, and let's also forget the hotel industry of this beautiful country! They do the formal and casual looks of Belize. We tested quite a few and it must be said: anyone who likes wonderful hotels without breaking the bank (ha!) should definitely visit Belize.
What you should especially know about Belize is that 'hotel living' there is the credo: the country is beautiful and safe if you travel during the day, but in the evening it is nicer to stay in your hotel (for dinner and a good drink). No punishment, since the collection of hotels is easy to get. Read along: this is your best list of the best hotels in Belize. And: save them all, as Belize is an ideal country for a tour.
Maybe it's because we're a bit 'hotel crazy' here at Barts Boekje, but we have a number of hotels on our radar all over the world that we regularly dream about. Where we hope to check in one day. Where we decide to visit a country and/or a destination. The Turtle Inn Belize, a location of The Family Coppola (google it) is one of them. And, spoiler alert, since we spent a few days there, we want to go back again and again. You can check out anytime you like, but you can never leave, that idea. Just imagine: a wooden hut hidden on the beach, waving palm trees, a colorful village center within cycling distance, the tastiest pizzas from a wood-fired oven on the edge of a packed herb and vegetable garden, a beautiful Japanese bathroom, an outdoor shower , Balinese wood carvings everywhere, a huge shell with which you can call reception and crazy, crazy, insanely delicious food. Right, yes.
And let's not forget the local wines: the Californian Chardonnay from film director (and whatnot) Francis Coppola is delicious. Seems like a 'side story', but actually all those apparently small tasteful details are a big part of the whole experience. Coppola had seen that well in the nineties, then Plancecia, the part of Belize where you can Turle Inn finds, was still quite undiscovered. He built the small-scale holiday resort exactly as he wanted it: rustic and free of unnecessary things (in the area of holidaying that is) such as TV, a flashy buffet (at The Turtle Inn you can order from the wonderful staff all day long: face to face or via the aforementioned 'shell phone') or loud music. That is still the case, although there is fast WiFi nowadays (hello, remote work), pizza take-out and a well-stocked shop with everything you could possibly need. And everything else, absolutely everything, can be arranged - that's how the Coppolaatjes do it. During the lockdown period of 2020, Belize's airports closed for as many as eight months. This period was cleverly used to make the resort a fine one upgrade to give, which makes it even nicer, although you don't necessarily see anything of it at first glance: the two swimming pools, three restaurants, spa and diving center remained as Francis had in mind in the 1990s: the modern devil is only in the details and that is so much fun!
Nice different detail: the manager of The Turtle Inn is Dutch and left his mark (among other things) on the menu, where you can get a just-right sandwich, Dutchie style, finds. O! Last but least: The Turtle Inn is perfect for families thanks to its two-bedroom, two-bathroom cabins and a master living in the middle!
If we raved about The Turtle Inn in Plancecia above, and also mentioned that Belize is an excellent country for a tour, then you may not be surprised that we also visited that other Coppola classic: Blancaneaux Lodge just outside the small village San Ignacio, Belize. There, in the middle of the jungle, not far from the Guatemalan border, this dream stands on stilts. In the morning you will be woken up by a combination of roaring monkeys (in the distance; anyone who knows what a roaring monkey can sound like knows that this is no fun) and rushing waterfalls. Hello, unique place on earth! Here too, the wooden huts with a roof of dried palm leaves (did you know that the palm leaves from which these roofs are made are cut down exactly at midnight? That's when the roofs last the longest) are distributed throughout the resort, with the restaurant, a terrace overlooking the jungle and a nice swimming pool (with tiki-style bar: goals!).
Where we mentioned above that The Turtle Inn in Plancecia is ideal for families, it is fair to say that at Blancaneaux Lodge not really the case: the main building is, as mentioned, on stilts and a crawling little one tumbles down a few meters. And also the swimming pool is not necessarily 'kid proof' (btw, because we need the first pool that's ours kids don't like yet encounter). Moreover, the people who are sunbathing around it are not really looking forward to a BOMMETJE or something. Not that they are not welcome! Those are the kids. However, we would personally prefer to do it with-without. Then you get the best of the hotel: the spa with a heated swimming pool that winds through the jungle (adult only!) is beautiful and the huts on the flowing river (over which you can float with a tire; not really suitable for small kids) with own infinity plunge pool (again: not useful for the little ones) are crazy.
First things first: go on a road trip (and rent a car)
Anyone who is looking through this wonderful hotel list and thinks they have to choose is wrong. Okay, if you want to book all these hotels, it will cost you quite a few vacation days, but some of them are certainly possible: Belize is ideally suited for a good road trip. This way you can visit the most beautiful places in this already so diverse country. Of course you should have one renting a car. Tip: do that while you are booking those hotels (and your flight) via Booking.com! Everything under one button. Ha!
And back to Placencia: where you will find The Turtle Inn just outside the (small) village center, this, that village center, is really not to be missed: Placencia Village is literally a long wooden plank that separates the beach from the road, with numerous brightly colored shops, restaurants, cabins (for rent, check Placencia Villas, or this (also very cool!) but once) and hotels like the pink (yay) Miramar Suites Placencia Village. The hotel – a collection self catering apartments actually – is the tail end of the strip that forms the center of Placencia Village (and thus the heart of Placencia: the strip is a walk of about 5 to 10 minutes). That's the location spot-on, that much is certain, and locationlocationlocation is now always the most important thing when booking accommodation. Yes, and the price, and that is also the case with Miramar completely fine.
Admittedly: the apartments are something dated, but equipped with everything you need: nice large beds, a fully equipped kitchen and large bathrooms. If you miss something, the friendly family that runs the complex will be ready before you can blink your eyes. Everything is more than clean and cared for and the building with swimming pool is 80's Miami vibes all over (love!). From your apartment you cross the wooden path that forms the center of Placencia to the swimming pool and via the pool you are immediately on the beach. If possible, try to book the apartments in the main building: they have a view of the beach. However, these are the rooms/apartments for two: the larger apartments (ideal for a family) can be found as described on the other side of the wooden path.
By the way, the Miramar is right next to the hotel The Ellysian, considered by many to be one of Placencia Village's better hotels. We think the Miramar is a bit more cheerful, but of course it just depends on what you are looking for. A tip: reserve an evening in the restaurant of The Ellysian: including a beautiful roof terrace! Oh, and a massage at the hotel is also a tip.
Your raving reporters started their Belize adventure in San Ignacio, at the Ka'ana Resort - an excellent choice, if we may say so ourselves, not least because, after our stay here, we ended up at the young (when we slept there at the end of 2022, barely 2 years open and therefore actually brand new, given the Corona lockdowns) Itz'ana, see below, via Booking.com. But let's start at the beginning: the Ka'ana Resort in San Ignacio, Belize. Just like the Blancaneaux Lodge described above, not far from the Guatemalan border and in the middle of the stunning green jungle. The resort itself is a tasteful collection of cottages and a wonderful spa where the best massages are given. Tip: we stayed overnight, but spent a day at the pool and/or in the spa of the Ka'ana Resort recommended!
The restaurant of the Ka'ana Resort is beautiful, thanks to well-chosen prints on white cushions in large rattan chairs and sofas. The bar is a good place to be, although we prefer to sit outside: as soon as dusk falls, the torches and a large fireplace on the edge of the terrace are lit: a beautiful backdrop around your delicious pizzas and curries!
The reason for this, besides the nice hotel on its own, to book? San Ignacio, in the Cayo district of Belize, is a nice town where a visit to the local market is a must black is, although it is mainly the lush jungle with beautiful rivers, waterfalls and caves that you go to San Ignacio for (note: there is no market on Sundays!). Also one black: the ATM cave (swimming in a cave) and Caracol, an ancient Mayan ruin. And then quickly return to Ka'ana Resort for the evening program and you will have a great holiday.
Ka'ana Resort
(are they full? Then also check Pine Ridge Lodge)
Yes, hello, can we talk about it for a moment? Itz'ana Belize? We didn't have everything set down, because we didn't know exactly what to expect, and, okay, that too: how the kids would experience such a tour. This is how we ended up with Ka'ana's younger sister: Itz'ana Belize Placencia, not far from The Turtle Inn. Itz'ana is located a little further away from Placencia Village and is everything you hope from a hotel: a design picture where we couldn't possibly drag ourselves away from the pool, with a great restaurant (also for non-guests, of which a note), everything copy-paste-please-design for your home (those chairs! those lamps! those colours!) and an apartment where you would like to move in permanently. That swimming pool, the heart of the hotel, is a dream, bordering on one side the hotel's private beach, on the other side the terrace of the main restaurant. There is also a second restaurant: the library, a wonderfully dark one speak easy with balcony (which – of course – overlooks the swimming pool).
Although it is mainly it je ne sais quoi that stole our hearts: the sparkling Belize sun through the canopy, the somewhat clumsy (and oh so sweet) service, the delicious wines, the warm fellow guests (shall we take some pictures of you guys? – and then 50 photos later), the immensely high lobby, the Harry Potter style stairs to the library… Anyway, wonderful place, that's it.
If Belize is anything, it is a country that excels in wonderful natural beauty. Of course we would like to keep it that way, which is why Booking.com's Sustainable Travel badge is a very good and smart tool when choosing your hotel(s): such as the beautiful Itz'ana and Ka'ana hotels. Sustainability independently certified' by Booking.com, which means that they can be clearly recognized via Booking.com by the Sustainable Travel badge (the green icon of a leaf). With the introduction of the unique badge, Booking.com makes it easier for everyone to make more sustainable travel choices. On the accommodation page you can see what steps the accommodation has taken towards a more sustainable stay. As is the case with these dream destinations in Belize.
Create a must when live gives you Belize, is the island Caye Caulker: the smaller island of the two islands in Belize. Lots of divers and backpackers on Ambergris Caye – also fun. But Caye Caulker loved it the most. Where you sleep? Check out one of these hotels:
Okay okay, the interior of Colinda Cabanas we find a bit dated, but it's the exterior (and the location) that counts here: 14 suites and cabanas right on the beach, with a beautiful view of the world's second largest Barrier reef. Ha!
Now we have to say that the hotels on Caye Caulker do not necessarily make our hearts beat faster (but the island itself does!). That said the cabins van weezie perfect for a few days on the island! Fresh, clean and in a very wonderful location.
