It has so much more to offer than scuba diving, and yet, most people who come to Belize head straight underwater with tank in tow, resurfacing only for the occasional conch fritter or seaweed shake. They experience little else of what this tiny, English-speaking country of 330,000 has to offer.
Of course, you can’t blame these folks. The country’s crystalline Caribbean waters are home to the northern hemisphere’s largest barrier reef system and to the enormous kaleidoscope of fish, sponges, crustaceans, and plants that inhabit it. Here, you’ll find some of the most impressive diving in the world, especially if you head to a spot like the Blue Hole, a giant sea cave. Adding to the reef’s appeal are the postcard-perfect islands around it, such as Ambergris Caye, Caye Caulker, and outer atolls like Glover’s Reef and the Turneffe islands. These small tropical oases are home to everything from luxe resorts to relaxed, ramshackle fishing towns, and offer plenty for the non-scuba-diving crowd, too: snorkeling, kayaking, sailing, and fishing are just the start.