Belize
Peak (Dry Season): December – April. These are the safest months to get perfect beach days, exploring Mayan sites, and going into caves. This also comes with more crowds.
Shoulder Season: May – June. Hotter days and more chances of rain. Less crowds.
Off-peak (Wet Season): July – November. You are likely to experience tropical storms. This is also hurricane season. However, there are less crowds and you are likely to get Mayan pyramids all to yourself. You still have many chances to get perfect sunny days to explore and hang out at the beach.
I did not have an issue using credit cards in coastal towns and bigger cities, such as Belize City and Belmopan. It is a great idea to have cash when visiting rural areas throughout the country, these are the places you will explore when checking out Mayan sites.
-
Network Reality: My US carrier plan worked fine for basic navigation and messaging in bigger towns and cities. However, Belize’s topography is challenging; once you head deep into rural areas where Mayan sites are located, you might have connection issues.
-
Power & Plugs: Belize primarily uses Type A and B plugs (the same two-flat-pin or three-pin style used in the United States). The voltage is 110V/120V, so all your US chargers and gear will work perfectly without adapters.
I was exploring Cahal Pech, a Mayan palatial site, when the sky opened up for a classic tropical storm. Within minutes, the stone plazas were flooded; the water was swirling just below my ankles and the rain was so thick it blurred the jungle around me. I ducked into one of the ancient rooms to find shelter, but as I moved deeper into the cool, dark interior, the ceiling came alive. Suddenly, about twenty bats detached themselves from the stones and surged toward the exit. They flew so close to my face that I felt the literal breeze from their wings against my skin as they passed on both sides. In that moment, the “ruin” stopped being an archaeological site and became a living, breathing part of the jungle again.