Belize - Resort: Walking along the beach at Belize Dive Haven
The water sparkled like Aquamarine and Apatite gem stones as we glided along the surface in the hotel’s speed boat. The inviting heat of the early afternoon sun had already begun to warm my mood and relax my body as the salty ocean air cleansed my spirit. It had been a few years since I had returned to my father’s island resort in Belize and I was excited to see the progress that had been made since my last visit almost three years ago.
It had become a dream of his to open an island resort in Belize’s Turneffe Atoll after he stumbled across a mile of eco-rich reef during a scuba diving trip. Acting as a natural protective barrier, the reef formed a calm cove that stood at the threshold to a large island no more than 150 meters away. It was the perfect place for a secluded island resort unlike any other in Belize. So he got to work.
Now, 10 years in the making his dream has finally come to fruition and our hour long boat ride from the mainland seemed to take forever. I held onto the boats railing and stared straight ahead awaited with anticipation to catch a glimpse of the island resort on the horizon.
This time my fiancé Adam came along for the ride and I was excited to share this experience with him. It was his first time to Belize and so I had gone ahead and organized a few fun activities for us to do including going fishing, taking ‘Intro to Scuba Diving’ lessons, a day long tour to The Great Blue Hole Belize and neighbouring Lighthouse Reef Atoll, and plenty of amazing snorkelling. In total we spent 10 amazing days in Belize and when we weren’t seeking out adventure we drank Pina Coladas on the beach, read by the pool, and enjoyed the view from our balcony - while eating fresh fruit and playing my Ukulele of course! It was hands down the best trip I’ve ever had to Belize, packed with so many new activities and adventures that I’ve already started to plan my return to the island again soon.
FOLLOW ME ON INSTAGRAM @ISTHATSOH
Belize - Resort: Walking around the private island resort, Belize Dive Haven
Every time I go to Belize I often get asked questions like, ‘Where is Belize located? What are some fun things to do in Belize? Where is the island located? Is there wifi? Have you ever been to the Great Blue Hole Belize? How far is the resort from the Belize airport? What’s it like to travel there? Is it safe?’
The thing about Belize is that it is unlike other Caribbean destinations because it is still very much wild and undeveloped. I believe this has helped preserve its natural beauty instead of overdevelop them, and continue to have its own unique charm. In an effort to not sound like a broken record though, I have decided to answer some popular questions about Belize and my father’s resort here in this blog post so you can learn more about this amazing destination too!
Belize is on the left side of the map above Honduras and below Mexico!
Wheres Belize?
The first questions I always get asked when talking to people about Belize is ‘wheres Belize located?’ Even when my dad first told me about it 10 years ago I had to Google ‘where’s Belize’ because I had never really heard of it as a popular vacation destination.
Belize is located on the Caribbean Sea and is considered a Caribbean destination (it is a member of the Caribbean Tourism Organization) even though the country is not an island. In fact, Belize is sandwiched between two countries, Mexico to the south and Guatemala to the north and west. It shares the same longitude as Jamaica and Antigua and boasts similar seasonal climates.
Anywhere you go in Belize will take USD. In Belize, USD has a 2:1 fixed rate with the Belizean dollar so everyone likes getting US currency, but it’s much harder to get USD dollars in return. Usually change will be given back in Belizean dollars.
The Belize Flag
Languages In Belize
There are three main languages spoken in Belize. English is very common and is a language spoken by virtually all. Spanish also has a strong influence given its geographical proximity to Mexico and neighbouring Spanish speaking countries. A Belizean version of Creole is also spoken, which is similar to Jamaican Creole with a few variations. I was told by both our fishing and scuba diving guide that they can understand other Caribbean Creole but Belize has it’s own dialect and unique expressions.
What are some fun things to do in Belize?
Belize Map with Illustration of Attractions - Credit to Belize Adventures
Although often overlooked for being a small country, Belize was once the centre of the ancient Maya Civilization and the country has many Maya temples and ceremonial caves to explore. It is also known for its impeccable scuba diving, fishing and snorkelling as well as its beautiful cayes and atolls. On the main land, 40 percent of Belize’s jungle is actually a protected reserve so wild life tours are big on the mainland as well as bird watching, hiking, and horseback riding. When venturing out to the cayes, and atolls, activities like sailing, kayaking, snorkelling, fishing and scuba diving are popular along with tours to Belize’s UNESCO World Heritage Site, The Great Blue Hole Belize!
Fresh fruit and vegetables are part of the Belizean lifestyle! They are also incredibly delicious! I highly recommend visiting a local fruit stand and picking some up!
One thing I always like to do before heading to the island resort is stop at the fruit stand just outside Ladyville to get some fresh fruit! The fresh fruits and vegetables you can get in Belize are exceptional and I always like to go to my favourite spot to grab a few pineapples, bananas and watermelons to take to the island with me and store in my in-room fridge. *I have placed a marker for my favourite fruit stand in the Google map below if you are interested in knowing where it is. It’s maybe a 10 minute drive from the Belize Dive Haven Marina in Ladyville.
How do you get to Belize?
Although most people travel to Belize by cruise ship, one of the best ways to get to Belize is to fly into the Belize Philip Goldson International Airport. The airport is located in Ladyville which is just minutes away from Belize City.
I know from Canada, WestJet offers seasonal (October to May) direct flights from Toronto and from the US, Delta, American Airlines, United and Alaska Air, all offer flights to Belize from various US destinations.
Belize’s local carrier, Tropic Air offers direct flights to Belize from neighbouring countries while Copa Airlines Offers direct flights from Panama.
Hanging out by the pool at Belize Dive Haven
Belize Entry Requirements
Currently, because of COVID, there are a few new requirements to enter Belize including a negative Antigen (Rapid Test) or PCR test. If you don’t have one you have to wait in a long queue once you land and pay to have one done at the airport so I recommend getting one 24 hours prior to departure to Belize so you can avoid long delays upon arrival.
Additionally, because of COVID, you also now have to buy local travel insurance when visiting Belize, which cost us around $18 USD per person for 21 days of coverage. The insurance is supposed to help with any medical expenses you incur due to COVID while travelling in Belize. Again, if you don’t buy the insurance ahead of time (it’s super easy and took me less then 10 minutes) you will have to purchase it at the airport upon arrival which means you’ll have to wait in another long queue.
*Scroll down for Belize Departure Requirements
Belize Dive Haven - A Private Island Resort in Belize
Belize - Resort
The name of my father’s private island resort is Belize Dive Haven. It is located in the Turneffe Atoll which is 45 minutes to an hour by boat from the mainland. Typically when guests book a stay at the hotel they are greeted at the airport by the hotel driver and escorted to the marina 10 minutes away. A boat will be waiting there to transport them to the island.
The resort has 96 ocean view rooms, all equipped with TV, WiFi, air conditioning, an in room refrigerator, and a safe. On the property you will find hammocks on the beach, the largest pool in the hemisphere with two jacuzzi tubs, kayaks, row boats, day beds and over-the-water swings.
For those interested in diving, the resort also has a dive centre that offers a wide range of PADI scuba training courses, from introductory and refresher programs, all the way to advanced certifications. Adam and I took an ‘Intro to Scuba’ class which entails a short on land lesson followed by a questionnaire, some in pool training and a shallow (30 feet) open water dive. We loved out PADI certified instructor Marcella who really took her time and made us feel comfortable every step of the way.
Adam completing an in pool portion of an ‘Intro to Scuba’ Lesson
Often experienced divers who come to the island like to bring their own gear, but for newbies like us without any, the resort does offer equipment rentals. A great alternative if you don’t want to pay to transport all your gear either. Additionally, they also offer Nitrox at the dive shop which is an enriched air for your tank that allows you to enjoy longer dives.
CRAVING SOME SUN? CHECK OUT THESE OTHER TRAVEL GUIDES!
Drone shots from our Belize Dive Haven Scuba Diving Tour to the Great Blue Hole Belize!
Diving In Belize
With sites like Lighthouse Barrier Reef, the Belize Blue Hole, and ‘The Aquarium’, Belize attracts divers from all over the world. It is not uncommon for groups of divers to travel there together, transporting their gear and equipment with them just so they can experience the incredible scuba diving in Belize.
Prior to this trip neither Adam or I had scuba dived before but were curious to learn how. The resort’s dive shop is a one stop shop for equipment rentals and the meeting spot for our Intro to Scuba Diving lessons from our wonderful PADI certified instructor Marcella! We spent 15 minutes watching a video and filling out a questionnaire before heading over to the pool to get acquainted with our equipment. After we got strapped up and learned about all the equipment, we got in the pool and completed a few exercises. I thought I would have more anxiety about being able to breathing under water but I surprisingly relaxed right into it. After about 30 minutes in the pool we got on the dive boat and went out to the reef for our first open water dive. While there we repeated the exercises from the pool, took pictures, swam around and got comfortable with the equipment.
After that Adam dived a few more times with Marcella at Half Moon Caye Wall while I droned to capture footage for my Vlog. Next time I go back to Belize I’ll definitely be doing more diving and explore of Belize’s underwater gardens.
Snorkelling In Belize
Adam snorkelling at the ‘Little Aquarium’
Hands down my personal favourite activity to do while in Belize is snorkelling! The reefs and flats around the island offer so much to see and explore. A shallow spot on the flats that we like to call the ‘Starfish Motel’ is home to hundreds of starfish. The water is 5 feet deep and crystal clear making it super easy to interact with the starfish. During our snorkel a dolphin swam up to say hello and I managed to catch a couple of glimpses of it for my YouTube video.
Another one of my favourite snorkelling sites is less than a 5 minute boat ride from the island. We call it the ‘Little Aquarium’ because it’s full of schools of fish, lobster, turtles, stingrays and the most colourful coral you have ever seen! At one point I looked around and there were hundred of fish, large schools, moving together, the light reflecting off their scales in unison, it felt magical.
Belize Fishing
Adam with the prized snapper he caught while reef fishing in Belize!
A huge highlight from our trip was definitely fishing in Belize! Belize is a popular destination for fly fishing, reef fishing and deep sea fishing. The reason for this being, the flats attract tarpon and bone fish, perfect for fly fishing. The reef’s are full of snappers, jacks, and barracuda making reef fishing exciting and fun. Deep sea fishing can have you reeling in some big game too with waters home to Wahoo, Dorado, blue marlin, black fin tuna, king mackerel and grouper.
We fished a few times during this past trip but none was more memorable than our second trip out. We had packed a large cooler full of beer, juice and soda water with plans to be out for the afternoon, and within 5 minutes we had dropped our lines in the water and were reef fishing. I caught two large Barracuda but Adam caught the prized snapper - plump in size and weighing a good 15-20 lbs. We were all so excited that Adam, our fishing guide, and I all started screaming and jumping around in the boat. We couldn’t believe how incredible of a catch it was and still to this day bask in the memory of this experience. We also tried bottom fishing on the reefs which actually had us catching more fish but they were much smaller types of fish. Bottom fishing on the reef is a great activity that I would highly recommend to families travelling to the island or people with young children.
The Belize Dive Haven ‘Tuna’ Tour Boat at the Great Blue Hole Belize
Belize - Resort Tours to The Blue Hole & Half Moon Caye
Belize Dive Haven does offer a list of adventure tours to their guest. In addition to spending a day out fishing with our guide Derone, Adam and I did a day-long tour to the Great Blue Hole Belize, Lighthouse Reef Atoll, Half Moon Caye, and ‘The Aquarium’. One thing to keep in mind about this particular tour is that in addition to the cost of the tour there is an $80BZ ($40 USD) park fee to visit the Blue Hole and Half Moon Caye. The fee can be paid at the tourism office located at Half Moon Caye where we like to take hotel guest for a bbq lunch.
Diving at The Great Blue Hole Belize is a once in a lifetime experience but because it is so deep, you do have to be open water certified to dive there. Since Adam and I were not we snorkelled around the rim which was still very magical. The coral is so dense, vibrant and full of fish making it super visually stimulating and fun to explore.
Views of Half Moon Caye at Lighthouse Reef Atoll
While lunch is being prepared for you at Half Moon Caye, I recommend talking a walk around the island and check out the bird tower! Half Moon Caye is an island that has been turned into a nature reserve on the southeast corner of Lighthouse Reef Atoll. It is also home to a colony of Red-footed Booby birds making it a popular spot for exotic bird watching, and a million hermit crabs. The south eastern part of the island also serves as a sea turtle nesting ground. Annually, from May to November the loggerhead, hawksbill, and green turtles, all endangered species, come ashore to create a nest! Depending on when you go, you may just see one! When we pulled up to the island I saw a baby shark swim by the boat and under the dock as well as a little stingray! It’s quite a lovely place to spend a few hours!
Belize Exit Requirements
Exit requirements for Belize have changed over the years. You may have read that you do have to pay a $35 USD per person airport fee upon departure but now that cost is baked into your plane ticket. I remember this used to be such a pain in the ass because I’d have to set that cash aside or try and find a machine so I’m happy that is no longer a thing I have to think about.
Some countries like Canada do require you to get a PCR test or Antigen Test prior to re-entry so the Belize Dive Haven concierge arranged for a nurse from the Belize Diagnostic Center to meet us at the marina restaurant a few hours prior to our departing flight to perform the test. We paid $75 USD for an Antigen test and got the results in 15 minutes. I believe PCR test can cost upwards of $175-200 USD and may require longer to get the results. Additionally, I was also able to charge the test to my room at the time of booking and pay by credit card upon checkout which was great because I had more cash to give to my guides as tips. For more up to date information and accurate pricing ask the hotel concierge!
Canada now also requires you to have the ArriveCAN app and forms filled out prior to re-entry into the country, which of course we totally forgot about. Thankfully, it’s definitely not something you have to stress about and can do ahead of time after you get your negative departure test. The forms aren’t overwhelming either but I thought I’d share a friendly reminder anyways so you’re not scrambling last minute at the airport like we were.
The Belize Philip Goldson International Airport is really small and getting through customs and security is USUALLY super quick. We arrived only an hour before our flight with an Italian wood oven pizza from the Shipyard Bar and Grill - the marina’s restaurant and were sitting down at our gate eating it in 20 minutes without any issues. Obviously you are not allowed to bring liquids past security but pizza is 100% allowed and a move I highly recommend taking. We ordered two pizzas prior to getting our test done and they was ready by the time we got the results and were ready to leave for the airport!
More Pictures From Our Trip
If you are thinking of travelling to Belize, I 100% recommend going. It has a very chill and welcoming vibe, full of natural beauty. I hope I was able to answer the majority of your questions like wheres Belize? What is Belize fishing like? What are some fun things to do in Belize? and What’s it like to dive at the Great Blue Hold Belize. If you have any recommendations to share with me for my next trip, feel free to leave them below in the comment section. I’m already looking for an excuse to go back!
Until next time, safe travels!
A big thank you to Belize Dive Haven for hosting Adam and I and partnering with me on this post. As always, all opinions remain my own!
