What’s New to Do in Belize in 2024

Belize has exciting new experiences for 2024 that you can look forward to for your next visit to the Caribbean hot spot. The Belize Tourism Board reports the following exciting attraction experiences are calling you to come and see what’s new to do in Belize in 2024:

Mmmm, Chocolate

Want to go on a traditional Maya chocolate-making tour?

Experience real Maya chocolate with local favourite Ajaw Chocolate. Take note: this is not a factory. Beating in the heart of the Cayo district in Belize, Ajaw Chocolate is introducing their Farm Tour and Chocolate Making in San Ignacio. Adrian and Elida Choco, of Maya descent, brought their chocolate-making enterprise to San Ignacio. Established in September 2014, ‘Ajaw’ (the Mayan word for ‘Elite’) is a family-owned business aiming to offer an authentic chocolate experience for all ages. Original flavours and an historic excursion will educate and immerse you in the Maya culture.

The farm tour and chocolate-making experience lasts two to three hours, requiring a minimum of two guests with a reservation. The tour involves a short drive three miles west of San Ignacio with a guided farm tour to learn more about cacao trees, plus sampling seasonal fruits. Learn from experienced cacao farmers about seedlings and the risks of cacao farming in San Ignacio. Visitors spend an hour at the farm and return to town for an immersive historic chocolate making, a creation by the ancient Maya. Make Maya chocolate using a traditional Maya stone to grind organic cacao beans into a paste. Mix the paste into a chocolate drink and add spices just like the ancient Maya used to consume.

Before you go, take some treats home like chocolate liqueur, cocoa powder, cocoa nibs and only dark regular, chilli, and ginger chocolate bars. Dark ginger Maya chocolate? That is enough to make me want to go back to Belize. The rich, bitter sweetness of the dark chocolate married to the heat and spice of the ginger. Divine. After your purchase, get a hot chocolate drink to go.

To book a tour, fill out the form on the Ajaw Chocolate website.

Go for a Float

Adventurous travellers can embark on the Sibun River Canoe Float experience at Monkey Bay Wildlife Sanctuary, established in 1990. Expert guides will give you the day of a lifetime. A duration of a half day, this adventure promises an unforgettable encounter with Belize’s natural wonders.

Monkey Bay is in the middle of Belize, 31 miles west of Belize City and is a total of 1,070 acres in a prime location with easy access to the Western Highway (renamed the George Price Highway). Dedicated to the conservation of the flora and fauna, you will feel the raw nature of Belize in this sanctuary. Originally intended to be a cattle ranch, the Arkansas man who purchased the land decades ago realized he didn’t need to cut down the forest and create grazing pastures (after some hard lessons in the jungle during the rainy season). He needed to respect, protect, and nurture the brilliance and power of the nature around him. An environmental education centre was born.

Softly float down the pristine, crystal-clear waters of the Sibun River in lightweight Townsend canoes. The Sibun River emerges from high up in the Maya Mountains of Belize. Paddling down this stretch of the Sibun River creates an extraordinary opportunity to admire the marvellous riparian forest, decked with impressive fig and ceiba trees, laden with hypnotic bromeliads and orchids, raucous howlers, and enigmatic iguanas. Encounter 250 species of birds and occasionally spot a river otter, a Morelet’s crocodile, or a tapir enjoying a cool bath. You may even spot a jaguar. Learn about the natural environment, watershed issues, conservation issues, wildlife, and history of the river.

Stop along the way to cool off from the heat of the day with a refreshing swim. Bring your sunscreen, bug spray, hat, water bottle, and camera. Repeat: bring your bug spray—an absolute essential in Belize. Tropics=Bugs.

Camping, birding, nature walks… if you love outdoor recreation, Belize is a Full House. Check out more Monkey Bay Wildlife Sanctuary on-campus educational activities here.

Find Your Calling

Tricoloured heron in the mangroves on Ambergris Caye – Photo by Charlotte Tweed

Nature enthusiasts will find their haven with the Toledo Belize Birding Club, a group welcoming both beginners and experienced birders. Monthly bird club meetings on the last Sunday of each month start at 06:00. Participants explore the diverse birdlife of the Toledo countryside, with optional breakfast available at a nominal cost.

Over 500 species of feathered friends call Belize home from time to time. If you are into birds, you better be into Belize.

Dive to Be Alive

Planning a dive trip to Belize?

Ambergris Caye, Belize, is a tropical paradise offering world-class diving. The most developed island in Belize, Ambergris Caye boasts stunning Caribbean views, active nightlife, friendly locals, and easy access to the Mesoamerican Reef, the second-largest coral reef system in the world. One of the best places to scuba dive on the planet is in the clear blue-green waters of Belize.

The Scuba School and Family Dive Center Belize, tour operator of the year for 2023, is enhancing the diving experience with a range of PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors) dive specialties courses, allowing enthusiasts to explore different facets of diving under the guidance of experienced instructors. The school is a 5-star resort facility in Belize. Discover incredible coral reefs and abundant marine life with people who know their stuff. Do not miss a visit to Hol Chan and Shark Ray Ally, a 15-minute boat ride from their dock.

Locally owned and operated, they are all about quality instruction and safety for their guests with a maximum of four students per instructor. Beginner or advanced, the school has something for you. They even offer a free dive session off their dock for those who are curious about diving but aren’t sure if they would like it or not. It’s a 15-minute session, and if you like it, you can sign up for a dive course to dive at the reef.

Specialty courses cover a variety of topics:

• Aware – Fish Identification
• Boat Diver
• Digital Underwater Photography (yes, please)
• Drift Diver
• Deep Diver
• Enriched Air Diver (Nitrox)
• Night Diver
• Peak Performance Buoyancy
• Search and Recovery Diver
• Underwater Naturalist
• Underwater Navigation

There you have it—a taste of what’s new to do in Belize in 2024. Belize is a place for those who love diverse cultures, outdoor adventures, hot weather, and tranquillity with a punch of vibe when the rhythm strikes. Want to learn more about this fascinating country in the Caribbean? Download your free Belize guide now and start planning your 2024 Belizean getaway.

After you get your free guide, check out your monthly Insider’s guide to living the good life at a great price—in the land of your dreams!

Charlotte Tweed is an adventurous soul with a goal to take you on a journey where you don’t just visit—you live it. Graduating with a Travel and Tourism Honours diploma, Charlotte began her expat journey on June 15, 2021. After travelling through multiple countries, Charlotte now calls Mexico home. Reading, writing, and researching the best expat destinations in the world are how she fills her days. As a published author, her mission is to transform your life with expat travel—one destination, one adventure, one story at a time.

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