What to Pack for Belize: Must-Haves From Beach to Jungle

Packing for Belize isn’t as simple as throwing a few swimsuits in your suitcase. With sunny islands, humid jungles, and ancient Maya ruins all on the itinerary, you’ll need to be prepared for a wide range of adventures and climates.

We spent eight days in Belize for our honeymoon, splitting our time between total relaxation on a private island resort and adventure-filled excursions on the mainland — from exploring the Xunantunich Maya ruins to cave tubing and ziplining at Nohoch Che’en Caves Branch Archaeological Reserve. That mix of beach and jungle made packing especially important (and taught us a few lessons the hard way).

This Belize packing list covers everything you need to bring, from travel essentials and important documents to clothing, gear, and toiletries, so you’re comfortable, protected, and ready for every kind of adventure Belize has to offer.

Must-Haves to Pack for Belize

Belize Essentials

Let’s start with the essentials (which really isn’t any different than what you’ll want for a normal vacation or a beach getaway).

You’ll want your toiletries and medications, of course, along with your sunscreen and aloe.

And don’t forget to check your passport expiration date, see if you need a visa, and arrange for travel insurance before you go!

Here’s the full list of the essentials we packed for Belize:

• Sunscreen — You’ll want a reef-safe sunscreen with a high SPF as the sun is strong in Belize. Also consider a face moisturizer with at least 30 SPF to keep your face protected even when you aren’t sitting out by the pool.
• Aloe — Just in case you do get a sunburn, you’ll want to be prepared with some aloe vera gel to cool and heal it.
• Toiletries — Pack your toiletries like a toothbrush, toothpaste, dental floss, shampoo, conditioner, body wash, deodorant, moisturizer, and any hair products or makeup you may need.
• Ponytail holders and hair clips — It can get pretty windy on the beaches in Belize, and you’ll want something to tame your hair.
• Razors and shaving cream
• Prescription glasses or contact lenses and contact lens solution
• Feminine supplies
• Bug repellant — Be sure to pack insect repellant spray, wipes, or both. DEET-based repellent is recommended to deter the mosquitos and sand flies.
• First aid essentials — Be sure to pack first aid items like Band-aids, blister pads, Neosporin, and anti-itch cream. If you’re also prone to blisters while traveling, especially when sand and humidity are involved, I’ve got tons of tips on preventing blisters while traveling.
• Medications — Aspirin or Ibuprofen, TUMS, Pepto-Bismol, and other everyday medications are great to have on hand.
• Motion sickness medication — Pack Dramamine, motion sickness patches or bracelets, or aromatherapy for the choppy seas and winding roads. If you’re also prone to motion sickness, I’ve got plenty of tips on preventing motion sickness so you don’t have to let it stop you from enjoying Belize.
• Prescription medications
• Battery packs, spare batteries, and chargers — Make sure you can keep your camera, phone, and other electronics charged for your whole vacation!
• Cash — Want to avoid steep credit card fees? Bring cash! The exchange rate is currently about BZD $2 = USD $1, and almost everywhere in Belize accepts USD.
• Passport — Double check your expiration date before you travel.
• Travel Declaration Form — All visitors are required to complete the Belize Immigration Form before arriving. You’ll enter your passport info, flight details, accommodation address, and customs declarations.
• Visa — If you’re a US citizen staying for fewer than 30 days, you won’t need a visa! This applies to over 100 countries as well. You can double-check visa requirements here.
• Travel Insurance — Make sure you’re covered in case of injury, lost luggage, travel delays, or trip interruption. The Nomad Essential Insurance plan from SafetyWing is affordable and flexible, and you can get coverage for your exact dates for a trip 5+ days. You’ll especially want to be covered if you’re taking a big romantic honeymoon to Belize like we did!

What Clothes to Pack for Belize

The weather in Belize is hot in the summer, warm in the winter, and always humid. Even if you live somewhere hot and humid and are used to it, just remember that during your Belize vacation you’ll be spending a lot more time outside than you probably do at home. You’ll want to pack clothing that is comfortable in hot weather all day long.

The rainy season in Belize is June—November, and hurricanes are likely from August—October. That means December—May is the high season when you can expect an increase in tourism. We visited in late-August/early-September and had wonderful weather with rain only at night, so you never know what you’ll get.

It’s also worth mentioning that most weather apps are getting their forecasts for Belize from Belize City, so the information isn’t entirely accurate across the whole country. The weather can also vary greatly from the coast to inland areas. At the island we stayed on, we could watch the rain blow in on the mainland every evening and not see a single drop of rain all night long. Weather is just one of those things it’s not easy to plan for.

Here’s the full list of clothing we packed for Belize to give you an idea of what to expect:

• Cool tops — You’ll want short sleeve shirts, tank tops, loose fitting shirts, t-shirts, or crop tops to keep cool.
• Shorts — Shorts should be made of a breathable fabric, and you’ll want something good for hiking and being active for your adventure tours.
• Light dresses — For dresses, go for breathable fabric and not too short and flowy because it can get very windy and you don’t want to flash everyone at the pool-side bar like I did!
• Loose-fitting long pants — These are a great option if you want extra protection from sun and mosquitos.
• Loose-fitting long sleeve shirts — These are also a great option if you want extra protection from sun and mosquitos.
• Swim suits — I recommend bringing at least 2 swim suits so if one doesn’t dry fully, you can have a dry one for that day’s activities.
• Swim suit cover up
• Rash guard — These swim shirts are great for sun protection while swimming. I definitely recommend one for snorkeling while in Belize.
• Flip flops and sandals — Your footwear doesn’t have to be anything fancy, just bring along some casual flip flops that are good for walking on sand.
• Water shoes — You’ll want water shoes to protect your feet during activities like cave tubing, kayaking, and more. These are also great for swimming in the ocean if you don’t like the feeling of walking over seaweed.
• Sturdy tennis shoes — You’ll need some sturdy footwear for activities like hiking, climbing Maya ruins, and ziplining
• Hats — Bring along a floppy sun hat, baseball cap, or anything wide brimmed, and consider something with string to keep it on your head and protecting you from the sun even in the wind.
• Sunglasses — Sunglasses are a must! And if you wear prescriptions, I highly recommend investing in prescription sunglasses.
• Silicone rings — Swap your expensive wedding ring for a silicone wedding ring for this trip. You don’t have to worry about losing your diamond in the ocean if you’re wearing a silicone engagement ring!
• Underwear — It needs to be said because sometimes people forget it (I am people).
• Socks — Even if you’ll mostly be barefoot on the beach, you’ll need socks for any hiking, Maya ruin climbing, or other adventurous activities.
• Pajamas — Keep your sleepwear loose, breezy, and cool.
• One nice outfit — Nothing too fancy. Unless you’re staying at a super luxury resort, most places don’t have a dress code, but you may want to dress up a little for a romantic dinner one night. Still, you won’t want to sacrifice comfort so pack something cool and light.
• Light-weight jacket or rain coat — You’ll want a light jacket or rain coat for wet boat rides, chilly evenings, and the rainy season.

Fun Things to Pack for Belize’s Beaches

Belize is a great tropical destination, so it’s no surprise that many people visit hoping for some beach time.

If you’re planning on visiting the beach while in Belize, these are the beach essentials I recommend packing:

• Snorkel gear — Bring along your fins, mask and snorkel, antifog gel, rash guard, and anything else you need for snorkeling.
• Waterproof bag — You’ll want a waterproof bag or small pouch for keeping things dry on the beach or on the boat when you go snorkeling.
• Beach bag — Bring along something to tote your beach gear in.
• GoPro — Bring along your GoPro and attachments for underwater photos while swimming and snorkeling. Learn more about using a GoPro here.
• Books or an e-reader — You should bring something to read while you lounge on the beach.
• Floating strap — This floating wrist strap is a great item to have to hook to your phone or GoPro just in case you drop it while taking photos in the water.
• Sunscreen — I’ve already listed it before in the essentials, but always worth mentioning again; bring sun protection!

Important Things to Pack for Your Belize Jungle Adventure

The Belize jungles and rainforests are a huge attraction for adventure travelers. You can participate in activities like hiking, exploring Maya ruins, cave tubing, and ziplining.

If you’re planning on visiting the jungle while in Belize, these are the jungle essentials you’ll want to pack:

• Water bottle — Bring along a reusable water bottle to fill with drinking water; you don’t want to drink the tap water in Belize, but filling your reusable water bottle before you leave your hotel with drinking water will help cut down using any plastic water bottle while you’re out and about.
• Waterproof bag — It’s great to keep your stuff in a waterproof bag in case it rains.
• Waterproof phone pouch — A waterproof phone pouch is great for cave tubing.
• Backpack — Bring along a backpack on your excursion to carry all the things you’ll need for the day.
• Wet clothes bag — If you plan on going cave tubing or cave kayaking, you’ll want somewhere to put your wet clothes when you’re done.
• GoPro — Bring along your GoPro and attachments for ziplining, cave tubing, and more. Most excursions provide helmets with GoPro attachments so you can get all those cool videos.
• Sunscreen and bug repellant — I’ve already listed it before in the essentials, but always worth mentioning again; bring sun and bug protection!

Do I need a visa to visit Belize? Check for free ⬇️

Tourists from some countries may need a visa to visit Belize (US travelers do not need a visa for visits for 30 days or less). In addition to a potential visa, all travelers must complete the digital Belize Travel Declaration form before arrival. Check your travel document and visa requirements here or by using the widget below for free.

Looking for more travel packing tips? Check out these posts:

Don’t worry about forgetting something — these posts will help your pack all the essential items that are must-haves for any trip.

• Beach Packing List: Essentials for Your Beach Vacation
• 10 Eco-Friendly Travel Products for the Sustainable Traveler
• 33 Travel Books to Inspire Your Wanderlust
• 13 Must-Have Travel Essentials For Your Perfect Vacation
• 5 Effortless Packing Hacks for Stress-Free Travel

More Belize Travel Tips

• Romantic Belize Honeymoon Guide: 8 Days in Paradise
• Exploring the Xunantunich Maya Ruins in Belize
• Cave Tubing and Ziplining in the Belize Jungle
• Coco Plum Island Resort Review: Where to Stay in Belize

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Ready to travel to Belize? Plan your trip with these tips.

• Book your flight: Find the cheapest flights using Skyscanner, my favorite flight search engine.
• Find accommodation: You can find top hotels and resorts in Belize using Booking.com.
• Book your tours: Make the most of your trip by booking amazing tours in Belize.
• Get packing: Make sure you’ve packed everything you need with my packing list resources.

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Cheers!

Paige

Did you find this Belize packing guide helpful? Let me know in the comments!