Visiting Belize requires a bit of backward thinking. This collection of islands is absolutely stunning - if travelers choose the right times to visit. There's only one part of the year when the islands are dryer than usual, and if a traveler chooses wrongly, they could be stuck inside watching a rainstorm rather than a tropical beachside paradise. While visitors to Belize will definitely deal with more tourists than usual during the dry season, it's well worth it to have nearly perfect temperatures every day of one's vacation.
For those planning on taking advantage of island excursions such as boating or snorkeling, it's especially important to time a Belize vacation accordingly. Strong winds and heavy downpours shouldn't threaten to ruin anyone's time in the sun - especially when that sun is beating down on some of the most stunning islands in the Caribbean.
The Dry Season
Typically, Belize's dry season runs from the month of late November all the way through the month of April. For many people, this falls outside of the typical booking calendar unless they consider themselves snowbirds who fly south for the winter. The absolute best time to book a Belize getaway is during the month of November. There's a pretty likely chance that travelers will run into plenty of other tourists but, alas, this also depends on which island a person chooses to fly or sail into. The months to avoid are anything from June all the way through September. In the summer months, travelers will be faced with high winds that definitely won't make for a good beach day, and in September, heavy precipitation keeps everyone indoors. September is the rainiest month and barring a person being totally fine with packing a rain poncho for daily use, this month should be avoided altogether.
The first few months and later months in the year also make for the best temperatures; travelers can expect temps that are routinely in the 80s throughout their trip. Between the months of April and May, the temperatures are practically unbearable, with a humidity level that's off the charts and temperatures that can be well over 100 degrees Fahrenheit.
The Best Things To Do During Belize's Best Months
Visiting Belize also means embracing every amazing thing there is to do there. These islands hold nothing back when it comes to excursions and outdoor activities which is why it's so important that travelers plan accordingly. While going to the beach and lazing about in the sun is a perfectly reasonable activity, there's so much more to take advantage of, depending on where a person goes. Ideally, travelers can visit Belize between the months of March and April to experience some of the best, most temperate temperatures the islands offer. Hanging around the mid to high 70s, this is the perfect time to do some on-land exploration, including visiting the Mayan ruins. This is also the perfect time of year to take advantage of the tranquil, crystal-clear waters that Belize is known for, thanks to the winds that have come and gone after February. These winds are prone to sweeping through the Cayes so if that's your destination, be sure to book it outside of the months of December, January, and February.
While June doesn't necessarily entail as many showers as August, September, and October, it is still part of hurricane season. So, while June does yield a climate that's conducive to many outdoor activities, there's always the risk that poor weather will spur up suddenly and make its way to the islands. With that being said, unpredictable weather is one of the reasons why rates are so low during this time frame. For those who don't mind a potential storm or two or are uncaring about the level of precipitation they might see during their stay, then these months might be doable. It all comes down to personal preference and whether or not a shower or two will have the potential to ruin a vacation. Travelers who book during this time frame should always keep in mind the notion of being flexible - an activity could be rained out one day, while another day that was meant to be spent indoors might be beautiful and sunny. With temperatures bouncing back between the 70s and 80s, getting caught in a rainstorm isn't the end of the world, especially for those who choose lodging accommodations that happen to be right on the beach. August is also when many of the islands host annual festivals so if that's something of interest, it might be worth it to consider booking outside of peak season.