Best time to go to Belize for a perfect weather and where to go?
Julie Parment and Tony Samson last update: 27/05/2024When is the best time to go to Belize?
The best time to visit Belize is from December to May, but traveling all year round is perfectly feasible depending on what you wish to experience there.
- To fully enjoy the beach and have a sunny vacation without it being too hot, prefer the months of February to April, which coincide with the dry season.
- For diving and exploring the longest coral reef in the Northern Hemisphere, a stay is possible throughout the year. However, May and June offer the best visibility.
- To see whale sharks, the ideal period is from March to June. To maximize your chances, head to the Gladden Spit marine reserve, off the coast of Placencia in the south of the country.
- For ecotourism and observing animals in their natural habitat, visit Belize between May and November. Nevertheless, beach breaks are also possible during this rainy season. In reality, it mainly consists of intense but short tropical showers, and the sun quickly returns.
- If you are on a tight budget, avoid the months of July, August, and December. This is when flights are most expensive and hotel prices soar. In any case, it is better to make your reservations well in advance, as this will allow you to obtain more advantageous rates than if you wait until the last minute.
When is the best time to visit Belize without too many crowds? The high tourist season is in January, March, and August, with the peak season in December. For good weather conditions across most of the country and fewer crowds, choose February, April (avoiding Holy Week), or May, and to a lesser extent, July or September.
Where and when to go based on the weather?
Caribbean coast of Belize
Belize City, Placencia, Hopkins...
Cayo
Belmopan, San Ignacio, Xunantunich...
North of Belize
Corozal, Orange Walk, Lamanai...
Toledo
Punta Gorda, Rio Blanco National Park, Monkey River Town...
To get all the information about the climate and weather in Belize for a specific month, click on the corresponding link below:
Belize in january Belize in february Belize in march Belize in april Belize in may Belize in june Belize in july Belize in august Belize in september Belize in october Belize in november Belize in december
Best time to travel to Belize by cities
Climate and Weather in Belize
Belize is located in Central America, south of Mexico and east of Guatemala. It is bordered by the Caribbean Sea, and due to its geographical location, the temperature variation is very low throughout the year.
The climate in Belize varies across regions:
- A predominant tropical monsoon climate is found in Belize City, Cayo district, around Rio Blanco National Park, Toledo district, and in the Lamanai region in the north of the country.
- An equatorial climate with abundant rainfall and a constant temperature throughout the year is present in most of the Toledo district in the south, as well as along the Placencia coast in the center.
- A tropical savanna climate with a dry winter prevails mainly in the north, towards Corozal. There is also a tropical savanna climate with a dry summer on Ambergris Caye, on the Caribbean coast.
It is worth noting that inland, in the Maya Mountains, it is always cooler than along the coast due to the altitude. On the islands (cayes), a gentle sea breeze tempers the heat and makes the atmosphere pleasant.
In general, rainfall is heavier in the south (between Belmopan and Aguacate) than in the north (between Corozal and Belize City). However, showers are frequent in the country regardless of the season or region.
Belize is also particularly vulnerable to cyclones and other hurricanes. They are occurring more frequently due to climate change and can be deadly. If you happen to be in the country during one of these episodes, you will be informed by your hotel staff on what to do. But if you are staying on an island, you will definitely be evacuated to the mainland.
Like other countries in this tropical area, Belize's weather is governed by two seasons:
- The rainy season generally lasts from June to October, but this varies by region. It is notably longer and more intense in the Toledo district. Temperatures are slightly warmer during this time (about 2 to 4 degrees higher than during the dry season), but most importantly, the air is filled with humidity. Rain usually comes in the form of afternoon showers or at night, and it is rare for it to rain all day.
- The dry season occurs from November to May, with a more pronounced lull between February and April. The climate in Belize is milder during this time: precipitation is moderate, temperatures are slightly lower, and humidity levels are reduced. In the early morning or evening, it can even be a bit cool, especially in the Toledo district.
Climate on the Caribbean coast and in the north
You can visit these two regions of Belize all year round. Indeed, rainfall can be regular, even during the dry season, but the sky quickly clears up.
- In Belize City and its surrounding area, rainfall is most common, especially between June and October. The only relatively dry months are March and April.
- You will need to head further south, for example to Hopkins, for more pleasant weather. Between December and April, rainfall is almost non-existent, while it remains quite low during the wet season.
- In the north, around Corozal, it generally rains from June to October, but it is not as intense as in the capital.
In terms of temperatures, it ranges from 27 to 29°C (85°F) from November to March and from 30 to 32°C (90°F) the rest of the time. Regardless of the season, temperatures drop by about 5°C (41°F) at night. As for sea water temperature, it is around 27°C (81°F) from December to March, and around 30°C (86°F) from June to September.
Climate in the Cayo and Toledo districts
Located in the south of Belize, these regions experience different weather compared to those further north:
- In Cayo: the most favorable months to visit are March and April. The atmosphere is particularly humid, with heavy rainfall in June, September, and October. Daily temperatures are similar to elsewhere, ranging from 27 to 30°C (86°F) from October to March and from 31 to 33°C (92°F) for the rest of the year. May can be challenging for visitors due to heat and rain. However, there is a significant temperature difference between day and night, around 8 to 10°C (50°F) , making nights quite cool. For example, it is 19°C (67°F) in January and 24°C (76°F) in June.
- In Toledo, the best time to visit extends from February to May. Between June and October, the rainy season is at its peak, with July being particularly wet. Additionally, showers are regular throughout the year, except for a noticeable lull in April. Daytime temperatures are similar to those in Cayo, but it is warmer at night, ranging from 21 to 26°C (79°F) depending on the period. Like further north, sea water temperatures range from 27°C (81°F) during the dry season to 30°C (86°F) during the rainy season.
Temperatures and rainfall in Belize
On these 3 graphs, we present the evolution of temperatures of Belize and month-by-month rainfall for the cities of Belmopan, Belize City, Punta Gorda, Corozal and Hopkins, as well as the month-by-month sea temperature for coastal cities.
Peak visitor numbers and tourist seasons in Belize
Find out when Belize has its high tourist season (the period when the influx of tourists is highest) and off-peak tourist season using our data and figures.
Tourist seasons in Belize
The months with low numbers of tourists are: February, March, April, May, June, July, September, October and November. The number of visitors to Belize is high in: January, August and December.
- Very low season in Belize: May, June and October.
- Low season in Belize: February, March, April, July, September and November.
- High season in Belize: January and August.
- Peak season in Belize: December.
Figure: Visitor index for Belize month by month
Average price for flights to Belize
A return flight between New York City and Belize City is generally cheaper if you go in september ($ 548 on average): this is the best time for travellers on a tight budget. In contrast, you may end up paying $ 307 more for your airline ticket to Belize City if you go in december.
Where to go in Belize?
This table allows you to see the maximum temperature for each city and our opinion on the weather month by month (see colour legend below the table).
| Cities | jan. | feb. | mar. | apr. | may | jun. | jul. | aug. | sep. | oct. | nov. | dec. |
| Belmopan | 81°F | 85°F | 86°F | 92°F | 92°F | 90°F | 90°F | 90°F | 88°F | 86°F | 83°F | 83°F |
| Belize City | 81°F | 83°F | 85°F | 88°F | 88°F | 88°F | 88°F | 88°F | 88°F | 86°F | 85°F | 83°F |
| Punta Gorda | 81°F | 83°F | 86°F | 90°F | 90°F | 90°F | 88°F | 90°F | 90°F | 88°F | 85°F | 83°F |
| Corozal | 83°F | 85°F | 86°F | 90°F | 90°F | 88°F | 90°F | 90°F | 90°F | 88°F | 85°F | 83°F |
| Hopkins | 81°F | 83°F | 85°F | 88°F | 88°F | 86°F | 86°F | 88°F | 88°F | 86°F | 83°F | 83°F |
| Lamanai | 81°F | 83°F | 85°F | 88°F | 88°F | 86°F | 86°F | 88°F | 88°F | 86°F | 83°F | 83°F |
| Monkey River Town | 81°F | 83°F | 85°F | 90°F | 90°F | 88°F | 88°F | 90°F | 88°F | 88°F | 83°F | 83°F |
| Orange Walk | 83°F | 85°F | 86°F | 90°F | 90°F | 90°F | 90°F | 90°F | 90°F | 88°F | 85°F | 83°F |
| Placencia | 81°F | 83°F | 86°F | 90°F | 90°F | 90°F | 88°F | 90°F | 90°F | 88°F | 85°F | 83°F |
| Rio Blanco National Park | 81°F | 83°F | 85°F | 90°F | 90°F | 88°F | 88°F | 90°F | 88°F | 88°F | 83°F | 83°F |
| San Ignacio | 83°F | 86°F | 88°F | 94°F | 94°F | 90°F | 92°F | 92°F | 90°F | 88°F | 85°F | 83°F |
| Xunantunich | 81°F | 83°F | 86°F | 92°F | 92°F | 88°F | 88°F | 90°F | 88°F | 86°F | 83°F | 81°F |
| Ambergris Caye | 81°F | 83°F | 85°F | 88°F | 88°F | 86°F | 86°F | 88°F | 88°F | 86°F | 83°F | 83°F |
| Barranco | 79°F | 81°F | 83°F | 86°F | 86°F | 86°F | 85°F | 86°F | 86°F | 85°F | 81°F | 79°F |
| Caracol | 81°F | 85°F | 88°F | 94°F | 94°F | 90°F | 90°F | 92°F | 90°F | 86°F | 83°F | 83°F |
| Caye Caulker | 81°F | 83°F | 85°F | 88°F | 88°F | 88°F | 88°F | 88°F | 88°F | 86°F | 85°F | 83°F |
| Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary | 81°F | 83°F | 86°F | 92°F | 92°F | 88°F | 88°F | 90°F | 88°F | 86°F | 83°F | 81°F |
| Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary | 81°F | 83°F | 85°F | 88°F | 88°F | 86°F | 86°F | 88°F | 88°F | 86°F | 83°F | 83°F |
| Dangriga | 81°F | 83°F | 85°F | 88°F | 88°F | 88°F | 88°F | 88°F | 88°F | 86°F | 85°F | 83°F |
| Gales Point | 81°F | 83°F | 85°F | 88°F | 88°F | 86°F | 86°F | 88°F | 88°F | 86°F | 83°F | 83°F |
Legend:
perfect weather
good weather
tolerable weather
bad weather
About Belize
What can I do in Belize?
Beaches / swimming
Nature and countryside
Culture and heritage
Sports
Family travel
Crafts / shopping
Gastronomy
Nightlife
Is this weather information for Belize reliable?
Climate data for Belize has been gathered every day since January 2009. The analysis of these meteorological data for Belize allows us to determine the average for each month in Belmopan, Belize City, Punta Gorda, Corozal, Hopkins, Lamanai, Monkey River Town, Orange Walk, and 22 other cities.
So yes: this data is reliable except in cases of temporary climate disruption in the region.