Solo Trip to Belize: A Blend of Culture and Diving

Did you know a round trip from Houston to Belize City usually cost around 500 USD?

So when I found a deal for under $400, I booked it right away — well, not quite as fast as I booked my flight to Iceland, but close. 

I’ve always wanted to visit Belize after learning about the Garifuna people and their flag at a Pickney Pocket pop-up from a Garifuna. I also wanted to go on a dive trip to San Pedro — an island off the coast of Belize. It is known for being a great spot for new divers and for the iconic Great Blue Hole. As a new diver without many diving friends, I decided to make it a solo trip! This was my first international solo adventure, and I wasn’t nervous, and you shouldn’t be either if it’s your first time. 

Why? A few reasons:

Belize is located on the northeastern part of Central America, along the Caribbean Sea.

1. English is the national language, therefore making communication much easier. Spanish and Creole are also spoken. As a Jamaican, I found their Creole sounded a bit like Patwah—which made it feel even more familiar. (I’m not a linguist, so don’t come for me!) Fun fact: Belize is the only country in Central America where English is the official language.

2. I had friends and family visit before me, and they all mentioned feeling safe and having a great time.

Belize is a diverse country located in the northeastern part of Central America, along the Caribbean Sea. The weather is tropical year-round. During my visit in late August and early September, temperatures ranged from the high 70s to the low 90s Fahrenheit. The best time to visit is during dry season—December through May.

Packing was easy, and I light since most of my activities were water related. 

Don’t know what to pack? Check out my packing list here.

Getting to Belize is quite easy and there are multiple ways to travel around the country. I flew into Philip S.W. Goldson International Airport (BZE) and the arrival process was stress free. When you land, you’ll exit the plane on the tarmac instead of using a jet bridge, then you walk through immigration. 

If you plan to travel beyond Belize City, like I did, you can ger around by car, propeller planes (bookable via Tropic Air Belize or Maya Island Air), ferry, or bus. I’ll dive into the details in my itinerary. For reference, my trip leaned more toward the budget friendly side when it came to lodging.

Day 1: Belize City  —> Hopkins Village

Activities:

• Checked into Funky Dodo Hostel

• Explored Hopkins Village on foot

• Highlight: I visited the local library, played games with the kids, and learned about Hopkins Village and Garifuna culture from the librarian

Overall: I enjoyed my first evening in Hopkins Village. The people are friendly and welcoming, and I found it easy to navigate the main areas on foot whether it was for food, grocery store, or live music.

Transportation:

• Took a plane from Belize City Airport (BZE) to Dangriga Airport (DGA)

• Once you exit immigration the check-in area for domestic travel is less than 30 seconds away

• Cost: $95 one way

• Travel time: 15 mins

• Tips/Notes:

• If you arrive earlier or later than your scheduled flight, Tropic Air will put you on the next available flight — this happened to me.

• Once you exit immigration, the check-in area for domestic flights is less than 30 seconds away.

• I highly recommend asking the pilot if you can sit next to the cockpit — it’s a unique experience (10/10 recommend).

• DGA Airport to Hopkins Village

• Cost: ~$70 via a taxi.

• Tips/Notes:

• When you land at DGA, you’ll notice the airport is a small, single-story building

• There’s also a bus option that’s cheaper than the taxi, but I opted for a private taxi

• Manuel from Mna Taxi Service was the only taxi driver there when I arrived, and he shared a lot about his life and Belizean culture on our drive. Also, I felt safe driving with him alone.

Day 2: Hopkins Village

Activities:

Made hudut — traditional Garifuna meal with other at the Garifuna Cultural & Culinary.

• Garifuna Cultural & Culinary Adventure Tour

• Highlight: 10 out of 10 recommend! I enjoyed learning about the Garifuna and their culture from hearing about their history directly from Garifuna people to making a traditional meal, hudut, a nature/herbal walk and husking a coconut. Wasani, Uwahnie, and Uwahnie’s  father deeply cares about preserving the culture and genuinely enjoy sharing it with others. This did not feel like a mainstream tour at all!

• Food

• Semiti Gifiti for dinner

• There was live drumming at night. I ordered fish and it was nice, though I don’t recall the exact dish I got.

Transportation:

• Tour picks up and drop off

• Continued to tour Hopkins Village by foot

Overall: The highlight of my day was the Garifuna Cultural tour. As mentioned, before you don’t truly know or visited a country until you learn about and meet the people. Ending the day at Semiti Gifiti was nice on the beach, I missed it at sunset, but I could only imagine. 

Day 3: Hopkins Village —> Dangria —> Belize City —> San Pedro

Activities:

Waiting for a local bus to pick me up at the hostel

• Breakfast at Tugusina Garifuna

• Locals recommend this spot! I tried twice before finally catching them open on the third try. I had fry stuff jacks, with fresh fruits and juice— it was yummy!

• Checked out of the Funky Dodo Hostel in Hopkins Village

• Checked into my hotel San Pedro

• Dinner at  Neri’s Tacos! I’m not sure how discovered this hole in the wall spot, but I ate there every day while in San Pedro.

Transportation:

I was in no rush to get to San Pedro; I decided to take a bus to get to Belize City, which was easy

• Hopkins Village -> Dangriga

  • I took a local bus service from Hopkins Village to Dangriga Bus Station.

It was an old American school bus without AC, but all the windows were all open—I did not feel hot.

• Seats are first come, first served. 

  • Fare was less than $5 USD, paid in cash on the bus

• Dangriga -> Belize City

  • I had two options to get to Belize City bus: James Bus Line or Floralia Bus Company. I choose Floralia instead of James Bus Line

    • Floralia is more tourist-friendly, with power outlets and fewer stops, though a bit slower.

    • James Bus Line is more of a local experience—faster but with fewer amenities.

    • Fare: Around $15 USD, paid in cash on the bus.

• Belize City -> San Pedro

  • I walked from the Belize City bus terminal to the ferry terminal 

    • I felt safe, but I wouldn’t recommend walking with heavy luggage 

  • Took the Belize Water Taxi (one way)

    • Cost: $31 USD

    • Duration: ~1.5 hr 

    • The ferry was PACKED, and I had to sit on the side of the boat — not the most comfortable experience. I decided not to take the ferry on the return trip

      • Alternative Option: Take 15-minute flight from Belize City to San Pedro for more comfort while saving time.

Overall:

This was a slow travel day by design, and I enjoyed the pace. Based on my experience, I’d recommend flying to San Pedro instead of taking the ferry. My hotel room was located right on the beach, on the first floor, which made me a bit cautious. At night, I moved some furniture behind the door for extra security. Still, I felt safe overall and had no issues.

Day 4-5: San Pedro

Activities:

• Scuba diving with Belize Pro Dive Center

• This was my first dive since getting certified, and it was an incredible experience!

• The whole experience was beginner friendly.

• Dinner: Neri’s Tacos (again)

• Still delicious and reliable

Transportation:

• I didn’t need much transportation since the dive shop arranged everything for the dives. 

• Otherwise, I just used my two legs to get around—everything I needed was within walking distance.

  • Note: In San Pedro, most people rent golf carts or bikes—I did neither. My hotel was within easy walking distance to food spots and the ferry terminal.

Overall:

Each day was great — I got back into diving after a year, and it felt amazing!

Day 6: San Pedro & Caye Caulker

Activities:

• Scuba Diving — dove with Belize Pro Dive Center (day dives)

• Visted Caye Caulker

• Explore the island from end to end

• The Split

• Tarpon feeding

• Food: Neri’s Tacos (yes, again)!

Transportation:

• San Pedro -> Caye Caulker 

o   Took the ferry 

• Time: 30 mins

• Cost: ~ 25 USD

• Caye Caulker 

  • Like San Pedro, you can rent a golf cart or a bike

Overall:

I enjoyed visiting Caye Caulker — it was noticeably slower and more relaxed than San Pedro. You don’t need an entire day to explore; I saw most of it within a few hours. 

Day 7 : San Pedro

Activities:

• Scuba Diving — dove with Belize Pro Dive Center

• Dove the Great Blue Hole! Check out my experience here!

Overall:

Another incredible day of diving! The highlight was definitely the Great Blue Hole. It was an unforgettable experience that capped off my diving adventures in Belize.

Day 8: San Pedro —>Belize City

Activities:

• Travel back to the US

• Food: Neri’s Tacos!

Transportation:

• Took a plane from San Pedro to Belize City Airport

• Cost: $95 one way

• Travel time: 15 mins

• Walked from my hotel to the airport

Overall:

Not much to say since it was mostly a travel day. I’m glad I chose the plane over the ferry for my return journey. It was quick, comfortable, and a much better option in the end.

Conclusion

Overall, this trip was exactly what I needed. From diving the Great Blue Hole to learning about the Garifuna culture and eating at Neri’s tacos every single day, Belize delivered. It was the perfect mix of adventure, culture, and relaxation. I’m glad I trusted myself to take this solo trip—even as a new diver and someone traveling internationally alone for the first time. If Belize is on your list, take this as your sign to go. You’ll be just fine, and you might even come back with a deeper appreciation for a new culture, a love for diving, and a go-to taco spot in San Pedro.