Belize Bound: A Week of Island Adventures, Good Food & Learning to Just Be
October 16–23, 2026 | Ambergris Caye, Belize
Rainy days, tiny airplanes, fishing adventures, nurse sharks, lobster mac and cheese, and a whole lot of laughter. Our week in Belize had a little bit of everything, and it reminded me why traveling somewhere new with the people you love is always worth it.
This October, my husband Joel and I packed our bags and headed to Ambergris Caye, Belize, for a week of island life with six of our friends. We had a few adventures planned, plenty of restaurants on our list, and absolutely no intention of letting a little rain ruin our vacation.
October 16: Early Flights, QR Codes & Our First Taste of Belize
First piece of advice: never book a 5:30 a.m. flight, especially when you have a work event the night before that runs until 9 p.m. and somehow convince yourself you'll get a decent amount of sleep. 😂
Spoiler: I did not.
But we were up, bags packed, and ready to go! Traveling with eight people can sometimes feel like herding cats, but we made it to the airport, our flight left on time, and our one-hour-and-six-minute layover in Atlanta went surprisingly smoothly. If you know, you know!
Once we landed in Belize City, the adventure officially began.
I always enjoy experiencing new airports, and Belize's Philip S. W. Goldson International Airport was a fun introduction to the country. We stepped off the plane onto the tarmac (which always feels like a little adventure in itself) and headed into immigration.
We had completed the online immigration form ahead of time, but here's a tip: make sure your QR code is accessible and actually works! They scanned it at multiple points throughout the airport, and ours decided to be difficult. At one point, I wondered how many times they really needed our information. We nearly got sent back to have it scanned again on our way out! Thankfully, we made it through.
After immigration, we stopped at duty-free before collecting our luggage and heading to the domestic terminal for our flight to Ambergris Caye. A handle of Tito's vodka was around $40 USD, so if you're planning to enjoy drinks during your stay, it's worth checking out the duty-free options and your airline's baggage rules.
The domestic terminal is tiny compared with most major airports, a couple very small souvenir shops and a couple convenience shops to grab a snack and a drink. With small planes heading out to the islands none stop, this is also the same terminal that was used for our departure flight back to the U.S. as well. We had already booked our flights, checked in, and waited about 30 minutes before boarding our 14-seat plane. And this was where the fun really began!
Our little plane made a quick stop at Caye Caulker to drop off two passengers before continuing to Ambergris Caye. Getting to see another island from the air was a pretty great bonus, and the views as we flew over that gorgeous blue water was the perfect introduction to Belize.
Once we landed, our prearranged golf cart rental was waiting for us. They loaded our suitcases and got us on our way to our home for the week.
One small problem? It was POURING rain.
The forecast wasn't looking particularly promising for the rest of the week, but we decided right then that we would make the best of whatever weather came our way.
We found a great little local spot, Sweet Tutz, for our first taste of Belizean food, then called it an early night. After that 5:30 a.m. start, nobody needed much convincing!
October 17: Slow Mornings, French Toast & A Little Belizean Kindness
After a busy travel day, we intentionally left our first full day open. No big excursions, no rigid itinerary, and no rushing around. Just exploring and seeing where the day took us.
Our first stop was Marbucks, and let me tell you, we found a winner!
The twice-baked French toast was incredible, the iced coffee was delicious, and the ladies working there were so friendly and welcoming. It was exactly the kind of place you hope to discover when visiting somewhere new. We liked it so much that we knew we'd be back before the week was over.
Our morning also came with an unexpected story.
One of our friends had lost his wallet during our arrival-day adventures. Not exactly how you want to start a vacation! But a sweet six-year-old girl had found it and shown it to her mom, who then posted about it on Facebook.
We happened to mention the missing wallet when we made a drink stop at The 303 Belize Bar & Grill and the bartender recognized our friend from the Facebook post and helped us connect with the family.
Wallet recovered. Faith in humanity restored.
It was such a kind gesture, and one of those little moments that makes traveling somewhere new memorable for reasons you never planned.
The rest of the day was spent hopping between spots, dodging rain showers, sampling food, and laughing our way around the island. Nothing fancy, nothing scheduled, and absolutely the perfect way to ease into vacation mode.
We ended the day at a super popular food place called Truck Stop. They have a few different 'Food Trucks' aka shipping containers- and everyone got to pick their own cuisine of food that they wanted that night. There was live music and just an overall fun atmosphere to start off the week.
Missing wallet found by this adorable little lady
October 18: Secret Beach & Finding Our Kind of Island Vibe
Sunday was our day to explore Secret Beach, one of the most talked-about spots on Ambergris Caye.
We started with breakfast at Waffles and Smokehouse, they had the infamous fry bread breakfast sandwiches that half our group made sure to try and of course I got waffles- then hopped into our golf carts for the drive north. Plan on roughly an hour each way, depending on where you're staying and road conditions. After all the rain Belize had received, the roads were pretty beat up, which made the journey even slower.
But that's island life! Sometimes getting there is part of the adventure.
When we arrived, our friends stopped at the first beach club they saw. It wasn't necessarily everyone's vibe, but then they got pulled into a game of chicken-shit bingo, so naturally, we had to stick around for a while to see how that played out. 😂
Meanwhile, Joel and I decided to take a little drive and explore the other beach clubs to find a spot that felt more our speed.
We eventually landed at Mystico, tucked toward the end of the road. It was a little more secluded and relaxed, with softer music and incredibly friendly employees. Exactly what we were looking for! And they had a cute 6-month-old French bulldog named Chloe that won our hearts immediately!
Of course, it promptly down poured as soon as we arrived.
We ordered lunch, waited out the rain, and hoped the weather would cooperate. Thankfully, it did. The rest of the afternoon turned into one of those vacation moments you wish you could bottle up: floating in the water, enjoying the sunshine, laughing with friends, and having nowhere else we needed to be.
Most beach clubs close around 6 p.m. during the low season, so keep that in mind when planning the drive back. We finished the evening with an impromptu stop at Rum Dog, conveniently located near our accommodations.
And the food? The lobster mac and cheese was SO good. Seriously, one of my favorite meals of the entire trip!
My takeaway: Secret Beach is worth exploring, but don't feel like you have to stay at the first beach club you see. Take a little time to explore, find the atmosphere you enjoy, and make the day your own. Most beach clubs don't charge to use their chairs, but it is an establishment so make sure to order food and/or drinks while you are there.
October 19: Fishing, Snorkeling for Conch & A Private Chef Dinner
Monday brought a little more adventure, and we had a fishing trip booked for the morning with a guide recommended by a friend.
Our captain picked us up right from our dock, which made the morning incredibly easy. We headed out, got caught in a solid 20-minute downpour on the way to our fishing spot, and then—wouldn't you know it—the skies cleared and we were treated to another beautiful day.
The fishing was fantastic!
Our group caught plenty of snapper, one friend hooked a nurse shark, and another managed to catch a huge tarpon. There was plenty of excitement on the boat, and we all agreed we could have happily stayed out a little longer.
We also had the chance to snorkel for conch shells, with our guide showing us how to get the meat out of the shells. It was such a fun way to experience more of the local marine life and food culture.
After a busy morning on the water, we were all starving. Thankfully, the ladies at Marbucks had another recommendation for us: Big Taste, known for its birria tacos.
Of course, I had to try them!
I thought they were delicious, but Joel's shrimp tacos were also a hit. It was another great find that our whole group enjoyed.
That evening, we had arranged for a private chef to come to our accommodations and prepare dinner. We had hoped to catch enough fish that morning to have it cooked for us, and the experience turned out wonderfully.
Having someone prepare a delicious meal for all eight of us meant we could relax, enjoy the company, and stay in for the evening without worrying about where to go or what to order.
If you're traveling with a group, don't overlook a private chef experience. Sometimes the best vacation dinners happen right where you're staying!
October 20: A Pool Day, Local Markets & Trying Conch Fritters
Tuesday turned into a completely unplanned day—and honestly, those are sometimes the best ones.
We spent the morning relaxing at home before deciding that a pool day was exactly what we needed. We ate leftovers, lounged around, soaked up some sunshine, and gave ourselves permission to do absolutely nothing.
No excursions. No schedules. No rushing.
Just a little time to be.
It's easy to feel like you need to pack every vacation day with activities, especially when you're somewhere new. But one of my favorite parts of this trip was that we gave ourselves room to slow down and enjoy where we were.
Later, we ventured into town to explore some of the local markets and stumbled across a super cute cake stand. We also headed to Caroline's Cookin' for dinner, where I finally got to try conch fritters!
Another Belizean food win. I'd definitely eat those again.
The views overlooking the lagoon were beautiful, and the staff were so friendly. It was a lovely way to spend an evening after a day that had started with no plans at all.
Sometimes, the best itinerary is no itinerary.
October 21: Hol Chan, Shark Ray Alley & A Day on the Water
Wednesday was one of the big highlights of our week!
We started with a quick breakfast stop at The Farmhouse, a great spot for coffee and breakfast bites. One of the things we loved about this place was its collection of around 10 resident cats wandering around the grounds. Every time we drove past during the week, we'd spot them lounging or napping. If you're a cat person, it's a fun little bonus!
Then it was time to board our private catamaran for a full day of snorkeling, sunshine, island exploring, and ocean views.
Our first major stop was Hol Chan Marine Reserve, a protected marine area near Ambergris Caye that's part of the Belize Barrier Reef, the second-largest barrier reef system in the world.
The name Hol Chan means “little channel” in Mayan, and the reserve is known for its beautiful coral formations, seagrass beds, mangroves, and diverse marine life.
Getting out on the water and seeing this part of Belize firsthand was incredible. The underwater world is a huge part of what makes this destination so special, and it's a must-consider experience for anyone who loves snorkeling or exploring nature.
Next up: Shark Ray Alley!
We had the opportunity to see nurse sharks swimming around the boat while our captain fed them. Watching them move through the water right beside us was such a cool sight. It's one thing to see marine life in pictures, but being there in person is a whole different experience.
After our snorkeling adventures, we headed to Caye Caulker for a couple of hours of free time.
I've recommended Caye Caulker to clients before, so it was especially fun to experience it firsthand. The island has that laid-back, barefoot, no-rush atmosphere that makes you immediately want to slow down. It's a different feel from Ambergris Caye, and I'm glad we got to see both.
We finished the day with a sunset cruise back to Ambergris Caye. After a full day on the water, we kept the evening simple with pizza from PepperOni's- super fast and delicious.
Beautiful scenery, incredible marine life, and a sunset on the boat? Definitely a day to remember.
October 22: One Last Island Adventure & Lobster Dinner
Our final full day on the island arrived way too quickly!
Half of our group got up early for an exploratory scuba diving experience, while my friend Cami and I decided to explore the far south end of Ambergris Caye by golf cart.
We drove all the way down the island, taking in the scenery and checking out the homes being built along the way. It's always fun to see a destination beyond the main tourist areas, and the golf cart gave us the freedom to explore at our own pace.
On our way back, we made one more stop at The Farmhouse for coffee and a bagel. At this point, we had definitely established our favorite breakfast and coffee stops!
The rest of the day was spent hanging out, packing, and getting everything cleaned up before our final dinner out.
We headed to Margie and Kenny's Hangout, where Kenny served us and helped make the evening extra fun. We enjoyed a delicious dinner featuring lobster, which felt like the perfect way to wrap up a week of island adventures.
Of course, we couldn't end the trip without a little more bar-hopping and laughter with friends before heading home for an early bedtime.
One last dinner, one last night together, and one more reminder of how special it is to travel with people you love.
October 23: One Last Coffee & Back to Reality
Our final morning started early with one last coffee run to Marbucks before our 7:45 a.m. airport pickup.
We said goodbye to Ambergris Caye and boarded our little puddle jumper back to Belize City. After another long day of travel, we were homeward bound, tired but happy and full of memories.
Would I book that 5:30 a.m. flight again after a late work event? Absolutely not. 😂
Would I go back to Belize and do this trip all over again?
In a heartbeat.
Just Be: The Best Part of Travel
One of my favorite things about traveling is that every destination gives you something different.
We had rain, sunshine, tiny planes, golf cart adventures, amazing seafood, snorkeling, nurse sharks, and countless laughs with friends. We discovered new favorite restaurants, experienced a different pace of life, and had plenty of moments when we simply got to be.
And isn't that what vacation should be about?
Thinking about Belize for your next getaway? I'd love to help you explore your options and figure out whether Ambergris Caye—or another part of Belize—is the right fit for you.
Let's find your next adventure, make some memories, and remember to Just Be.
— Krystal, Just Be Travel Co.
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