Essential Packing Guide: Top 10 Tips for What to Wear in Belize for a Fantastic Vacation

Rio on Pools

Planning what to wear in Belize ensures you’re prepared for our diverse landscapes and tropical climate. From breezy beachwear perfect for island hopping to lightweight, quick-dry clothing ideal for jungle explorations, packing for Belize requires versatility and comfort. Let’s look at some essential packing tips to help you enjoy every moment of your Belizean adventure.

What to Wear in Belize

Here are our top 10 suggestions for what to wear in Belize – plus a bonus tip (if you plan to go to the ATM Cave).  Some of our recommendations might seem like common sense – but there may be an aspect of each that is unique to a Belize vacation.  And these Belize travel tips don’t just apply to the jungle.  No matter where your travels take you in Belize, there may be something here you hadn’t thought about packing.

But before you continue (or after you finish reading this post), you may also be interested in reading about some Surprising facts about Belize.

#1 – A Belize vacation hat

Wear a hat for your Belize Vacation
Wear a hat in Belize

A simple item that is often not considered an essential item to pack for your Belize vacation.  The sun can be brutal here, and most guests don’t think to pack a baseball cap or wider brimmed hat for sun protection.  A hat also comes in handy when you forget to apply or reapply sunscreen!

#2 – Shorts (& more shorts!)

Pack Shorts for your Belize Vacation
Rio Frio Cave in the Mountain Pine Ridge

In other words, no long pants are needed!  Unless you are planning a deep jungle exploration (which is a possibility) there is usually no need to bring long pants for your Belize vacation.  There are no dress codes for dinner.

#3 – 100% Cotton, Linen and/or moisture-wicking clothes

Also recommended for what to wear in Belize includes loose-fitting clothes are also recommended.  So, leave the body-tight, stretch yoga pants at home.  Go with loose fitting shirts, draw-string shorts, and light, flowy sundresses (if you want to dress up).  Moisture-wicking shirts can also help keep you cool.

These are the perfect clothes for any Belize vacation adventure, from learning how to make tortillas to jumping on an ATV to tour remote waterfalls!

#4 – Shoes

We have two recommendations for shoes: flip-flops and hiking shoes.  Flip-flops are so popular among visitors and residents alike; they could be considered the national Belize shoe!  Don’t leave home without them.  You may not have considered hiking shoes, but since nearly 100% of tourists visit at least one Maya site/ruin while in Belize, be sure to bring something more suitable than flip-flops for those adventures. 

It’s difficult and dangerous to climb the Maya ruins in flip-flops.  If not hiking shoes, then maybe sneakers or even my favorite . . .  boat shoes (Sperry Topsiders, i.e., something that provides foot protection and traction on wet surfaces).  But if you are also planning on heading into the jungle or to Mountain Pine Ridge (which we highly recommend), hiking shoes would serve both purposes well.

#5 – Bathing suits

Yes, more than one per person.  The Belize climate is very humid year-round, so bathing suits may not dry out overnight.  We have a clothesline for each bungalow, and our guests can toss damp clothes into the complimentary dryer (& washer too), but not all accommodations will have laundry service during your Belize vacation. So, to be safe, pack extra bathing suits. 

As an added note, we provide extra beach towels for our guests, but many accommodations don’t – so you’ll want to verify if you need to bring your own beach towels.  Even though we are in a jungle village, our beach towels accompany our guests to the ATM Cave, the many waterfalls in the Mountain Pine Ridge, and on kayaking trips on the Macal River (where we live).

#6 – A light jacket

No matter where you visit in Belize, it gets cooler in the evening – especially so in the Mountain Pine Ridge area.  On the Cayes and beach areas, the sea breeze can also kick up at times.  So, we recommend packing a light jacket just to be safe.

#7 – Refillable water bottles

Belize Vacation

Living in Belize has taught us many things, one of which is to stay hydrated!  From beach destinations to the Belize jungle, due to the hot Belize climate, we highly recommend our guests bring refillable water bottles.  All accommodations in Belize are required to provide free water daily for guests, but many only provide one small bottle of water per day. 

To meet and hopefully exceed our guests’ needs, and to help limit the amount of plastic we use, we provide free filtered water for all guests in a 5-gallon dispenser, which allows them to refill their own bottles as needed. Refillable water bottles also come in handy while on tours.  There are very few stores (if any) in many of the more remote ruin and waterfall locations.  So, it’s a good idea to have your own water handy.

#8 – Reef Safe Sunscreen

Regular sunscreen is one the biggest contributors to pollution and is killing many of the world’s coral reefs.  But it’s not just for the ocean.  If you are planning to hike in any of the many caves – or spend time in the rivers and waterfalls, Reef Safe sunscreen will help keep pollutants from impacting the interior environment of Belize as well. 

So, when choosing a sunscreen, make sure it is ‘Reef Safe’ which means it doesn’t have oxybenzone or octinoxate as ingredients.  Paraben preservatives such as methyl paraben, butyl paraben, or phenoxyethanol, are also dangerous to nature and won’t be in Reef Safe sunscreen.  All types of sunscreen are very expensive here – so if you are checking a bag, it’s worth stashing some sunscreen in it.  Otherwise, you’ll pay triple or more here.  And Reef Safe sunscreen is what to wear in Belize, but not easy to find except near the ocean locales.

belize vacation
Sturdy shoes needed for this climb!

#9 – Insect Repellant

Belize vacation
Deet is best for sand flies & biting gnats, but all Natural/Organic repellant works fine for mosquitos

What to wear in Belize definitely includes insect repellent! Depending on where you plan to travel in Belize will determine how much and what kind of insect repellant to bring.  In nearly all the beach areas, biting sand fleas/flies are always looking for their next meal!  While I hate to use it, I’ve found that only a repellant with Deet will keep them from devouring me. 

That said, where we are located in our jungle village, there are relatively few biting bugs.  There are more mosquitos in the SW corner of Minnesota than in ALL of Belize!  I’ve found 100% natural insect repellant works well here.  Insect repellant is another very expensive product in Belize – so again, pack your own if you are checking a bag.

#10 – Anti-Perspirant/Deodorant

Pack anti-perspirant/deodorant is definitely what to wear in Belize especially if you use only a particular brand.  For example, Dry Idea is nowhere to be found in Belize!  I’m sure there are other brands that may be difficult to find here, so if you are attached to a certain brand, be sure to pack it.

What else to wear in Belize? Here’s an Extra Packing Tip

ATM Cave Tour: Close-toed river shoes and socks.  If you plan to take the ATM Cave Tour, you will need socks and close-toed shoes that you don’t mind getting wet and walking in for a couple of hours.  No worries – you only wear the socks for a very short part of the trip.  You’ll carry the socks in with you, put them on for one portion of the tour, and then take them off again.

Pack Closed Toe River Shoes for your Belize vacation if headed to ATM Cave
This type of shoe could also be used for hiking!

Oh, and leave your make-up at home!  It just melts off here 😊 

Knowing what to wear in Belize ensures you can fully embrace all this beautiful country has to offer. Whether you’re snorkeling in crystal-clear waters, hiking through lush rainforests, or exploring ancient Maya ruins, packing light, breathable clothing and sturdy footwear will enhance your comfort and enjoyment. With these tips, you’ll be ready to make the most of your Belizean adventure, dressed for both style and adventure.



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