Belize and Nicaragua Tours

These two exciting countries showcase many of the wonders of Central America.

On our Belize and Nicaragua tours, you’ll discover spectacular Mayan ruins, rich colonial architecture and palm-fringed beaches bordering warm tropical waters teeming with healthy marine life.

Well-known for spectacular scuba diving, Belize also offers beautifully preserved Mayan archaeological sites such as Xunantunich. You can trek through lush rainforests, go zip-lining, explore mysterious caves, swim in idyllic Ambergris Caye. Once known as British Honduras, Belize is predominantly English-speaking.

Nicaragua, flanked by the Pacific Ocean on one side and the Caribbean Sea on the other, offers an agreeable climate, a fascinating colonial history, and incredible natural wonders from enormous Lake Nicaragua, filled with islands and volcanoes, to cloud forest and pristine beaches.

If you wish to visit other destinations in Belize and Nicaragua, we can easily tailor an itinerary based on your personal interests.

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Highlights

Belize & Nicaragua

Mayan ruins at Xunantunich

Mayan Ruins at Xunantunich in Belize

The Maya civilization spanned much of Central America and reached its apex between 250 and 900 AD.

The Maya had spectacular architectural prowess and a well-developed writing system. One of the most remarkable sites in Belize is Xunantunich with 25 temples, one of which reaches up to 40m, making it the second tallest structure in the country. The site also has a number of large plazas and intricate, well preserved friezes whilst the surrounding jungle is home to howler monkeys and rich birdlife.
Belize

Belize’s Barton Creek

Barton Creek runs from the mountains through the Cayo District of Belize and flows underground at the spectacular Barton Cave.

The cave was once an ancient Mayan burial site and used for ceremonial purposes. Visitors explore the cave by canoe, paddling along an ancient waterway inside the mountain. Spotlights illuminate Mayan artifacts and skulls which appear amongst dramatic stalagmites and stalactites. In this area you will also find the conservative Mennonite communities of Upper Barton Creek, who lead a simple agrarian lifestyle.
Ambergris Quay

Ambergris Quay in Belize

Beautiful Ambergris Caye is the largest island in Belize, with idyllic beaches, coral reefs, topical forest, waterfalls and hundreds of limestone caves.

There is only one town on the island – picturesque San Pedro – made famous by Madonna in her song La Isla Bonita. Choose from one of the many beach resorts or luxury villas here, where you can enjoy water sports and waterfront dining. The island is also known for its many Mayan ruins and temples, as well as sailing or tubing through age-old caves and zip lining through the forest. With magnificent coral reefs and crystal clear water seething with marine life, Ambergris Caye is ideal for snorkelling and scuba diving.
Granada in Nicaragua

Beautiful Granada in Nicaragua

One of the oldest European cities in the Americas, Granada was founded in 1524 by the Spanish explorer Francisco Fernández de Córdoba.

Named after Granada in Spain, its colonial architecture reflects both Moorish and Andalusian architectural traditions. Many of the city’s spectacular old churches and houses have been painstakingly restored. Visit the San Francisco Convent with its famous blue facade, the colourful main cathedral, the Zamora family house and the “La Merced” church. Wander narrow, cobbled streets past brightly painted houses, crossing romantic shaded plazas to reach the shores of vast Lake Nicaragua. The dramatic Volcán Mombacho forms a gorgeous backdrop to Granada, and is an exciting destination in itself, with cloud forest, coffee plantations and zip line tours.
Nicaragua

Nicaragua’s Las Isletas

Las Isletas de Granada are a group of 365 small islands in Lake Nicaragua, formed when Mombacho Volcano erupted about 20,000 years ago.

Like jewels scattered across the surface of the lake, these picturesque islets are home to fishing communities, rich birdlife and crumbling fortresses from bygone days of pirates and foreign invaders. Some are privately owned and dotted with holiday homes of wealthy Nicaraguans. A boat cruise of Las Isletas offers peaceful respite from urban Granada, with wonderful views of the lake and the forest-clad volcano.
Ometepe Island

Ometepe Island in Lake Nicaragua

In the middle of Lake Nicaragua, one of the world’s largest freshwater lakes, is the island of Ometepe, formed by two large volcanoes.

The name Ometepe means “Two Mountains” and the island is dominated by the enormous Volcan Concepción, a still-active volcano with the most perfect cone in Central America, as well as the Maderas Volcano, which is dormant and covered in forest. Ometepe is perfect for walking, with quiet beaches and fascinating pre-Columbian ruins. See fascinating basalt statues and inspect some of the island’s many ancient petroglyphs with animal or abstract motifs, some dating back to 1,000 BC.

Belize & Nicaragua Overview

Why Belize and Nicaragua: Both of these central American countries offer a fantastic coastline of beautiful beaches. With its incredible reef, rainforest and Mayan ruins, Belize also features great cultural and historical immersion, alongside trekking and other adventure activities. Nicaragua has extraordinary natural wonders as well as ancient Mayan sites and a fascinating colonial backstory.

When to Go: Belize and Nicaragua both have a subtropical climate characterised by two seasons: rainy (June-December) and dry (Jan-May). The dry season is the most popular time to visit these countries; however the shoulder months provide a great opportunity to explore without the crowds. The mean (average) temperature in Belize and Nicaragua is 23°C in December and 27°C in July.

Combine With: Mexico, Costa Rica, Colombia or Ecuador.

Getting There: Flights into Belize land at Phillip S.W. Goldson International Airport (PGIA) in Ladyville, around 30 minutes from the centre of Belize City. For Nicaragua, fly into the Augusto C. Sandino International Airport in Managua, the country’s bustling capital.

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