After three years of chilly spring break destinations (Ireland, Iceland, and Germany), we decided it was time for some sunshine and warmth! Our family of four, including our 10 and 11-year-old boys, set off for a week-long adventure in beautiful Belize. Here’s our experience splitting time between the lush jungle and pristine beaches of this Central American gem.
Planning Our Trip
For Spring Break 2024, we wanted a destination with:
- Warm weather (a welcome change from late March at home)
- Relatively short flights
- A mix of adventure and relaxation
- No need to rent a car
Belize checked all these boxes, and we loved our previous experience in Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, so we were optimistic about this Central American adventure.
We decided to split our trip between two distinct experiences:
- Half the time in the jungle for adventures and wildlife
- Half the time at the beach for relaxation and water activities
We booked our accommodations through The Belize Collection, which manages resorts in both settings. Our itinerary included:
- Sleeping Giant Rainforest Lodge for the jungle portion
- Jaguar Reef for the beach portion
Getting There
We flew from JFK on JetBlue for around $650 per person in economy. One important note: JetBlue doesn’t fly to Belize every day of the week, which limited our options. We flew out on a Saturday and returned the following Saturday during Easter/Spring Break week.
Our flight experience was a bit challenging – our connecting flight from Boston to JFK was delayed, causing us to arrive in Belize about 3 hours later than expected.
Pro Tip: Lines at Belize City airport are long and slow, as most international flights arrive at the same time. This is also true for departures, so leave plenty of extra time when leaving. Food options are limited once you pass through security.
Transportation in Belize
We opted not to rent a car since driving in Belize seemed somewhat hazardous. We witnessed several accidents during our brief time on the roads, and our drivers mentioned that traffic laws aren’t strictly enforced. Many vehicles appeared older and potentially not well-maintained.
Instead, we pre-arranged private transportation through our resorts:
- Airport to Sleeping Giant (about 1.5 hours)
- Sleeping Giant to Jaguar Reef (about 1.5 hours)
- Jaguar Reef back to the airport
This worked well for our goal of a stress-free vacation, though it added to the overall cost.
Part 1: Sleeping Giant Rainforest Lodge
Accommodations
We stayed in the Riverview Suite, which was truly spectacular. The entrance featured stepping stones through a small pool that led into the room – a magical first impression! The suite included:
- A warm plunge pool on the balcony
- Beautiful views of the river and jungle
- Effective air conditioning (crucial in the heat!)
- An outdoor shower
- Spacious layout, though it was essentially a large studio with a pull-out sofa for the kids
While the pull-out wasn’t the most comfortable for our boys, the room itself felt luxurious and well-maintained.
Resort Grounds & Amenities
The hotel grounds were impressive with:
- Multiple hiking trails
- Kayaks and paddleboards for the river
- Swimming spots in the river
- A pool (which wasn’t well-highlighted on the main Belize Collection website)
We didn’t even have time to take advantage of everything available during our three-night stay!
Dining
We purchased the meal plan since we were in a remote jungle location with no other dining options. The plan included:
- One-course breakfast
- Two-course lunch
- Three-course dinner
The on-site restaurant, The Grove House, offered good food overall. Some standout items:
- Pancakes and breakfast burritos were family favorites
- Coffee drinks with various milk options (oat, almond, etc.)
- Don Tonito’s Pizzeria on-site served excellent thin-crust wood-fired pizza
Room for Improvement: The meal plan didn’t include any beverages at all – not even coffee or juice, just the food. This resulted in significant additional charges that we hadn’t anticipated. Including non-alcoholic beverages would make the meal plan a much better value.
Jungle Adventures
The excursions at Sleeping Giant were a highlight of our trip, though they became somewhat repetitive with the historical information shared by different guides.
Our Favorite Activities:
- Angel Falls Extreme Zipline – This was our kids’ absolute favorite activity! My older, cautious son said he had never been more scared but ended up loving it. The ziplines reach speeds up to 60 MPH, so be prepared if you have a fear of heights or speed.
- Horseback Riding – This on-site activity was included in our package and was fantastic. Our boys loved this adventure.
- Jungle Safari After Dark – We took a night hike through the jungle. While interesting, it was extremely hot and humid, which made it less enjoyable than anticipated. Surprisingly, the mosquitoes weren’t nearly as bad as we expected!
- St. Herman’s Cave Tubing Adventure – This involved floating through caves on inner tubes. It was interesting but longer than necessary, and the guide’s extensive historical and religious commentary became tiresome when we just wanted to enjoy the cool water on a hot day.
- Xunantunich Maya Site – Unlike Mayan ruins in Mexico, you can actually climb these temples! The tour was informative but moved very slowly. We crossed a hand-cranked cable car ferry to reach the site, which was a unique experience.
Pro Tip: The guides will tell you to bring sunscreen, bug spray, and one water bottle per person. Note that Sleeping Giant doesn’t sell water, so be sure to fill your bottles at the refill stations in the lobby or rooms before excursions.
Part 2: Jaguar Reef Resort in Hopkins
After three wonderful nights in the jungle, we traveled to the beach town of Hopkins to stay at Jaguar Reef Resort.
Resort Location & Grounds
Jaguar Reef is part of a collection of three small resorts at the beach in Hopkins (including Almond Beach Resort and The Colonial Inn). We were surprised to find it was right in the middle of town rather than secluded like Sleeping Giant. This meant more noise from traffic and occasional events like a drum circle one night.
The resort features:
- A beautiful beachfront location
- A pool with a swim-up bar (shared by the three resorts)
- Clean beach with warm water similar to Mexico but less seaweed
- Kayaks, paddleboards, and a small catamaran (weather permitting)
The Big Dock Bar was the absolute highlight of Jaguar Reef – a two-story pier with:
- A rope swing into the ocean
- Platforms for jumping from different heights
- Rope hammocks over the water
- A bar serving amazing fresh ceviche, salsa, and chips
Room for Improvement: The beach had limited shady spots with loungers, creating competition among guests. Most setups seemed designed for couples despite many families staying there. Additionally, snorkeling gear should be available to borrow or rent, given that snorkeling is a major attraction in Belize.
Accommodations
Our room at Jaguar Reef felt dated compared to Sleeping Giant – with a ’90s beach theme and an odd bathroom layout. We had another plunge pool, but it was too cold to use despite the hot weather (and seemed to have a leak).
Room for Improvement:
- Not enough places to hang wet towels and clothing
- No foot baths or designated areas for sandy feet
- Inconsistent housekeeping (sometimes not coming at all, or arriving just before dinner)
- Confusing beach towel system
Dining
We opted for the breakfast and dinner meal plan here, planning to eat lunch elsewhere or during excursions. The resort has several dining options:
- The Paddle House (main restaurant) – This was disappointing compared to Sleeping Giant. The space felt poorly designed, often hot (especially at breakfast with sun coming through windows), had insufficient fans, and sometimes blasted music. Management seemed disinterested, and staff, though friendly, appeared undertrained.
- Don Tonito’s Pizzeria – The same pizzeria brand as at Sleeping Giant but much more doughy, less flavorful, and significantly more expensive ($15 for a small pizza vs. $8 at Sleeping Giant).
- The Big Dock Bar – The saving grace for dining, with excellent fresh ceviche.
Major Issue: I unfortunately got food poisoning one night from something I ate at the resort restaurant. The restaurant didn’t seem very clean or well-organized, which wasn’t reassuring.
Beach Activities
The best part of our beach stay was definitely the pier with its rope swing and jumping platforms. Without that, we might have struggled to stay occupied.
We did go on a reef snorkeling excursion (included in our package), which my family loved, though I couldn’t participate due to being ill. There was also a Garifuna cooking class that our kids tried, but they were disappointed that they only got to watch the chef cook rather than participate themselves. Our younger son was quite put off when he discovered a gecko had been accidentally cooked on top of his fish!
Bug Alert: While the jungle wasn’t as bug-infested as we expected, the beach had tiny biting gnats that appeared when the wind died down. These little pests could bite through clothing and left me covered in itchy welts. Bring strong bug spray!
Excursions & Planning
At Jaguar Reef, we felt there was too much pressure from staff to book additional excursions. The concierge would approach us during meals and while relaxing on the beach, which felt intrusive.
All excursions had an additional 22% fee added to the advertised price, which significantly increased the overall cost. While this was disclosed, it wasn’t prominently featured in the marketing materials.
By the time we reached the beach portion of our trip, we were somewhat “toured out” since the guides at different locations tended to share the same historical information about Belize repeatedly.
Who We Saw There: Most travelers we encountered were families with middle/high school or college-aged kids, which makes sense given the active nature of Belize excursions. These activities often require climbing, swimming, navigating dark areas, or managing heights – better suited for older children and active adults.
Budget Considerations
This wasn’t an inexpensive vacation. For our week at these two resorts:
- Base cost with meal plans and included excursions: approximately $6,000
- Additional costs (extra excursions, drinks, tips): nearly $3,000
Total: Almost $10,000 for a week-long family vacation
Return Journey Adventure
Our departure added one final adventure – we accidentally got caught in the middle of an annual bike race across Belize that happens the day before Easter! Despite our driver knowing about the race and trying to avoid it, we ended up driving among the cyclists for miles, being honked at by support vehicles. What should have been an hour drive took over 2.5 hours.
Departure Tip: Plan to arrive at the airport 3-4 hours early, as all international flights seem to depart around the same time, creating long lines for immigration and security.
If We Did It Again…
If we returned to Belize:
- We would definitely go back to Sleeping Giant
- We probably wouldn’t return to Jaguar Reef but probably go to Ambergris Caye
- We’d spend an extra day or two in the jungle
- We’d do fewer organized excursions and more relaxing at the resorts
- We’d skip the cave tubing and possibly do the ATM cave adventure instead
Final Thoughts
Despite some challenges, Belize offered our family amazing experiences and memories. The jungle adventures, particularly the zip lining and horseback riding, were highlights for our boys. The beach’s rope swing and jumping platforms created hours of fun.
For families considering Belize, it’s an excellent destination if you:
- Have older, active children
- Enjoy both adventure and relaxation
- Don’t mind splurging a bit for unique experiences
- Are comfortable in hot, sometimes buggy environments
Just be prepared for the cost, pack plenty of bug spray for the beach, and don’t overbook yourselves with excursions!
Have you been to Belize with your family? What were your favorite experiences? Let us know in the comments below!
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