🌧️ Visiting Belize in the Rainy Season: What To Know & Pack

Belize’s rainy season lasts almost half the year from June to November. What is visiting Belize during the wet season actually like?

I booked a one-week trip to Belize during the rainy season and here, I share practical tips on visiting the country during it. This post covers:

• 🌧️ What the rainy season is like
• 👍 Rainy season pros & cons
• 🐬 Things to do in the rainy season
• 🧥 What to pack

Planning a trip? Here’s what to know about Belize.

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Overview of Belize’s Rainy Season

Here are some general information on Belize’s rainy season to help you plan your trip:

🌧️ When Is the Rainy Season in Belize?

Belize’s rainy season is from June to November, which coincides with the country’s low season.

Tourism slows down mostly during the wettest months in September and October. During these two months, some attractions may close for safety reasons and some catamaran boats are taken in for maintenance.

☀️ When Is the Best Time to Visit Belize?

In contrast, Belize’s peak season is from December to April, with March receiving the most tourists.

April is sometimes considered Belize’s best month to visit as it has warm weather and is one of the driest months of the year.

🌡️ Temperatures During Belize’s Rainy Season

Thanks to Belize’s tropical climate, the country experiences warm temperatures year-round, even during the rainy season. You can still wear summer clothes and swim in the Caribbean Sea during the low season.

The average high in Belize during the wet season is 87 °F.

Here are Belize’s average temperatures during the rainy season:

Month	Average Temperature
June	79–88 °F
July	78–88 °F
August	78–88 °F
September	77–88 °F
October	75–86 °F
November	72–84 °F

The weather in different parts of Belize will vary, but it is always warmer inland (e.g., San Ignacio) and cooler in coastal areas and on islands (e.g., Placencia, San Pedro).

🍀 Lukiih’s Experience: When I visited Belize in July, the water temperature was warm enough for me to swim in without getting cold or needing a wetsuit. I experienced many sunny days and was always wearing shorts and a tank top with the occasional rain jacket.

🗓️ What Is The Rainy Season Like in Belize?

In general, you can expect a 30% to 45% daily chance of rain and 1 to 9 inches of rain during the rainy season in Belize.

Each month’s weather patterns have distinct characteristics:

Month	Characteristics
June	Rain is abrupt, but brief
July	Storms start coming it. Rain is mostly in the morning and at night.
August	Less rain overall
September	Heavy rains
October	Heavy rains
November	Rains mostly at night

🍀 Lukiih’s Experience: When I visited Belize in July, I frequently had rainy days, but the rain was very manageable and predictable. The rain showers were usually in 5 to 10-minute intervals, occurred about two to three times a day, and only appeared in the mornings and night times.

🌀 When Is Hurricane Season in Belize?

Hurricane season in Belize is at the same time as the rainy season, from June to October. On average, Belize is hit by hurricanes about twice a year.

The last hurricane happened in November 2022 when Hurricane Lisa forced Belize City residents to take shelter due to heavy winds and flooding. Note that Belize City is not a popular tourist destination.

Should You Visit Belize During the Rainy Season?

If you’re considering doing a vacation in Belize during the rainy season, here are the pros and cons of doing so.

👍 Pros of Traveling to Belize in the Rainy Season

Here are the reasons why taking a Belize vacation during the wet season is a good idea:

1. Prices are cheaper.

Belize’s rainy season completely overlaps with its low season, so you’ll find that accommodation and tour prices are more affordable. This is a good time to visit Belize if you’re hoping for better deals.

Belize is one of the most expensive countries to visit in Central America. I share all my travel expenses in my trip cost breakdown.

🍀 Lukiih’s Experience: I was able to negotiate discounts for popular tours. For example, during the high season, Belize’s famous ATM Cave is frequently booked out weeks in advance. In July, I was able to book the tour a day before and negotiate a 10% discount.

2. Belize has fewer crowds.

Since Belize’s rainy season coincides with the low season, there are fewer tourists around.

🍀 Lukiih’s Experience: None of my tours were crowded. All of them automatically became small group tours with no more than four to ten people per attraction.

I also visited a few resorts on Ambergris Caye and while I’m not supposed to use the resort’s beach equipment if I’m not staying with them, they didn’t seem to mind when I did since no one else was using them.

3. It doesn’t usually rain all day.

Belize’s rain tends to be abrupt and intense, but it’s also often brief. During certain months, the rain is predictable as it only pours during the mornings and/or night times.

🍀 Lukiih’s Experience: My snorkeling, ATM Cave, and horseback riding tours all occurred as scheduled with no impact. Only my horseback riding tour got a bit of rain, which wasn’t a problem.

4. Belize is lush.

Due to all the rain, Belize’s nature is extremely green and lush during the wet season. Jungle tours and anything outdoors are gorgeous.

🍀 Lukiih’s Experience: During my trip to Xunantunich, one of Belize’s well-known Maya ruins, I got a panoramic view of the surrounding area while standing on a structure. The view was stunning, partially because of all of the greenery surrounding me.

👎 Cons of Traveling to Belize in the Rainy Season

Here are the disadvantages of taking a trip to Belize when it’s wet:

1. Some tours may be limited or closed.

Due to the lower demand, some tour operators may not run tours as frequently and some may not run at all. Many of Belize’s top attractions are in jungles, ruins, oceans, and caves and can be impacted by the weather.

🍀 Lukiih’s Experience: There was one particular snorkeling tour operator that I wanted to book with and they were closed. This tour operator has amazing ratings for snorkeling in the Belize Barrier Reef, but I had to go with another operator instead.

2. You’ll have to be flexible with your plans.

You may have to change plans at the last minute if your walk around town or activity gets impacted by a sudden, heavy downpour.

🍀 Lukiih’s Experience: There were times when the rain did catch me off-guard. On two occasions, I had planned to walk around the downtown area in San Ignacio and when it started pouring, I had to run into a store and wait it out.

Great Things To Do in Belize in the Rainy Reason

With some rare exceptions and the occasional tour cancellation, the rainy season is a great time to do many of the things that Belize is known for.

Here are some of the best things to do during each month of the wet season:

Month	Great Activities and Attractions
June	🦞 Lobster season begins 🤿 Snorkeling & scuba diving (can see sharks and dolphins)
July	Same as June
August	🐒 Jungle tours (wildlife emerges with less rain) 🤿 Snorkeling & scuba diving (great visibility with less rain)
September	🐒 Jungle tours (good temperature)
October	🦜 Birdwatching
November	🤿 Snorkeling & scuba diving (great visibility as rain is mostly at night)

🍀 Lukiih’s Experience: When I visited Belize in July, I got to do many of the things that Belize is known for, including:

• Snorkeling in the Hol Chan Marine Reserve in the Belize Barrier Reef
• Visiting several of Belize’s Mayan ruins
• Going inside the famous ATM Cave

My highlights are in this Belize itinerary.

What To Pack for Belize in the Rainy Season

Below is a comprehensive packing list for Belize during the rainy season. This packing list was created with the assumption that you will be traveling to Belize’s mainland (e.g., San Ignacio) and at least one island (e.g., Ambergris Caye, Caye Caulker).

The most challenging thing to pack for in Belize is the popular ATM Cave. It involves hiking, climbing, swimming, and spending a few hours inside a cave.

🩳 Clothes

• Swimsuits (2+) – Belize is known for snorkeling and swimming docks, so you’ll likely be in the ocean every other day if not every day. You’ll also need swimsuits for the ATM Cave.
• Tops/shorts that dry easily – The rain can be abrupt, so you will likely get wet unexpectedly. My clothes didn’t fully dry, and my resort rooms didn’t provide hair dryers. I do not recommend packing jeans.
• Rain jacket or poncho – I brought a light rain jacket that I like and use for every rainy destination. If you want to save space and carry something lighter, these rain ponchos I’ve used in other rainy countries also work well.
• Sturdy sandals – Since it can rain suddenly, it’s convenient to be in sandals. Belize doesn’t have the best street or road infrastructure, and it can be hilly. You’ll want to be comfortable walking. I was happy in my Chacos and my friend raved about her Merrell’s many times.
• Athletic shoes – I preferred walking around in my Chacos, but you’ll need athletic shoes for any tours involving hiking, horseback riding, etc. I wore my running shoes for those.
• Water shoes (optional) – If you’re visiting the ATM Cave, you’ll want water shoes. I bought these water shoes and thought they were great.

🕶️ Accessories

• Sunglasses – I brought my sports sunglasses that worked well when I was being active on tours.
• Waterproof phone case – You’ll want a waterproof phone case for the rain and any water activities such as a snorkeling/scuba boat ride. I bought this waterproof phone case, which doubled as a bag for me. For a sturdier bag, I usually bring this crossbody phone pouch.
• Quick-dry towel – For Belize’s islands, you’ll likely go for a swim near a hotel you’re not staying at. On the mainland, you’ll need towels for the ATM Cave. I brought these quick dry towels and have used them on multiple trips.

All beaches in Ambergris Caye are open to the public. I did not stay at any of the swimming docks or beaches I visited. This meant that I couldn’t use their towels and my hotel didn’t provide one, so bringing a towel is convenient.

• Dry sacks – Dry sacks came in clutch for separating my wet clothes from the dry ones. I bought these cheap dry sacks specifically for this trip and used them a lot.
• A bag that’s appropriate for tours – Depending on your activities, you’ll need to consider what kind of bag to bring (e.g., a bag you can comfortably carry while on a horse or hiking, a beach bag, a bag you can hold onto while on a golf cart because that’s the primary mode of transportation in Ambergris Caye).

🧴 Personal Care

• Bug spray – You’ll need bug spray for jungle tours in Belize. I almost went through my entire travel-sized one since I also needed it whenever I ate outside (many Belize restaurants are open air). I like this bug-repellent lotion and think it works better than the spray alternative.
• Reef-safe sunscreen – You can buy regular sunscreen if you don’t plan to go into the ocean, but otherwise, you need reef-safe sunscreen to protect the corals. This reef-safe sunscreen is relatively easy to apply compared to other reef-safe sunscreens I’ve tried.

Pacing bug-repellent and reef-safe sunscreen will be cheaper than buying it in Belize. I break down all my Belize travel expenses.

• Anti-itch cream – Bring an anti-itch cream in case your bug spray doesn’t 100% work. I use this anti-itch stick for its portability.
• Motion sickness medications (optional) – If you’re going to a Belize island, you’ll likely have to travel by water taxi, boat, or small plane at some point, so if you get motion sick easily like I do, it’s best to bring some meds.
• Sleeping mask and ear plugs (optional) – Some resorts, including the ones I stayed at, were still busy enough that I could hear children screaming from the pool. I used my sleeping mask and earplugs every night.

The Belize trip planner below has this packing list in a downloadable Notion.

What Not To Pack for Belize in the Rainy Season

Here are some items to not pack when traveling to Belize during the wet season:

• Jeans – Jeans won’t dry quickly enough if you get caught in the rain.
• Charging adapter – If you’re from the United States, you won’t need an adapter for Belize; they use the same outlet type (the two-pronged flat type).
• Umbrella (maybe) – I brought an umbrella to Belize and never used it. My rain jacket was adequate. If it rained hard enough, the wind usually made the umbrella useless or I would just wait it out since the rain doesn’t last long.
• Hiking shoes – I considered bringing hiking shoes for all the tours that involved hiking, but none of the terrain warranted a pair. All tours were doable in athletic shoes, including the ATM Cave and the horseback riding tour to Xunantunich.

Belize Trip Planner 2024

To make your travel preparation easier, download the trip planner below. It has destination-specific travel information, itinerary, map, and packing list.

My trip planners are built on Notion, which I use for all my travel planning. I genuinely love this tool and creating an account is free.