Best time to go to Belize

[_Ralph]

As to answer your question, I try to go down the start of November .... less tourists, and more wildlife out (due to most places closing for the season in oct).

Shhh, I usually see a dozen+ sharks in the blue hole (usually the first trip of the season, otherwise they get out of there due to the boats/divers for the rest of the year).

_R

 

[Ayisha]

It can be pretty rainy in Belize (as well as Roatan) in July and again in January, with a little less rain in February. The rest of the months are drier and much better. Generally between late October to December and also March to May are usually good times to go to Belize.

 

[Ralph Capeling]

I enjoy Belize as a vacation destination that has diving as opposed to a diving destination. This approach may alter your expectations.

I would suggest not going in May. Many farmers in Guatemala burn off their fields during that month and the smoke can carry across most of Belize.

I have been living in Belize since 2005 and have never noticed the smoke from Guatemala - maybe because I live in Placencia but May is one of the best whale shark months so lots of guests come at that time of the year.

Regards
Ralph

 

[SaltyKSue]

OK - I talked with my friend and March is the best time for him to go! I'm thinking about renting a house through airbnb or VRBO right in San Pedro- Any chance of seeing whale sharks in March Ralph?

 

[Ralph Capeling]

OK - I talked with my friend and March is the best time for him to go! I'm thinking about renting a house through airbnb or VRBO right in San Pedro- Any chance of seeing whale sharks in March Ralph?

Hi Sue
You have very little chance of seeing whale sharks staying in San Pedro. We do our whale shark tours out of our dive center in Placencia. These are our whale shark tour dates for 2018:

Whale shark dates 2018
March 31st to April 12th (not recommended due low success rate)
April 29th to May 11th
May 29th to June 10th
June 28th to July 12th

Regards
Ralph
Splash Dive Center

 

[SaltyKSue]

Hi Sue
You have very little chance of seeing whale sharks staying in San Pedro. We do our whale shark tours out of our dive center in Placencia. These are our whale shark tour dates for 2018:

Whale shark dates 2018
March 31st to April 12th (not recommended due low success rate)
April 29th to May 11th
May 29th to June 10th
June 28th to July 12th

Regards
Ralph
Splash Dive Center

Well dang it! Because of school- March 17th -24th is all that will work for him- Would you recommend staying and diving out of Placencia instead of San Pedro? Is that even a good time to go to Belize for good scuba diving?

 

[Lorenzoid]

Caye Caulker definitely does (or did) have some budget operations that I wouldn't use again. Ambergris is where the people with more money to spend generally go. Still, as you found, the boat rides out from Caulker or Ambergris to the best sites can be long. As I believe others have said, the best diving involves staying out on the cayes/atolls. If I were to take another trip to Belize, I would try Turneffe Island Resort. I had a trip planned there once but had to cancel. Either that or a liveaboard.

 

[SaltyKSue]

When I try to pull up Turneffe Atoll on airbnb it brings up places on Caye Caulker - is there anywhere to stay on Turneffe Atoll?
Don't really want to stay at a resort or do a liveaboard. Just want to rent a house with room for 2-3 couples and also have things to do along with diving. That is why I thought San Pedro might be a good choice.

 

[Lorenzoid]

Don't really want to stay at a resort or do a liveaboard. Just want to rent a house with room for 2-3 couples and also have things to do along with diving. That is why I thought San Pedro might be a good choice.

I can understand that. If that's what you like, then San Pedro is indeed a good choice. If instead, "eat, sleep, dive, repeat" were your mantra, then a true dive resort such as Turneffe Island Resort would be a better choice.

 

[Ralph Capeling]

Well dang it! Because of school- March 17th -24th is all that will work for him- Would you recommend staying and diving out of Placencia instead of San Pedro? Is that even a good time to go to Belize for good scuba diving?

The advantage of San Pedro and Caye Caulker is that the reef is close by and the boat rides short. The disadvantage is that all you can do is dive but if that is why you came to Belize then San Pedro is a great destination. In Placencia our dive sites are further away so our trips are all two tank or three tank dives but we are close to all kinds of inland adventures so if you want dedicate some time to experiencing Belize then the south coast from Hopkins to Placencia is a better destination.
Regards
Ralph