The 10 best all-inclusive resorts in Belize for your next tropical getaway
When you close your eyes and think of Belize, visions of a dreamy, tropical vacation likely dance through your mind. Think: sugary shores, brilliantly blue water, bright green palms and thick, verdant jungles. Maybe throw in a luxury villa or a palapa-topped bungalow, for good measure. What you're not likely thinking of is an all-inclusive resort.
As it happens, though, Belize is actually home to a handful of excellent all-inclusive resorts. While not as large or flashy as resorts in the Caribbean or other tropical destinations, Belize's all-inclusive resorts swing much more boutique, small-scale and low-impact. We think there's an all-inclusive resort in Belize for every taste, whether you're budget or bougie, traveling with the family or looking to make it a romantic retreat.
Check out these beautiful all-inclusive resorts in Belize and prepare for an idyllic tropical getaway.
Found off the coast of central Belize, Coco Plum Island Resort enjoys 16 acres of private island paradise. This all-inclusive Belize resort features 18 stand-alone bungalows perched on fluffy white sand, with a wreath of aquamarine water that extends in every direction.
Rooms range from the standard cabanas to premium suites and the opulent, overwater three-bedroom villa. Standard cabanas are beachfront with minifridges, coffee makers and air conditioning. The premium cabanas are larger with kitchenettes and additional living space. The luxurious overwater villa can sleep up to six people with its three bedrooms and three bathrooms. It has a full kitchen, plus a dining and living area with a wraparound veranda.
This is one of Belize's true all-inclusive resorts, meaning that when guests book their room rate they are ensured to have all meals and drinks as part of their plan. In-house chef Ms. Jude creates Belizean-style meals at the overwater Coco Palms restaurant. While all the meals are included, there are set menus each night. That said, dishes are customizable to suit any dietary restrictions or preferences.
Guests can book additional packages to include snorkeling or diving trips to the nearby Mesoamerican Barrier Reef. One of the highlights of staying at Coco Plum Island is that the resort is less than 30 minutes by boat to the second-largest barrier reef system in the world.
Rates at Coco Plum Island Resort start at $894.
Completely surrounded by shades of aquamarine, Manta Island Resort is another posh private island getaway miles from the mainland in Glover's Atoll. Glover's Reef is part of a marine reserve and a World Heritage site, which means that when guests check in to Manta Island Resort, they are invited to check out of reality and enjoy the serene, natural beauty.
The 12-acre private island has only nine luxury beach cabanas. Choose from private cabanas, villas or the exclusive Belize Reef Villa with Plunge Pool. Obviously, the latter has our vote for its dialed-up romance. The views from this two-bedroom villa are stunning, and seeing as it's tucked away from the others, it takes the private island vibe to a whole new level.
The resort is not all-inclusive by default; however, guests can book the all-inclusive package. The package includes gourmet meals, unlimited local beverages and select tours, whether that's Hobie cat sailing, kayaking or group snorkeling tours. A four-night minimum is required for the all-inclusive package.
Black Coral Restaurant & Bar is the on-site restaurant where it's all about toes-in-the-sand vibes. Tropical cuisine is the star of the show, from fresh-caught seafood to locally grown produce.
The Tranquil Tides Spa is not part of the all-inclusive package, but guests can splurge for a massage, facial, scrub or wrap. The spa sets the scene with views out over Glover's Reef.
All-inclusive packages at Manta Island Resort start at $4,075 for a four-night stay, based on double occupancy.
Located on Belize's mainland, at the southern end of Hopkins Village, Belizean Dreams is chock-full of amenities that travelers seek when they want an idyllic beach getaway. Think beachfront pool, open-air dining and a stretch of sugary shoreline.
Accommodations consist of rustic-chic free-standing guest houses with a breezy, beachy aesthetic. The hotel offers three room categories: villas, suites and boutique rooms. Boutique rooms are bright and airy but are designated as "No View" because they are a two-minute walk to the beach. Executive suites sleep up to five and have a full kitchen and a veranda with sea views. The palatial three-bedroom villa is the top category here, just steps from the sea with soaring ceilings, exposed beams and French doors that open up to the ocean view.
Guests can book a selection of packages geared toward their party's needs, whether visiting as a solo traveler or with a group. All of the packages are all-inclusive of food, transportation to and from the resort on arrival and departure days, local alcoholic drinks and nonalcoholic drinks, and often themed tours that include activities and entertainment.
Guests will dine at the Woven Palms Restaurant & Beachfront Tiki Bar. Nightly dinner specials feature four main course options. Two nights a week the hotel gets festive with Maya/Mestizo Taco Night and Creole/Garifuna Belizean Buffet, complete with local drumming and dancing. The Tiki Bar is always ready to serve festive tropical drinks with views over the white, sandy beach.
Rates at Belizean Dreams Resort start at $2,697 per couple for four nights.
Intimate and unfussy, Laru Beya Resort & Villas is located just on the outskirts of Belize's beautifully beachy Placencia village. The Placencia Peninsula has 16 miles of beachfront, making it one of the most popular spots in the country for a relaxing getaway.
Laru Beya Resort & Villas has 30 rooms, all with balconies overlooking the water. Some have full kitchens for those who want to whip up their own meals. But the resort also has an all-inclusive package to help take the guesswork out of things. In fact, the all-inclusive package at Laru Beya is one of the best in the country. It includes accommodations in a one-bedroom oceanfront suite; local round-trip flights between Philip S.W. Goldson International Airport (BZE) and Placencia; complimentary shuttle transfer to and from Placencia Airstrip; three meals a day and a bar snack daily, including lunch on tours; and unlimited local bar beverages.
The one-bedroom oceanfront suites, which are part of the all-inclusive package, have a king-size bed, full private bath and separate living and dining areas. They also include full kitchens and a private balcony.
Rates at Laru Beya Resort & Villas start at $1,800 for two people for three nights for an all-inclusive package.
Sleek and sexy Alaia Belize, an Autograph Collection hotel, is one of the more modern beachfront resorts to grace this list. It's also the very first Marriott property to open in Belize. Steering away from the traditional rustic design, Alaia Belize swings much more Tulum in terms of aesthetics, with neutral colors, wood, stone and clay.
Alaia enjoys a supremely convenient location, just a 20-minute boat ride from the popular snorkeling spots Hol Chan Marine Reserve and Shark Ray Alley. But it's also very close to Ambergris Caye's main town, San Pedro. Guests can enjoy more than 1,000 feet of beach access. The resort has 155 guest rooms, which range from standard studio rooms to palatial beachfront villas with private plunge pools.
Guests can elevate their stay at the resort by booking the "Ultimate All-Inclusive" experience. With one rate, guests can access all meals and snacks, water activities, beach chairs, all alcoholic beverages, transfers to the airport, and a 10% coupon for cabana rentals and the spa.
While the resort's design is chic and modern, nature still does most of the talking, from the electric pops of blue to the wide variety of tours that guests can experience while staying. Think cave diving, zip lining, exploring nearby ruins and hiking. Diving is also a top activity, particularly with the opportunity for guests to earn their PADI certification on the property.
Rates at Alaia Belize start at $1,053 per room per night.
There is something so satisfying about a private island resort. Turneffe Island Resort, which sits on its own island in the Turneffe Atoll just off the coast of Belize City, has been offering that private island energy for almost 20 years.
The resort's design is like a grown-up sleepaway camp, with a string of distinct yellow wooden cottages complete with front porches that overlook the water. The small resort has eight deluxe rooms, four superior rooms and 13 private villas. The 14-acre island has a stretch of white, sandy beach, a bar and a restaurant.
While Turneffe Island Resort is perfectly designed for basking on the sun-soaked shoreline, many of its guests come for the outdoor experiences, particularly the diving. The resort is about 30 minutes from the Great Blue Hole and features a valet service that will take and clean your equipment for you between dives. Fishing and snorkeling opportunities are abundant, as well.
After a long day out in the sun, retire to the spa for massages or locally sourced seaweed wraps.
Rates at Turneffe Island Resort include meals by default. Guests can book a three-, four- or seven-night package, all of which include three meals a day, appetizers served poolside at 6 p.m., to-go lunches for excursions, Friday night barbecue dinner and Sunday night traditional Belizean dinner. Alcohol is not part of the package, but guests can upgrade to include a bar package.
Rates at Turneffe Island Resort start at $3,490 per room for a three-night package.
Ambergris Caye is Belize's most high-profile island, and on that island, it doesn't get much better than Matachica Resort & Spa. Made up of 32 individual palapa-topped casitas, this romantic retreat is reserved for adults only.
The luxury bungalows range from charming casitas to more opulent luxury villas. Villas have 2,500 square feet of space, two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a kitchen, a living room and a rooftop terrace for panoramic water views.
The relaxed resort is fringed with white, sandy beaches and groves of coconut palms. Its Mambo restaurant has alfresco dining and a brand-new bar, Danny's Tree Bar, which serves cocktails and light bites throughout the day. The resort provides spa treatments and offers complimentary bicycles to explore Ambergris Caye.
For the all-inclusive experience, guests can add a full meal plan.
Rates at Matachica Resort & Spa start at $570 per night, with full board available for $185 per person, per night.
What began as one of Belize's very first ecolodges has grown into a sophisticated, elegant experience tucked within the jungles surrounding San Ignacio on the banks of the Macal River. The elegant oasis features thatched-roof cottages and private rainforest views, as well as upgraded amenities like an infinity pool and a full-service spa.
The bright and airy 23 cottage-style rooms are nestled among the tropical gardens, with white linens and pops of color like turquoise, orange and green. Guests can also book one of the many villas. The Tree Top Villas are the most popular, with their own amenities like private Jacuzzis or infinity plunge pools.
The grounds are something special. The property feels far removed from civilization, shrouded in tropical landscaping. All the accommodations are peppered across the property, with the infinity-edge pool at the center. Activities abound here, from the Rainforest Medicine Trail to the butterfly farm and the Maya Organic Farm. A short drive away are activities like zip lines and Mayan ruins.
Guests can book one of the many packages at the resort, all of which are all-inclusive. The traditional Chaa Creek Inland Expedition package includes round-trip transfers from the airport or Belize City, a visit to the Belize Zoo, a cottage room, three meals a day, gratuities for the staff, and guided visits to several of the nearby attractions. Alcoholic drinks are not included.
Rates at The Lodge at Chaa Creek start at $399 per room, per night.
There are private islands in Belize, and then there is Cayo Espanto — a place that feels like it's worlds away. The tiny island is just off the coast, protected by the mainland to the west and Ambergris Caye to the east. With only seven stunning villas, Cayo Espanto will have guests feeling like they've got the entire place to themselves.
Each villa has its own private plunge pool and ocean views. Part of the allure of Cayo Espanto is that each villa is positioned so that guests have no view of their neighbors. If you're looking for the ultimate in low-key relaxation and elevated privacy, this is the resort to book. You can even book Casa Ventanas, one of the only overwater bungalows in the country.
Cayo Espanto is a true all-inclusive resort, meaning that meals are already baked into the room rates. Daily menus are curated based on guest preferences, so the entire experience is customizable.
Activities include everything from private cruises and picnic excursions to fishing, diving, windsurfing and catamaran sailing. Activities are not included in the rates and come at an extra charge. An on-site spa offers manicures, pedicures, facials, aromatherapy and more.
Rates at Cayo Espanto start at $2,095 per villa, per night.
Just north of Placencia on a lovely stretch of beach, Sirenian Bay Resort & Villas is a tropical resort with an upscale but unpretentious vibe. Guests who want lots of space, privacy and fantastic (all-inclusive) meals will feel right at home in the bungalows.
Rooms are constructed out of free-standing houses that cluster around a central pool. At Sirenian Bay, the bungalows are the accommodations that are part of the all-inclusive setup. These bright, airy spaces can sleep between two and six people. The resort has even larger family-style villas, though those are not part of the all-inclusive package.
All-inclusive bundles include complimentary transfers to and from Placencia Airstrip, unlimited drinks, unlimited meals, nonmotorized sports and complimentary Wi-Fi. Sirenian Bay has several culinary options, including Inky's, Snooty's, the Beach Grill and Three60 Martini Bar. All are included in the room rates.
Rates at Sirenian Bay Resort & Villas start at $2,400 per room for a four-night stay.
Does Belize have true all-inclusive resorts?
The short answer is yes, but with a few key things to note. Unlike destinations such as Mexico, Jamaica or the Dominican Republic, Belize shies away from the larger all-inclusive resorts. The properties across Belize are much smaller and boutique. Most of the all-inclusive hotels and resorts in Belize operate with all-inclusive packages, meaning guests can either book their rooms and choose meals and activities a la carte, or they can book a comprehensive all-inclusive package.
With most all-inclusive packages in Belize, guests are entitled to all meals, local alcoholic beverages, soft drinks, nonmotorized sports, and often transfers to and from the airport.
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