3 Ways to See Belize’s Natural Beauty in a New Light
How often do you take the center of our galaxy for granted? You know, that river of stars stretching across the night sky, the Milky Way? For almost 80% of the world, we’ll answer for you: daily, though not for a lack of trying! According to a 2023 study published in Science Advances, North American and European skies are becoming 10% brighter by year from their naturally sparkling state. In a screen-led age, unplugging and simply going outside is healthy for our mental health and the environment, and destinations like Belize feed the eco-explorer within. And it gets all the more curious at night. Thanks to our forests covering almost 62% of land as one of the most forested countries in Central America, plus 300+ remote offshore islands, expect a welcomed lack of light pollution in Belize. After dusk, step into the cultural and environmental benefits of the night sky’s full tapestry, twinkling planets and all, whether you stand where Maya astronomers did millennia ago or venture into the Belize Barrier Reef’s abyss by oxygen tank alone. As if you ever needed a reason to see Belize in a new light, we’re here to give you three—plus a bonus for the daytime!
- Stargaze responsibly in the Mountain Pine Ridge
In a place as remote and lush as the Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve at almost 108,000 acres, the inspiring existential awe of the great beyond is only magnified at night. Together with the country’s largest national park, Chiquibul, this swath of land in western Belize, with practically no skyglow, is one of the best places to go stargazing on the mainland. Here, the night sky is smothered in stellar specks above the pines as far as the eye can see, whether you’re looking up from a humble campsite or a telescope at any of the eco-lodges tucked away within. But to truly make it special, remind yourself that you’re standing in the once-stronghold of the ancient Maya—and they oriented their entire lives by the heavens.
Whether to navigate, time their harvests, plan their celestial calendars, or tell stories to explain the universe around them, stargazing is also a way of preserving the Maya’s cultural heritage. All across Mesoamerica, you’ll find perfectly positioned temples aligned for astronomical observations that look east, toward the rising Sun over the platform, suggesting the complexes might mark particular solar positions. Belize’s most impressive archeological site, the ancient mega-metropolis of Caracol and the country’s tallest man-made structure in Belize, is no different. When the stars align during the winter solstice, you can also experience “Night at the Plaza,” a special event at Caracol that first began in 2012 for the so-called end of the world.
- Marvel at bioluminescence in Hopkins
Impressively, 62% of travelers say they plan to travel for stargazing, making it trend number one in the 2025 Booking.com travel predictions. A star-studded sky is undoubtedly mind-blowing, but so is a glowing lagoon. Just outside Hopkins, at Anderson’s Lagoon, an inlet from the Sittee River, you’ll unknowingly glide into a nighttime safari—the eyes that shine back may be uninterested crocodiles, sleepy little blue herons, or croaking toads. Suddenly, the winding creek leads to a cathedral of mangroves, towering on each side like pillars, before opening up to the final destination: Anderson Lagoon. As you enter, you’re keenly aware of how delicate a balance of salt and freshwater lies beneath—igniting your sense of wonder with every inch of movement that’ll light up the dinoflagellate microorganisms an iridescent blue, especially on a moonless night.
Best seen during the dry season, since the rains dilute the columns of water, the animal kingdom puts on a mesmerizing light show. And if you’re feeling extra brave, your guide might even invite you for a quick dip in the “burning waata,” the Creole term for its pockets of hot and cold water. Most importantly, you’re helping to conserve this sensitive ecosystem for future generations with each phytoplankton’s tiny-but-mighty ecological benefits.
- Night diving in the Belize Barrier Reef
As if diving wasn’t already your ticket to a whole new world, night diving is your portal to another galaxy altogether. Descend to stars above and inky darkness below for creatures often missed during the day, where even the most camouflaged dance to your headlight—all you’ll need is an extra dose of curiosity and an open-water scuba certification. Light is filtered out at each checkpoint, too: red disappears around 20 feet, and anything below 100 feet is tinged a blue-green until the midnight zone, where no light reaches. Even the most familiar reefs and dive spots look brand new.
At the Half Moon Caye Wall, expect bright-orange octopuses, alert lemon sharks, and corals that sway in neon hues. Every nocturnal is sharing their story with us—one that many won’t get to witness—that’ll leave you awe-struck in the same way as the most impressive constellation, an unknowing side-effect of responsibility to fiercely protect everything you’ve seen. Plus, you’re directly supporting its conservation and co-management through your entrance fee.
A daytime bonus: Xibalba
You won’t need to wait until the sun sets to experience true darkness with any of Belize’s more than 100 navigable caves. From single rooms to miles-long interlinked passages, you’re in the heart of Xibalba now: the ancient Maya’s reverent interpretation of the underworld. And while they once entered the seemingly never-ending void by flames, modern headlights are a close second, limiting your admiration to only what your eyes can adjust to ahead of you. Whether it’s nature’s century-carved amphitheaters or mineral-rich buttresses that glimmer, spelunking in Belize is a shortcut to all the midnight magic. We dare you to turn your headlights completely off, even for a minute!