I grew up in Corozal, on the bay, looking across the water to Mexico. So when a visitor asks me what to bring to Belize, I’m not reading it off a travel site. I’m telling you what the place actually does to you if you come unprepared. Most people overpack clothes and underpack for the two things that will find you here: the sun and the bugs.
This is the short list that matters. Pack light otherwise. You will live in shorts and a swimsuit.
The sun is not your sun
You are close to the equator and close to sea level. The light comes straight down and it comes off the water twice. People who think they tan come home from Belize burned.
- Reef-safe sunscreen. Belize protects its barrier reef, and the marine reserves expect sunscreen that won’t poison it — no oxybenzone, no octinoxate. Buy it before you come; it’s easier to find at home than on a caye. On the bigger tourist islands you can find sunscreen but it may or may not be your favorite brand.
- A sun shirt (rash guard, UPF). The one most North Americans skip and regret. A long-sleeve UPF shirt means you can snorkel for two hours without cooking your back. Shirts designed for fishing work well too, those often have hoods that help protect necks and ears.
- Polarized sunglasses. The glare off the Caribbean is real. Polarized lenses cut it and let you see into the water.
- A wide-brim hat. A cap burns your ears and neck. A brim does the whole job.
The bugs will find you
On the cayes and the beaches, at dusk, the sand flies come out. We call them no-see-ums because you don’t. They are small, they bite, and the bites last for days. The beach looks empty and perfect at sunset; that is exactly when they feed.
- Bug repellent with DEET or picaridin. The natural sprays do not hold up against sand flies. DEET works; picaridin works and doesn’t smell as strong.
- An anti-itch or after-bite remedy. Because you will get bitten before you learn the dusk routine.
Your feet and the water
- Sandals. What you’ll wear most of the trip. Something that survives getting wet and walking on sand.
- Water shoes (beach shoes). The reef is sharp, the dock ladders are barnacled, and some beaches are rocky going in. If you do cave tubing or the ATM cave, you need closed-toe shoes you can soak.
- A dry bag. You get to the cayes by boat, and the water taxi does not care about your phone. A dry bag keeps your phone, passport, and camera dry on the crossing.
Light, for the dark and the power
- A headlamp or flashlight. A headlamp keeps your hands free, which matters on a dock at night or in a cave. If you book the ATM cave or any cave tour, a headlamp is part of the kit.
- A power bank. When the power cuts or you’re out on the water all day, you charge from your own battery.
A few things tourists forget
- A reusable water bottle. Refill it; skip buying a case of plastic.
- A packable rain layer. It is the tropics. It rains hard and then it stops. A light packable rain jacket beats hiding under an awning.
- Quick-dry clothes. Cotton stays wet in this humidity. Quick-dry shorts and shirts are more comfortable and pack smaller.
What you can leave home
You do not need a plug adapter if you traveling from the US or Canada. Belize runs on 110 volts with the same flat US-style plugs (Type A and B) you use in the States, so your chargers work as-is. And don’t pack for a place that isn’t here. Belize is hot, casual, and coastal — you will not need formal clothes or heavy boots for the beach. Unless you are planning to go to church or clubbing, in which case Belizeans do dress up. Bring less. You’ll thank yourself carrying one bag onto a small plane to the cayes. For the rest of your trip questions, see our Belize travel FAQ.
Belize Packing FAQ
Do I need a power adapter for Belize?
No. Belize uses 110V and the same Type A/B flat plugs as the United States. US and Canadian chargers work without an adapter or converter.
Is reef-safe sunscreen really required?
Belize’s marine reserves expect reef-safe sunscreen, and it’s the right thing regardless. Buy a mineral sunscreen without oxybenzone or octinoxate before your trip; selection is thin once you’re on a caye.
Are the sand flies that bad?
On the beaches and cayes at dusk, yes. Bring DEET or picaridin. The bites are small but they last for days, and natural repellents don’t hold up against them.
What shoes should I bring to Belize?
Sandals for most of the trip and water shoes for the reef, rocky entries, and any cave tour. Skip dress shoes. If you’re doing the ATM cave or cave tubing, closed-toe water shoes are required.
About Joe Post
Joe Post is the founder and editor of Belize News Post. He grew up in Corozal Town, Belize, on the Caribbean sea with a view across Corozal Bay to Cerro Maya. He has lived in Costa Rica, Kenya, England, Spain, and the United States. He grew up cooking alongside his mother and grandmother, and has personally tested the vast majority of the recipes on this site. He started BNP in the early 2000s as one of the few independent Belizean news sources online. Over the years, the food became the stickiest thing. News comes and goes. Food stays.
