EF Ultimate Break – Belize: Rainforests, Reefs & Ruins Review

EF Ultimate Break – Belize: Rainforests, Reefs & Ruins Review

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EF Ultimate Break Belize trip review

One of the most popular Latin American EF Ultimate Break trips is to Belize, where you’ll snorkel in crystal clear water, explore ancient Mayan ruins, and relax on beautiful beaches. 

I went on this trip at the beginning of 2023, and it was so much fun. I never had Belize on my radar, but it was perfect for escaping the cold winter in Chicago. 

Below is everything you need to know about this trip, including where you’ll stay, what activities you’ll do, and the itinerary. 

(EF Ultimate Break trips are for anyone between 18 and 35!)

Spoiler alert: I had an AMAZING time in Belize and would highly recommend this trip. Keep reading to learn more about Belize: Rainforests, Reefs & Ruins with EF Ultimate Break. 

Ready to book? Use this link and get $100 off your first trip with EF Ultimate Break!

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Last updated: March 9, 2024

Originally published: April 26, 2023

My Trip to Belize with EF Ultimate Break

me in a swimsuit standing in clear blue water in belize during the EF Ultimate Break Belize: Rainforests, Reefs & Ruins trip

Here are some quick facts about my trip, including when I went, my flight info, and how much I paid!

When: January 25th – February 3rd, 2023

Trip type: Standard

Flights: I booked my own 

Price: $2,079 trip fee (no flights) + $45 food tour + $179 travel protection

Savings: Saved $100 using a discount code + $200 off booking during a sale

Total price: $2,003

Group size: 24 people

Age range: 19-35

Itinerary for Belize with EF Ultimate Break

There is a lot to do in Belize, and this EF Ultimate trip is a good mix of activities and free time. Below are the highlights from each day. 

This itinerary can change anytime, and the activities below were just what we did on my specific trip run. 

Day 1: Arrive in Belize

  • Fly into Belize City (BZE) 
  • Meet your tour guide and other EF travelers

If you book your flights through EF, this is the day you will land in Belize. You may fly out the same day or the day/night before. 

If you book your own flights, make sure you land in Belize on Day 1. 

Day 2: Mayan Ruins + Travel to the Islands

  • Visit Altun Ha ruins with a guide
  • Take the ferry to San Pedro
  • Welcome dinner

Day 3: Snorkel + Enjoy the Beach/Pool

  • Morning snorkeling in Hol Chan
  • Free time
  • Food tour (optional)

Day 4: Zip Line + Cave Tube + Travel to San Ignacio

  • Leave San Pedro by ferry
  • Take the bus from Belize City to San Ignacio
  • Stop for ziplining, cave tubing, and lunch

Day 5: Day Trip to Tikal in Guatemala

  • Cross the border into Guatemala
  • Visit Tikal National Park with a guide

Day 6: Travel to Placencia

  • Take the bus from San Ignacio to Placencia
  • Free time

*My group stopped at the chocolate farm on day 6

Day 7 + 8: Free Day at the Beach

the beach with palm trees to either side of the image and the clear blue water in the background
  • Chill in Placencia at the hotel/beach
  • Visit the town for shopping and food
  • Book a spa treatment
  • Other activities can be booked through the hotel (Scuba diving, horseback riding, etc.)
  • Snorkel (optional add-on)

One of these days will be the optional snorkeling add-on.

*My group did a day trip to an island simultaneously with the snorkeling (the same island, non-snorkelers relaxed on the island during snorkeling, and then everyone had free time and lunch)

Day 9: Travel to Belize City

  • Take the bus back to Belize City
  • Farewell dinner

*My group stopped at the Belize Zoo on Day 9

Day 10: Fly Home

  • Bye, Belize 🙁 

If you book your flights through EF, this is the day you will leave Belize. You may land back at your home airport the same day, likely late or early the next day. 

If you book your own flights, make sure you leave BZE on Day 10 (any time). 

EF Ultimate Belize Hotels

Overall I was happy with the hotels with stayed at on this EF Ultimate trip. All the rooms were nice, and the hotels handled any issues (water not working, not enough beds), and I wouldn’t blame EF for the problems. 

Each night I had anywhere from one to three roommates, which was great for a standard trip. The hotels were also in great locations, right on the beach in San Pedro and Placencia, and two of the other three hotels had pools. 

For the price, I think the hotels were overall great. 

EXCEPT… 

A safety issue occurred at the Umaya Hotel on night 8, and I think EF handled it fine. I still trust and highly recommend them as a tour company, although I wouldn’t recommend the hotel to anyone.

a pool hotel
The Cahal Pech Hotel in San Ignacio

Hotels on my specific trip

  • Belize Biltmore Plaza – Belize City (Night 1)
  • Caribbean Villas – San Pedro (Nights 2-3)
  • Cahal Pech Hotel – San Ignacio (Nights 4-5)
  • Umaya – Placencia (Nights 6-8)
  • Golden Bay – Belize City (Night 9)

Food in Belize

a plate of chicken, rice, and beans - a common dish in belize

Food in Belize is basic. You will eat a lot of chicken, rice, and beans, and the portions aren’t always big. 

It is nice that many meals are included, but the choices are often limited. 

Make sure you have snacks since meal times aren’t very flexible with so many activities scheduled. 

You will be responsible for buying some of your own meals, which is when many of us ordered American dishes and pasta to fill up and take a break from rice. 

Vegetarians + vegans: the vegetarians and vegans on the trip were always accommodated. They had good things to say about the food overall.

Activities in Belize with EF Ultimate Break

There are a lot of fun, adventurous activities included in this EF Ultimate trip. You can always opt out of them, but they are included in the price of your tour! 

on a yellow tube wearing a lifevest in a river
  • Snorkeling at Hol Chan: The Belize Barrier Reef is ranked as the second-best place to go snorkeling in the world. The guides were very patient with beginners, and more experienced/daring snorkelers were given some freedom to swim/dive on their own. 
  • Ziplining: Even if you hate heights (like me), ziplining is a ton of fun, and no one will judge you if you scream the whole time 🙂 
  • Cave tubing: This is the most relaxing activity, and you basically just float in a tube for an hour or so. There is a 25-ish minute walk to the start of the cave, though. Even though I hate small places (like caves – hello, claustrophobia), I was OK during this activity as the cave is huge and dark, and you just have to relax and float on your tube. 
  • Tours of two Mayan ruins: You get a guided tour of Altun Ha and Tikal in Guatemala. Both are interesting and have great spots for pictures.  

Optional Add-ons

yellow tubes scattered in front of a cave

There are some optional activities that you can add on at checkout or before you depart at an additional cost:

  • Belize Food Tour: The tour has four stops where you get to sample some delicious food. I went on this excursion and would recommend it. You get a lot of food, and seeing some of the local restaurants in San Pedro is interesting.
  • Snorkeling at Turneffe Atoll: If you love the water, you can add on a second snorkeling trip at Turneffe Atoll. I didn’t do this excursion, but the one that included a snorkeling activity earlier on the trip was enough for me (and many of the others on my trip)

Most people opted for the food tour (including the vegetarians and vegans), and about half did the snorkeling. A snorkeling excursion is already included in the trip, so this would be a second one.

Additional Activities

me standing next to a rainbow "Belize" sign on the Belize trip with EF Ultimate Break

Our fantastic guide (Matthew) planned three extra excursions for us at an additional cost! We paid for these in cash when we arrived. The island day trip was optional, but the zoo and chocolate making was not, as we stopped between cities:

  • Moho Caye Island Day Trip: We took a boat to a beautiful island with clear blue water. Unlimited rum punch and a barbeque lunch were included. This was one of my favorite days on the trip, so I highly recommend the island BBQ/beach day if your tour guide offers it. 
  • Che’il Mayan Chocolate Tour: We stopped at a chocolate farm to see cocoa trees, learn how chocolate is made, and make some of our own.
  • Belize Zoo: The Belize Zoo is a natural environment where you’ll see animals who have been injured or otherwise wouldn’t survive in the wild. 

EF Ultimate Belize Trip Types

Here are the options EF Ultimate offers for the Belize trip (descriptions from efultimatebreak.com):

  • EF Ultimate Plus: Stay in hotel-style accommodations, room with just one other person, and enjoy more included meals. Designed for friends, couples, or anyone that just values their me time, Plus combines an immersive itinerary with more space to unwind.
  • Essential: The budget-friendliest way to explore the world. Bunk up with your travel BFFs in handpicked, shared accommodations with sweet common areas. Perfect for solo travelers and social butterflies.

I took the Standard Belize trip, where I had 1-3 roommates each night. Standard was an older trip-type EF offered, which is now similar to the Essential trip.

Overall Rating: 4.5/5

I would highly recommend the Belize trip to anyone. There is such a wide variety of activities that everyone will enjoy themselves. And, in my experience, it draws very chill yet fun people. 

The mix of activities was my favorite part of the trip, and I also loved seeing all the different parts of the country. 

However, the trip didn’t get a perfect 5 out of 5 because some of the “relaxing time” was taken up by the zoo and chocolate tour, which ended up not being optional. And it might not be the right trip for you if you aren’t into activities like ziplining and snorkeling. Still, you can always opt out of these activities.

Packing Essentials for Belize with EF Ultimate Break

a pyramid shaped ruin in Tikal, Guatemala - you spend a day here on the Belize trip with EF Ultimate Break

In addition to your standard travel items (clothes, bathroom essentials, good shoes), here are some things I wouldn’t go back to Belize without. I’ve linked all my favorite products if you need suggestions.

  • Cash – Card is accepted nearly everywhere, but cash is much easier. They accept USD everywhere, so I took out money before I left the US. You’ll want cash to tip your tour guide and bus driver! (I took $400-ish, and it was plenty, although I did use my card at a few bars)
  • Sunscreen – The sun in Belize is HOT, and you’ll spend a lot of time in it. Bring sunglasses and a hat too.
  • Bug spray – Bugs in the jungles can get pretty bad. Make sure you apply sunscreen first, then bug spray. 
  • Dry bag – A dry bag is great for keeping your things dry on the boats, especially on snorkeling trips.
  • Motion sickness medicine – Motion sickness medicine will help if you get sick on boats, especially on the ferry to/from San Pedro.
  • Waterproof shoes with straps – You’ll need shoes with a back for cave tubing, and waterproof shoes will be helpful for the beach days.
  • Quick-drying towel – The hotels offered towels for the most part, but I’d recommend packing one just in case. A microfiber towel is easy to pack, and I always have one in my suitcase.
  • Multiple swimsuits – You’ll spend a lot of time in the water on this EF Ultimate trip. Bring 2-3 swimsuits so you always have a dry one. 
  • Waterproof phone case – with all the water activities on this trip, you’ll want to keep your phone protected when you’re in the water.
  • GoPro – I love having my GoPro with me when I’m in the water. It’s so easy to use and can even be submerged in the water. It’s also great for ziplining where you can attach it to your helmet.
  • Anti-diarrheal medicine – unfortunately, a few people on my trip had stomach issues. Pack some Imodium or other medicine, just in case. 
  • A mix and cute and active clothes – definitely bring some activewear for hikes in the jungle and along the ruins. But, also pack a nice outfit or two for dinners and nights out. 

For more of my travel must-haves, check out my Amazon page!

Frequently Asked Questions About Belize

Leave a comment below or DM me on social media if you have any questions that aren’t answered below.

What is the best time to go to Belize?

The best time to go to Belize is between January and May, which is the dry season. You will miss the holiday crowds and the rain. The rainy season is from June to November. The rain isn’t frequent, and you can still have a great trip, but there will be some storms and heavy rains.

Is Belize Safe?

Belize is safe, and the people are very friendly. Your tour guide will ensure you are not put in dangerous places or situations. Even Belize City is safe, and we were able to explore the nightlife safely. 

Follow the usual travel rules like trusting your gut, watching your drinks, and staying in groups!

Can I travel alone to Belize with EF Ultimate Break?

Yes! So many people travel solo with EF Ultimate Break, and around 20 of the 24 people on my trip booked it solo. It is so easy to make friends with the people on these trips, and going with a group is a great way to get started solo traveling.

Is the food tour worth it?

Many people who have gone on this tour say the food tour isn’t worth it. Belize food is basic, and you don’t really get explanations on what you are eating, but I enjoyed it and was glad I went vs. eating food at the hotel. You also eat a lot, so you get your money’s worth, in my opinion.

How is the border crossing into Guatemala?

The day trip to Tikal is long, and the crossing and car rides take over two hours each way. BUT IT IS SO WORTH IT!!! You will drive to the border, cross on foot, then go with your Guatemala tour guides (plus your EF guide) to Tikal in vans. The border crossing is easy, and you need $20 USD to go from Belize to Guatemala (no money is needed to return to Belize).

EF Ultimate Break Promo Codes

a US passport and a map of belize

For first-time EF Ultimate travelers, you can save $100 off any trip by booking here!

(Or use any of the links in this article for the discount. Code & discount are automatically applied at checkout. Reach out with questions or issues!)

If you’ve traveled with EF Ultimate before, use code REPEAT for up to $300 off your next trip. 

EF also frequently runs sales throughout the year, their biggest being in November for Black Friday. You can find deals on EF Ultimate Break prices every few months.

Send me a DM on Instagram (or any other social media!) if you want details on their next sale!

Trips Similar to EF Ultimate Belize: Rainforests, Reefs & Ruins

me in zipline gear

If this trip sounds fun, check out some similar options that EF Ultimate offers:

Other Latin America trips with EF Ultimate Break:

EF Ultimate Belize Trip Verdict

a sign saying "san pedro" with the water and palm trees in the background - one of the stops on the Belize EF Ultimate Break trip

Overall I loved the Belize trip, and I would recommend it to anyone who wants a 10-day get away with a good mix of relaxation and adventure. 

It is also a great trip for first-time EF travelers and beginners to international travel. It’s long enough to get used to group travel without being too much for a first-timer. 

Remember, you can save $100 off your first EF trip by booking here!

If you have any questions about traveling with EF, check out my FAQs.

Here are all the reviews I’ve written about EF Ultimate Break trips:

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