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How much Belize costs by travel style, with sample budgets for San Ignacio, Caye Caulker, Placencia, San Pedro, transfers, tours, food, and cash planning.
Getting around Belize made simple: water taxi schedules to the cayes, Tropic Air domestic flights, NBC bus timetables, BZE airport transfers, shuttles, and rental cars.
The driest months, the value windows and what every month is really like
March is the driest month and April is close behind, with calm seas for the reef. December and January are high season too, but cold fronts can bring wind and rain. Late May and late November get you shoulder prices with often-good weather. Late September to mid-October is the wettest, riskiest window. Use the month-by-month guide below to match your dates.
Reviewed by RowanBorn in Belize, lives near San IgnacioLast reviewed October 1, 2026
Reviewed October 1, 2026 for the 2026 to 2027 season. Rainfall figures are 1991 to 2020 averages from Belize's National Meteorological Service, not a forecast.
Month by month
Rainfall is the average at the international airport near Belize City. The south and the Cayo hills are wetter; the northern cayes are usually a little drier.
Peak season, with cold fronts · 141 mm, 10 rainy days
High season is in full swing after the holidays. Cold fronts (locals call them northers) can bring a few grey, windy days and rough boat crossings, followed by clear, cooler air. Lobster is still in season.
Dry season settles in · 65 mm, 6 rainy days
One of the driest and most reliable months, with comfortable heat and calm water most days. San Pedro's Carnaval runs in the days before Lent. Lobster season closes at the end of the month.
The driest month · 41 mm, 4 rainy days
March has the lowest average rainfall at the international airport station, with calm seas and good reef visibility. Easter falls on March 28 in 2027, so Holy Week brings Belizean families to the cayes and street carpets and processions to Benque Viejo and San Ignacio. Whale shark trips from Placencia start around the spring full moons.
Dry, hot and calm · 58 mm, 4 rainy days
Still dry and getting hotter, with calm seas and clear water on the reef. Once Easter has passed, crowds thin out. Whale shark season at Gladden Spit continues around the full moon.
Hot, quiet, and the start of value · 132 mm, 7 rainy days
The hottest month. It stays mostly dry until the rains arrive late in the month or in June, earlier in the south. Shoulder rates return and the cayes go quiet. Sargassum can begin to show on east-facing beaches.
Green season begins · 236 mm, 12 rainy days
The rains return, usually as heavy afternoon showers rather than all-day rain, and the jungle turns lush. Hurricane season starts on June 1, though Belize's practical risk is lower early in the season. Lobsterfest celebrations begin in late June.
Wet afternoons, lobster season · 180 mm, 14 rainy days
Mornings are often bright, with rain later in the day. Lobster season opens on July 1, and San Pedro, Caye Caulker and Placencia celebrate it with Lobsterfest. Summer family travel picks up.
The little dry, sometimes · 195 mm, 14 rainy days
July or August often brings the 'little dry', a short drier spell between the rains, which makes August a popular family window. On average it is still a wet month, and practical hurricane risk starts to rise.
Celebrations and peak storm weeks · 230 mm, 16 rainy days
Belize's biggest celebration month, with St. George's Caye Day on September 10 and Independence Day on September 21, carnival road marches and street parties. It is also deep in hurricane season, rates are at their lowest, and some island resorts close for maintenance.
The wettest month · 306 mm, 16 rainy days
October has the highest average rainfall at the international airport station and the strongest hurricane landfall history in Belize. Late September to mid-October is the worst window for a reef-and-beach trip. It is also the cheapest and quietest time of year.
Rains ease, value stays · 236 mm, 13 rainy days
The rains taper through the month, resorts reopen and rates stay below peak. Garifuna Settlement Day on November 19 in Dangriga and Hopkins is one of the great cultural days in Belize. Hurricane season ends on November 30.
High season returns · 151 mm, 12 rainy days
The first half of December is quieter and can still find lower rates. Christmas to New Year is the busiest, most expensive stretch of the year. Cold fronts can bring wind and rain, then cooler, clearer days.
These 1991 to 2020 averages come from the National Meteorological Service's station at Philip S. W. Goldson International Airport near Belize City. They provide a coastal reference; southern and inland destinations can differ. A rainy day means more than 1 mm of rain, not a whole day of rain.
| Month | Rainfall (mm) | Rainy days |
|---|---|---|
| January | 141.4 | 10 |
| February | 64.7 | 6 |
| March | 41.0 | 4 |
| April | 58.0 | 4 |
| May | 131.8 | 7 |
| June | 236.4 | 12 |
| July | 180.2 | 14 |
| August | 195.0 | 14 |
| September | 229.8 | 16 |
| October | 305.5 | 16 |
| November | 235.8 | 13 |
| December | 150.9 | 12 |
Source: Belize NMS climatology, 1991 to 2020, checked September 4, 2026. These are averages, not a forecast for 2026 or 2027.
The Belize Tourism Board describes December through March or April as high season. For a Christmas, New Year or Easter trip, check room availability and your flight connection before shaping the rest of the route. A popular travel month can still have wet or windy days.
Live conditions
Current conditions and the week ahead at the main bases. Updates every time you load the page.
Checking the skies over San Pedro…
Forecast data: Open-Meteo · Times in Belize (GMT-6)
How Belize's year actually works
Belize has two seasons: a dry season from about February to May and a green (rainy) season from June to November. December and January are a cooler transition, when cold fronts from the north can bring a few windy, showery days. Temperatures barely change all year, with coastal highs in the 80s°F. The real variables are rain, wind, crowds and price. Green-season rain usually comes as heavy afternoon bursts rather than washed-out days, and July or August often brings a short drier spell locals call the 'little dry'.
High season runs from December through April and follows demand more than rainfall: Christmas, New Year and Easter are the busiest weeks. The shoulder months of late May and November are the sweet spot for value, with thinner crowds and lower rates. The weather then is often good, just less predictable than in March.
Insider note
Late April and May are the local secret: the Easter crowds are gone, the cayes are quiet and the sea is calm before summer, at shoulder-season prices.
The year at a glance
December to February: the classic Caribbean escape, with breezy days, cooler nights and peak prices around the holidays, plus the odd cold front. March and April: the driest, most reliable months of the year, with calm seas, good reef visibility and Easter as the one crowded week. May: hot and quiet, mostly dry until the rains arrive late in the month. June and July: the green season begins; mornings are usually bright, afternoons can bring rain, the jungle is at its lushest, and sargassum is usually heaviest on east-facing beaches.
August: the 'little dry' often makes it a good family window. September and October: the wettest months and the heart of hurricane season. Some resorts close briefly, but September is also Belize's biggest celebration month, with St. George's Caye Day (September 10) and Independence Day (September 21). November: the rains taper, everything reopens, and Garifuna Settlement Day (November 19) in Hopkins and Dangriga is one of the great cultural experiences in the country.
Insider note
Whale shark season at Gladden Spit near Placencia runs roughly March through June, around the full moons. Sightings are never guaranteed, so book a licensed operator and keep a flexible day.
Match the month to the mission
Diving and snorkeling: March through June brings the calmest seas and best visibility, with whale sharks as the bonus. Fishing is good year-round, with tarpon peaking in summer. Caving: the dry months of February through May mean lower river levels for cave tubing and the ATM Cave, which can close after heavy rain. Maya ruins and jungle: dry season for easier trails, green season for full waterfalls, fewer visitors and the jungle at its most alive.
Beach-first travelers should aim for February through April for the surest sun, and check sargassum conditions before booking an east-facing beach from May to September. Birders get their best months from December to April, when migrants join the resident species. Southern and inland Belize are wetter than the airport station in the rainfall table, so pack for showers in Toledo and the Cayo hills.
Insider note
Booking the ATM Cave? Aim for the dry months. After major storms the cave can close for days, and rebooking a sold-out tour mid-trip is tough.
The honest caveats
Atlantic hurricane season runs June 1 to November 30, and most seasons pass without a direct hit on Belize. Practical risk rises from August to early November, and October has the country's strongest landfall history. For most visitors the real impact is a few days of heavy rain and cancelled boats. If you travel then, book refundable rates, buy trip insurance before any storm is named, and keep a spare day for reef plans. September and October carry the highest risk and the lowest prices; some island resorts close for annual maintenance.
Sargassum varies by year and changes week to week. In recent years, including a heavy 2026 season, east-facing beaches have seen the most seaweed from spring through summer. West-facing spots like Secret Beach on Ambergris Caye stay clearest, and the reef itself is unaffected for diving. If a postcard beach is the core of your trip, travel November through March or pick your base using current conditions rather than brochure photos.
Belize hurricane season: month-by-month risk and live NHC status
Insider note
The best value-to-weather ratio of the year: the last two weeks of May and the last two weeks of November. Shoulder pricing, often good weather and few crowds.
Lock in the dates
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Before you pick the month, decide whether the trip fits you at all: what Belize really costs, and which travelers should choose Mexico or Guatemala instead.
Questions travelers ask
March and April are the most reliable months. March is the driest month at the international airport station (41 mm of rain on average) and April is close behind, with calm seas and good reef visibility. February is also dry. For value with often-good weather, choose late May or late November. December and January are popular, but cold fronts can bring wind and rain.
Late September through mid-October, if beach and reef days are the priority. October is the wettest month at the international airport station (about 305 mm on average), it has Belize's strongest hurricane landfall history, and some island resorts close for an annual break. It is also the cheapest and quietest time, and inland Cayo stays workable, so it is only the worst time for a reef-first trip, not for every trip.
June through November, wettest in September and October. Rain usually falls as heavy afternoon showers rather than all-day washouts, and July or August often brings a short drier spell known as the 'little dry'. Southern Belize gets far more rain than the north and the cayes.
June 1 to November 30. Practical risk for Belize rises from August to early November, and October has the strongest landfall history. Most seasons pass without a direct hit, and most green-season trips see nothing worse than heavy showers. If you travel then, book refundable rates, buy travel insurance before any storm is named, and keep a spare day for boat trips.
Sargassum varies by year and coast, but it usually arrives in spring and lasts through summer, heaviest on east-facing beaches. West-facing spots like Secret Beach on Ambergris Caye stay clearest, and seaweed is usually lighter from November to March. Check the live tracker before booking a summer beach stay.
September and October bring the lowest rates of the year, with the most rain and some resort closures. For a better balance of weather and price, look at late May, June, November or the first half of December.
Yes, especially the second half. The rains ease, resorts reopen after the autumn break, rates stay below peak until mid-December, and Garifuna Settlement Day on November 19 is one of the best cultural events of the year. Early November can still be wet and hurricane season runs to November 30, so book refundable rates.
Yes, it is the start of high season. Christmas to New Year is the busiest and most expensive stretch of the year, so book rooms and flights early. The first half of December is quieter and can be cheaper. Cold fronts can bring a few windy, rainy days.
Roughly March through June at Gladden Spit near Placencia, concentrated in the days around each full moon when spawning snapper draw the whale sharks in. Sightings are never guaranteed and trips depend on the weather, so book a licensed Placencia operator and keep your dates flexible.
Image credits: Caye Caulker Belize Barrier Reef Aerial by Dronepicr, CC BY 3.0; The Belize River by epiphyllumlover, CC BY 3.0; Sargasso Seaweed with waves and sandy beach by Jonathan Wilkins, CC BY-SA 3.0.
Match your season to the activities you care about, compare stays and leave room for the weather.