Leisure in Belize

The Ministry of Tourism, Youth, Sports & Diaspora Relations provides policy oversight, while the Belize Tourism Board (BTB) supports tourism development, marketing and licensing. The National Sports Council coordinates sports and recreation, including grassroots activities, youth programmes, community facilities, competitions, coaching and performance support. Actual access and prices depend on the venue, federation, school, community organization or private provider. Cultural and creative activities include workshops, exhibitions, performances, festivals, music, dance and crafts. The National Institute of Culture and History (NICH) works through divisions such as the Institute of Archaeology, the Institute of Creative Arts, the Institute for Social and Cultural Research, the Museum of Belize and Houses of Culture. The Bliss Centre supports theatre, exhibitions and performing arts. The Belize Cultural Fund can provide grants of up to $5,000 or micro-grants of up to $2,000 for eligible Belizean individuals and nonprofit organizations; the number, timing and subject areas depend on each call. Outdoor recreation includes beaches, cayes, diving, snorkelling, sailing, fishing, birding, hiking, caving, canoeing, kayaking, horseback riding and river tours. Belize has 103 protected areas in five categories: National Parks, Nature Reserves, Natural Monuments, Forest Reserves and Wildlife Sanctuaries. Access can require a permit and prescribed fee under the National Protected Areas System Act, and conservation, wildlife or reef rules may restrict what visitors can do. Camping in a Forest Reserve requires permission and costs BZ$2.50 per person per night for nationals or BZ$5 for non-nationals. Other protected-area fees vary by site. Heritage and entertainment options include the Museum of Belize, where admission is listed at $7-$14, and archaeological or historic cave sites with tickets of about $5-$25; the ticket pages do not always specify the currency. Events include the National Festival of Arts, Eboe Town Festival, Pan Yaad, Maya Day, food and music festivals, regattas, cycling events, fishing events, birding events, chocolate events and mango events. The BTB event calendar can help locate activities, but dates, prices and admission arrangements remain organizer- or district-specific. Travel between mainland Belize, the cayes and Barrier Reef areas commonly uses domestic flights, buses, rental cars, tour operators, boats or water taxis. Water taxis are a principal connection between the mainland and islands. Guided tours are often the practical way to reach reefs, caves, rivers, wildlife areas or archaeological sites. A tour guide must hold a BTB licence and display it, while unlicensed guiding is prohibited. Rest and recreation are available through beaches, resorts, lodges, guesthouses and homestays. Tourist accommodation must be registered and licensed by the BTB before advertising or accepting bookings, and a 9% Tourist Accommodation Tax applies. Prices depend on the provider, season and location. The dry season generally runs from February to May, the wet season from June to December, and hurricane risk can affect plans. High season usually falls between December and March or April, while many festivals take place during the wetter or lower season.