From Ancient Ruins To Barefoot Luxury
My journey began on Ambergris Caye at Alaia Belize, just a short flight from Belize City but a world away in spirit. Set right on the Caribbean, it’s the kind of resort that redefines luxury—elegant yet unpretentious, polished but still barefoot at heart. Mornings began with the soft pink glow of sunrise spilling through my window; evenings, with a cocktail at the Vista Rooftop Sushi Bar as the sky faded to violet. The staff—led by the ever-gracious Scott—made me feel instantly at home, like I was part of the family.
From there, I traded the sea breeze for mountain mist at Hidden Valley Wilderness Lodge, tucked inside a 7,200-acre private reserve in the Mountain Pine Ridge region. The drive inland revealed rolling hills, dense forests, and waterfalls that felt like secrets the earth had decided to share. My villa, complete with infinity pool and stone fireplace, looked out over a valley so still it seemed to breathe in unison with you. It was the kind of peace you don’t realize you’ve been missing until it wraps around you.
My last stop, Naia Resort and Spa on the Placencia Peninsula, brought me back to the coast. My beachfront cottage sat just steps from the water—coffee in hand at sunrise, stars overhead by night. It felt like the world had narrowed to just the sound of waves and the glow of candlelight.
Flavors of a Nation
If you want to know Belize, start with its food. Every bite tells a story—part Caribbean, part Latin, entirely its own. Breakfasts came with fry jacks, those golden, puffed clouds of dough that somehow make mornings better. Lunches meant grilled snapper, coconut rice, and sometimes a splash of local rum.
One afternoon, I joined a food tour around San Pedro, zipping from café to café by golf cart. Each stop offered something different: garnaches topped with beans and cheese, spicy curries, and finally, the sweet scent of cacao at the Belize Chocolate Company. There, amid laughter and melted chocolate, I learned how much care goes into something as simple—and sacred—as a bar of dark chocolate.
At Hidden Valley, local chef Sean Kuylen elevated tradition into art. We dined beneath the stars after a Mayan blessing ceremony, his dishes balancing fire and fruit, earth and air. It wasn’t just a meal—it was a love letter to Belize itself.
Adventure—Ancient and Alive
You can’t visit Belize without feeling the weight—and wonder—of its history. Deep in the Chiquibul Forest Reserve, the Caracol ruins rise out of the mist, monumental and humbling all at once. I climbed the stone steps slick with rain, the jungle whispering all around, and imagined what life might have been like when this was the heart of a mighty Mayan city.
Back at Hidden Valley, a morning hike led me to Butterfly Falls, a hidden cascade dropping into a jade pool so clear it begged for a swim. Later, at Alaia, the adventure turned modern—a molecular mixology class with master mixologist Subhash. Watching him transform local ingredients into spherified cocktails and cigar-smoked old fashioneds felt like alchemy, equal parts science and play.
And then there was the flight over the Great Blue Hole—the moment every traveler dreams of. From above, its deep indigo circle looks almost surreal, the ocean around it glowing turquoise and white. It’s impossible not to feel small and awed all at once.
The final days blurred into a blissful rhythm of island hopping—snorkeling with stingrays off Silk Caye, savoring grilled fish on Ray Caye, and watching pelicans dive off Moho Caye as the sun melted into the horizon.
A Goodbye that Stays with You
Our last night at Naia was a celebration of sound and spirit—a beach bonfire, Garifuna drummers, and laughter spilling into the night. I danced badly but joyfully, surrounded by strangers who already felt like friends.
By Monday morning, as the plane lifted off the runway, Belize was still with me—in the scent of sea salt, the echo of drums, the calm that lingers long after you’ve gone.
Belize doesn’t just show you beauty—it slows you down enough to feel it. And once you do, you’ll understand why it’s impossible not to return.
Yes, I’ll be back. Belize has a way of calling you home.
