10 Things to See and Do on a Toledo Belize Vacation

Never heard of Toledo? There’s a reason for that. It’s one of the nation’s best-kept secrets.

What’s your vacation style? Do you crave nightlife so much, you rarely see the sun come up in the morning, or would you be just as happy to get your kicks where you’ll never run into a crowd? If the second option sounds most appealing, we’ve found your nirvana.

What’s unique about Toledo?

One of six Belize districts, Toledo shares a border with Guatemala and it’s one of the least-visited areas in Belize. What it lacks in visitors, it makes up for in beauty. Toledo is filled with teeming jungles, pristine rainforests, and farms, but the true treasures are the people who live in Toledo. This melting pot of Creoles, Mestizos, Mayan descendants, Mennonites, and East Indians form quite a unique community. Taste all of Toledo’s charms by putting these 10 experiences on your must-see list!

10 Things To See and Do In Toledo, Belize

1. Tour these five major Maya ruins: Nim Ni Punit and Lubaantun. Pusilha, Uxbenka and Xnaheb. You don’t have to pronounce the names to stand in awe of this ancient society. More excavations are underway, giving you the perfect excuse to return in the future.

2. Toledo has become known as the cradle of chocolate. If you’ve got a sweet tooth, a visit to chocolate makers like Ixcacao, Cotton tree Chocolate, or T’chil is required. Whichever you choose, you’ll learn the art of chocolate making. Yes, you can sample.

3. Browse the Punta Gorda marketplace. Everything you need and want is for sale here, but you must show up on Wednesday, Friday, or both. Among the edibles, you’ll find on display are fresh produce, herbs, spices, and wearables you won’t find elsewhere.

4. Swim in the Blue Creek Cave (this site’s Maya name is Hokeb Ha Cave) and be dazzled by a rushing waterfall that spills over rocks at the mouth of the cave. The hike to the cave mouth is easy and well worth the effort you made to view the gorgeous site.

5. Shop for authentic products crafted by Maya women artisans. Watch basketry being hand-made from leaves of plants harvested from the rainforest. Called Jippy jappa baskets, these make great gifts — just don’t forget to buy one for yourself.

6. Eat like the locals. Sample dishes from the East Indian restaurants scattered across the district. Like all Belizeans, everyone at these eateries speaks English. Our suggestions? Heart of palm and callaloo. You’re going to ask for seconds.

7. Get your drum on. You’ll be in the capable and talented hands of Garifuna drummers who run schools that share this unique skill with visitors. It’s easy. It’s fun. It’s not expensive. Don’t be surprised if you take a drum home to practice what you learned.

8. Discover the environs of the Copal Tree Distillery. The tour starts in the fields where sugar cane is grown and moves on to the distillery itself so visitors experience the brewing and bottling processes. Yes, you can taste the product.

9. Prefer your agriculture less intoxicating? Take a farm and garden tour like the one at the Belize Spice Farm and Botanical Garden. Even non-foodies find bliss among the plants, flowers, aromas, and tastes. If you get hungry, there’s an eatery on site.

10. Get your snorkel on. Take a charter out of Punta Gorda for several hours where you will glide by offshore cayes where snorkeling experiences are different from those in more populated areas like Ambergris Caye. No equipment? No problem. Your guide can help you out with rentals.

These 10 recommendations are just a taste of what you can expect from a visit to Toledo and there are many more things to see and do within the boundaries of this one-of-a-kind district. Chances are, you will want to return once you realize how many experiences you missed simply because you ran out of time!

Get a copy of The Ultimate Belize Bucket List! Written by Larry Waight, a local with more than twenty years of experience in the travel industry, the book is packed with tips, information, and recommendations about all of the best things to see and do in Belize.