Best Time to Visit Belmopan

February to April: dry and hot

This is the best stretch, and February and March score highest. Days are sunny and the rain is light. March feels warm but fair, with highs around 32°C. It's the time for caves, ruins and rivers, since trails and roads are at their driest.

Belmopan itself is a small, quiet capital with a government district and a lively market. Most people use it as a base. From here you can reach the ATM cave (Actun Tunichil Muknal), Barton Creek Cave and the Mayan site of Xunantunich. The Blue Hole National Park is close too, with a cool swim in a sinkhole pool. These all feel better when the ground isn't muddy.

April is the hottest month, with highs of 35°C. It's still fairly dry, but afternoons are sticky and tiring. Plan caves and swims for the middle of the day, and keep ruins for the morning.

Crowds peak in this season, and it's Belize's high season. Cayo lodges fill up around Easter, which is also when locals take a holiday. Mid-March has Baron Bliss Day (9 March), a public holiday best known for regattas on the coast. Belmopan is quiet then, so don't expect a big show here.

May to December: green and wet

May is the turning point. It's still hot, with highs of 34°C, but showers return. By June the rain is heavy, with 239 mm over 20 days. It eases a little in July, then builds again.

October is the wettest month at 257 mm, and humidity sits around 90% in October and November. Rivers rise, and some cave tours and jungle roads can close or get tricky. Hurricane season runs through November, so keep your plans flexible and your insurance sorted.

The upside is price and space. You'll often have Xunantunich nearly to yourself, and the hills look bright green. Rain tends to come in bursts, so mornings can still be fine. If you don't mind a wet afternoon, this is a good time for slow trips and farm stays.

September brings Belize's national celebrations. St. George's Caye Day (10 September) and Independence Day (21 September) mean parades, music and street food. Belmopan, the capital, joins in.

January and December: a mixed bag

These are cooler months, with lows near 20°C. They're also fairly damp. January gets 119 mm over 15 days, and December is rated Poor. Cool evenings are nice for a plate of stew chicken with rice and beans, but the sky can stay grey. If you want an in-between trip, aim for late January into February, when the skies usually clear.