Travelling Belize with a Toddler: The Ultimate Adventurous Family Travel Guide
Hey, I'm Kelsey! If you’re new to my blog, I’m a 36 year old Canadian, married to my husband Dave for 8 years (but dating for nearly 16), and we love to travel and adventure through life.
Some of our favourite trips have been to Peru to hike Machu Picchu, Nicaragua to learn to surf, Morocco to sleep in the Sahara Desert, Switzerland to Teach English & Snowboarding to International Children, and Backcountry Camping in Algonquin Park.
This blog is an honest review of traveling to Belize with our 2-year-old Freddie, including flights from Toronto, resort recommendations, jungle adventures, and everything in between.
Is Belize The Right Vacation Option for Your (Adventurous) Family?
When Dave and I started planning our next trip as two 36-year-old adventure nuts, we faced a new opportunity: we now have a lively 2-year-old boy in tow (Freddie)!
The endless Google & ChatGPT searches like ‘How To Find A Great Vacation For Parents & 2 Year Old’ sent us into a decision spiral and I wanted to write this blog to all of the other 30 some year old parents who are looking for an adventurous and safe family vacation.
We toggled back and forth with the questions of:
Should we play it safe with an all-inclusive?
Stick to what we know?
Or could we still chase adventure with Freddie in tow?
Spoiler alert: Belize delivered everything we hoped for and more.
Why We Chose Belize (Again)
Eight years ago, we honeymooned in Belize, exploring areas like Blackrock, Caye Caulker, and Caye Ambergris. As newlyweds, we fell in love with the country's incredible duality—jungle adventures with howler monkeys, river cruises, and rope swings, balanced with island life, world-class snorkeling (we don’t dive but everyone there seems to visit for that reason!), and beachside relaxation.
When planning this family trip, we considered returning to Costa Rica (where we'd taken Freddie the year before), exploring other parts of Central or South America, or even heading to Europe.
But when we factored in weather, flight times with a toddler, and the type of experience we wanted, Belize kept rising to the top.
(From our experience) Belize is PERFECT for families who want to:
Paddle down rivers and explore jungle trails
Snorkel with their kids in the Caribbean
Run along uncrowded beaches
Eat at authentic local restaurants (but who aren’t looking for a country that has fancy culinary experiences)
Hike through rainforests listening to howler monkeys
Swim in natural rivers, resort pools, and the ocean
Experience genuine culture without overwhelming crowds
Belize might NOT be right if you want:
All-inclusive resort programming and kids' clubs (from our experience, the resorts were not the typical Mexico all-inclusive you might have visited)
Water slides and extensive resort amenities
Highly developed tourist infrastructure (it’s still a pretty rough country, but the people make the experience 11/10. They are proud of the country the live in)
The resorts we stayed at felt more adult-oriented in their design and atmosphere (more on which resorts we chose later), even though children were welcome and present. This isn't your typical family resort destination—it's an adventure-first experience.
Why Now is the Perfect Time to Visit Belize
Belize is an amazing option right now. It's a smaller country with a modest population that feels refreshingly untouched compared to busier destinations like Guatemala, Mexico, or Nicaragua (all of which we have visited before having Freddie!).
Even though tourism is one of Belize's main industries, it doesn't feel overrun or commercialized. There's a genuine, quiet charm here—it almost feels like a secret that hasn't been fully discovered yet and the locals are PROUD to have tourism as one of their main industries.
They hope to see the industry grow in the coming years, as it provides lots of jobs.
Getting There: Direct Flights from Toronto
Flight Details:
Airline: We booked WestJet (I believe Air Canada also offers service)
Flight time: Just 4.25 hours direct
Frequency: Every other day (limited options, but we departed Saturday 10:00 and returned on a Monday 16:00)
Important note:
With a toddler, the direct flight was a massive perk, but you'll need flexibility since flights only operate every other day. You take whatever time slot is available.
Airport Transfer Tip:
We booked our ground transportation through a local Belizean company that Dave found called Belize Paradise Shuttle by reading Reddit threads (rather than booking through the resort, which saved approximately 50%).
The service was professional, they provided snacks, and they were always the friendliest and most talkative drivers. All of them with unique up-bringings & stories to share with us.
Destination 1: Hopkins, Belize (4 Nights)
Where We Stayed: Almond Beach Resort & Jaguar Reef Resort
We chose Almond Beach Resort, which sits adjacent to Jaguar Reef Resort for our first stop. Because the properties are side-by-side, we had access to amenities at both resorts—essentially doubling our options.
Why we chose this accommodation:
Two-bedroom suite with a full kitchen for meal prep
Nearly direct walkout access to the main pool
Steps from the beach
Flexibility to cook our own meals (with a busy + active toddler, dining out is fun but not always ideal for every meal)
Resort Highlights:
Hammocks everywhere (toddler and parent approved!)
Daybeds built over the water that you can rest on, and do nighttime marine-life gazing
On-site ceviche bar
Happy hours on the big dock patio!
Rope swing (a huge hit with Dave!)
Beautiful, gentle walk-in beach perfect for small children (just watch out for the jellyfish!)
Nightly campfire at 6:00 PM with marshmallows for the kids
Easy 10-minute golf cart (we did some 2 hour rentals from Belize It Or Not) or bike ride into downtown Hopkins (our resort had bikes to use for free!)
Hopkins Town: Small, Authentic, and Charming
Hopkins itself is still wonderfully undeveloped—small enough to walk if you're staying downtown and just a short bike ride or golf cart ride into town from our resort.
You get a genuinely authentic Belizean experience here without the tourist trappings. The town offers great restaurants, bars, local food spots, and several fruit and vegetable stands where you can grab fresh papaya, oranges, or pineapple.
Our Favorite Hopkins Spots:
Roast Coffee House - Great coffee & banana bread
Rainy Day Cafe - Coffee & gluten free chocolate bundt cake was a hit!
Oasis Cafe and Gym - I got in a fantastic workout here one day (cost to enter was $10USD for a day pass)
Driftwood Beach Bar and Grill - We watched the Super Bowl here and it was SO lively and fun! Order their BBQ chicken pizza.
Maximos - Beachfront dinner spot with more authentic Belizean food
The Barracuda inside of Beaches & Dreams Resort - Amazing unlimited breakfast buffet of fruit & bagels, plus your ordered entree. Beautiful beachside patio
Nice Cream Ice Cream - the Belizean Chocolate Ice Cream was a hit for the whole family to cool down on a hot night
Thongs Beach Cafe - I ordered an Affogato for the first time ever and it was delicious
Activities in Hopkins:
Freddie had an absolute blast here. The laid-back beach vibe, easy access to water, and relaxed atmosphere made it perfect for toddler days.
We opted not to book formal excursions from Hopkins since chartering a private boat would have cost around $500 USD, but there was plenty to do on our own.
Destination 2: The Banks Resort, Belize Jungle (5 Nights)
On day five, we took the same shuttle service from Hopkins into the jungle—about a 1.5-hour drive—and checked into The Banks Resort, a brand-new property located beside the well-known Sleeping Giant Resort.
True Jungle Paradise
This is where the adventure really ramped up. The Banks is situated right on the Sibun River, offering an absolutely serene setting. The resort's restaurant called Humo overlooks the river, and you’re able to grab a river raft to explore the water.
Accommodation:
The accommodation is truly 5-star and brand new. We had a private villa (which was a suite with a kitchen, private pool, massive main room, and outdoor shower). With the kitchen, even though it only had an induction burner (no microwave or oven) we were still able to prepare many of our own breakfasts and lunches using groceries we'd picked up in Hopkins & eventually grabbing a few extra supplies in the town of Armenia.
Dining Options:
This was the one drawback of staying at The Banks - there is a VERY limited option when it comes to where you dine out (since you are very far from any town, and cannot access anything off of resort property). For this reason, we did cook most of our breakfasts and lunches at our villa. The room also had a good Lavazza Coffee Machine.
Humo at The Banks - Incredible food, highly recommended for a morning double espresso or romantic date night on the river. Not the most friendly spot for a busy 2 year old, but we knew that going in. The food was 11/10 good.
Sleeping Giant Resort - We ate here one night; they have both a pizza restaurant and a nice indoor dining option. Don Tonito's pizza was an easy, laid back dinner for our family. And the restaurant served incredible
Suite kitchen - With a 2 year old in tow, we opted to cook a LOT of meals on site!
Jungle Excursions: Where Belize Really Shines
The jungle region offers endless adventure opportunities:
Cave tubing
Cave exploration
Viewing the Blue Hole
Waterfall climbing
Swinging suspension bridges
Yoga deck
Free Bikes To Use + 5 KM bike path!
Horseback riding (visit the stables or take a guided ride)
Jungle hiking (there is a great mountain looking at The Banks)
River activities (tubing or river rafts)
Our Epic Waterfall Adventure:
Dave and I hired a babysitter through The Banks one day and booked a six-hour waterfall excursion with Classic Adventures. This was hands-down one of the best experiences of our trip.
We drove to a nearby farm, completed a two-hour hike into the jungle, then spent hours swimming through and scaling five different waterfalls.
We swam through waterfall corridors, jumped from rocks, and ate lunch perched atop a cascading waterfall.
Our guide Jose was absolutely fantastic—knowledgeable, safety-conscious, and fun. He guided us through all of the wonders of the jungle: from edible termites, to finding tea vines that tasted like cloves, to so much more!
Exploring San Ignacio:
Another day, we hired Jerson (the owner of Classic Adventures) to take us into nearby Armenia to explore the town. We visited:
Lamania Chocolate Farm - A cacao farm & chocolate making experience with tons of samples and souvenirs to take home
Brew and Bloom's Coffee Bar - Excellent local coffee and atmosphere
Local grocery stores for supplies!
Practical Tips: Budget, Packing, and Logistics
Budget Considerations
Yes, you'll spend a decent amount on resort accommodations. However, costs can be managed by:
Shopping at local grocery stores
Cooking some meals in your suite
Choosing independent tour operators over resort packages
Using local transfer services instead of resort shuttles
Currency:
Both Belizean dollars and US dollars are accepted throughout the country.
Overall cost:
This trip won't necessarily be more expensive than other international destinations if you're strategic about where you spend.
Final Verdict: Would We Return?
Absolutely, 100% yes.
We cannot recommend this trip enough.
Belize offers the perfect blend of adventure and relaxation for families who want more than a typical resort vacation but aren't quite ready for hardcore backpacking with a toddler.
If you're an adventurous 30-something couple with a young child who:
Loves nature and outdoor activities
Wants authentic cultural experiences
Can be flexible and go with the flow
Prefers boutique properties over mega-resorts
Values unique experiences over amenities
...then Belize should be at the top of your list.
The combination of jungle and beach, the quiet unspoiled feel, the friendly locals, and the ease of travel from Toronto make Belize an outstanding choice for adventurous families.
We’re already planning our return!
