This post will share everything you need to know about exploring the Hummingbird Highway, Belize’s most scenic drive! This region was our favourite jungle destination in Belize and is worth more than just a drive-by. Read on for the best things to do, tasty places to eat, and accommodation options along the highway.
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About the Hummingbird Highway Belize
Ever wondered what Belize’s prettiest drive is? Welcome to the Hummingbird Highway!
The most scenic stretch of road in Belize, this two-lane paved highway spans 86 kilometres (53 mi) from the capital city Belmopan in the north to Dangriga in the south.
The Hummingbird Highway connects the George Price Highway (also known as the Western Highway) that runs west from Belize City to the Guatemalan border, with the Southern Highway that runs south from Dangriga to Punta Gorda.
It takes less than 2 hours to drive from one end of the Hummingbird Highway to the other if you don’t stop along the way, but there is so much to see and discover along this stretch of road, I guarantee you’re going to want to allocate a lot more time!
Many visitors and locals simply use the Hummingbird Highway as a connection between north and south Belize. Others visit the area on a day trip from elsewhere in the country, like San Ignacio or Hopkins, taking a leisurely drive with a few stops.
But we actually spent a couple of days staying on the Hummingbird Highway. It was our favourite inland experience, and we’re so glad we dedicated more than just a couple of hours to exploring this tropical paradise, I hope we can encourage you to do the same.
Hummingbird Highway Belize quick facts
- 🛣️ What is the Hummingbird Highway – one of Belize’s most scenic drives, but also an incredible region to spend a few days exploring, with plenty of activities to do in the heart of the rainforest, great local food and beautiful jungle lodges to stay in.
- 🛏️ How long to stay – although some people will simply drive along the highway as a day trip, we think this region deserves at least 2-3 nights to fully explore and appreciate it. Plus the accommodation options here are fantastic!
- 🚗 How to explore the Hummingbird Highway – having a rental car is the best way to see the Hummingbird Highway. There are local buses, but with an irregular timetable, you really need a car to reach the highlights.
How to explore the Hummingbird Highway
The easiest way to explore the Hummingbird Highway in Belize is by car.
There are local buses that run along the highway between Dangriga and Belmopan, but it would be difficult to use public transport to visit all the great sights as the buses are infrequent without any set timetable. You could easily arrive or depart to the region by bus, but without your own wheels, you’ll find it difficult to see the best of the area and travel between attractions.
We recommend renting a car, giving you complete control to explore the Hummingbird Highway Belize at your own pace. Where you rent a car will depend on where you are coming from.
🛻 DO YOU NEED A 4X4 CAR FOR THE HUMMINGBIRD HIGHWAY?
No. If your rental car is just for the purpose of visiting the Hummingbird Highway, you don’t need a 4×4. The highway is paved and in great condition. Some of the popular sights have unpaved entry roads, but we didn’t encounter anything a normal car couldn’t handle. If you are continuing to other parts of Belize in the same car (e.g. San Ignacio) you might want to consider renting a 4×4, as there are some great offroad experiences there and the roads are not as well maintained.
Renting a car in Belize City
If you’ve been in the north of the country (Ambergris Caye, Caye Caulker, or arriving at the airport), it makes sense to rent a car in Belize City.
Belize City is the best place in the country to rent a car, and you’ll find the widest variety of rental agencies. All the usual companies like Avis, Hertz, Alamo etc. and several reputable local companies are here.
If you rent a car in Belize City, you can start your Hummingbird Highway adventures in the north, near Belmopan.
Renting a car in Dangriga
If you’re approaching the highway from the south, rental options are fewer. However, in Dangriga, there is one local rental agency.
Dangriga Auto Rentals is a locally owned and operated rental agency, and it feels quite informal compared to the usual chain operators. But we had a great experience renting with them and can recommend their services. Their prices are inclusive of insurance.
During our two-week Belize itinerary, we visited Tobacco Caye, which is a small remote island just off the coast of Dangriga. When we returned to the mainland, picking up a car in Dangriga and heading north along the Hummingbird Highway was the most efficient route for us and avoided the need to backtrack to Belize City to collect a car.
↔️ RETURNING YOUR RENTAL CAR
Most agencies will allow you to do a one-way rental for an additional fee. If you don’t want to backtrack along the Hummingbird Highway and return your car to the same place you collected it, you can arrange to drop it off in a different city.
We travelled with our rental car from Dangriga Auto Rentals to San Ignacio after the Hummingbird Highway, and the agency collected the car from us there, before we crossed the border into Guatemala. This also would have worked if we were flying out of the airport.
Things to do on the Hummingbird Highway
The Hummingbird Highway is so much more than just a pretty road. This region is home to some of the country’s most pristine rainforest, and the area is full of mountains, waterfalls and caves to explore.
1. Billy Barquedier National Park
Located on the southern section of the highway closest to Dangriga, the Billy Barquedier National Park has got to be one of the most underrated national parks in the country!
Housing over 1,600 hectares of tropical rainforest, an astounding range of trees and plants, and wildlife like the tapir (Belize’s national animal), howler monkeys and even jaguars, it’s one of Belize’s best hidden gems.
There are two main visitor attractions within the national park.
BILLY BARQUEDIER WATERFALL
A short 15-minute walk through the jungle will lead you to a beautiful waterfall. It doesn’t really have a specific name, it’s just ‘the waterfall’ inside the park.
To get there, you’ll need to rock hop across a small river, before walking alongside the banks to reach the base of the falls. You can jump in the small jungle pool and swim right up to the falls. There is a wooden observation deck and some benches to leave your things.
We loved this waterfall, although it’s not as big as some of the others we visited in Belize at Mountain Pine Ridge. When we visited on a weekday we had the whole place to ourselves! It is so lush and tropical, and standing under the thundering waterfall was such a great experience.
OBSERVATION TOWER
If you’re up for a challenge, you can follow the Jaguar Trail, which leads to an observation tower standing at an elevation of 370 metres (1,230 ft).
We will warn you, this trail is no joke! The guy at the entrance told us it was around 45 minutes to get up, but he didn’t mention how steep it was.
It is 45 minutes (minimum) of pretty strenuous incline, on a muddy, slippery trail. We weren’t prepared for how hard it would be, we had barely any water, and were wearing Birkenstocks!
But we made it to the top, and the views over the Maya Mountains were spectacular. It feels like the rickety wooden tower is in the middle of a vast sea of green, and you can see the Hummingbird Highway passing below.
If you want to give this trail a go, allow at least 2 hours to return, and come prepared with sturdy shoes, plenty of water and maybe a reward snack for the top!
DETAILS
- 💰 Cost – the entrance fee to the national park is $10 BZD for foreigners and $2 BZD for locals.
- ⏰ When – the published opening hours are 7 days a week, from 8 am – 4 pm. A ranger should come out of the small office to collect your payment when you arrive. The Lonely Planet guide for Belize warns visitors from parking their car and proceeding into the park if there is no one there to take their entrance fee, so keep that in mind.
- 📍 Where – the entrance is small and completely inconspicuous from the Hummingbird Highway, bar a tiny wooden sign. This location in Google Maps is the best marker you can get, just keep your eye out for a small sign and a tiny driveway on the bend of the road.
- 🚽 Amenities – there is a clean bathroom and changing room in the small car park.
2. St. Herman’s Blue Hole National Park
The Great Blue Hole might be a more famous Belize icon, but the Inland Blue Hole is well worth a visit too!
The St. Herman’s Blue Hole National Park is located on the northern end of the Hummingbird Highway, close to the city of Belmopan. The national park spans over 500 acres, with two cave systems, a number of jungle trails and a natural swimming hole.
There are two main attractions in the park, that are reached from two different access points along the highway.
INLAND BLUE HOLE
This swimming hole is often referred to as the Inland Blue Hole, to avoid confusion with Belize’s Great Blue Hole, the famous marine sinkhole on the Belize Barrier Reef.
This freshwater, jungle swimming hole is an open-air cenote created by the collapse of a limestone cavern and fed from an underground river system.
The beautiful sapphire blue pool is up to 8 metres (25 ft) deep in parts, and lush jungle and green vines hang over the pool, giving it a mystical tropical feel. The water was freezing, but very refreshing after a sweaty hike in the jungle!
There is a direct entrance to the Inland Blue Hole on the highway. You can park your car, buy/show your ticket and take a short 5-minute walk directly to the pool. This entrance is located here.
Alternatively, you can hike the ~ 45-minute jungle trail that connects the Inland Blue Hole with the other entrance to the park nearest to St. Herman’s Cave.
ST. HERMAN’S CAVE
The second major attraction of the park is St. Herman’s Cave. This is one of the only caves in Belize that you can enter without a guide.
It’s super dark inside the cave, so flashlights are mandatory. If you’ve got a headtorch, bring it (a phone torch won’t suffice), otherwise, you can rent one at the visitors centre for $5 BZD. The staff will check you have one before allowing you to access the park.
Follow the flat, well-made Lowland Trail through the jungle from the visitor’s centre for about 20 minutes to reach the entrance.
As we got nearer to the cave, we noticed a significant drop in temperature with the warm humid air turning cool! The entrance is 37 metres (120 ft) wide, with lush foliage hanging from the limestone and a lot of moisture dripping down.
From there, you descend down into the cave via some concrete steps, with the light disappearing.
You’re allowed to walk along a path for around 180 metres (200 yd) without a guide. There are several stalactite and stalagmite formations to see, and an underground river runs through the cave. We were the only ones inside, which was a bit eerie but so cool!
You’ll reach a sign indicating the return point, where visitors cannot go any further without a guide.
You can hire a guide at the visitor’s centre if you would like to explore beyond this point, where you can see Mayan artefacts and ancient pottery. They also do cave tubing tours here, where you hike in and float back to the start of the cave. You can organise it when you arrive, but it’s best to book in advance.
On your return to the visitor’s centre, we recommend taking the Highland Trail instead of backtracking the way you came on the Lowland Trail. It is steep in parts but has spectacular views over the Maya Mountains and agricultural land along the Hummingbird Highway. You’ll reconnect with the Lowland Trail right before the visitor’s centre.
There is a second entrance to the national park right near St. Herman’s Cave and you can purchase your tickets here (if you haven’t already come from the Blue Hole). This entrance is located here, and there is a large car park.
Alternatively, park your car at the Blue Hole and follow the 45-minute jungle trail to reach the trailhead for the cave.
DETAILS
- 💰 Cost – the entrance fee to the national park is $10 BZD for foreigners and $2 BZD for locals. Flashlight rental is $5 BZD if required. You can buy your ticket at either entrance, and one ticket is valid for both sites, whether you drive or hike between the two.
- ⏰ When – the park is open 7 days a week, from 8:00 am – 4:30 pm.
- 📍 Where – the entrance closest to the Inland Blue Hole is located here. The entrance closer to St. Herman’s Cave is located a little further up the highway here.
- 🚽 Amenities – both entrances have bathrooms, changing rooms and a car park. The St. Herman’s Cave entrance is quite a bit bigger, and there is a picnic area, gift shop and visitor centre with some interesting information about the park.
3. Angel Falls
If you’re looking to add something thrilling to your Belize itinerary, Angel Falls is the best ziplining and rappelling experience in the country!
The waterfall is made up of a series of cascades dropping into a jungle pool more than 120 metres (400 ft) below. But the main attraction here is the eight ziplines that soar over the falls!
It takes around one hour to complete the circuit, flying over the top of the falls, and lush jungle.
For more of a challenge, they also offer a rappelling experience where you will climb to the top of the falls, before descending backwards down the side of the waterfall.
We didn’t do this as we were saving our ziplining for the mecca of Monteverde in Costa Rica, but we stayed right near Angel Falls and it looked absolutely beautiful there.
DETAILS
- 💰 Cost – prices vary depending on the package you choose. For the zipline-only experience, expect to pay around $100 USD per person. The rappelling experience is much pricier, at over $250 USD per person.
- ⏰ When – the park is open 7 days a week, from 8:00 am – 5:00 pm.
- 📱 How to book – you can get in contact with Angel Falls via their website here to book your tour. It is possible to turn up on the day, but it’s best to secure your spot in advance.
- 📍 Where – Angel Falls is located in the centre of the Hummingbird Highway, on Google Maps here.
4. Ian Anderson’s Caves Branch
Ian Anderson’s is an accommodation (more on that below) and adventure centre on the Hummingbird Highway.
One of the original operators offering tours into Belize’s many cave systems, there is a range of thrilling cave experiences at Caves Branch. Guests staying at the lodge will usually have an all-inclusive package including these tours. However, non-guests can register and pay for tours individually.
Caves Branch is located at the Belmopan end of the Hummingbird Highway. Tours must be booked in advance, and there are a whole lot of options to choose from, ranging from extreme thrills to gentler, family-friendly activities.
Cave tubing, waterfall climbing, rappelling into sinkholes, hiking through the jungle – there is something for everyone! You can find a full list of tours here and individual pricing for non-guests here.
Cave tubing is a quintessential Belize experience, and if you’re spending time on the Hummingbird Highway, this is a great place to do it. San Ignacio is also a popular place to go cave tubing, and there is a range of tours available there too.
DETAILS
- 💰 Cost – prices vary depending on the tour you choose. Their signature, on-site tours range from around $80-100 USD per person.
- ⏰ When – tours for non-guests must be pre-booked in advance, and arrival times will be confirmed depending on the tour.
- 📱 How to book – you can get in contact with Caves Branch via their website here to book your tour.
- 📍 Where – Caves Branch is located here, the entrance is clearly signposted. You need to turn off the Hummingbird Highway into a large driveway and private road to reach the lodge.
5. Bridges, lookouts and villages
In addition to the big-ticket attractions and sights on the Hummingbird Highway, there are a number of scenic lookouts, cool bridges and small towns and villages you will pass by.
We would suggest driving at a slow, leisurely pace without any specific destination in mind. There are plenty of places to pull off the highway and snap some photos or admire the view.
Where to eat on the Hummingbird Highway
The highway has a sprinkling of small towns and villages with a few great places to eat and drink. Below is a list of our favourite places, shared from the south (Dangriga) to the north (Belmopan).
📍 Our Belize Google Map has all these restaurants pinned
Be aware that opening hours are often inaccurate if listed at all, especially at nighttime. Getting in touch via WhatsApp or Facebook can be the best way to get accurate and updated information about these restaurants.
🍽️ LIMITED FOOD OPTIONS
Do keep in mind that the highway is quite spread out, and there aren’t a lot of options for food, especially in the evenings. Many of the accommodations along the highway will have their own restaurant or cooking facilities. If you have the ability to cook your own meals, we would suggest stocking up in Belmopan or Dangriga in advance and at least cooking your own dinner. The area is pretty quiet at night!
- ☕️ Café Casita del Amor – A charming little café located towards the Dangriga end of the Hummingbird Highway. You can get good coffee, milkshakes, light meals and sweet treats. A great spot to stop and refuel before or after the Billy Barquedier National Park.
- 💚 Green Hills Restaurant Bar and Grill – If you’re looking for a more substantial meal in the southern section of the Hummingbird Highway, this is the spot. Green Hills is a colourful restaurant and bar with great views over the (you guessed it!) green hills. They serve up a range of different food options, like ceviches, nachos, local rice and beans, burgers, burritos and quesadillas. The beers are cold and they can mix up cocktails in the bar.
- 🫔 Ms. Bertha’s Tamales – This Belize icon is a must-visit on the Hummingbird Highway! Ms. Bertha is famous around the country for her Belizean-style tamales. There are no published open hours, but we were told they open 7 days a week from around 8-8:30 am until they sell out. This obviously varies by day, but we visited at 3 pm and got the last four chicken tamales available!
- 🍦 The Country Barn – This dairy farm serves up excellent homemade ice creams in a range of flavours. They have traditional chocolate and vanilla, but also a range of local flavours based on in-season fruits, like craboo, sour sop, passionfruit and orange. They also offer yummy milkshakes, floats and affogatos! You can buy their dairy products to take home too, like milk, cheese and yoghurt. An essential stop on the Hummingbird Highway Belize.
- 🍫 Lamanai Chocolate Co. – An experience and dining option in one, the Lamanai Chocolate Co. is a chocolate farm, that offers tours and demonstrations about the traditional Mayan methods of harvesting cacao to make chocolate. They have a café and restaurant on-site if you don’t want a tour, and you can sample their chocolate as bars, milkshakes, hot drinks and ice cream.
- 🥩 Las Palapas Belize Restaurant – A relatively fancy dining experience at an affordable cost, at the northern end of the highway. If you need a substantial meal for lunch or dinner, Las Palapas is a great option, very close to St. Herman’s Blue Hole National Park. They serve a range of different Belizean, American and Mexican-style food, all highly reviewed. They make delicious cocktails too!
- 🌯 Hibiscus Fast Food – A quick, affordable food option located at the Belmopan end of the highway. Hibiscus serves up local options like rice and beans with chicken or pork, as well as some Mexican options like burritos, tacos, salbutes and tostadas. Everything is delicious and very cheap!
🍊 ROADSIDE STALLS
Don’t forget to keep your eye out for little stalls on the side of the road selling fresh produce. The Hummingbird Highway is a popular area for growing oranges and other citruses. You’ll pass by huge swathes of orchards, and if you get the chance to stop and purchase some of the freshly harvested fruit right from the farm, we highly recommend it!
Where to stay on the Hummingbird Highway
There is a range of accommodation options along the highway for all budgets. But what they all have in common is their jungle vibe, with nature at the heart of the experience and integrated into all aspects of the accommodation.
Pineapple Hill Lodge
We stayed at Pineapple Hill Lodge during our time on the Hummingbird Highway Belize, and the best way I can describe it is – WOW! We have never stayed anywhere like this on all our travels.
Owned by an expat Steven, his property is in the heart of the Belizean rainforest. There are a handful of different accommodation options scattered around the property, all carefully designed to be in complete harmony with nature.
We stayed in The Treetop, which was literally a treehouse! It had two storeys, with a small living area downstairs, and a bedroom at the top. Our balcony overlooked the jungle pool, and the entire treehouse is open air so you can hear the sounds of the river and nature all night. It is screened to keep the bugs out.
We shared a communal kitchen and bathhouse with one other room. There is a steamy hot outdoor shower with the most incredible jungle views, the kitchen is huge and fully stocked with everything you could need to cook some delicious meals, and Steven even leaves some welcome drinks and snacks for guests.
There is a dining/hang-out room attached, which is the best spot to connect to the WiFi, and there is even a projector and stack of DVDs to have a movie night! Popcorn was also provided… how cool is that!
The property has a natural jungle pool right in the middle, fed by a river flowing from the mountains. There is a deck with lounges and even inflatable tubes to use in the pool.
There is a screened hammock lounge overlooking the pool, in case you need another spot to hang out and admire the lush jungle! There are miles of hiking trails to explore, and Steven will share a map of the property with you.
I can’t forget the best part – hummingbirds zooming around everywhere! There are sugar feeders strung up on the rooms and communal areas, and we loved having our morning coffee watching these gorgeous little birds flying in to feed.
Sleeping Giant Rainforest Lodge
One of Belize’s premiere jungle lodges, Sleeping Giant offers a luxury experience in nature.
Situated on a large property surrounded by the Maya Mountains and the Sibun River there is plenty of opportunity for adventure and exploration.
The resort has 31 rooms of different sizes and styles. All are designed with natural materials and a jungle feel, with plenty of space, beautiful views and luxurious touches like bathtubs, espresso machines, hammocks and even private plunge pools in some rooms.
Sleeping Giant is the best and most luxurious option on the Hummingbird Highway, exceptionally rated by guests at 9/10.
Jaguar Creek
Another high-end option on the Hummingbird Highway, but with a difference. Jaguar Creek is an eco-resort with a social enterprise focus, contributing to environmental and community projects around Belize.
There are 11 separate cabañas of varying sizes connected by raised boardwalks through the rainforest. The cabañas are decorated with natural materials and pieces from around Central America and feature coffee and tea-making facilities, areas to work, and plenty of hammocks and lounges to relax.
Guests have access to complimentary on-site activities like hiking, bird watching, bike riding, swimming in the creek and in season, river tubing. Jaguar Creek has exceptional service and amenities which is reflected through its outstanding ratings from previous guests, at 9/10.
T.R.E.E.S Research Centre and Eco Lodge
The Toucan Ridge Ecology and Education Society (T.R.E.E.S) is an environmental conservation organisation that has established a research centre and eco-lodge on the Hummingbird Highway.
The centre is primarily a field work station managed by biologists, but they also offer an eco-tourism accommodation experience to individuals interested in staying at a field research station in the heart of the rainforest!
T.R.E.E.S has a range of basic accommodations, ranging from dorms to private cabins with shared bathrooms, and private cabins with bathroom and kitchen facilities.
This is a great budget-friendly option on the highway, that supports great work in the rainforest and offers visitors a completely unique and educational experience.
Ian Anderson’s Caves Branch Jungle Lodge
One of Belize’s original adventure tour operators and jungle accommodations, Ian Anderson’s Caves Branch is an iconic establishment on the Hummingbird Highway.
They specialise in offering all-inclusive adventure packages that include accommodation, meals and drinks, as well as access to a ton of different adventure tours both on and off the property.
They offer everything from cave tubing, ziplining, trekking, waterfall repelling and archaeological sites. Guests at Ian Anderson’s Caves Branch can choose from a range of accommodation options, from comfortable, rustic jungle cabañas, to luxurious treehouses.
Hummingbird Highway Belize: Worth it?
The Hummingbird Highway turned out to be the biggest surprise for us in Belize!
We fell in love with this region, and can’t believe how unknown and underrated it is.
We much prefer this area to San Ignacio, and if you’re trying to narrow down one ‘jungle’ place to visit in Belize, we think the highway region is the best!
From our incredible stay at Pineapple Hill Lodge to swimming in waterfalls at Billy Barquedier with no one else around, and sampling some delicious local food, we would highly recommend allocating a couple of days to the Hummingbird Highway in your Belize itinerary.
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The Comments
See only pictures¿!
That´s is really beautiful travel!
Sally Rodrick
See only pictures¿!Thankyou, the Hummingbird Highway is a beautiful part of Belize.