10 Incredible Reasons Why Belize Needs To Be Your Next Vacation Destination

Belize is a true paradise for people who like warm weather, culture, history, and water sports. The best time to visit is between December and April when the temperature is are regularly between 80 and 85 degrees. Depending on what you choose to do, you'll have the chance to glide alongside string rays, nurse sharks, and turtles; experience and adrenaline-pumping cave tube rides that tour through ancient caverns, some of which still house Mayan relics; and stay on one of the most gorgeous private islands in the world.

The Actun Tunichil Muknal (ATM) is a sacred cave. Visiting the Cave of the Stone Sepulchre is an epic test. Access to the Maya sacrificial site within the cave involves hiking, wading, and underwater swimming, but nearly a mile underground you will reach the resting place of the "crystal maiden," a complete female skeleton that sparkles from eons of crystal calcification, according to National Geographic.

The Belize Barrier Reef is a 190-mile long section of the 560-mile Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System, which is continuous from Cancún through the Riviera Maya and up to Honduras. Diving, snorkeling and kayaking are all breathtaking. Hol Chan Marine Reserve, which has coral reefs, seagrass beds, and a mangrove forest, is one of the best spots for snorkel with sharks and sting ray.

SCUBA diving doesn't get much better, or more dangerous, than diving in the "Blue Hole"– a 10,000-year-old submarine sinkhole that's part of the Belize Barrier Reef, which is the largest barrier reef in the northern hemisphere. The Blue Hole and its clear waters and rich sea life, attract many adventurous divers. It is more than 400 feet down into the earth. Some even try to go deeper.

Belize is known as the epicenter of the ancient Maya world. It was once home to more than 2 million Mayas. Sacred temples, pyramids, advanced science, agriculture, mathematics, palaces, and remarkable structures are their legacy. Visit one of the most picturesque Mayan ruins in Belize, Lamanai. It features three large pyramids, restored stelae, open plazas, and a small ball court. Altun Ha, the small site featuring two large central plazas, is one of the most easily accessible Mayan ruins in Belize.

Cayo Espanto is one of the most beautiful private islands in the world; it is where paradise and luxury blend. This five-star Belize resort is offers, among many world-class amenities and services, stunning views of the Caribbean from private villas. It is located just three miles from San Pedro in the tranquil waters of the Western Caribbean, off the coast of Belize.

The Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary is a lush, tropical forest that is most famous for its jaguar reserve (the only one in the world ), even though it's rare for visitors to actually catch a glimpse of the big, spotted cats. There is an incredible amount of other flora and fauna that can be seen along the many miles of hiking trails in the park. They lead to several waterfalls and the summit of Victoria Peak, the highest peak on the island.

Fly through the unspoiled Rain Forest Canopy on the longest zip line in Belize in the Bocawina National Park. It has 14 platforms and nine different runs. The complete course is 2.5 miles long with the longest single run being 2,300 feet. The zip line tour takes approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes to complete.

The designated bird sanctuary of Man-O-War Caye offers plenty fun activities. You can see birds soaring in the sky above in every direction. Man-O-War Caye lies around 70 miles south of Belize City close to South Water Caye. The three types of mangrove vegetation provide a perfect sanctuary to a variety of indigenous bird species, including Pelicans, Brown Booby birds, and the Magnificent Frigate birds (also known as Man-O-War birds), according to Absolute Belize.

The chance to see whale sharks only makes the experience more thrilling. Gladden Spit is well-known for the regal whale sharks that come at certain times of the year to feed. Several companies offer diving packages to go see the amazing sea creatures. The best months for whale shark diving are April and May. 

Belize is one of the few places in the world to offer cave tubing, and it is the most popular tour available for cruise ship passengers, according to CaveTubing.bz. The Mayas considered caves as the entrance to the underworld, called Xibalba. Roughly translated it means "Place of fear" and it was like their "hell." So when you finish cave tubing you can say "I've been to hell and back!"