Costa Rica vs Belize: Which Central American country should you visit next? Both are famous worldwide as dream vacation spots, but which one fits your travel style better? In this guide, we’ll break down everything you need to know and help you figure out whether Belize or Costa Rica is the right choice for your next trip.
Both countries offer plenty of adventures — from tropical forests and national parks to warm beaches and turquoise waters. To make it easier, we’ll compare them across several categories: natural beauty, activities and landmarks, beaches, culture, resorts, eco-friendliness, shopping, nightlife, food, infrastructure, safety, costs, and even the type of tourists you’ll find.
Curious about what makes each country special? Check out our dedicated articles:
Page Contents
Belize vs. Costa Rica – travel edition
People and Language
The first thing we need to mention, and one of the main differences between Costa Rica and Belize, is the official language. In Costa Rica, the official language is Spanish, while in Belize it is English.
So, if you are only comfortable speaking English, you will be better off in Belize. However, it is worth noting that many people in Costa Rica are fluent in basic English, and you are likely to encounter few problems. Plus, many people in Belize speak excellent Spanish as Spanish-speaking countries surround the country.
Another thing to remember is that Costa Ricans (or the Ticos) are incredibly lovely people. They are relaxed, try to help the tourists, and are very easy to interact with. In Belize, the experience can be more mixed. There are some very nice people, but it largely depends on where you are and who you meet.
Natural Beauty of Costa Rica vs Belize
Both countries are renowned for their natural beauty, making this a difficult decision. You should be pleased with both countries, and it really depends on what you are looking for because each country has unique features and landscapes that make it special.
Belize is a tiny country with several natural settings, including coral reefs, mangroves, and rainforests. The highlight is undoubtedly the UNESCO World Heritage site, the Belize Barrier Reef, which features an extensive coral reef system. But you can also find wildlife sanctuaries and the Maya mountains.
Costa Rica is larger and consequently has a more extensive range of ecosystems and landscapes. They include amazing cloud forests, high mountains, volcanoes, beaches, rainforests, and numerous national parks and Reserves.
Overall, Costa Rica offers a broader range of natural landscapes and ecosystems. It is a larger country (though still relatively small), and most of it is protected.
Belize or Costa Rica – Destinations, activities, and landmarks
Both countries have numerous tourist attractions, offering a wide range of things to do and see. However, we need to clarify that, despite similarities, they are pretty different and cater to distinct types of tourists.
Costa Rica is most notorious for its national parks, nature hikes, animal sightings, and other outdoor activities. There are very few really interesting man-made tourist attractions. In Costa Rica, the most prominent attractions include Manuel Antonio, the Monteverde Cloud forests, Arenal Volcano, and the whole Cahuita area.
In Belize, you can expect to find a tourism industry more oriented to resorts, parties, nightlife, and barrier reef activities. For this reason, most travelers end up going to San Pedro or Caye Caulker. However, there are also jungle tours, wildlife, and Mayan ruins in the interior of Belize, particularly close to San Ignacio.
Despite its small size, Belize is truly amazing. You can:
- Dive and snorkel in Coral Reefs
- Explore unique caves, like the ATM Caves.
- Go to ancient Mayan Ruins like Caracol and Xunantunich
- Fly and deep-sea fishing
- Go to the Great Blue Hole
- Do Jungle treks
Some of the most popular activities in Costa Rica include:
- Surfing on the Pacific Coast
- Animal watching in the National Parks
- zip-lining through the canopy;
- White-water rafting
- Bird watching
- hiking in the rainforest
- Explore the cloud forests
- Enjoy the many secluded beaches
We will tie them together here, as Costa Rica and Belize offer a wide range of outdoor activities, but the experiences differ. If you want to further explore what each country has to offer, we suggest:
Belize or Costa Rica – Who has the best beaches?
This might come as a surprise, but Costa Rica clearly comes out ahead here.
Costa Rica boasts an extensive coastline, featuring a wealth of stunning beaches along both the Pacific and Caribbean coasts. Its beach variety surpasses that of Belize, featuring white sand and black sand shores, waves perfect for surfing, and calm waters ideal for swimming.
There are both bustling, popular beaches and quiet, hidden gems. Highlights include the breathtaking shores of Cahuita National Park and Manuel Antonio National Park, as well as the unique Whale Tail Beach at Punta Uvita.
Belize is quite different. The water is legendary, and the proximity to the reefs is fantastic for water activities; however, the beaches themselves aren’t great. Furthermore, a large part of the coast and even the islands lack beaches, or at least don’t have sandy beaches, which is not ideal. It’s made of mangroves, rocks, or reefs. Many of the few beaches are in resorts with closed or limited access.
So, unless you plan to stay in a resort, Costa Rica will generally be the better choice. And even if it’s a resort you are looking for, ensure the beach is sandy and awesome.
Culture and Heritage
Between Belize and Costa Rica, Belize is probably the better choice for those seeking a cultural and heritage trip. However, we must mention that destinations like Mexico and Guatemala are much better options in this regard.
Nonetheless, Belize has a rich cultural heritage that combines influences from the Mayan, European, African, and Creole cultures. It is also the only English-speaking country in the region and the only one that the United Kingdom colonized, making it unique. You’ll find numerous Mayan archaeological sites in Belize, including Caracol and the ATM caves, as well as a vibrant Creole culture that is reflected in its music, dance, and cuisine, similar to that of other regions.
As mentioned above, Costa Rica is more of a natural beauty and eco-tourism destination. There are a few human-made attractions and cultural offerings. Yet, if you visit Costa Rica, you should visit the National Museum of Costa Rica and the Pre-Columbian Gold Museum, both in San Jose.
Costa Rica vs Belize – Resorts
As you would expect in such popular tourist destinations, Belize and Costa Rica have a wide range of vacation options, including many resorts. However, they are somewhat different.
Belize has many luxury resorts on the Cayes, the reef islands located within the Belize Reef. Particularly in Ambergris Caye, but also some in Caye Caulker and other smaller, sometimes private Cayes.
These resorts typically offer a secluded and intimate experience, providing private access to the stunning waters of Belize and the Barrier Reef. Some have lovely, private beaches, but again, not all of them have sandy beaches. Many of these resorts are all-inclusive, making them an excellent choice for a relaxed, planned trip if you’re looking for one.
Conversely, Costa Rica also has many luxury resorts. In the Guanacaste region, you will find most of the traditional beach resorts, offering all-inclusive options and excellent amenities, including spas, golf courses, pools, and restaurants. However, it’s the eco-friendly resorts, yoga retreats, and those located near national parks where you can experience the wildlife and nature that Costa Rica is famous for.
Eco-friendliness of Costa Rica and Belize
Costa Rica is a world leader in eco-tourism, offering numerous eco-lodges, eco-resorts, and sustainable tourism initiatives, as well as activities such as hiking, birdwatching, and wildlife tours. Visitors to Costa Rica typically want to experience the country’s natural beauty while minimizing the impact of their trip.
The country has an impressive record in environmental protection. It has even set the goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2050, implementing policies to promote renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, and establishing numerous protected areas, including 28 national parks and reserves. About 28% of Costa Rica’s land is legally protected.
Belize is also renowned for its eco-friendly initiatives and tourism, with a particular focus on its marine areas. Home to the second-longest barrier reef in the world, Belize has established marine protected areas and implemented strict regulations to safeguard its marine resources, including the 500 species of fish and 100 species of coral.
There are also a few eco-lodges and reserves in the jungles of Belize that promote sustainable tourism practices, but nothing compared to what exists in Costa Rica.
Shopping
Neither Belize nor Costa Rica is a good destination for travel shoppers. They lack a wide variety of shopping options, particularly international brands.
In both countries, you can find local handicraft shops, traditional fabrics, jewelry, and souvenirs, particularly in local markets and small boutiques. In Belize, they are primarily located in San Pedro, and in Costa Rica, in the local markets.
So, we’d call this one even — but neither country is a shopping destination.
Nightlife
When it comes to nightlife, neither Costa Rica nor Belize is a top-tier destination; however, there are more and better options available than just shopping.
In Belize, the nightlife is mainly concentrated in San Pedro (Caye Ambergris), where you can find plenty of bars, clubs, and nice restaurants. San Pedro is a relatively large city with a diverse range of options that cater to various tastes. Caye Caulker is a backpacker hub with a relaxed vibe, but it has a few popular bars that become lively during the high season, particularly with its young crowd.
Costa Rica’s nightlife scene offers a diverse range of options, from beach bars and nightclubs in touristy areas to cultural performances, restaurants, and casinos in the major cities. The best places to enjoy Costa Rica’s nightlife are Jaco, Playa Tamarindo, and San Jose.
We’d call this one a draw, but note that if nightlife is vital for your next vacation, you may want to consider other destinations, such as Thailand or Mexico.
Costa Rica vs Belize – The food scene
We weren’t huge fans of either Costa Rican or Belizean food. They suffer from the same problem – there are too many fried dishes and carbs, particularly if you want to eat on a budget.
On the upside, as you would expect, both countries have delicious fruits and good seafood. They also share similar influences, like Mexican food and Spanish colonial origins. In Belize, we really enjoyed Johnny Cakes for breakfast, while in Costa Rica, our favorite dish (to be fair, a side dish) was patacones.
Thus, neither is a foodie’s destination, particularly when considering the typical foods, rather than the high-end restaurants and resorts. In those, it’s perfectly normal to find a variety of tasty, healthy, and international dishes.
We will give a tangential win to Belize because those Johnny cakes at breakfast were delicious! Plus, the fantastic lobster on the beach in Caye Caulker! However, it’s not even comparable to what we ate in Mexico or the delicious Thai food.
Belize vs Costa Rica – Safety
We never had any problems in Costa Rica or Belize, and both countries are relatively safe to travel around if you take the usual safety measures, like:
- Don’t let your things be unattended.
- Always lock your car.
- Be wary of crowded places, particularly bus stops.
- Don’t get too drunk to understand possible dangers.
- Avoid going into sketchy places.
- Don’t carry/show off large amounts of cash;
- Obviously, don’t do anything illegal!
However, we need to stress that we felt much more at ease in Costa Rica than in Belize. The general safety of Belize is quite low due to higher risks of mugging, pickpocketing, and even violent crimes. Costa Rica is generally considered safer, but there are still some risks, including pickpocketing and petty theft.
Belize has a weird vibe, with higher levels of poverty and many people under the influence on the streets. This was very visible at night. Furthermore, Belize City is considered a particularly dangerous city, which is why most tourists avoid spending much time there and instead go directly to Placencia, the Islands, and San Ignacio, which are considered safer.
In Costa Rica, the vibe is much more relaxed, and visible poverty is less prevalent. The metropolitan area of San Jose is the most dangerous zone, but the rest of the country is very safe for tourists. We never felt threatened in any way.
Since the statistics and our experience were more favorable in Costa Rica than in Belize, Costa Rica won this round.
Infrastructure and development
Costa Rica is a wealthier country than Belize and consequently has a much more developed infrastructure. It has better roads (though far from great), better public transportation, and a more developed tourism sector.
We need to mention that Belize is a particularly poor country, and that is visible as there are many homeless people. It has improved and continues to improve its infrastructure, but it is still a bit far from Costa Rica or even Mexico.
Costa Rica or Belize: Which is More Expensive?
Belize and Costa Rica are among the most expensive countries to travel to in Central and Latin America. Both are considerably more costly than neighboring countries, such as Guatemala or even Mexico. Even as a backpacker, you shouldn’t expect to be able to spend less than 100 USD per day.
This high price is mainly due to the cost of tours and activities, which are expensive in both countries. For example, visiting the ATM Caves in Belize will cost approximately $ 120 per person, while Caracol isn’t much cheaper either. In Costa Rica, most organized tours are also quite expensive, but traveling there independently isn’t significantly more affordable, as all major national parks and reserves charge entry fees. Some of them are hefty.
In Belize, accommodations were expensive, particularly in the Cayes. Even hostels are pricey. In Costa Rica, finding a few less costly accommodations is still possible.
Regarding food and restaurants, it is possible to save money by eating in street food joints in Belize and sodas in Costa Rica.
In general, it is easier to be frugal in Costa Rica than in Belize, simply because there are more options, and better infrastructure makes traveling easier. Looking at our costs, Costa Rica was 60 USD per person, while Belize was 65 USD. So, while far from inexpensive, Costa Rica is a little cheaper than Belize.
Belize vs. Costa Rica: Which is less crowded?
Both countries are heavily influenced by American tourism, as Americans make up the majority of tourists in Costa Rica and Belize. You can see this in hotels, restaurants, and even on tours.
We believe neither country is too crowded, as they are pretty relaxed and calm, despite receiving a large number of tourists. The number of tourists will depend more on the specific time of year and the locations within each destination than on whether it is Belize or Costa Rica.
That being said, Manuel Antonio National Park tends to be the most crowded place in Costa Rica and can have way too many people for our tastes. In Belize, both San Pedro and Caye Caulker may experience the same issue during peak season. Caye Caulker can be particularly problematic as it is pretty small.
For all this, we will give another tie here.
Costa Rica vs Belize – What’s the verdict?
Despite being two of the most popular destinations in Central America, Belize and Costa Rica have many differences. Their past, the way they are organized, the culture, what they offer, and the beaches and the main attractions
So, in hindsight, you should go to Costa Rica if:
- You want to try eco-lodges and eco-tourism.
- A relaxed and safe vibe;
- Better beaches;
- Surfing;
- National Parks and wildlife are vital for your trip.
- Don’t mind speaking Spanish;
- Eco-friendly destination;
- better infrastructure and development.
Belize is the best fit for those who:
- Want more of a luxurious resort destination with easy access to water;
- Don’t mind the lack of sand on most beaches;
- Explore the barrier reef.
- Amazing water for diving and snorkeling.
- English-speaking locals;
- Explore Mayan heritage and culture;
- Don’t care about nightlife and shopping;
- Stay closer to the US.
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