Are there Cenotes in Belize?

Off the coast of Belize, you’ll find one of the largest cenotes, along with a beautiful range of diving spots, coral reefs and of course, the Itza Resort. This has led to an influx of tourism and diving experts to the area attracted to the barrier reefs conservation status and the crystal-clear waters of the area.

With the cenote listed Unesco World Heritage site offshore and another inland at St. Herman Blue Hole National Park. It’s easy to forget about the spectacular surroundings of the country of Belize itself, which is why we’ve compiled a list of the top attractions and a little background on the home country of Belize diving resorts.

Wondering, What are Cenotes?

Cenotes are large sinkholes that you can find within the land in Belize. This is due to Limestone collapses, creating large wells of water, pockmarking the dense forestry of the area and adding diversity and texture to the beautiful landscape of Belize.

Locals call both cenotes, Blue Hole, you can easily see why that is. Most Belizean when talking would be referring to the Inland Blue Hole at St. Hermans National Park as it is their favourite cenote to visit and swim.

Great Blue Hole

124 metres deep and over 300 metres across, the Great Blue Hole is an ice age made sinkhole that has shown itself to be one of the best diving spots in the world. Subject to scientific expeditions, professional diving trips and boasting magnificent rock formations, the hole is one of the primary locations for Itza Resort Belize dive packages.

St. Herman's Blue Hole National Park

A brief history of Belize

Dating back to the Mayan civilization of 1500 BC and rooting itself far into the 13^th century, the area of Belize was established as a British colony in the 19^th century and continued under British rule into the ’80s, when it achieved independence as its own country. The beautiful land has just under 9000 square miles of undisturbed land, and this means that many climates and natural habitats have been allowed to flourish throughout the years. With its stunning forests and beaches, you can expect a diverse range of wildlife and habitats to explore.

Belize Barrier Reef

The larger ecosystem surrounding the Great Blue Hole includes the UNESCO preserved Belize Barrier Reef. With sites such as the Lighthouse Atoll and Long Caye just off the Itza Resort forming just some of the larger network of this beautiful aquatic habitat. With daily snorkelling and diving excursions, you too can explore the vast swathes of coral and the stunning colours of this huge reef system.

Wildlife of Belize

There are countless fish species on the Belize Barrier Reef but getting to know the animals on the mainland is a whole other kettle of fish. With Toucans, Jaguars and Tapirs being just some of the many exotic animals roaming the undisturbed forestry, mainland safaris are available throughout the year.

Cuisine of Belize

As you should with any country, experiencing local cuisine should be an important part of your trip. This coastal Central American country is well known for its raw seafood dish Ceviche.

The recipe is thought to have migrated from nearby Peru and includes raw shrimp or conch fish alongside salad and sweet potato. Another must is Tamale, an edible plantain leaf that wraps up fillings such as pork, steak and fish. For something a little more filling, the El Salvador born tortilla Pupusa is made from cornflour and creates a plain tortilla that is mixed with vegetables and meat, alongside cabbage coleslaw.