In Two Weeks

If you have 2 weeks, you'll be able to hit all the highlights mentioned above, as well as some others, including a side trip to the ruins of Tikal, in neighboring Guatemala. And, you can do all this at a slightly more relaxed pace to boot.

Day 1: Arrive & Head to Placencia

Arrive into Belize City and grab a quick connecting flight to Placencia. Spend the afternoon strolling along the beach and the town's famous sidewalk.

Day 2: Way down upon the Monkey River

Take a tour on the Monkey River, where you're sure to see a rich array of wildlife. In the afternoon you can treat yourself to a spa treatment, and try a seaweed shake.

Day 3: Get Wet & Wild

Take a snorkel trip to Laughing Bird Caye and enjoy a picnic lunch on this tiny little gem of an island. In the afternoon, visit the small Garífuna village of Seine Bight.

Day 4: Punta Gorda

Fly down to the remote town of Punta Gorda in the far southern reaches of Belize. Get there in time to head out into the nearby mountains where you'll find several small Mayan villages. Visit the village of San Antonio, and then head on to Blue Creek, where you'll find a beautiful swimming hole in a forested river that flows out from a jungle cave.

Days 5 & 6: Cayo Calling

Fly back to Belize City and pick up a rental car for the drive to the Cayo District. Stop at the Belize Zoo or for a cave tubing adventure near Jaguar Paw en route. Settle into one of the hotels in San Ignacio or one of the lodges located out on the way to Benque Viejo. If you have time, take an afternoon tour to the ruins at Xunantunich. If you didn't visit Xunantunich the previous afternoon, you'll want to stop in on day 6. You'll also want to check out the Belize Botanic Gardens or the nearby Chaa Creek Natural History Museum and Rainforest Medicine Trail. If you're hardy, you can visit both.

Days 7 & 8: Tikal Time

Take a 2-day/1-night trip to Tikal. Stay at one of the lodges right at the ruins. Get an early start in order to beat the crowds and because the ruins here are so extensive. Make sure you set aside plenty of time to explore the amazing ruins here, but also schedule some time to enjoy the quaint little island city of Flores. Return to Belize in the afternoon, and head to the Mountain Pine Ridge area, staying either at Blancaneaux Lodge or Five Sisters Lodge.

Day 9: Climb Caana

Visit the ruins at Caracol and climb to the top of the tallest man-made structure in Belize. Stop at the Rio Frio Cave and Rio On Pools on your way back from the ruins.

Days 10, 11 & 12: Go Slow on Caye Caulker

It's time to head to funky Caye Caulker. Be sure to try the snorkel trip to Hol Chan Marine Reserve and Shark-Ray Alley while you're in the area. If you haven't gotten your fill of Mayan ruins, you can do a day trip to Lamanai. Any extra time you have you can use to chill in the sun and sand.

Days 13 & 14: Massage Your Muscles with Mud

Finish your trip off with some decadent pampering at the Maruba Resort Jungle Spa, before heading home from Belize City.