10+ Stops Along The Hummingbird Highway Belize 2025

The Hummingbird Highway is one of the most scenic drives in Belize, winding through lush mountains, citrus groves, and tiny villages full of character.

Chances are you're heading to Southern Belize — maybe Hopkins, Placencia or maybe Punta Gorda — and wondering what you can see along the way.

Even after driving it dozens of times as a local, this highway happens to be my favorite in the country. I highly recommend renting a car and exploring it at your own pace.

You’ll come across uncrowded national parks, stunning waterfalls, delicious local food, and jungle Airbnbs that look like something out of a movie. Hell, there’s even an inland blue hole here — a natural sinkhole for swimming.

Here are the best stops worth pulling over for.

What Makes It Special?

Things To Do

Art Box

Price

$5.00 USD

Hours

8AM–6PM

While not exactly on the Hummingbird Highway, ArtBox is at the entrance of Belmopan on the Western Highway. It's the best place to get quality souvenirs to remember your trip by. Some items include: woodwork, t-shirts, keyholders, local hot sauce and so much more. This spot is closed on Sunday.

Guanacaste National Park

Price

$2.50 USD

Hours

8AM–4:30PM

One of the first stops on the Hummingbird Highway upon entering Belmopan City is a national park that's perfect if you have kids. The area offers a hiking trail, access to a hammock bridge and a river that's swimmable.

St. Herman's Blue Hole

Price

$4.00 USD

Hours

8AM–4:30PM

Not to be confused with the iconic Great Blue Hole, this Inland Blue Hole is a small natural sinkhole with a depth of 25 feet (8m) that is perfect for swimming. Apart from the swimming hole, there are five hiking trails available along with a guided cave tour known as Crystal Cave or Mountain Cow.

There is free parking, restrooms, changing rooms, a visitor center and a gift shop available at the site.

Billy Barquedier

Price

$4.00 USD

Hours

8AM–4PM

Billy Barquedier can be best described as a hidden gem. Being a bit more off the beaten path compared to the Inland Blue Hole, you might get an entire waterfall to yourself here.

The site includes a short and easy 20-minute hike through a jungle trail filled with stony creeks. I would recommend having good shoes for this. While the trek isn't exactly strenuous, it might be tough for toddlers.

The waterfall at the end of the trail is worth the trip and will be very similar to the waterfalls found at Cockscomb Basin.

Davis Falls

Price

$95.00 USD

Hours

8AM–5PM

At about 330 feet high (100 meters), Davis Falls is the second-highest waterfall in the country. While it's extremely difficult to hike the entire trail by foot (I tried and failed before), you can take a two-hour tractor ride tour and hike for roughly 40 minutes to get to the site.

Because the site is so remote and not as well-known, it's a truly hidden gem with pristine water perfect for swimming. No doubt, it's one of the most beautiful natural attractions in Belize.

The ride through orange orchards is wild. You'll cross various river crossings and have a chance to see what untouched nature looks like. The last time I hiked here, I found fresh jaguar and cub footprints. It’s a heart-stopping moment when you stumble across something like this.

Where To Eat

Belmopan Market Plaza

Price

Free

Hours

6AM–1PM

If you're a fan of Farmers Markets, this will be a nice treat, but you'll have to be lucky. This tiny market is open for half a day on Fridays only.

It's located at the exit of Belmopan City, so it's hard to miss. Vendors get together to sell natural and organic products including local bread, snacks, yogurt, organic fruits, veggies, natural soaps and souvenirs. This is a perfect stop to load up on supplies for the road trip.

Lamanai Chocolate

Price

$12.50 USD

Hours

8AM–5:10PM

As soon as you start arriving Southern Belize, you enter cacao territory. Lamanai Chocolate is owned by a Roger, an expat who does his very best to preserve the traditional ways of the Maya through its chocolate making process and use of medicinal plants.

You can opt to take a chocolate making tour, a medicinal plant walk or try the delicious cacao tea and snacks available at the shop. Snacks include smoothies, ice cream, milkshakes, and coffee. Cacao pairs incredibly well with banana and coconut. Parking and restrooms are also available on site as well.

Ms. Bertha's Tamales

Price

$1.50 USD

Hours

8AM–5PM

Known as the best tamales in Belize, Ms. Bertha's has become a natural stop for most Belizeans in the area. And recently, it's even gotten fame from foreign visitors going on road trips.

As locals, we recognize village food to be the absolute best food because it's made on a fire hearth with love. And Bertha's tamales is the epitome of village food cooked to smokey perfection in the wood stove. If you're looking to make a pit stop, restrooms are also available on site.

Marie Sharp’s Factory and Farm

Price

$7.50 USD

Hours

8AM–5PM

The factory tour itself will take you through the production process and shouldn't last more than 20 minutes. During the tour, you'll be able to taste-test all the hot sauces, jellies and even wines.

During the tour, you'll definitely be able to feel the pride the local workers have for their hot sauce products. Don't forget to grab a few to take home as souvenirs.

Did you know Marie Sharp had her recipe stolen from her after entrusting an American to bottle her product? It took her 10 years to rebuild her rebrand herself after that.

Xaibel Shell Station

Price

$2.50 USD

Hours

6AM–7PM

What would make a gas station so unique to be on this list? Local snacks and beverages of course. There are products here you'll find nowhere else in the country simply because of the location.

You can find freshly made rice and beans, and other local delicacies like fry jacks daily. Some other local snacks include meat pies, journey cakes, coconut tarts and banana cakes. It's like snack heaven at this gas station with a Mayan name.

Xaibel is pronounced SHY-BELL. Xaibe, a Yutcatec Maya word literally means "crossroads."

Where To Stay

Caves Branch Jungle Lodge

Price

$199.00 USD

Caves Branch is an all-inclusive lodge like no other, focusing on adventure expeditions for families. The accommodations also add to the experience with tree houses available for guests.

The lodge has immediate access to the river and caves close by. There's even a pool available on site. Similar to safari expeditions, this lodge offers jungle expeditions.

Some of these activities include cavetubing, horseback riding, ziplining, and even rappelling down a black hole drop. There's a video of this on their Youtube channel and it's straight out of a movie.

If you're interested in doing the ATM Cave Tour, they also offer this tour since the attraction is close by. This lodge is also literally next to the Inland Blue Hole which is on this list.

Pineapple Hill Lodge

Price

$75.00 USD

This magical Airbnb is on my list of top eco lodges. Accommodations have screened treetop cabins over a natural jungle pool. It has a unique vibe striking a perfect balance of nature and luxury.

With the ideal hosts being couples, it has a full kitchen, outdoor shower and hot water. Hiking trails are also available on site.

Sattva Land

Price

$55.00 USD

While Sattva Land falls into the category of a Retreat Center, they do offer stunning accommodations in the middle of the jungle.

Built to be in harmony with nature, they market themselves as offering ultimate comfort in eco-chic design. The lodging options include complete houses and cabins.

As a retreat center, they host healing retreats and have cacao ceremonies, sound healing and they even have a beautiful natural pool on campus.

TREES Lodging

Price

$99.00 USD

TREES Research Center and Eco-Community has cabañas for rent and offers a unique jungle experience in the heart of the Maya Mountains. The accommodations are more on the rustic side, but the trails, cafe, and communal spaces fill the gap.

Hummingbird Highway: Is It Worth It?

So is the Hummingbird Highway worth the extra hour drive? If you like local experiences, delicious food and want to try a unique Airbnb experience, I think it is.

The alternative is to drive the Coastal Highway, but it gets flooded during rainy season and doesn't have many attractions YET.

Just be sure to keep your eyes open for all the tiny food stalls like bakeries and fruit stands especially when it's mango or craboo season.

About Author

Everything written on this blog is based on first-hand experience or knowledge as a local living in Belize. No fluff, just honest information.