February in Belize
February in Belize is still the prime tourism season, especially for the resort islands of Ambergris Caye and Caye Caulker, but crowds tend to be a bit lighter than during the busiest part of the year around News Years. There are a few events in the country that might be of interest to travelers, but for the most part this month is one that’s celebrated by visitors escaping the cold climates of North America and doing as little as possible.
Events
- Fiesta de Carnival – This is Belize’s version of Carnival or Mardi Gras, and it’s celebrated all over the island starting a week before lent, which falls on February 6 in 2008, February 25 in 2009, and February 17 in 2010.
- International Billfish Tournament in Belize City – This big fishing tournament offers cash prizes for marlin and sailfish anglers in early February.
- Valentine Cycle Race – This annual cycling event starts in Belmopan and ends in Belize City on February 14 each year. What could be more romantic than a long-distance bike race?
Weather
These stats are for Belize City, but most of the coastal areas people visit are close and have similar climates. The cities that are further inland usually have slightly hotter days and slightly cooler nights, but generally are similar.
Average high: 80 °F / 26 °C
Average low: 71 °F / 21 °C
Average precipitation: 2.6 inches/ 6 centimeters
When it rains in Belize during February it tends to be in short bursts during the afternoon, so you might have to take cover for a bit, but it’s extremely unlikely the rain will ruin your day, much less your whole stay.
Getting there
Flights to Belize are not at their cheapest of the year, but especially coming from the States they can be quite cheap considering this is the prime tourist season. Most flights starting from the west of the country will usually connect through Houston and most flights from the East Coast will usually connect through Miami.
Where to stay
February is high season for hotels in Belize, but it’s not the “peak season” around Christmas and New Years, so prices don’t get too far out of hand. There are hotels for every budget, and often they don’t get booked up too far in advance, especially the cheaper ones, so arriving without a reservation usually isn’t a problem. There are even a few hostels in Belize if you are on an even tighter budget.
What to do
Since this is the dry season with nearly perfect weather every day, this is also the best time of the year to enjoy the scuba diving, snorkeling, fishing, and sailing from the islands off the north or even from Belize City itself.
There are also plenty of interesting things to do inland, so visitors to the San Ignacio area will stay busy too, and there are quite a few ruins where you can have a quick look at the Maya civilization that mysteriously disappeared so many centuries ago.