According to the founder and CEO of popular travel trend-tracking website The Points Guy, the travel industry is gearing up for 2024 to be the busiest year for travel ever. They’re calling 2024 the year of spontaneous travel. Either picking a destination days before departing—or even at the airport—to simply visit somewhere new, or somewhere they’ve always loved visiting before. For travelers with an eye on Belize, there are a few trends in the small English-speaking Central American nation that fit perfectly. Experts at CN Traveler predict a few travel trends, but these apply to Belize.
Eco Diving
What’s the trend? A rise in divers choosing their travel destinations based on the sustainability of the scuba centers, and having a more positive and regenerative impact on the ocean once there.
Why Belize is perfect: More than a handful of local scuba diving operators in Belize put a focus on conservation activities and a real reduction in their environmental footprint, like supporting coral replanting programs with local NGOs, leading lionfish derbies—to reduce the voracious, invasive species preying on the Belize Barrier Reef—or help to supply underwater clean-ups. There are also several new Padi courses being launched for any diver to take anywhere, including the Global Shark and Ray Census in August 2024, as well as the relaunch of the Coral Reef Conservation Specialty course before December.
Give peak season the cold shoulder
What's the trend? There’s been a dramatic recent increase in shoulder season travel to popular destinations, which is set to continue in 2024. The cost of living crisis means a heightened focus on value, while fewer crowds equal an authentic, local feel while traveling.
Why Belize is perfect: With ideal weather and year-round activities, Belize in the shoulder season is just as good of a vacation as any other time, plus it’s cheaper. Though you won’t find the crowds or Where’s Waldo-type beaches as our neighboring counterparts (think: Cancun), you’ll garner even more of an “all to myself” feeling in Belize during May, June, August, September, and October.
Private group travel
What's the trend? Sharing travel experiences with family and friends is even more of a priority in a post-pandemic scene. Private groups range from three-generation family groups to 50-something empty-nesters keen to rekindle life-long friendships.
Why Belize is perfect: There’s an activity for quite literally any age and interest in Belize! Adventure, culture, food, beaches, rainforests, and more—Belize has it all. Booking by group makes travel even cheaper, especially when you book with a budget-friendly destination like the Placencia Peninsula’s Sea Spray Hotel.
Skip-gen travel
What's the trend? Skipping a generation, grandparents are often seen traveling with their grandchildren only–leaving their kids [aka the parents] at home.
Why Belize is perfect: Multi-generational travel is nothing new to Belize; grandparents (and grandkids) can be as active or laid back on their vacation as they’d like.
Plan-free travel
What's the trend? Saying no to endless scrolling to plan every inch of a trip, and saying yes to spontaneity instead.
Why Belize is perfect: Anything but cookie-cutter, live in the moment with a Belize vacation: getting from one corner of the country to the other is possible in just 2 hours by plane or 6 hours by road (or less). Snorkel the Belize Barrier Reef in the morning and, on a whim, be immersed in the rainforests of inland Belize by noon.
Despite the busy outlook, experts say there is hope for budget-conscious travelers as airfare costs have come down. Book flights three to four months in advance for international trips as a sweet spot, and lock in your hotel rate as early as possible. If you’re planning a trip to Belize in 2024, here are 24 things to get your itinerary rolling too.
Dance and eat away at the International Music & Food Festival
Experience Lobster Fest on Caye Caulker
Support wildlife conservation at The Belize Zoo
Feed tarpons in Caye Caulker
Spot rare red-footed booby birds on Half Moon Caye
Snorkel inside Shark Ray Alley
Get friendly with the locals inside Turtle Alley
Climb Ca’ana at Caracol
Shop the San Ignacio Farmer’s Market
Take a distillery tour at Traveller’s Liquors Heritage Centre
Rent a golf cart on Ambergris Caye
Have a sundowner at Sunset Pointe in Placencia
Enjoy fry jacks for breakfast
Cruise through time at Barton Creek Cave
Horseback ride through citrus valleys
Learn the lifecycle of a Blue Morpho butterfly
Bask in bioluminescence on a lagoon tour in Hopkins
Get traditional Garifuna dancing lessons from Lebeha Drummers
Birdwatch in the Belizean rainforest
Visit the world’s first jaguar reserve at Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary
Scuba dive (or fly over) the Great Blue Hole
Support local artisans on the Placencia Sidewalk
Watch the sunrise on the beach
Go cave tubing
Ready to test out one of 2024's travel trends in Belize this year? Get in touch with us here.