April is a wonderful time to visit Belize. If you plan your vacation for Easter week, you can mix old traditions with new adventures. Many people find that Easter is the perfect time to see Belize at its best.
The weather in April is perfect. It’s warm enough to spend the days running around in shorts and sandals, and it’s cool enough at night for romantic moonlit walks on the beach. Tropical flowers and spice plants are in bloom.
Easter is a four-day weekend that is celebrated in a variety of ways, from religious gatherings to family traditions to wild beach parties. Many businesses close during the four days, but restaurants and tour-related companies stay open.
Easter is an important holiday in Belize. Most people in Belize are practicing Christians. If the solemnity of the occasion is something that you also take seriously, you’ll find many ways to celebrate your faith.
You can experience the full spiritual dimension of Easter at the church in the town of Benque Viejo del Carmen, a small town on the border with Guatemala. The extravagant, colorful Good Friday pageant involves the entire town in a reenactment of the Easter story.
Holy Saturday starts with a wild ride. The Holy Saturday Cross Country Cycle Race is a longstanding Easter tradition. This rough, demanding 140-mile race draws competitors from the entire region to race for the prize. Many villages and towns hold fairs and festivals during the bike race, where you can sample great food and visit many vendors. The race starts at 5:00AM, but you can wait until it winds down around 2:00PM and join the racers for a celebratory drink in Belize City.
Wrap up your Easter weekend with one of the many Easter celebrations. You’ll find the hottest action in Placencia, where you can take your pick of beach parties. Everyone’s spirits will be high as they celebrate the final hours of Easter with great food, great music, lively dancing and plenty of tropical drinks.
In 2019, Good Friday is on April 19, Holy Saturday is April 20 and Easter is April 21.