Published on and written by Cyril Jarnias
Belize is not just a small Central American country bordered by the Caribbean Sea. It is also a massive open-air playground, where sports are played as much on the dusty fields of villages as on the 180 miles of coral reef and the rivers winding through the jungle. Here, the round ball shares the stage with the diving mask, the canoe challenges the road bike, and a 3,500-year-old ball game is enjoying a renaissance.
The sporting activities practiced in Belize reflect the diversity of its multicultural society. They are deeply connected to its environment, between sea and rainforest, and are rooted in both Mayan traditions and the country’s tourism development.
Soccer, the country’s sporting heartbeat
In villages, on beaches, or in the working-class neighborhoods of cities, soccer reigns. The ball may be worn, the cleats rarely state-of-the-art, but the passion is total. Soccer is the number one sport, the one that brings crowds together and monopolizes conversations.
The sport is organized around the Football Federation of Belize (FFB), founded in 1980 and affiliated with FIFA since 1986. The federation oversees the men’s national team, nicknamed the “Jaguars,” and the top league, the Belize Premier Football League (BPFL), which succeeded the former Belize Semiprofessional Football League founded in 1991. Gradually, all regions joined this championship, including Stann Creek and Toledo, which were initially absent.
Despite modest international results (no World Cup finals and a single participation in the Gold Cup in 2013, eliminated in the group stage), soccer remains a pillar of social life in Belize. The sports calendar is punctuated by league matches and regional tournaments, as well as youth leagues. Informal play is also omnipresent, with impromptu “pickup games” in streets and vacant lots.
A national team seeking recognition
The history of the national team, long modest, illustrates the country’s ambitions and limitations. The first international match for a team representing the territory dates back to 1928, under the name British Honduras, with a 1–0 victory against Honduras. After independence in 1981, the team adopted the name Belize and played its first matches in the 1980s, but it wasn’t until 1995 that international fixtures became regular.
Capacity of Belize’s national stadium, the FFB Stadium in Belmopan, illustrating the national team’s limited resources.
Summary table of Belizean soccer landmarks:
| Key Elements of Soccer in Belize | Main Detail |
|---|---|
| Governing Body | Football Federation of Belize (FFB) |
| Top League | Belize Premier Football League (BPFL) |
| National Team Nickname | Jaguars |
| Main Stadium | FFB Stadium (Belmopan, 5,000 seats) |
| First FIFA Affiliation | 1986 |
| First Gold Cup Participation | 2013 (eliminated in group stage) |
Basketball, softball, and track and field: a closely followed trio
While soccer dominates, it is not alone. In practically every urban neighborhood or village, a basketball court stands next to the soccer field, and in the evening, the rims echo as much as the goalposts.
Basketball, the second sporting religion
Basketball is generally considered the second most popular sport in the country. It is overseen by the Belize Basketball Federation (BBF), and the top level is structured through semi-professional leagues, with the Belize Basketball Association (BBA) launched in 1992, followed by a more recent league, the National Elite Basketball League (NEBL), featuring teams like the Belize City Defenders.
Basketball is played at all ages: junior tournaments, amateur championships, high school competitions, mini-basketball tournaments for the youngest, “Over-35” games for veterans. The orange ball is omnipresent, also driven by the influence of the NBA broadcast on cable TV, very affordable thanks to satellite signals from the United States and Mexico.
A few players have even entered American universities and sometimes the NBA. Nigel Miguel played at UCLA and tried his luck with the New Jersey Nets, Milt Palacio wore several NBA jerseys (notably the Jazz’s), Kenton Paulino led the University of Texas to the famous Elite Eight in the 2005 NCAA tournament, and Charles Burgess represented Texas Tech. These trajectories have boosted the prestige of basketball and inspire a new generation.
Belizean basketball players who played in the United States
Softball: a record that commands respect
Less covered internationally, softball is nevertheless one of the sports in which Belize has achieved the most results. Under the guidance of the Softball Federation, the sport developed mainly in the Belize and Cayo districts, with an increasingly strong presence in the south.
Belize’s women’s teams regularly excel at the regional level, winning medals in Central America and the Caribbean. The national team dominated the English-speaking Caribbean in the late 1960s, notably winning the CAST tournament and the Hermon Spoerri trophy in 1968. This period remains a benchmark for the country’s current ambitions.
Track and field and the Marion Jones Sports Complex
In track and field, Belize has a flagship facility: the Marion Jones Sports Complex in Belize City, on Princess Margaret Drive. Formerly the “National Stadium,” it was renamed in honor of Marion Jones, a world-class athlete of Belizean origin. It hosts national track and field competitions under the supervision of the Amateur Athletics Association (AAA).
The country’s athletes regularly participate in Central American and Caribbean regional championships, and Belize has sent delegations to the Olympic Games since 1968. No podium has been reached at the Olympic level yet, but the country has established a regular presence on the regional scene.
Summary table of the most practiced team sports and track and field:
| Sport | Governing Body | Relative Popularity |
|---|---|---|
| Soccer | Football Federation of Belize | Sport #1 |
| Basketball | Belize Basketball Federation | Sport #2 |
| Softball | Softball Federation | Very popular, especially women’s |
| Track and Field | Amateur Athletics Association | Present, anchored in the school system |
Cycling: from legendary classics to tourist rides
On the sometimes narrow roads crossing forests, villages, and savannas, cyclists don’t go unnoticed. Cycling in Belize is both a popular means of transportation, a historic competitive discipline, and a booming tourist activity.
Major road classics
Since 1928, the Holy Saturday Cross Country Cycling Classic has been held every Easter weekend. This road race, organized on the country’s main arteries, has become one of the biggest annual sporting events, often described as the greatest one-day race in Belize. The inaugural edition was won by Elston Kerr, a founding figure of an enduring cycling tradition.
Major amateur events that animate the cycling season and honor the memory of champions.
Race organized on January 1st to kick off the cycling year.
The national road championship crowning the country’s best cyclists.
Race organized for Labor Day, attracting a loyal following.
Race in honor of former champion Alpheus Williams, who died of AIDS.
The Cycling Federation of Belize (CFB) oversees this activity and aims to encourage more Belizeans to pedal, whether for performance, leisure, or health.
Cycling as a way to discover the country
Alongside racing, cycling is attracting more and more travelers. The route planning platform komoot lists over 70 routes across the country, totaling about 10,000 miles recorded by users. The key regions are the Cayo, Stann Creek, Corozal, Orange Walk, and Belize districts.
Belize offers a network of bike routes suitable for all levels, from leisurely urban loops in Belize City to long-distance journeys between towns and Mayan archaeological sites. Notable routes include the San Ignacio–Belmopan ride (about 24 miles), Belmopan–Benque Viejo del Carmen (over 37 miles), and Belize City–Hopkins (about 80 miles). These itineraries combine physical activity with cultural immersion, traversing diverse landscapes: forests, rivers, Mennonite villages, plantations, and coastal areas.
For visitors, many rental shops offer mountain bikes or city bikes in destinations like San Pedro (Ambergris Caye), Placencia, Hopkins, or Belize City. Rates are generally affordable and range from hourly rentals to multi-day rentals.
Table of examples of documented cycling routes:
| Cycling Route (example) | Approximate Distance | Cumulative Elevation Gain |
|---|---|---|
| Belize City – Hopkins | 80 miles | 338 ft |
| San Ignacio – Belmopan | 24.5 miles | 640 ft |
| Belmopan – Benque Viejo del Carmen | 38.6 miles | 909 ft |
| Hopkins – Dangriga | 18.8 miles | 190 ft |
| Urban loop in Belmopan | 5.2 miles | 141 ft |
Canoeing and kayaking: the river as a guiding thread
With over 60% of its territory covered in forests and a dense network of rivers and lagoons, Belize is a paradise for paddle sports. Navigation occurs both in the lush jungle and along the coral reef, making it one of the most distinctive activities to experience here.
La Ruta Maya: four days down the Belize River
A symbol of this canoeing culture, the La Ruta Maya Belize River Challenge is a 180-mile (about 290 km), four-day race on the Belize River. It starts in San Ignacio, Cayo District, and finishes in Belize City on the Caribbean coast. Organized annually around Baron Bliss Day, it has a dual purpose: to offer a spectacular competition for both elites and amateurs, and to raise public awareness about river conservation.
Teams compete over several daily stages, paddling for hours through the jungle, then plains, and finally peri-urban areas. Dozens of villages mobilize to cheer on the crews, turning the race into a popular event. Alongside this marathon race, a shorter race, the “Boom to Belcan,” takes place over one day, from Burrell Boom to the Belcan Bridge in Belize City.
A multitude of rivers for paddlers
Beyond competition, Belize’s rivers are perfect for more peaceful outings. Most are classified as Class I to III, with a gentle current, suitable for families and beginners. Among the most frequented are the Macal and Mopan rivers in Cayo District, ideal for tranquil canoe or kayak trips, with opportunities to see howler monkeys, iguanas, and numerous birds.
Further south, the Sittee River descends from the Maya Mountains to the Caribbean Sea, meandering through some of the country’s tallest mangroves. In the north, the New River connects the area around the Lamanai archaeological site to coastal lagoons, offering a powerful combination of nature, wildlife, and Mayan ruins.
In Belize, it is possible to practice ‘cave canoeing’ or ‘cave kayaking’ in underground rivers like Barton Creek or Caves Branch River. The experience involves navigating a canoe through limestone galleries, equipped with a headlamp, to observe geological formations (stalactites, stalagmites) and Mayan archaeological remains, such as ceramics, bones, and ancient sacrificial sites.
From lagoon to coral reef by sea kayak
On the sea side, kayaking becomes an ideal gateway to the turquoise lagoons fringing the barrier reef. Protected by the reef and multiple cayes (small coral islands), these calm waters suit all levels. Ambergris Caye, Caye Caulker, Hopkins, and Placencia are the main starting points for day trips or multi-day tours.
In the atolls of Turneffe, Lighthouse Reef, or Glover’s Reef, specialized operators like Island Expeditions or Slickrock Adventures organize kayaking trips with camping on small islands, daily snorkeling on the reefs, and sometimes dolphin, ray, or turtle watching. These expeditions are aimed at kayakers with some prior sea experience, but many simpler outings are offered around the lagoons of San Pedro or Placencia, sometimes combined with paddleboarding, snorkeling, or nighttime trips to observe bioluminescence.
Overview table of main playgrounds for canoeing and kayaking:
| Environment Type | Iconic Location | Main Feature |
|---|---|---|
| Jungle River | Macal, Mopan (Cayo) | Abundant wildlife, gentle current |
| Mangrove River | Sittee River (south) | Giant mangroves, mountain-to-sea connection |
| Archaeological River | New River (Lamanai) | Access to Mayan ruins by boat |
| Cave Canoeing | Barton Creek, Caves Branch | Sacred Mayan caves, aquatic caving |
| Coastal Lagoons | Placencia, San Pedro Lagoon | Leisurely kayaking, wildlife viewing |
| Coral Atolls | Glover’s, Turneffe, Lighthouse | Sea kayaking, snorkeling, camping on a caye |
Snorkeling and diving: the other face of sports in Belize
For many visitors, sports to practice in Belize begin underwater, with mask and fins. The country indeed holds part of the second-largest reef system on the planet, the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef, stretching about 1,000 km from the Yucatán Peninsula to Honduras. The Belizean portion extends for nearly 180 to 190 miles along the coast and hosts three of the only four coral atolls in the Western Hemisphere: Turneffe, Lighthouse Reef, and Glover’s Reef.
An extraordinary underwater playground
The Belize Barrier Reef, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, features barrier reef, fringing reefs, and patch reefs, surrounded by mangrove forests and seagrass beds. Over 500 species of fish and about a hundred types of coral have been recorded there. Regular sightings include green, hawksbill, or loggerhead turtles, nurse sharks, southern stingrays and eagle rays, moray eels, multicolored parrotfish, tarpon, dolphins, manatees, and sometimes whale sharks in certain areas off Placencia.
Established in 1987 between Ambergris Caye and Caye Caulker, this iconic snorkeling reserve is divided into several zones, including the famous Shark Ray Alley where snorkelers can swim surrounded by nurse sharks and rays, despite the controversy surrounding baiting practices.
Other notable spots include: Mexico Rocks and Tres Cocos near Ambergris, Caye Caulker Marine Reserve, South Water Caye Marine Reserve off Hopkins (the country’s largest marine reserve), Laughing Bird Caye near Placencia, Gladden Spit and Silk Cayes where whale sharks gather between March and June, and Bacalar Chico, north of Ambergris Caye.
Scuba diving, the Blue Hole, and atolls
For divers, Belize is a small paradise. The Blue Hole, a vast circular marine cenote in the heart of Lighthouse Reef, is probably the most famous site. This deep blue sinkhole, its walls covered in gorgonians and coral, attracts divers from around the world, although the dive is technically demanding and more appreciated by advanced levels.
Around the Great Blue Hole, Lighthouse Reef Atoll offers spectacular drop-offs like at Half Moon Caye or Long Caye Wall. Turneffe Atoll, characterized by its mangroves and labyrinthine channels, provides varied dives on coral gardens and exposed walls. Further south, Glover’s Reef is renowned for the clarity of its waters and the diversity of its pristine reefs, with many uninhabited cayes suitable for trips combining diving and kayaking.
Excursions range from half-day and full-day trips to sailing cruises with overnight stays or lodge stays on a private caye. Prices vary, but snorkeling tours often start around $50–100 USD for a half-day, while two-tank dives are typically around $150–200 USD. Trips to the Blue Hole or atolls usually cost more than $250 USD.
Table of main snorkeling and diving sites:
| Marine Zone / Site | Main Characteristic |
|---|---|
| Hol Chan Marine Reserve | First marine reserve, accessible snorkeling |
| Shark Ray Alley | Encounter with nurse sharks and rays |
| South Water Caye Marine Reserve | Largest marine reserve in the country |
| Gladden Spit & Silk Cayes | Seasonal whale sharks |
| Laughing Bird Caye National Park | UNESCO-listed islet, shallow reefs |
| Turneffe Atoll | Coral gardens, mangroves, fishing flats |
| Lighthouse Reef & Blue Hole | Iconic marine sinkhole, vertiginous walls |
| Glover’s Reef Atoll | Highly preserved reefs, private caye stays |
Sport fishing: between conservation and adrenaline
With the Caribbean Sea at its front, immense coastal lagoons, and a continental shelf that drops quickly into the deep (the 2,000-foot depth is reached shortly past the reef), Belize has established itself as a premier sport fishing destination in the region.
A possible “Grand Slam” in one day
The shallow waters of the coastal flats and lagoons harbor four flagship species recognized by fly fishermen: bonefish, permit, tarpon, and snook. Belize is one of the few places in the world where one can hope to catch a bonefish, permit, and tarpon in the same day, a feat dubbed the “Grand Slam” (or “Super Grand Slam” when other species are added).
Belize is renowned for its flats fishing areas. Among the most famous is “Permit Alley,” a long corridor of sandbanks between Placencia and Dangriga, particularly dense with permit and bonefish. Around Ambergris Caye, the mangroves and channels of Tarpon Caye offer excellent opportunities for tarpon fishing. Finally, Turneffe Atoll combines flats suitable for fly fishing with deep channels harboring other species, thus offering great fishing diversity.
Further offshore, beyond the reef, the famous “Drop” marks the edge of the shelf where anglers target marlin, sailfish, wahoo, mahi-mahi, or tuna. The reefs themselves teem with snapper, grouper, barracuda, or jack.
Strict regulations to preserve the resource
Belize has been a pioneer in fisheries conservation in the region. Sport fishing is regulated by a mandatory license issued by the Coastal Zone Management Authority and Institute, with daily, weekly, or annual fees. Since 2009, three emblematic species – bonefish (Albula vulpes), tarpon (Megalops atlanticus), and permit (Trachinotus falcatus) – have been fully protected and subject to strict “catch and release.” It is illegal to keep or commercially trade their products.
The country banned bottom trawling in 2010 and implemented a participatory fisheries management system starting in 2016. In marine reserves, destructive fishing methods (explosives, poisons, certain nets, longlines) are prohibited. Many species are protected, including corals, sea turtles, rays, parrotfish, and whale sharks.
This policy is supported by an arsenal of minimum size rules, closed seasons (e.g., for lobster, conch, queen conch, sea cucumbers, or Nassau grouper), and monitoring of protected areas like the Turneffe Atoll Marine Reserve, co-managed by the Belize Fisheries Department and the TASA association. At Turneffe, different zones – general use, conservation, preservation, special management – impose specific restrictions.
Economic impact studies show these efforts are not only ecological. A 2007 assessment estimated the value of sport fishing at over 55 million Belize dollars and about 1,800 jobs. By 2013, this figure had already reached over 110 million dollars and more than 2,000 jobs, illustrating the importance of this sector for tourism.
A unique sporting heritage: the return of Pok-ta-pok
Among all the popular sports to practice in Belize, one stands out for its historical roots: Pok-ta-pok, the ancient Mayan ball game. Also known as ulama or chajchaay, it is considered the oldest team sport in the world, appearing over 3,500 years ago, probably among the Olmecs. Long marginalized or even banned after the Spanish conquest, it is now powerfully resurging, and Belize plays a leading role in this revival.
A sacred game reinvented
Pok-ta-pok is played on an elongated court – traditionally I-shaped – bordered by stone walls. Nearly 2,000 ancient ball courts have been unearthed across Mesoamerica, including at Caracol, Cahal Pech, Xunantunich, and Lamanai on the Belizean side. At Chichén Itzá, Mexico, the Great Ball Court, built between 800 and 925 CE, measures over 500 feet long by 225 wide.
In the classical era, the Mayan ball game had a strong religious dimension and symbolized the movement of the sun and the cycle of life-death-rebirth, as described in the *Popol Vuh*. Rituals, sometimes bloody, accompanied matches, which could also serve to settle political or territorial disputes. Games attracted many spectators, and winners could strip elites of their jewelry.
Belize, modern world champion
Today, Belize is one of the engines of this sport’s return. Starting in 2015, driven by Felicita Cantun, a retired Yucatec Maya teacher and cultural preservation figure, a first club called Ek Balam (“black jaguar”) was created. Very quickly, other teams formed, and the country now has senior men’s teams, U17 boys’ and girls’ teams, an adult women’s group, and even teams for children aged 8 to 12. In total, about 40 athletes are engaged in regular practice.
Cost in dollars to build the modern Ts’unu’un playing field, inaugurated in 2023 in Orange Walk.
Athletically, the results have been spectacular: Belize won the Mundo Maya international tournament in 2017, 2019, and 2021, becoming triple world champion of Pok-ta-pok. Even though the crown was taken back by Mexico in 2023, the country remains one of the great nations of this reborn sport and is set to host the next edition of a major international tournament at home.
Modern rules and current practice
The current version of Pok-ta-pok modernizes without betraying the ancient spirit. The court, called a taste, typically measures about 200 feet long by just over a dozen feet wide. Two teams of five players compete, equipped with an outfit called fajado: leather loincloth, hip pads, belt, and cloth wrapped around the waist. Men play bare-chested, women in tank tops or T-shirts.
Weight in kilograms of the heavy rubber ball used, which must be struck only with the hips.
Beyond physical performance, the ritual dimension remains very present. Each match is preceded by ceremonies, music, and dances, reaffirming the sport’s place as a cultural and spiritual practice, as much as a competitive one.
Nature and adventure: hiking, climbing, gliding
The popular sports to practice in Belize are not limited to balls, fins, or paddles. The country has bet on ecotourism for decades, with over 60% of its surface still forested, numerous national parks and reserves, and dozens of Maya sites. This geography lends itself to a wide range of outdoor activities.
The Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve, in Cayo District, is characterized by its pine landscapes, waterfalls, and natural pools, with iconic sites like Big Rock Falls and the spectacular Rio Frio Cave. Further south, the Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary, often considered the world’s first jaguar sanctuary, spans over 128,000 acres of forest. It is crisscrossed by trails for day and night hikes, where visitors can observe diverse wildlife including tapirs, howler monkeys, pumas, and a multitude of birds.
Caves play a major role in the adventure offerings. Actun Tunichil Muknal (ATM), accessible after a nearly two-hour hike, is one of the most memorable experiences: you swim or wade through chambers filled with ceramics, skulls, and skeletons left as they were since Maya times. Other systems like Nohoch Che’en or St. Herman’s are suited for “cave tubing,” an underground float trip. At Mayflower Bocawina, near Hopkins, you can zip-line on one of the country’s longest courses (over 2.5 miles cumulative) or rappel down waterfalls several hundred feet high.
Organized tours in Belize often combine several activities in the same day, such as visiting archaeological sites (Xunantunich, Caracol, Lamanai), swimming in a “blue hole,” zip-lining, and canoeing. These activities are accessible to children, provided specific size and endurance criteria for each excursion are met.
Organized but developing sports practice
Behind this abundance of sports to practice in Belize, the reality of sports policy is more nuanced. The country has a National Sports Council to oversee the sector and a Belize Olympic and Commonwealth Games Association for delegations to the Games. A national sports policy for the period 2016–2025 was adopted, after consulting stakeholders on the ground, to better integrate sports into the country’s human, community, and economic development.
This strategy is based on three fundamental pillars to structure and develop sports practice, drawing inspiration from international models and identifying key priorities.
Pillar aiming to ensure broad and equitable access to physical activities for the entire population.
Pillar highlighting the social, educational, and unifying role of sport in society.
Pillar dedicated to supporting high performance and the international representation of athletes.
Draws inspiration from the Canadian Model for Long-Term Athlete Development. Priorities: improving infrastructure, training coaches and officials, developing practice opportunities, and enhancing educational pathways through sport.
The challenges remain significant. Funding is still limited, some infrastructure is aging or unfinished, and the sports culture as an element of national pride sometimes struggles to establish itself against other socio-economic urgencies. Yet, the dynamism of associations, the diversity of practiced sports, the popularity of major cycling events, the vitality of street soccer, the rise of nature sports, and the spectacular comeback of Pok-ta-pok show that Belize already has the ingredients for a strong sporting identity.
Practicing a sport in Belize: another way to discover the country
Ultimately, talking about the popular sports to practice in Belize is telling several countries in one. There is the Belize of neighborhood soccer, the Easter cycling classics, softball tournaments, and basketball games played on vibrant playgrounds. There is the Belize of canoes racing down the Belize River, kayaks gliding between mangroves and coral cayes, divers exploring walls and sea caves, or fly fishermen stalking permit on turquoise flats. And finally, there is the Belize of memory, that of the Mayan ball game revived, where every hip strike reconnects with a millennia-old heritage.
For a traveler, practicing local sports, even modestly, allows for direct immersion in the country. This can take the form of a pickup game, renting a bike to explore a neighboring village, a canoe trip down a river lined with howler monkeys, or a snorkeling session over the barrier reef. In Belize, sport is not just a performance, but a way to experience the territory, understand its cultures, and physically feel its uniqueness.
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Cyril Jarnias is an independent expert in international wealth management with over 20 years of experience. As an expatriate himself, he is dedicated to helping individuals and business leaders build, protect, and pass on their wealth with complete peace of mind.
On his website, cyriljarnias.com, he shares his expertise on international real estate, offshore company formation, and expatriation.
Thanks to his expertise, he offers sound advice to optimize his clients' wealth management. Cyril Jarnias is also recognized for his appearances in many prestigious media outlets such as BFM Business, les Français de l’étranger, Le Figaro, Les Echos, and Mieux vivre votre argent, where he shares his knowledge and know-how in wealth management.
