Ambergris Caye

The laid-back Ambergris Caye, located just off the Yucatán Peninsula, is the largest of Belize's 200 cayes and a popular tourist destination. If diving and snorkeling are on your bucket list, head to the Hol Chan Marine Reserve, which is located just off the shore. It's one of seven reserves inside the Belize Barrier Reef system, which is the world's second largest after Australia's Great Barrier Reef. It's named after the Mayan word for "small cut" and is one of seven reserves within the Belize Barrier Reef system.

The reef with steep coral walls, Cat's Eye, a crescent-shaped sinkhole, and Shark Ray Alley, where divers can get up close and personal with nurse sharks and southern stingrays, are among the reserve's top attractions. The fishing village of San Pedro, a colorful mix of clapboard buildings, stray dogs, and clucking hens, is the island's major settlement. Aside from water activities and sunbathing on the beach, dining at the adorable cafés and touring the Belize Chocolate Company are two of the top things to do here. The most common modes of transportation are golf carts and bicycles, albeit an increasing number of cars and trucks zip along the sandy streets these days.

Location: northeast of Belize's mainland, in the Caribbean Sea

Highlights: Great Blue Hole, Cat's Eye, Shark Ray Alley, the fishing village of San Pedro, Belize Barrier Reef system, the Hol Chan Marine Reserve, ...

Best time to visit: December to April