Belize vs Costa Rica: which Central American gem is right for you?

At any time of year, Central America astounds with its gorgeous beaches, exciting hikes, ancient ruins and – above all else – extraordinary natural beauty.

As you mull a getaway to this region of small countries and huge pleasures, two of its most welcoming destinations will surely rise to the top of your list: Belize and Costa Rica.

Both Belize and Costa Rica offer incredible experiences. We've consulted two travel experts to provide you with the best insights. Below, they cover all the basics (like climate and costs) and help you figure out which country works best for your travel needs.

Belize vs Costa Rica: Which country is cheaper?

Costa Rica

As Costa Rica has become a popular tourist destination, so have the prices. While it's possible to visit Costa Rica on a budget, you may need to forego the fancy hotels and restaurants to make it happen. Opt for cabinas (simple, single-room cabins) or hostels to reduce accommodation costs. Traveling during the wet season (August to November) can also offer savings, though you'll need to brace for frequent rain and muddy conditions.

Belize

Although Belize has become more popular and developed a range of high-end resorts, it remains surprisingly affordable for budget-conscious travelers. Consider staying in more budget-friendly areas such as Belize City and San Ignacio, where you'll find a wider selection of hotels and hostels. To make a Belize trip even cheaper, focus your itinerary on exploring the country's 17 national parks, dine at local hole-in-the-wall restaurants and food trucks, and use public transportation.

Overall

If you’re aiming to travel to and/or through Central America on a budget, Belize is your best bet.

Does Belize or Costa Rica have better weather?

Belize

The entire country tends to get plenty of rain, with annual rainfall ranging from 1,350mm (or 53 inches) in the far north to over 4,500mm (or 180 inches) in the extreme south. And since the most heavily visited areas tend to be the flat areas at or near the coast, Belize’s most popular destinations (like San Pedro) face a greater risk of hurricanes during the summer and fall (especially in September and October). 

Costa Rica

Since Costa Rica has a Caribbean Sea coastline, a Pacific Ocean coastline, and larger mountain ranges in the interior, you should expect many more variations in climate throughout the country. By the Caribbean Sea, you can expect warm and wet weather year-round at beach towns like Limón and Puerto Viejo de Talamanca. In contrast, Costa Rica’s Pacific Coast beaches tend to have more distinct wet and dry seasons, such as Tamarindo and Jacó, with their December to April dry season. And though Costa Rica does lie in North America’s hurricane belt, hurricanes rarely make direct landfall on either coast. 

Overall

If you prefer more predictable and warmer weather, you might have an easier time in Belize. But if you want to experience more climate zones and cooler escapes to the mountains, you’ll likely appreciate Costa Rica’s abundance of beautiful mountain ecosystems. And if you’re most concerned about hurricanes, you face far less risk of severe tropical storms in Costa Rica. 

Does Belize or Costa Rica have better public transportation?

Belize

When it comes to getting around Belize, don’t be surprised if you spot vintage Bluebird buses driving down the road: Multiple companies operate colorfully painted 1950s Bluebirds on their bus routes. These buses also tend to be less formal in operating their routes (as in, you can usually ask the driver to drop you off somewhere that’s not an official stop), and they tend to be cash-only, but they are very cheap and easy to use. If you prefer operating your own vehicle, you can rent a car, or you can rent a golf cart if you mainly plan on exploring in and around San Pedro. 

Costa Rica

Like Belize, Costa Rica has buses running across the country, though service may be spotty or unavailable in areas like the Nicoya Peninsula. Costa Rica also has a regulated taxi system and Uber rideshares, though these also tend to be more readily available in the San José metro region. If you plan to rent your own car, that can be easily doable in Costa Rica, so long as you’re willing to pay a heavy premium. 

Overall

If you prioritize ease of use, Costa Rica can be better for transportation, but that often depends on where you intend to travel. As a much smaller country, your transportation experience will likely be more consistent in Belize. And if you really want the country with the cheapest transportation options, Belize has you covered.

Which country is safer?

Belize

As of early 2025, the US State Department has a Level Two advisory for Belize, placing the country at a similar level of safety as France and the UK that are generally considered safe. With that in mind, both the British Foreign Secretary’s office and Global Affairs Canada have recently warned about the recent spikes in gang and drug cartel violence in certain parts of Belize, such as Southside Belize City. And though the touristy beach areas like San Pedro and Caye Caulker are not generally prone to gang violence, visitors there still face general risks of theft.

Costa Rica

Like Belize, the US State Department also has a Level Two advisory for Costa Rica. While this means the country is generally safe, the US, British and Canadian governments nonetheless warn about Costa Rica’s crime problem, one that has unfortunately become a bigger problem in recent years. The biggest concerns tend to involve armed robberies, financial fraud, and druggings and sexual violence.

Overall

While Belize and Costa Rica are generally considered safer destinations than many other parts of Central America and the Caribbean, that doesn’t mean you should completely let your guard down. Always be proactive with your safety: Avoid dark alleys, only use ATMs inside banks, keep your wallet and credit cards out of sight, keep expensive jewelry at home or in a hotel safe, and hire a licensed guide for excursions into unfamiliar territory. 

Which country has the best attractions?

Belize

Belize might have played shy in the past. Now? It’s impossible to be low-key about the Great Blue Hole – which can be seen from space – or the world’s only jaguar preserve, Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary. Then, there are Belize’s coral reef–formed cayes (pronounced “keys”). Sandy, flat and gin-clear shallows surround all 400 of them, which range from spits of sand like Sergeant’s Caye to full-fledged municipalities like 25-mile-long Ambergris Caye. 

You can’t blame Unesco for naming the Belize Barrier Reef an outstanding natural system: there’s simply no rival for taking in marine life by scuba diving and snorkeling. Lighthouse, Glovers or Turneffe are Belize’s three pristine coral-reef atolls – and constitute three out of the western hemisphere’s total of four.

Belize’s glorious, uncrowded Caribbean Sea beaches wash away any cravings for Pacific waves – with sugary, granite strands of gold stretching the 16 miles of the Placencia Peninsula, and floury powder on cayes that’s so soft, you risk sinking in more than your toes. Unlike Costa Rica, you won’t need to worry about rough currents, as gentle waves mean year-round wading. Expect to hear admonitions to “go slow,” especially in Caye Caulker – as well as plenty of Kriol, the local dialect, always spoken fast. Yet since everyone speaks English, you can skip twisting your tongue to roll your Rs for directions.

Costa Rica

Though some places in Costa Rica are more developed and more touristy than others, the forward-looking country protects an impressive 28% of its land territory and 30% of its territorial waters in the form of national parks or private reserves. As a result, you can visit protected parks like Manuel Antonio to find a deserted beach or empty patch of wilderness to explore. If that’s not enough, you can also hit Isla del Coco for displays of biodiversity, including the world’s largest schools of hammerhead sharks.

By protecting its land and waters, Costa Rica preserves the habitats of an incredible diversity of creatures. It’s not just the monkeys (although the four species found here are charismatic indeed). You also might spot smiling sloths, nosy coatis, quirky agoutis, hungry anteaters, lumbering tapirs, basking iguanas, toothy caimans and countless other animals. An incredible 850 species of birds flutter through these parts. Costa Rica’s fauna is the country’s premier attraction, and you can see it all in its natural habitat. In fact, you’re likely to see it without even looking for it.

Venture away from the coast and the landscape changes dramatically, rising into the lush forest-covered mountains that define this country. A series of stunning volcanic peaks beckons visitors to peer into their steaming craters and soak in their thermal pools. From the dramatic vistas of Volcán Arenal towering over the jungle to the tranquil lagoons and riparian habitats at Palo Verde, Costa Rica’s parks let you experience a wide variety of nature.

Overall

Ultimately, Belize and Costa Rica have an abundance of sights worth experiencing. But if you want more laid-back Caribbean beaches and a massive coral reef to dive into, you want Belize. If you prefer a greater variety of landscapes, ecosystems and wildlife, then Costa Rica should be your pick. 

Belize vs Costa Rica: Which has better food and drinks?

Belize

For adventurous food lovers, Belize makes things easy. Annatto-spiced stewed chicken, soft pockets of fried dough called fry jacks and spiced chimole soup that’s black as onyx: let the fusion of Central American and Caribbean cuisine here surprise you. Yes, you will find plenty of rice and beans, but you will also discover local dishes like garnaches (fried corn tortillas with beans, greens, tomatoes and cheese), chaya (also known as “Maya spinach”) with eggs, and pibil (marinated and overnight barbecued pork) tacos. 

Oh, and don’t overlook drinks. In Belize, you can try beverages like cashew wine and seaweed shakes, and beers including Belikin lagers and stouts. You can also enjoy Caribbean staples like rum, sodas (made with natural brown sugar) and fresh fruit juices. 

Costa Rica

Costa Rican cuisine may not have the same kind of cachet as other Latin American countries’ famous foods (like Mexico and Brazil), but there’s much more to try in Costa Rica than coffee and chocolate. Don’t ignore signature dishes like rondón (seafood and coconut stew), chifrijo (fried pork and red beans), chorreadas (corn pancakes) and patí (turnovers, or hand pies, filled with fruit like plantains and pineapples).

As for beverages, look out for chicha (a low-proof fermented corn drink), agua de sapo (made with panela, ginger, and lime), agua de fresa (a sweetened strawberry drink) and guaro (a vodka-like neutral tasting liquor made with sugar cane), and tap into the country’s growing craft brewery scene. 

Overall

For fascinating Caribbean fare with international influences, you may quickly fall in love with Belize’s hearty and tasty cuisine. For more homestyle farm-to-table food featuring freshly grown ingredients, you may deeply appreciate the simple pleasures of Costa Rican food.