Belize City, kept on a card.

Where the photos are in Belize City

1. Fort George Lighthouse

   Also called the Baron Bliss Lighthouse, a 49 foot tower on the tip of Fort George Point at the entrance to Belize Harbor. If you arrive by tender, the pier is essentially next door, a two minute walk, and the Belize sign is nearby for a name-on-the-picture shot.

2. The Swing Bridge

   The bridge that joins the north and south sides of the city is said to be the only one in the world still operated by hand. It is a popular stop, with sailboats and pelicans in the water below.

3. Altun Ha

   An ancient Maya city just over 30 miles north of Belize City, once a ceremonial center where about 10,000 people traded jade and obsidian. You can walk through two plazas, and the temple steps make a strong vertical photo.

4. Cave tubing

   You hike about 30 minutes to the mouth of a cave, then float down the Caves Branch River on an inner tube through stalactites and crystal pillars. It is dark inside, so this one is a memory more than a picture.

5. The Belize Barrier Reef

   The second largest reef in the world, with snorkeling among more than 500 species of fish, and reef sharks, sea turtles, groupers and stingrays. A waterproof case is the tool for this stop.

How the light works

The old harbor is low and open, so the sun is direct on the water: shoot the lighthouse and the Swing Bridge in the morning or late afternoon, when it comes from the side. At Altun Ha the plazas are open, hot and bright at midday, and the stone glows in the softer light of late morning.

Before you go ashore

Belize City is a tender port, and you should plan on 20 to 30 minutes each way for the ride, plus time in the tender line. The lighthouse and its sign are next to the tender pier, and the Swing Bridge is a longer walk along Marine Parade, the safer and more scenic route. The bigger excursions leave from the pier area on their own schedules.

Details checked September 2026. Piers, fees and schedules change, so confirm with your ship's daily plan.

Questions people ask

Is Belize City a tender port?

Yes. Plan on roughly 20 to 30 minutes each way for the tender ride, plus time in the line.

Where is the Fort George Lighthouse?

On the tip of Fort George Point at the entrance to Belize Harbor, essentially next to the tender pier, a two minute walk.

How far is Altun Ha?

Just over 30 miles north of Belize City, so it is a half day excursion.