Belmopan in December: Weather, Cayo Day Trips and a Two-Day Plan

In December, Belmopan wakes to a green, slightly damp hush, with the hills of the Cayo District soft in the early light and the smell of wood smoke and fresh tortillas drifting from kitchens. The rains of the wet season have only just let go, and the forest around the capital is still deep green. It is a good month to use Belmopan as a calm base for jungle walks, Maya sites and the Hummingbird Highway.

Belmopan in the dry season · Illustration

What is the weather like in Belmopan in December?

December is warm and pleasantly mild, with the rainy season fading and the days getting shorter. Evenings feel noticeably gentler than in summer.

Month	Daylight on the 15th
November	11 hours 21 minutes
December	11 hours 09 minutes
January	11 hours 15 minutes

In Belize City, highs average about 84°F in December, with lows near 69°F. That is a comfortable picture for walking and sightseeing, and a light layer is welcome once the sun goes down.

Rain still shows up in December, on about ten days in Belize City, so a shower is a realistic part of the month rather than a surprise. The wet season typically lasts through November, and the dry season proper starts in February, which makes December a transition month. Expect some gray spells and the odd soaking, and then clear stretches when the hills look freshly washed.

Daylight runs a little over eleven hours, so plan outdoor outings for the bright part of the day and leave the evenings for dinner and slow conversation. Belmopan sits inland among low hills and forest, so what you see is leaf, river and sky rather than sea. Bring shoes that cope with damp trails and red mud.

What to do in Belmopan in December

Belmopan is a small, orderly capital with government buildings, markets and a relaxed pace, and in December its real value is the countryside around it. The days are shorter and the forest is lush, so the month suits caves, rivers, birdwatching and ruins rather than long beach days.

Belize is the only country in mainland Central America with English as its official language, and in December you hear it mixed with Spanish, Kriol and Garifuna in the market and at the bus stop. The Christmas season brings lights, music and family gatherings. Kitchens turn out tamales, a Belizean holiday favorite, and stewed chicken with rice and beans, and many homes put out ham and sweet bread at the table.

St. Herman’s Blue Hole National Park

The park lies twelve miles southeast of Belmopan on the right side of the Hummingbird Highway. It protects 575 acres of forest rich with wildlife, and it holds the geological features that give it its name, set in green shade that feels cool after the road.

In December the surrounding forest is at its leafiest after the wet season, and birdsong carries through the trees. You walk among limestone and vegetation and look for the birds and small creatures that live here. Wear sturdy shoes, since damp ground can be slippery after rain.

The park was first declared in 1986 as Blue Hole National Park and renamed in 2005 to avoid confusion with the Blue Hole Natural Monument at sea.

The Maya sites of the Cayo District

Belmopan sits in the Cayo District, which contains several pre-Columbian Maya ruins, including Caracol, Xunantunich, Cahal Pech, Baking Pot, Lower Dover and El Pilar. They are among the reasons travelers choose this part of Belize in the first place.

December light is soft and the forest canopy is thick and green, which makes the stone plazas and temple mounds photograph well against the trees. Each site has its own feel, from sprawling plazas to quieter ones in the forest, so you can pick by mood rather than by fame.

Walks between the structures are good for spotting birds and monkeys in the canopy, though wildlife is always a chance rather than a promise. Look for the guide who knows the stories of the stelae and the ball courts.

Markets, food and the town itself

Belmopan’s market is the place for fruit, vegetables and a plate of rice and beans with stewed chicken. Fry jacks with eggs and beans are a typical breakfast, and fresh juices are on offer across town.

In December the Christmas atmosphere shows in decorations and in shops stocking holiday ingredients. Evenings are mild enough for a stroll and a cold local beer, or a hot chocolate if you prefer something warm.

The U.S. Embassy sits on Floral Park Road in the capital, a reminder that Belmopan is the seat of the country’s diplomatic life, though it is an administrative town more than a sightseeing one.

A two-day itinerary for Belmopan in December

Day 1 starts with breakfast in town, fry jacks and coffee, before heading southeast on the Hummingbird Highway to St. Herman’s Blue Hole National Park. Go in the morning, when the light filters through the forest and birds are active.

Back in Belmopan for the middle of the day, eat a plate of rice and beans or stewed chicken at a local spot and rest through the warmest hours. In the later afternoon, walk through the market to see what is in season and pick up fruit for the next day.

Dinner suits a casual restaurant, and darkness falls early, so plan to be settled by evening. If the weather turns, spend the afternoon over a long meal and an early night rather than another walk.

Day 2 belongs to the Maya sites of the Cayo District. Choose Xunantunich or Cahal Pech for the morning and begin early to make the most of the daylight, which lasts a little over eleven hours.

Take your time among the plazas and temples, then have lunch in the area. Caracol, El Pilar, Baking Pot and Lower Dover are other options in the district if you want to extend or change the plan.

If rain settles in, the forest and stone look dramatic under gray skies, but wet steps can be slippery. Otherwise, return to Belmopan for a quiet evening meal.

Is Belmopan busy in December?

Belmopan itself stays quiet in December, as it does for most of the year, since it is a government town rather than a resort.

The holiday weeks bring family travel and visitors to the Cayo District, so the Maya sites, lodges and restaurants in the wider region feel the seasonal pull. Rooms are worth booking early for the Christmas and New Year stretch, and later for the first half of the month, when things are calmer.

Restaurants in town close or shorten hours around Christmas Day, as in much of the country, and the mood turns family-centered. Public offices follow holiday schedules, which is worth remembering if you plan any errands in the capital. Outside the holidays, you will find easy conversations, open tables and plenty of space on the trails, with the greenest forest of the year as the backdrop.

What to pack for Belmopan in December

Pack for warm days, gentle evenings and the chance of rain, with footwear that handles mud and stone.

A light rain jacket, because showers are still part of the month.
Sturdy shoes with grip for muddy forest trails and steps at the ruins.
A light layer for evenings, which cool down after sunset.
Insect repellent for the forest and river areas.
A hat and sunscreen for open plazas at the Maya sites.
A small daypack with a water bottle for park visits.

Good to know before you go

The U.S. State Department rates Belize Level 2, “Exercise increased caution”, because of crime, and says the south side of Belize City has historically had the highest concentration of violent crime.

December comes just after the end of the Atlantic hurricane season, which runs from June 1 to November 30. The rainy season typically lasts through November, so the countryside is green and rivers can still run full.

Belmopan is a small town, and the places most worth visiting lie in the surrounding Cayo District. The U.S. Embassy in Belmopan is open Monday through Thursday and Friday morning, and U.S. citizens with emergencies can call (+501) 822-4011 at any hour.

Belmopan in December vs November and January

Moving the trip to November means a wetter month, since it closes the rainy season, with rain falling on more days and trails muddier. The forest is at its lushest, but you may spend more time under cover.

January keeps a similar pattern to December, with comparable rain days and daylight, and the drier season approaching in February. George Price Day on January 15 adds a public holiday for the first Prime Minister.

Travelers who want the greenest scenery and fewer showers than November will find December a sensible middle. Those who prefer the driest conditions may look toward the weeks that follow.

Is December a good time to visit Belmopan?

Yes, for travelers who want forest, ruins and quiet roads, with the Christmas season adding warmth to the evenings.

It suits birdwatchers, hikers and anyone building a trip around the Cayo District, using Belmopan as a calm base. Beach seekers should look to the coast and cayes instead, since the capital is inland.

On arrival, start with a walk through the market and a first plate of rice and beans, then head out to St. Herman’s Blue Hole National Park or a Maya site in the morning light. What December gives Belmopan is a green countryside just past the rains, with holiday food on the table and the hills at their freshest.

Sources

sunrise-sunset.org, sunrise and sunset calculated for the 15th of the month, checked October 11, 2026
NOAA NCEI, GHCN-Daily station BHM00078583 (Philip S. W. Goldson International Airport, Belize City), normals 1991-2020 computed from the daily record (https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=daily-summaries&stations=BHM00078583), checked October 11, 2026
Wikipedia, Public holidays in Belize (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_holidays_in_Belize), checked October 11, 2026
Wikivoyage, Belize (https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Belize), checked October 11, 2026
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U.S. Embassy in Belize (https://bz.usembassy.gov/), checked October 11, 2026
Belize Audubon Society, St. Herman's Blue Hole National Park (https://belizeaudubon.org/shbh/), checked October 11, 2026
Wikipedia, Climate of Belize (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Climate_of_Belize), checked October 11, 2026
U.S. Department of State, Belize Travel Information, Entry and exit requirements (https://travel.state.gov/), checked October 11, 2026
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NOAA National Hurricane Center, Climatology (https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/climo/), checked October 11, 2026