Most of us are currently sheltering in place as we strive to flatten the curve. For many, this has meant canceled trips, postponed vacations, and nixed events. But the world is still out there in all of its stunning natural beauty. While your in-person trip to Belize might be off the cards for now, you can still explore the country’s many wonders from the comfort of your computer.

Let’s take a virtual visit of some of Belize’s must-see destinations.

Wander the Xunantunich Ruins

Located about 70 miles west of Belize City, Xunantunich is an Ancient Maya archaeological site. Spanning about a square mile and consisting of six plazas, this massive site served as a civic ceremonial center between 600-890 CE. Its most notable ruins include El Castillo, the second tallest structure in all of Belize, the large ritual space dubbed Structure A-1, and a massive burial chamber.

Click here to enjoy a 360 degree panoramic view of the site.

Dive the Great Blue Hole

Made famous by Jacques Cousteau, the Great Blue Hole is a giant marine sinkhole in the center of Belize’s Lighthouse Reef. Some 407 feet deep and ringed by reefs, it’s one of the top scuba diving sites in the world. And little wonder: take a dive down into its inky depths, and you’ll find midnight parrotfish, reef sharks, hammerheads, and all sorts of tropical ocean life.

Click here to dive deep into Belize’s famed Great Blue Hole.

Stroll along the Placencia Boardwalk

The Placencia Peninsula is a narrow expanse of white sand beach studded with small villages and towns – including our very own Placencia. Bright, laid-back and welcoming, Placencia has been a top tourism destination for years, and is perhaps best known for its annual Sidewalk Arts & Music Festival.

Placencia is also home to the world’s narrowest boardwalk, which you can virtually stroll here.

Spot birds and jaguars at the Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary

Established in 1986, the Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary spans 150 square miles, and is an important wildlife sanctuary – and a key jaguar protection site. The area is home to some of the oldest rock formations in Central America, along with dense natural rainforest.

You can glimpse some of the sanctuary’s waterfalls, hiking trails and birdlife here.

Go cave tubing through natural limestone formations

Belize is famed for its limestone cave formations, many of which contain relics and pottery fragments from the Ancient Maya. Many of the caves can be explored on foot or by “tubing” along the waters that run through them – a fantastic experience for the adventurously inclined. Belize’s most popular caves include Actun Tunichil Muknal (ATM), Barton Creek Cave and Rio Frio Cave.

This fascinating clip from National Geographic gives you a glimpse into ATM – a sacred sacrificial site famous for containing the sparkling, calcified remains of the “Crystal Maiden”. You can take a deeper dive with this video from Belize Wanderer.

We hope you enjoyed your virtual tour of Belize – and hope that you’ll get to enjoy these sites in person soon!