There's simply no better time to come to Belize than during September - the biggest month on the country’s social calendar. This is a truly uplifting time of year when the whole country celebrates its journey to statehood, and Belize loves nothing more than welcoming people from around the world to join the party.
While the small and perfectly formed country is blessed with a delightful year-round climate, with an average yearly temperature of 84°F (29°C), September has a multitude of unique offerings to visitors. September is in the midst of the "green season," which means the landscape is bursting with vibrant flowers and lush greenery thanks to an average of 10” of rainfall across the month. There’s no major worry about the rain spoiling your outdoor plans as most of it happens in the early mornings or at night, leaving the days mostly sunny and hot.
Life in High Definition
With average daytime temperatures around 81°F (27°C) and lows of 77°F (25°C), September is a "Goldilocks" month—not too hot, not too cold, just right. Sunsets are suitably epic. Mid-level clouds provide perfect filters for the beams of light as they drop behind the Maya Mountains, casting stripes of orange, rose and lilac over the perfectly flat lagoon.
To the east, the mornings are equally prolific as overnight storms give way to exquisite stillness and peace, with just the sandpipers hopping across the sand before the crimson sunrise on the beach. Being a peninsula, the magic is in the ability to cross from lagoon to sea in a matter of minutes on foot so there’s no concern over missing daybreak or day’s end wherever you’re situated with your cup of Joe or sundowner Belikin. Luckily for our future guests at Blue Reef Beach we have waterfront restaurants on both sides of the peninsula!
Up on the southern mainland, an easy tree-lined drive away, waterfalls run fast from the rains, providing hikers and birdwatchers with the ultimate cooling off opportunity in emerald-green pools below the vines and creepers of the jungle canopy. Mayan King and its ATV adventures, ziplining, easily accessible waterfalls and jungle trekking are only 25 minutes away, the world famous jaguar preserve at Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary is 40 minutes away (the night tour with D’Tourz is an unmissable once-in-a-lifetime experience with or without jaguar sightings) and scaling the majestic Antelope Falls at Mayflower Bocawina National Park to be met at its peak by awe-inspiring panoramic views across the jungle all the way to the Caribbean plus a deep, ice cold mountain fresh natural pool to view it all from, is a nature lover’s dream. You can even gallop through tropical rainforest and look for jaguar claw marks on trees or traverse the Sittee River on horseback at Outback Trails.
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Revelry in Paradise
September is on every Belizean's radar as the month to unwind, celebrate and take vacation over the two public holidays honoring two historical events. The cultural festivities kick off on September 10th with St. George's Caye Day, which commemorates a crucial naval victory over the Spanish navy in 1798 after six previous attempts by the Spanish to expel the colonists in what was British Honduras. The reverse outcome would have created a completely different country.
To mark this jubilant success, and what was the beginning of Belize’s new incarnation, the red, white and blue flag threads through every business, home and outfit. The Battle of St George’s Caye is the topic of the week in schools, where the new generation lead the gregarious convoy through the main street to the pier in Placencia, clapped on by villagers.
Food, for all cultures here in this multicultural melting pot, brings together families, friends and guests so expect even bigger BBQs covered with freshly caught fish, chicken and seasonal lobster, plenty of mangoes and avocados (in season and abundant), rich and hearty rice and beans and buckets of ice cold Belikin beer! In the villages beyond, communities gather for ceremony and plate sharing, with celebration and reconnection on the agenda.
The month-long patriotic revelry culminates on September 21st, when Belize celebrates its Independence Day. The energy is infectious, with music, parades, and street dancing bringing every village and town to life.
And Placencia? This is one of the most inviting places to witness the celebrations. On Independence Day, energetic parades dance through the village, and music fills the air as our community gathers to honor the nation. The streets, homes, and even golf carts are adorned with the Belizean flag. The celebrations are a true expression of Belizean pride and a testament to the country's vibrant culture and history. The energy is palpable, despite celebrations starting during the eve of the big day, with the midnight Flag Raising and fireworks at the municipal pier, followed by Jouvert (French for “break day”), a Trinidadian tradition that marks the start of the Carnival just before dawn, where the energy of the village starts to rise with the sun. The Road Parade is next - the ultimate display of joy, led by the youngest villagers and then the Mas Bands, with themes chosen far in advance for ultimate colour-coordination. Expect a sea of colour and glamour as the groups dance to calypso and soca under the scorching sun, headdresses and feathers vibrating all the way to the pier from Turtle Inn.
The best part of visiting in September? It's perched just before the peak tropical vacation season, which means national parks, archaeological sites and beaches are wide open, and the atmosphere is super relaxed. It's the perfect time to experience the heart of the nation - its people - and discover new parts of this amazingly rich and diverse country in Placencia and beyond.