Anyone been to Belize?
Discussion
I went about 3 years ago - and am toying with the idea of going back 
Caye Caulker - the standard go and have a few drinks, go diving, snorkelling with sharks (non-man eaters!), take a boat trip etc. Small island, with no real beach, but plenty of swimming spots (including the 'split bar' - fond memories of being knee deep in the sea, drinking rum cocktails at 90p each, watching a thunderstorm around the sunset!). No cars, just golf carts - motto of "no shoes, no shirt, no problem!". Plenty of accommodation to be found, and easy to get to by boat from Belize City (or by plane if feeling a bit richer).
San Ignacio - the Actun Tunichal Muknal Cave (ATM Cave) - truly amazing. Walk for about half a mile into a mountain, waist deep in water, before climbing a cliff (not with equipment, its not that hard!), and then walk around LOTS of Mayan bones and relics, before climbing a ladder to see the 'Crystal Maiden'. They left the caves the way they found them, and you aren't allowed cameras in there any more
Plenty of pics online though.
Other things in and around San Ignacio - zip lining, cave tubing, and other caves to explore.
From San Ignacio you could always pop over the border to Guatemala and visit Tikal - Mayan ruins in the jungle, used in one of the Star Wars films, and most impressive at sun rise, sitting on top of temple 4 (I think it was 4 anyway!), watching the mist rise revealing more temples above the trees.
I'll have a quick look to see if I have any pics I can put up... am sure I have them online somewhere!
Caye Caulker - the standard go and have a few drinks, go diving, snorkelling with sharks (non-man eaters!), take a boat trip etc. Small island, with no real beach, but plenty of swimming spots (including the 'split bar' - fond memories of being knee deep in the sea, drinking rum cocktails at 90p each, watching a thunderstorm around the sunset!). No cars, just golf carts - motto of "no shoes, no shirt, no problem!". Plenty of accommodation to be found, and easy to get to by boat from Belize City (or by plane if feeling a bit richer).
San Ignacio - the Actun Tunichal Muknal Cave (ATM Cave) - truly amazing. Walk for about half a mile into a mountain, waist deep in water, before climbing a cliff (not with equipment, its not that hard!), and then walk around LOTS of Mayan bones and relics, before climbing a ladder to see the 'Crystal Maiden'. They left the caves the way they found them, and you aren't allowed cameras in there any more
Plenty of pics online though. Other things in and around San Ignacio - zip lining, cave tubing, and other caves to explore.
From San Ignacio you could always pop over the border to Guatemala and visit Tikal - Mayan ruins in the jungle, used in one of the Star Wars films, and most impressive at sun rise, sitting on top of temple 4 (I think it was 4 anyway!), watching the mist rise revealing more temples above the trees.
I'll have a quick look to see if I have any pics I can put up... am sure I have them online somewhere!
I went on a trip to Belize a couple of years ago and spent most of the time on Ambergris Caye. Although I was experiencing it as a tourist and not a resident, I loved it and consider it one of my favorite places.
Where to go in Belize
Ambergris Caye
Caye Caulker
Cayo
Placencia
Hopkins
Belize City
Glover’s Reef
Corozal
Where to go in Belize
Ambergris Caye
Caye Caulker
Cayo
Placencia
Hopkins
Belize City
Glover’s Reef
Corozal
Thanks for the suggestions guys, can't wait. Caye Caulker and San Ignacio are definitely on the list...looking forward to snorkeling with sharks and manatees etc! Also going to visit the great blue hole, although I've heard mixed review about it.
We went last year, San Pedro is ok. We stayed in Ambergris Caye and enjoyed it. There are a few trips Hol chan and shark Ray alley, they were ok but a little bit false as they feed the Rays, turtles and sharks to get them there but it is quite good and snorkelling very easy.
Certainly recommend Tikal, very well worth a visit.
Certainly recommend Tikal, very well worth a visit.
Not sure if you've booked yet, but saw this when scrolling all posts looking for kiddies holiday recommendations. Anyway, before kids showed up we ha a great holiday in Belize. Stopped for 2 days in Miami en-route and then flew to Dangriga before travelling to a tiny island hotel there. About 20 minutes by speed boat off the coast. Thatch Caye. It was a great place to relax on your own private beach, food was awesome, as was going out fishing with the chef. Little snappers and game fish. I'll echo what someone said about all the adventure stuff near San Ignacio. I think the caves are a must. As are the Mayan pyramids. We then stayed at Hidden Valley for a few days. Perhaps the best place I've ever stayed. The hotel has vast grounds and they can give you a packed lunch, walkie talkie and map and send you out looking for wildlife and waterfalls for a dip. Someone told me that Bear Grylls filmed his whole show about Belize in the grounds, but it could be bulls
t. He certainly sky dived in over one of the waterfalls there though.
t. He certainly sky dived in over one of the waterfalls there though. 4Lmike said:
Is Tikal still worth it, even after visiting Lamanai and Altun Ha? Or is it a case of seen one seen them all?
Not sure about those sites you have quoted but Tikal is a little different from others we visited, the climb up above the tree tops and see other stupas dotted around is awesome.Hi 4Lmike,
Wolff has given you some great information and there's not much I can really add. From the sounds of it, nothing has changed in the last 3 years since he visited; I visited in August and it's still fantastic. As Kenty says, plenty of stuff to do from Ambergris Caye. We went snorkelling and saw pretty much everything there was to see - didn't make me feel like I was missing out by not scuba diving. Yes the sharks and rays are fed but I don't see why that's a problem. Tikal is DEFINITELY worth the visit.
I would like to suggest one thing bearing in mind we visited only 4 months ago so this is still fresh in the mind...
The sunrise visit to Tikal is an absolute must. We weighed up the different options and decided to do an organised trip which cost approx 25 USD per person (so 50 for two of us) rather than take a private taxi there and back (about 100 USD I think).
Unfortunately, this did not go to plan. We were taking a minibus with 12 other people (to be expected) with the pick up time guaranteed at 3am (forgotten exact time) which I knew would get us there in good time. However, we were the first people to be picked up at 3am and so it took a further 45 minutes of messing around filling up the minibus. Oh and THEN the driver filled up with fuel on the way to Tikal.
This resulted in us being hugely rushed by the guide to get from the entry to the temple from which you watch the sunrise. It's 1-1.5 miles from the entrance to the temple they take you to. All of us had to run which was ok for my girlfriend and I as we are fit and had both taken head torches. People who didn't have these were tripping over tree roots etc. On the plus side, we arrived JUST in time but other people from our minibus arrived 20 mins+ later and the sun was already up.
Looking back makes me even more annoyed as I travel so much and should have predicted it happening.
Anyway, on the plus side, here are some photos:
Rush hour, Caye Caulker
Belize Cayes
Shark/Ray alley
Sunrise at Tikal
15 mins later
Wolff has given you some great information and there's not much I can really add. From the sounds of it, nothing has changed in the last 3 years since he visited; I visited in August and it's still fantastic. As Kenty says, plenty of stuff to do from Ambergris Caye. We went snorkelling and saw pretty much everything there was to see - didn't make me feel like I was missing out by not scuba diving. Yes the sharks and rays are fed but I don't see why that's a problem. Tikal is DEFINITELY worth the visit.
I would like to suggest one thing bearing in mind we visited only 4 months ago so this is still fresh in the mind...
The sunrise visit to Tikal is an absolute must. We weighed up the different options and decided to do an organised trip which cost approx 25 USD per person (so 50 for two of us) rather than take a private taxi there and back (about 100 USD I think).
Unfortunately, this did not go to plan. We were taking a minibus with 12 other people (to be expected) with the pick up time guaranteed at 3am (forgotten exact time) which I knew would get us there in good time. However, we were the first people to be picked up at 3am and so it took a further 45 minutes of messing around filling up the minibus. Oh and THEN the driver filled up with fuel on the way to Tikal.
This resulted in us being hugely rushed by the guide to get from the entry to the temple from which you watch the sunrise. It's 1-1.5 miles from the entrance to the temple they take you to. All of us had to run which was ok for my girlfriend and I as we are fit and had both taken head torches. People who didn't have these were tripping over tree roots etc. On the plus side, we arrived JUST in time but other people from our minibus arrived 20 mins+ later and the sun was already up.
Looking back makes me even more annoyed as I travel so much and should have predicted it happening.
Anyway, on the plus side, here are some photos:
Rush hour, Caye Caulker
Belize Cayes
Shark/Ray alley
Sunrise at Tikal
15 mins later
Thanks guys, and Ollie for the in-depth reply! Pics looks great. Looks like Tikal is making its way onto the list then
We had planned on doing a 4/5 day trek up Victoria Peak, but apparently the weather conditions are still not ideal at this time of year so they have said they won't take us...although I'm trying to persuade them!
So far the plan is to go cave tubing, visit ATM cave, climb Victoria Peak or do some other jungle trek, Tikal, then finish off the holiday in the cayes relaxing and snorkeling. Can't wait!
We had planned on doing a 4/5 day trek up Victoria Peak, but apparently the weather conditions are still not ideal at this time of year so they have said they won't take us...although I'm trying to persuade them!
So far the plan is to go cave tubing, visit ATM cave, climb Victoria Peak or do some other jungle trek, Tikal, then finish off the holiday in the cayes relaxing and snorkeling. Can't wait!
You can fly into Belize City but its a bit more expensive.
I flew into Cancun, bus down to Tulum for a couple of nights, then bus to Chetumal and ferry to Caye Caulker. You can also bus from Chetumal down to Belize City and then ferry over to the cayes.
Inland to San Ignacio is a bus from Belize City via Belmopan (or an organised trip from the islands is possible too)
I flew into Cancun, bus down to Tulum for a couple of nights, then bus to Chetumal and ferry to Caye Caulker. You can also bus from Chetumal down to Belize City and then ferry over to the cayes.
Inland to San Ignacio is a bus from Belize City via Belmopan (or an organised trip from the islands is possible too)
I went last January to Ambergris caye . It rained the entire week, (which was used 5 days of my 10 day entire annual vacation allowance)...
And where we stayed (the mid-north area) it was mosquito central - so mozzie spray is an absolute must.
Saying that. The flight to and from the caye on the little puddle-jumpers was great. The snorkeling with sharks/rays/turtles was brilliant and exploring the ruins was also recommended (might be worth buying your own a snorkel before you go if you plan to do it)
Its basically what I'd describe as a 2nd World type experience, and not too ruined by tourists yet, but its getting busier every year according to locals (and judging by all the construction)!
P.s. if you go to Ambergris caye and arrive at the small airport looking for a drink, the 'bar' opposite the terminal isn't...
And where we stayed (the mid-north area) it was mosquito central - so mozzie spray is an absolute must.
Saying that. The flight to and from the caye on the little puddle-jumpers was great. The snorkeling with sharks/rays/turtles was brilliant and exploring the ruins was also recommended (might be worth buying your own a snorkel before you go if you plan to do it)
Its basically what I'd describe as a 2nd World type experience, and not too ruined by tourists yet, but its getting busier every year according to locals (and judging by all the construction)!
P.s. if you go to Ambergris caye and arrive at the small airport looking for a drink, the 'bar' opposite the terminal isn't...
4Lmike said:
Brother D said:
P.s. if you go to Ambergris caye and arrive at the small airport looking for a drink, the 'bar' opposite the terminal isn't...
I'm intrigued...what is it then?4Lmike said:
What are some must see/must do things, and what should I avoid. I'm going for 2 weeks in Feb.
So are you here or home ?What did you get up to ?!
I'm just leaving Ambergris to go to Caye Caulker, then probably go inland to some of the places mentioned so would appreciate any info if you are ahead of me !
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