Belize - when and where to go

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Feb 18, 2004 | 5:06 pm

alect

Original Poster

Join Date: Apr 2003

Location: MEL/LAX

Programs: AAdv GLD(MM), QF LTS, UA MP_nada, HH Gld, SPG, GoldenCircle Jade

Posts: 4,479

Belize - when and where to go

I am planning a trip with my new wife to Belize as I have heard amazing things.

Would May be a bad month to go? Does the hurricane/rain season start towards the end of May or earlier? Am I right in assuming the earlier we go the better?

And if anyone has any recommendations of places to stay on the cayes that would be appreciated.

Feb 18, 2004 | 8:02 pm

alien

Join Date: Mar 2003

Posts: 1,459

1. We go there, on average, twice a year.
2. We were married there.
3. Ambergriscaye.com
4. More than happy to provide you with info...email
5. great choice!

(Flyertalk: There's just so much info I am able to provide that I recommended the email....all welcome)

Feb 19, 2004 | 5:41 am

alanw

Join Date: Mar 2002

Location: BCN

Programs: BA Silver · VY apologist · IB up and coming

Posts: 8,706

May should be fine, I have been in Dec and Jan and the weather was beautiful. Belize is an amazing country. Most of the tourists seem to want to stick to the typical beach/palm trees stuff on Ambergris, but there is a lot more to do as well, depending on what you're interested in.

I would rate as must-sees/dos:

Spend some time in the jungle. Chaa Creek is a great jungle lodge if you are more into the high-end/spa experience, and Casa Maya, near San Pedro, belongs to a friend. It's great for a lower price.
See the Mayan ruins. Xunantunich is a quick couple hours from San Pedro or San Ignacio, but for the real deal, head over the Guatemalan border to see Tikal. It's at the very least a full-day's trip but absolutely amazing.
Check out the Jaguar Preserve. It's another full-day trip from just about anywhere and an incredible experience.
Head down to Placencia, a tiny village on the southermost tip of a long peninsula. Kitty's Place and Casa del Sol are both comfortable. You can take a bike into town and have a great lobster dinner at Daisy's for $10.
Do a dive, or at least some snorkeling. My first time down I took the one-afternoon "resort course" offered by one of the PADI schools associated with our hotel. This qualifies you to dive with an instructor for a limited period of time, and included a dive on the barrier reef. One of the most remarkable experiences of my life. If you're a little less adventurous, most of the resorts can arrange an afternoon of snorkeling with whale sharks.
Also check out the bird sanctuaries, the howler monkeys, the numerous caves, plantations, and preserves.

Off the top of my head, anyway. That would keep me busy for a few weeks. Here is link to a friend's page. It's photos from our first trip.

I have a travel agent down there who can arrange things. Let me know if you want her contact info.

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-alan in sitges, home of the new, improved, and now legendary Si-Re-Do

[This message has been edited by alanw (edited Feb 19, 2004).]