Belize
 

I am looking to go to Belize at the end of May and was wondering if anyone had any tips...I am doing Caye Caulker/Ambergris, Belize City, Tikal, and another place (unsure). I will be there from Saturday - basically Saturday, so 8 days...is there anything I should not miss...or any good travel agents. Thanks.

I am doing a mileage run down to the BZE area. Is there anything interesting to do nearby Belize City? I will be there the whole weekend.

Belize is a great place! Some recommendations:

- Belize City is notable only for having the airport you use to get to the country. Don't plan on a lot of time there. Dull and, frankly, kind of icky.
- Tikal is awesome (though it is in Guatemala). We left from our jungle lodge in Chaa Creek early in the morning and were there before lunch. We stayed about six hours with an excellent guide arranged by our lodge and were back in time for dinner. I know you can spend longer there, but I was pretty satisfied with the length of the stay. To the west of San Ignacio are some other Mayan ruins at Xunantunitch. While the site isn't quite as big, the experience was just as impressive as Tikal. You might want to try to hit that as well. It's right off the Western highway and easy to reach.
- We did a day trip to Barton Creek, where we took canoes on a guided trip deep into a mountain cave. Lots of Mayan artifacts and a very, very cool experience.
- A stop in Placencia is worthwhile. This is the town at the end of the looooong peninsula. We stayed at the Rum Point Inn (which I do not recommend) and went into the village at night. Dinner at Daisy's ($10 lobster!) was fun, and there are happening bars at pretty much all of the resorts.
- Cockscomb Basin is the home of a "Jaguar Preserve" which we wasted a day at. Near as I could tell, nobody has ever seen a Jaguar there. We did, however, see lots and lots and lots of fire ants which proceeded to turn our legs into hamburger.
- If you dive or want to snorkel, take a trip out to the barrier reef. It's spectacular.
- I was underwhelmed by Ambergris. It feels more developed, more like a Cleveland developer's idea of what Belize should be like. Just my opinion, but I wouldn't go back when there is so much other stuff to see.

Have fun! It is a fantastic country!

I'd recommend getting on the first boat to Caye Caulker when you arrive. Go out to Shark and Ray Alley with Ras Creek. Hang out at the Sand Box. You'll have a fun and relaxing MR!