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Started By
Message
Need some help with a trip to Belize
Posted on 11/29/16 at 6:32 am
Posted on 11/29/16 at 6:32 am
Specifically with a kids (4&7)
I'd like to split up the week between jungle & beach/snorkeling
Should I be looking on the south end(Placencia) or up north(San Pedro)?
I'd like to split up the week between jungle & beach/snorkeling
Should I be looking on the south end(Placencia) or up north(San Pedro)?
This post was edited on 11/29/16 at 6:33 am
4
Posted on 11/29/16 at 10:07 am to yellowfin
I've only been to San Pedro, and we never did anything in the jungle or around any ruins. But, if I were an adventurous kid, I'd love San Pedro.
Flying on the Cessna 210 to the island is fun.
Boating over to Caye Caulker might be interesting for a kid, even though it's considered kind of a party spot. You still have little shops with cool stuff and a couple of ice cream stops on the main little strip of road.
And the snorkeling is fantastic around the reef and at shark and sting ray island. The sharks are a little pushy when they're getting fed, but they won't bother you. It's just kind of weird. And if they get to pet one, it kind of feels like a piece of gore-tex.
Also, the beach part would be ideal for someone watching kids. Because of the reef, the waves are not bad at all along the shoreline so it's pretty safe for them to be out in the water.
I don't have any kids, but I remember there being quite a few around. Most of the restaurants will have a kid friendly menu, and there's another excellent ice cream shop in downtown San Pedro. It does feel a little sketchy in that part of town after dark though.
And be careful with the traffic. Those frickers on the golf carts can get dangerous.
Flying on the Cessna 210 to the island is fun.
Boating over to Caye Caulker might be interesting for a kid, even though it's considered kind of a party spot. You still have little shops with cool stuff and a couple of ice cream stops on the main little strip of road.
And the snorkeling is fantastic around the reef and at shark and sting ray island. The sharks are a little pushy when they're getting fed, but they won't bother you. It's just kind of weird. And if they get to pet one, it kind of feels like a piece of gore-tex.
Also, the beach part would be ideal for someone watching kids. Because of the reef, the waves are not bad at all along the shoreline so it's pretty safe for them to be out in the water.
I don't have any kids, but I remember there being quite a few around. Most of the restaurants will have a kid friendly menu, and there's another excellent ice cream shop in downtown San Pedro. It does feel a little sketchy in that part of town after dark though.
And be careful with the traffic. Those frickers on the golf carts can get dangerous.
This post was edited on 11/29/16 at 10:08 am
Posted on 11/29/16 at 10:59 am to yellowfin
Bump for the folks asking in my other threads.
Slow your roll.
That phrase is something that anyone needs to fully embrace before visiting this island paradise. As relaxed as you may be, this island moves at a glacial pace. Appointments are simply suggested times and you should expect most things to run behind schedule. No need for fancy clothes or fancy shoes. Shorts, swimsuits, cover ups, flip flops, casual skirts and maybe a lightweight sweater are all you really need. Ambergris Caye is what Cancun or Costa Rica were like 20 years ago. You won't find crazy nightlife, paved roads, or restaurants open all night. Having said that, be warned that as the island is constantly improving, there are no paved roads on the north end and some areas of the beach that are privately owned are not well maintained so you may be walking along the beach one minute on pristine sand, and without warning you'll come across trash and debris piled up. Don't let that deter you from embracing the beauty of this tiny gem. They're working on resolving these issues but it won't happen overnight...
There are four primary ways to get around the island: by foot, by bike, by golf cart and by water taxi. There are taxi vans in San Pedro but once you get in town you don't need them as it is very small and easy to walk around. Many places are within walking distance or bike. You can rent a gas-powered golf cart for about $65/day. The water taxi is $5-$7 US per person, per trip. We didn't rent a bike so I'm not familiar with those prices but I would imagine they are fairly inexpensive. The exchange rate is $2 Belize to $1 USD. Everyone takes US currency but they may give you back change in Belize.
You should purchase alcohol at the airport in Belize City @ duty free, then bring it onto Ambergris Caye. The prices for buying bottles of wine and liquor on the island are astronomical compared to the mainland. On that note, I would strongly recommend you take the puddle jumper flight from Belize City over to AC, the view is amazing and the 15 minute flight beats the hell out of an long boat ride.
Lastly, the island is not known to be popular with the younger crowds. Caye Caulker is where the 20/30 somethings hang out.
Now onto the good stuff....
============== DINING ==============
Despite being small, Ambergris Caye has a shite ton of places to eat, from small hole-in-the-walls to nicer establishments. But one thing to note, pretty much all places will let you inside as long as you have a shirt on. Here are the places we ate:
El Fogon is a VERY authentic and local place to get your Belizean palate anointed. They use a huge pit to cook their meats and you can smell it down the street. We had the seafood creole with coconut rice, and the garlic lime shrimp with rice and beans. For the appetizer, we got the omnipresent conch fritters served with a spicy honey mustard sauce. The entrees were phenomenal and if you eat at one place on the island for authentic local food, this needs to be it.
Waruguma is a place that's cash only, that serves awesome lobster burritos. They are also known for their pupusas which are like mini calzones but with a Latin twist. We got a lobster burrito and split it (along with some pupusas just to say we did)...all the food was excellent. If my memory serves me well, the burrito was $14 USD and had loads of lobster meat, inside and out. I can only fathom this would cost $40+ in the US.
Hurricane's Ceviche Bar & Grill had some pretty good ceviche, something you will find on damn near every menu on the island. We got the standard fish ceviche along with a mango/conch bruschetta. Enjoyed both and would go back again.
For breakfast, we ate at Estel's Dine by the Sea. We ordered pancakes and the classic Belizean breakfast, which is the equivalent of huevos rancheros. They do serve up "fry jacks", which looks like a puffy pastry. They open at 6:30AM for you earlybirds and their coffee is strong! The menu is on a chalkboard and the floors are sand. VERY COOL spot to eat breakfast, the view is great, too!
View from our table.
Another beachfront lunch/dinner spot (just down from Estel's) is called Lick's Beachside Cafe. The owner is Mario and is super friendly, he makes an effort to go by every table and chat for a few minutes. We sat on the top deck and enjoyed curried conch and baked scallops with lime butter.
The view
Aji Tapas Bar has OK food. Based on the inviting space, we had hoped for much more variety and more eclectic tastes, but felt this place came up short. The atmosphere, however, was the most romantic you will find in the island. Each table has its own "area" that's covered by handmade pergolas and lights, along with tiki torches. It may seem cheesy for some, but it was great for us. The bar area is raw but cozy. It rained like hell when we ate there, so we hung out with the new owner (Tony) and had drinks under the palapa.
ON Caye Caulker, we had lunch at a cuban place called Brisas Del Mar, and the food was quite good. Nothing stood out as being local, but it was a nice change from the seafood we had been gorging on for the past several days. Snag a table by the water and relax. CASH ONLY.
Slow your roll.
That phrase is something that anyone needs to fully embrace before visiting this island paradise. As relaxed as you may be, this island moves at a glacial pace. Appointments are simply suggested times and you should expect most things to run behind schedule. No need for fancy clothes or fancy shoes. Shorts, swimsuits, cover ups, flip flops, casual skirts and maybe a lightweight sweater are all you really need. Ambergris Caye is what Cancun or Costa Rica were like 20 years ago. You won't find crazy nightlife, paved roads, or restaurants open all night. Having said that, be warned that as the island is constantly improving, there are no paved roads on the north end and some areas of the beach that are privately owned are not well maintained so you may be walking along the beach one minute on pristine sand, and without warning you'll come across trash and debris piled up. Don't let that deter you from embracing the beauty of this tiny gem. They're working on resolving these issues but it won't happen overnight...
There are four primary ways to get around the island: by foot, by bike, by golf cart and by water taxi. There are taxi vans in San Pedro but once you get in town you don't need them as it is very small and easy to walk around. Many places are within walking distance or bike. You can rent a gas-powered golf cart for about $65/day. The water taxi is $5-$7 US per person, per trip. We didn't rent a bike so I'm not familiar with those prices but I would imagine they are fairly inexpensive. The exchange rate is $2 Belize to $1 USD. Everyone takes US currency but they may give you back change in Belize.
You should purchase alcohol at the airport in Belize City @ duty free, then bring it onto Ambergris Caye. The prices for buying bottles of wine and liquor on the island are astronomical compared to the mainland. On that note, I would strongly recommend you take the puddle jumper flight from Belize City over to AC, the view is amazing and the 15 minute flight beats the hell out of an long boat ride.
Lastly, the island is not known to be popular with the younger crowds. Caye Caulker is where the 20/30 somethings hang out.
Now onto the good stuff....
============== DINING ==============
Despite being small, Ambergris Caye has a shite ton of places to eat, from small hole-in-the-walls to nicer establishments. But one thing to note, pretty much all places will let you inside as long as you have a shirt on. Here are the places we ate:
El Fogon is a VERY authentic and local place to get your Belizean palate anointed. They use a huge pit to cook their meats and you can smell it down the street. We had the seafood creole with coconut rice, and the garlic lime shrimp with rice and beans. For the appetizer, we got the omnipresent conch fritters served with a spicy honey mustard sauce. The entrees were phenomenal and if you eat at one place on the island for authentic local food, this needs to be it.
Waruguma is a place that's cash only, that serves awesome lobster burritos. They are also known for their pupusas which are like mini calzones but with a Latin twist. We got a lobster burrito and split it (along with some pupusas just to say we did)...all the food was excellent. If my memory serves me well, the burrito was $14 USD and had loads of lobster meat, inside and out. I can only fathom this would cost $40+ in the US.
Hurricane's Ceviche Bar & Grill had some pretty good ceviche, something you will find on damn near every menu on the island. We got the standard fish ceviche along with a mango/conch bruschetta. Enjoyed both and would go back again.
For breakfast, we ate at Estel's Dine by the Sea. We ordered pancakes and the classic Belizean breakfast, which is the equivalent of huevos rancheros. They do serve up "fry jacks", which looks like a puffy pastry. They open at 6:30AM for you earlybirds and their coffee is strong! The menu is on a chalkboard and the floors are sand. VERY COOL spot to eat breakfast, the view is great, too!
View from our table.
Another beachfront lunch/dinner spot (just down from Estel's) is called Lick's Beachside Cafe. The owner is Mario and is super friendly, he makes an effort to go by every table and chat for a few minutes. We sat on the top deck and enjoyed curried conch and baked scallops with lime butter.
The view
Aji Tapas Bar has OK food. Based on the inviting space, we had hoped for much more variety and more eclectic tastes, but felt this place came up short. The atmosphere, however, was the most romantic you will find in the island. Each table has its own "area" that's covered by handmade pergolas and lights, along with tiki torches. It may seem cheesy for some, but it was great for us. The bar area is raw but cozy. It rained like hell when we ate there, so we hung out with the new owner (Tony) and had drinks under the palapa.
ON Caye Caulker, we had lunch at a cuban place called Brisas Del Mar, and the food was quite good. Nothing stood out as being local, but it was a nice change from the seafood we had been gorging on for the past several days. Snag a table by the water and relax. CASH ONLY.
Posted on 11/29/16 at 11:00 am to HoustonGumbeauxGuy
============= DAYTRIPS =============
There are cave tubing, zip line and Mayan ruin tours available on the mainland but we wanted to stay on the island this trip, so nothing to review for those trips. We are avid snorkelers for our own reasons, but if you are into diving this is your spot. The underwater life is astounding and the water is as clear as you'll ever see. We took 2 different personalized day trips, both with the same guy -- Clem Caliz. He is an awesome guy and knows all the hotspots for fishing and snorkeling. You will find a cheaper alternative with the catamarans, but everything is timed and much less personal.
Day 1 - picked up at hotel and taken to the north side of the island where we went to look for conch. We quickly pulled out about a dozen conch and they made fresh ceviche right there. We then (reef) fished for about 2 hours. Caught blue stripe grant, trunkfish, black snapper, yellowtail, and some others I can't recall the names of. We snorkeled in tranquility Bay while he and his mate cleaned and fish. We then went to a private lot where the "caretaker" cooked up the fish for us. Enjoyed the remote beach with some cold beers. After that, snorkeled in another spot until the sun began to set so we headed back to the hotel Awesome day! Pics below.
Day 2 - went to Caye Caulker first but not before indulging in more fresh conch ceviche. Had Cuban food as mentioned in the first review and slowy meandered down the lone street just looking at random shite. Made way down to "The Split" where everyone goes to hang out for the day. They have a DJ that spins tunes and everyone soaks up the sun. We didn't stay too long as we had plans to snorkel at Shark Ray Alley, Hol Chan Reserve and Coral Gardens. Spent the rest of the day at these places and headed back for supper. Clem's mate, Roni Duarte, took us out this trip.
The split from the air, flying back to the mainland the last day.
It was cloudy and around 4pm when we took these, so the water doesn't look that clear. But we could still see forever down there.
============= MISCELLANEOUS =============
Massages - $40 for 1 hour on top of the main dive shop (Amigos Del Mar) on Ambergris Caye. Nothing flashy, but it was a great massage. It was very windy when we went, so they had the sides closed. On a sunny day, all sides are open.
Liquor - if you have to buy on the island, buy at the Liquor Box (clever name). Was told by Clem this is as cheap as it gets.
Golf Carts - walk-up special for Carts Belize is $66 USD out the door for 1 day. Reserving online you will spent an extra $20 per day. You will need to fill up the tank before you return it; they are very efficient with gas mileage.
============= NIGHTLIFE =============
I will caveat this section by saying we are not party animals. So there may be other fun spots I didn't include, but at least you know the reason. I've also put this as the last section because people in Ambergris Caye don't visit or live there because it has a thriving nightlife.
Fido's is also a really cool place for people watching. There are two very nice shops located under the huge palapa inside Fidos. They also have live music almost every night. Food is good but not great. But the beer is ice cold!
The Palapa Bar and Grill is probably the most well-known and visited bar on the island. It's a quick cart ride from town. We met several people here and have some really good drinks, but don't get too excited about the food. It was OK, but nothing compared to what's further down in this review. Jump into the tubes outside and relax in the warm water; also helps reduce trips to the bathroom.
Wet Willy's is a place that's similar to the Palapa bar but it's right in town. Wednesday nights are ladies night and the place can get packed with travelers and locals. They have a nice outside dock with bright halogen lights that shine into the water at night time. We saw a tarpon, a few stingrays and several other fish while having some beers....it was pretty cool thing to see for our first night there. We went on a Tuesday night and it was slow, which we preferred. We went again on Thursday night because it was easy to get to and the beers were cheap.
Wahoo's Lounge hosts the Chicken Drop every Thursday night. Each square is $1 USD that you can buy in hopes of winning the entire $100 pot. They place the chicken on the squares and wherever he poops, that square wins. I would get there around 5:30PM to buy your tickets/squares then go next door and have dinner at Caliente to wait until the big event. FYI -- sometimes they make you clean up the poop before they will give you the $100, so don't be surprised if that happens.
There are cave tubing, zip line and Mayan ruin tours available on the mainland but we wanted to stay on the island this trip, so nothing to review for those trips. We are avid snorkelers for our own reasons, but if you are into diving this is your spot. The underwater life is astounding and the water is as clear as you'll ever see. We took 2 different personalized day trips, both with the same guy -- Clem Caliz. He is an awesome guy and knows all the hotspots for fishing and snorkeling. You will find a cheaper alternative with the catamarans, but everything is timed and much less personal.
Day 1 - picked up at hotel and taken to the north side of the island where we went to look for conch. We quickly pulled out about a dozen conch and they made fresh ceviche right there. We then (reef) fished for about 2 hours. Caught blue stripe grant, trunkfish, black snapper, yellowtail, and some others I can't recall the names of. We snorkeled in tranquility Bay while he and his mate cleaned and fish. We then went to a private lot where the "caretaker" cooked up the fish for us. Enjoyed the remote beach with some cold beers. After that, snorkeled in another spot until the sun began to set so we headed back to the hotel Awesome day! Pics below.
Day 2 - went to Caye Caulker first but not before indulging in more fresh conch ceviche. Had Cuban food as mentioned in the first review and slowy meandered down the lone street just looking at random shite. Made way down to "The Split" where everyone goes to hang out for the day. They have a DJ that spins tunes and everyone soaks up the sun. We didn't stay too long as we had plans to snorkel at Shark Ray Alley, Hol Chan Reserve and Coral Gardens. Spent the rest of the day at these places and headed back for supper. Clem's mate, Roni Duarte, took us out this trip.
The split from the air, flying back to the mainland the last day.
It was cloudy and around 4pm when we took these, so the water doesn't look that clear. But we could still see forever down there.
============= MISCELLANEOUS =============
Massages - $40 for 1 hour on top of the main dive shop (Amigos Del Mar) on Ambergris Caye. Nothing flashy, but it was a great massage. It was very windy when we went, so they had the sides closed. On a sunny day, all sides are open.
Liquor - if you have to buy on the island, buy at the Liquor Box (clever name). Was told by Clem this is as cheap as it gets.
Golf Carts - walk-up special for Carts Belize is $66 USD out the door for 1 day. Reserving online you will spent an extra $20 per day. You will need to fill up the tank before you return it; they are very efficient with gas mileage.
============= NIGHTLIFE =============
I will caveat this section by saying we are not party animals. So there may be other fun spots I didn't include, but at least you know the reason. I've also put this as the last section because people in Ambergris Caye don't visit or live there because it has a thriving nightlife.
Fido's is also a really cool place for people watching. There are two very nice shops located under the huge palapa inside Fidos. They also have live music almost every night. Food is good but not great. But the beer is ice cold!
The Palapa Bar and Grill is probably the most well-known and visited bar on the island. It's a quick cart ride from town. We met several people here and have some really good drinks, but don't get too excited about the food. It was OK, but nothing compared to what's further down in this review. Jump into the tubes outside and relax in the warm water; also helps reduce trips to the bathroom.
Wet Willy's is a place that's similar to the Palapa bar but it's right in town. Wednesday nights are ladies night and the place can get packed with travelers and locals. They have a nice outside dock with bright halogen lights that shine into the water at night time. We saw a tarpon, a few stingrays and several other fish while having some beers....it was pretty cool thing to see for our first night there. We went on a Tuesday night and it was slow, which we preferred. We went again on Thursday night because it was easy to get to and the beers were cheap.
Wahoo's Lounge hosts the Chicken Drop every Thursday night. Each square is $1 USD that you can buy in hopes of winning the entire $100 pot. They place the chicken on the squares and wherever he poops, that square wins. I would get there around 5:30PM to buy your tickets/squares then go next door and have dinner at Caliente to wait until the big event. FYI -- sometimes they make you clean up the poop before they will give you the $100, so don't be surprised if that happens.
Posted on 11/29/16 at 1:53 pm to HoustonGumbeauxGuy
We went for our honeymoon and HoustonGumbeauxGuy blew any review I could have written out of the water. But I did want to give another rec for Clem Caliz. Definitely use him for any excursions you want to do, we had a blast on his boat for 3 days.
Posted on 11/29/16 at 2:51 pm to yellowfin
quote:
I'd like to split up the week between jungle & beach/snorkeling
I just did this exact scenario for my honeymoon in September
San Pedro is on the "party island". It's very busy, golf carts all over the place. Caye Caulker will be much more relaxed for the kids. The motto there is "go slow".
We also went inland to San Ignacio and stayed at an awesome resort called Chaa Creek. It is a bit removed from San Ignacio, and your only food option will be to either pay to go into town or eat at the resorts restaurant for lunch and dinner. Dinner can get pricey in a hurry, but it's awesome.
We did a cave tour, went to Xunantunich Mayan ruins, swam with sharks, etc
If you go to Ambergis Caye (San Pedro) I highly encourage you try out Xanadu Resort. It is undoubtedly a favorite, and will be more relaxed, as it's on the south end of the island and south end of San Pedro in general. Definitely rent a golf court on the islands.
Xanadu
Chaa Creek
One thing to remember is that you have to drive up the island to really find the local, cheap, delicious food. The ones around the resorts are typically going to cost you about what you'd pay in the states, but won't be as good IMO.
Posted on 11/29/16 at 3:07 pm to HoustonGumbeauxGuy
Dude, your reviews are fantastic but you really need to learn to resize photos when you post them.
BTW, Palapa's is being rebuilt. It was destroyed in the hurricane.
BTW, Palapa's is being rebuilt. It was destroyed in the hurricane.
Posted on 11/29/16 at 3:49 pm to VABuckeye
Yes Palapa was hurt doing the hurricane, but it also was moved to town before the hurricane. I don't know why they moved it to town but I do know the owners got into some legal troubles last year. It was more of the Belize government looking for there kickbacks. Also there is a restuarant across the street from Waruguma that serves basically the same thing and it's where the locals eat.
One thing about ambergris caye is there really isn't much for beautiful beaches because of the reef. And for Caye Caulker there is basically none. Most people there go to the end of the island where the split is to swim. So if taking kids make sure to stay a resort with a nice pool.
Go enjoy because it will be one of the most peaceful trips you ever take.
P.S. When your at BZE airport make sure to go get a rum punch from Jet's bar. If you see the LSU sticker on the refrigerator, my wife and I gave it to him right after he opened up following to fire that burned his old bar. Make sure to tell him Geaux Tigers
One thing about ambergris caye is there really isn't much for beautiful beaches because of the reef. And for Caye Caulker there is basically none. Most people there go to the end of the island where the split is to swim. So if taking kids make sure to stay a resort with a nice pool.
Go enjoy because it will be one of the most peaceful trips you ever take.
P.S. When your at BZE airport make sure to go get a rum punch from Jet's bar. If you see the LSU sticker on the refrigerator, my wife and I gave it to him right after he opened up following to fire that burned his old bar. Make sure to tell him Geaux Tigers
This post was edited on 11/29/16 at 4:03 pm
Posted on 11/29/16 at 4:00 pm to lsujag
Great info. Thanks guys
Posted on 12/3/16 at 6:01 am to lsujag
quote:
When your at BZE airport make sure to go get a rum punch from Jet's bar. If you see the LSU sticker on the refrigerator, my wife and I gave it to him right after he opened up following to fire that burned his old bar. Make sure to tell him Geaux Tigers
He does know the LSU brand very well. Our first 2 drinks were free...we were both had LSU shits on.
And he is a ladies man and has no shame hitting on women, he's hilarious and has no boundaries. He is not even 5' tall....
Posted on 12/3/16 at 1:22 pm to yellowfin
I know Ambergris pretty well, if I had little ones I'd rent a house there and chill.
South of the bridge would be my criteria.
It is Latin America that speaks English and that means just chill.
Get a golf cart and go fishing and snorkeling and drive south to the park at the end of th cay.
South of the bridge would be my criteria.
It is Latin America that speaks English and that means just chill.
Get a golf cart and go fishing and snorkeling and drive south to the park at the end of th cay.
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