As I mentioned before, we were quite surprised when we arrived in Belize and found that there were basically no beaches and no snorkeling from the shore. Just to explain, in most places on Ambergris Caye, the ocean just comes up to the shoreline…Read More

As I mentioned before, we were quite surprised when we arrived in Belize and found that there were basically no beaches and no snorkeling from the shore. Just to explain, in most places on Ambergris Caye, the ocean just comes up to the shoreline and there are only a couple "beaches" on the island because the water is full of seagrass close to the shore and the reef is too far away to swim to. They also do not recommend swimming off the shore because too many boats speed by and you could get hit. You must take a tour boat or charter a boat to do any snorkeling or diving. I would recommend chartering a boat if you have a large group or if you can find other tourists that are interested in the same activities. This can save you money because snorkeling trips range from $25-$40/pp US for a half day and $80-$150/pp US for a full day.

The Hol Chan Marine Reserve and Shark/Ray Alley snorkeling trip is an excellent half day trip. We especially enjoyed interacting with the nurse sharks and rays. We also chartered an excellent full day snorkeling/fishing "beach BBQ" with Unity Tours. We fished for our lunch, then went to a remote beach and our guide prepared and cooked it for us. It was superb!! Then we had 3 snorkeling stops and more fishing after lunch and it was such a great tour because our guide let us spend as much time as we wanted at each stop. This ended up being about a nine-hour trip and it cost $250 which we split with another couple we had met so it was well worth it!!

There was also ONE good spot to snorkel without going out on a boat. You can snorkel off the dock at Ramon's Village and they also have one of the only beaches on the island. There was great snorkeling at this spot!!

There was one tour we went on that was very disappointing. It was a full day snorkeling trip booked through Belizean Adventures. We paid $90/pp for this trip and unfortunately during the 8 hr trip, we only spent 90 minutes snorkeling. Everyone on the tour was upset and the guides probably should have never taken us out that day because it was raining and the current was very strong while we were trying to snorkel. We learned from this trip to make sure and ask how much time is spent snorkeling on the trip, not just how long the trip is.

As I said before, this trip was not what we thought it would be. The weather did not cooperate as the wind was strong most days, so the boat trips got cancelled. We usually snorkel everyday of our vacations so it was disappointing that the boat trips got cancelled and that you could not snorkel from the shore. It was also SO HOT and it was frustrating that you could not just get in the water. We went to Belize because we had heard that it is one of the best places to snorkel, but from what we saw, we don't buy it. It was good snorkeling, but not excellent like Grand Cayman. Overall we would say excellent food, good snorkeling, poor island, fair service, poor transportation, fair accommodations (poor where we stayed), and overall a trip not worth the price!!

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Our vacation is finally beginning. We arrived at the island of Ambergris Caye around 11:30am in the morning (9:30am our time and learned early the concept of Belizean time. We were told our room would be ready in ten minutes but two beers, a shot…Read More

Our vacation is finally beginning. We arrived at the island of Ambergris Caye around 11:30am in the morning (9:30am our time and learned early the concept of Belizean time. We were told our room would be ready in ten minutes but two beers, a shot of tequila, and many conversations later, the room would be ready in "about 10 minutes." We cruised the beach and explored the small town of San Pedro. When we returned our room was actually ready.

We decided to hit the "town" that night, and walked a few steps up the beach to reach the main drag. It wasn't Times Square, that's for sure! There were a number of quaint little shops that we thoroughly enjoyed and, of course, there is always people watching . . . such interesting characters there!

We had a special dinner one night at the Capricorn lodge . . . read my review . . . it is VERY romantic. We took a water taxi to get there and back; the ride back to the main part of town was a great opportunity to look at the stars and enjoy each other's company. Then we walked the beach and hunted for a good party. We strolled past the Holiday Hotel but it was empty, so we kept walking until we came across Ramones--the reggae band playing there was incredible . . .

One day we went searching for a fishing boat but it turns out you can’t rent one because the coral there is so well protected. We found a guy, Ricardo, who had a boat and offered to take us out for half a day. Ricardo was pretty amazing--he drove the boat with his foot, stood on the edge of the boat, spotted bait, and then caught the bait in a net thrown over his head. Amazing!!! (To find him, ask anyone at HUSTLER TOURS where his boat is). I had a pretty good day--I caught six red snappers, three yellow tails, one grunt, and four barracuda. I am not bragging but I caught the biggest fish of the day, a huge barracuda. Rich had a good day also--three red snappers, five yellow tails, one puffer, four grunts, and one barracuda. We gave most of our fish to our guide, except for my big fish, which we took to Lily’s restaurant to have it prepared, blackened, and grilled just the way we wanted. It turned out to be the best fish I ever had. That Lily is a great lady, and her restaurant has a fun, relaxed atmosphere, is cheap, and very cool.

A few nights later, we went to the world-famous chicken drop. The game involves a board with 100 numbers that players buy for $1 Belizean apiece. The fun begins when all the numbers have been bought. Then, a volunteer picks up a chicken, bounces him three times, blows into his butt (for luck, I guess), and catapults it into the ring. The chicken then struts all over the board until he feels the need to poop; the number he poops on is the winner--as luck would have it, we won that night. The only catch was that, in order to collect our $100, you must clean up the poop--Rich had the honors of collecting our prize!!!

We then walked a "long ways"--about 10 minutes--down to La Margarita, where the food was okay, but uninspired and the margaritas themselves were way too sweet. After dinner, we took a crazy cab to Fido’s to watch the burnt-out hippie one-man band. He was hilarious and the atmosphere was mellow.

We found one place that will rent a boat . . . a leaky yellow-banana boat. We took it out to do a little fishing, which was a little difficult with no bait. The boat decided to stall in the middle of the channel and we started floating into the coral. To add to the situation, a huge storm blew in and drenched the boat. I began bailing so we wouldn’t sink. The boat finally started and we headed into shore just in time for the storm to pass. We tried going back out to fish, but the boat continued to stall and became increasingly difficult to start. We went in for a refund and to cut our losses.

The next day we found Ricardo on the beach and bought some lobster and conch (pronounced 'conk') from him--2 lbs. of lobster and 1 lb. of conk for US$15!! His lovely wife taught us how to cook the meal and even let us borrow a frying pan. We enjoyed the beach BBQ and the company. After dinner, we finished packing and prepared for heading back to the mainland in the morning.

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Although we didn't have time to go to Tikal, this impressive Mayan Ruin was highly recommended to me before my trip. I wanted to mention it here so those of you planning a trip can make sure to add that to your schedule. It's easy…Read More

Although we didn't have time to go to Tikal, this impressive Mayan Ruin was highly recommended to me before my trip. I wanted to mention it here so those of you planning a trip can make sure to add that to your schedule. It's easy to get by taking a plane from Belize City or elsewhere in Belize. Check with your hotel or travel agent. It would be an all-day trip with early departure. I've seen my friend's photos and this site is amazing. Some of the temples are so tall, like skyscrapers. She said it was so difficult to climb up because of the height and the steepness of the steps, but the view was worth it. So try to fit this into your trip and don't miss out like I did! Another recommendation we didn't have time to partake is the 'Rum Punch Sailing Tour.' This is a trip on a wooden sailboat and is run by George Ely. It starts at around 10:30am and ends at 3pm. Lunch and snorkeling are included and reservations can be made at the Coral Beach Dive Shop (please see my entry in the activities category). This is supposed to be so relaxing and the view so gorgeous! My loss, hopefully your gain.   Close

It hadn't dawned on me until a couple weeks after my return from this vacation that Amergris Caye was the island described in the Madonna song "La Isla Bonita", and it is SO true! From the swaying palms along the white-sand beaches to the docks…Read More

It hadn't dawned on me until a couple weeks after my return from this vacation that Amergris Caye was the island described in the Madonna song "La Isla Bonita", and it is SO true!

From the swaying palms along the white-sand beaches to the docks where small boats tie up and listening to fun, reggae island sounds all along, this place is something to write home about (REALLY).

The people here were so nice, the food fabulous (and inexpensive), the money rate is 2:1 U.S. favor, the weather superb, and the water... the warm, crystal-clear waters of the Caribbean, where you can just walk out and swim with a manta ray.

I am returning here soon also... my brother just bought a condo here on the north side of town and also is having a large home built on the south part of the caye. I can't wait!

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We did two morning dives with Paradise Dive Shop. The boats are very small and too many people were on board. Caribbean diving is much more relaxed than we are used to. We did Tres Cocos, and didn’t see much since we were getting used…Read More

We did two morning dives with Paradise Dive Shop. The boats are very small and too many people were on board. Caribbean diving is much more relaxed than we are used to. We did Tres Cocos, and didn’t see much since we were getting used to diving again and enjoying the warm water. Tres Cocos did have spur and groove canyons that are pretty cool to swim over; you get the feeling of flying. Our next dive was Esmerelda, a drift dive, which had much more sea life. We saw a Nassau grouper and a large barracuda.

Our afternoon was very hectic! Rich did the dive at Hol Chan. We did the trip with Under De Sea. Our divemaster was Alonzo Flota and the boathand Candy Man. I did not do the dive, but I snorkeled above Rich and saw the fish he saw. I enjoyed watching him. We then went to Shark Ray and I was a little scared of the sharks and rays, but then I finally touched one and fell in love with touching them. They are so smooth and friendly. They swim up to you looking for food. When they realize that you do not have any, they fold into a taco and rub you. It was a fun experience--a trip I would recommend to any visitor. We turned in a roll of film to make sure camera was working.

DAY 6--JAN 4

Alonzo helped us arrange our big dive with Amigos Del Mar and divemaster Changa. The boat left at 6am and my tummy was a little upset (more nerves than anything else). The boat ride was the longest, bumpiest, most excruciating 2 hours, but we finally made it. When we arrived at the Blue Hole, I was scared to death. The thought of plummeting almost 150 feet was a little nauseating. I thought the idea was suicidal. The group decided to do the non-deco dive and stay down for only 8 minutes. I was way okay with that. We started down and reached a depth of 147 feet and saw incredible things. We swam through stalactites that were over 20 feet long and existed since before the ice age. I was feeling pretty comfortable when I saw sharks. Five bull sharks began circling towards us. They were about 15 to 20 feet long. In the silhouette of the deep blue abyss, they were actually graceful and beautiful. The experience rocked!

Next stop was Halfmoon Caye, one of the best dives in Belize. The coral formations were so colorful, beyond description. We saw an eagle ray and a too friendly barracuda. Rich wanted to take his picture, so he followed the barracuda for a while. After taking a few shots, he rejoined me, only to turn around a few minutes later to find the same barracuda only 3 inches from his mask! Needless to say, Rich almost crapped his wet suit. We started out in Eagle Ray (not impressive) and ended at the aquarium. We did see a BIG ASS giant reef spider crab. His claw was the size of my forearm. The boat ride home was not so bumpy, and we saw a school of dolphins chasing the boat. A few of us jumped in and watched them underwater, a very beautiful and majestic sight.

DAY 7--JAN 5

We slept in: 6:30am and I watched the beautiful sunrise--incredible. We met Alonzo and Candy Man at the dock at 1pm for diving, big surprise!!! Our first dive was Tackle Box, an incredible swim-through. We entered the swim-through and saw billions of silversides in a giant bait ball. Huge jacks were buzzing through the bait ball as we watched in awe. An incredible image!!! Our second dive was Cypress, equally impressive. We saw a baby hawksbill turtle (about 2 feet by 3 feet). He was very goofy and wasn’t really bothered by us. A giant barracuda also did our dive with us. We also saw a lizard fish and a small spotted eel.

DAY 9--JAN 7

Alonzo picked us up at the dock and we headed for our first location, the Love Tunnels. They were named that because some crazy divers were married there (a.k.a. Punta Arena). It was great--we did three tunnels and went to a depth of 100 feet. We saw lobster, spider crab, baby octopus, shrimp, and grouper. Dive #2 was by far my favorite. It was the Amigos wreck (Delores)--a freighter that was sunk about 70 feet down. When we arrived at the freighter, nurse sharks and grouper came up to us. Alonzo fed them some food and they became our best friends. I held sharks and swam with them. Groupers followed us around like puppies. The dive was incredible; I never thought that sea life could be so interactive. Dive #3 was outer Hol Chan--Pillar Coral. Grouper, nurse sharks, lobster, sand worms, and beautiful coral formations were all there.

DAY 10--JAN 8

Our last day on Ambergris and last dive. We decided to do the Amigo’s wreck again. Nothing is ever quite the same as the first time. Other divers were there, so it was not as much fun, but an eagle ray did come to see us.

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This was an incredible trip. I did go alone - one of my friends was unable to get the time off work. Never once did I feel unsafe: everyone was very friendly and helpful. The Seven Seas Resort was a three…Read More

This was an incredible trip. I did go alone - one of my friends was unable to get the time off work. Never once did I feel unsafe: everyone was very friendly and helpful. The Seven Seas Resort was a three story hotel with around 18 rooms. It was painted white, with bright pink trimwork, and just across the two lane unpaved beach road. There was a pier across the street where I was picked up for my snorkeling tour, and the water was shallow enough that you could walk out past the pier. The reef was visible from my porch, and at night you could hear the sound of the waves breaking. Someone was always coming by with fresh fruit or seafood, kids came by with jewelry they had made. With a golf cart rental, I went into town for meals, shopping, or siteseeing and pictures. There was a bakery one block from my hotel, where I got pastries and bread, and Dr. Pepper! Mostly all I saw was Coke. There was a stand on the block behind my hotel; the guy was kind enough to slice fresh pineapples for me. A local hamburger joint provided one or two burgers, so I didn't feel like I was so far from home. The seafood was so fresh - shrimp, crab, and lobster was in season. I highly recommend a trip to the cayes off of Belize, especially for families. There is plenty of space for kids to roam around in, the water is beautiful, and there many water activities for everyone.   Close

I personally have seen one episode of "Temptation Island" and I refuse to watch it on the belief that it is EVIL! Ok, it might be somewhat entertaining to watch people cheat on their boyfriends/girlfriends, but I'm convinced that they are all going to…Read More

I personally have seen one episode of "Temptation Island" and I refuse to watch it on the belief that it is EVIL! Ok, it might be somewhat entertaining to watch people cheat on their boyfriends/girlfriends, but I'm convinced that they are all going to you-know-where.

Anyway. If you're looking for romance on Ambergris Caye, the surroundings are perfect but San Pedro isn't full of single tourists like some other travel spots. The locals are very friendly, however, and my friends and I met several interesting young men.

The "Barefoot Iguana" and "Tarzan's" are two nightclubs on the island -- Tarzan's is in San Pedro and the Barefoot Iguana is south of the Yacht Club. If you feel like dancing, these are the hotspots.

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Before you go to Belize, I suggest spending some time at a bookstore familiarizing yourself the country. I perused every book I could find on Belize and the best one, in my opinion, is "Belize Handbook," by Chicki Mallan and Patti Lange.…Read More

Before you go to Belize, I suggest spending some time at a bookstore familiarizing yourself the country. I perused every book I could find on Belize and the best one, in my opinion, is "Belize Handbook," by Chicki Mallan and Patti Lange. This book is published by Moon Travel Handbooks, and it contains just about all the information you'll need for a great trip. Check it out!   Close

After participating in activities all week, your clothes tend to get a little grimy. If you packed light and suddenly have nothing clean left to wear, have no fear. There is a small laundromat on Pescador Drive where you can drop off your…Read More

After participating in activities all week, your clothes tend to get a little grimy. If you packed light and suddenly have nothing clean left to wear, have no fear. There is a small laundromat on Pescador Drive where you can drop off your stinky clothes and come back in a couple of hours to pick them up, clean and folded. I don't remember how much they charge, but they charge by the pound and it was very reasonable.   Close

Here's a rundown of the ways to get around Ambergris Caye. 1. Walking: As I mention in my overview, walking is the best way to get around town. It only takes about 20 minutes to walk from one end of the main strip to the other.…Read More

Here's a rundown of the ways to get around Ambergris Caye.

1. Walking: As I mention in my overview, walking is the best way to get around town. It only takes about 20 minutes to walk from one end of the main strip to the other. And, 90% of things to do in Ambergris Caye are on the main strip.

2. Taxi: Now, there are a few taxis around Ambergris Caye, but I did not use them. The only people that I saw using them were big families with either very young or elderly travelers.

3. Golf Cart: Now this was an interesting sight. Everywhere you go there are golf carts. Most locals have them and some tourists rent them. However, I don't think they're necessary unless you're staying at a hotel that's pretty far away, or you have members in your party that aren't keen on walking.

4. Water Taxi: Water taxis run between downtown and the resorts that are located farther north of town. They run pretty regularly and they leave from the dock at Fido's. There's a schedule located at the dock, and also within Fido's. The ride costs around $10 US. Here's a warning: the taxis are not covered. So, if it's rainy, you get very, very wet. However, if the sky is clear, you can see every star in the sky, which makes for a spectacular ride.

The water taxi that takes you to the mainland or to other islands leaves from one of the docks about halfway between Fido's and the airport. Sorry, I don't remember the actual location.

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