Another Country...Belize

[travelingtexan 198]

Alright, heading to Belize for 8 nights. On my continued mission to check every country off the list. A flight attendant hooked me up with free tickets and I am heading down to Belize city, but heading to San Ignacio for 3 nights, then Caye Caulker for another 3, then San Pedro for 2 before I leave. The dates are May 23rd to May 30th. Anyone have any hot tips on must dos, bars, restaurants, etc., in any of those places? TIA! -TravlingTexan

Edited May 12, 2018 by travelingtexan

[VABuckeye 2,472]

So you aren’t really going to Belize. You’re going to the islands off the coast of Belize.  That’s a good thing because mainland Belize is a shithole for the most part.  St. Ignacio is nice. Visit Xunantunich while you’re then. Then hightail it for the islands because as I mentioned most of mainland Belize is a shithole but the Belize zoo was good. Jaguars are awesome. 

[kevwun 15,798]

Eat at Habaneros on Caye Caulker. It’s more expensive than the other places on the island, but the food is great. The Fisherman’s Stew is damn good. Also the Lazy Lizard at the split is a good bar on the water. They make a damn good pina colada and the food is pretty good too if you get hungry. Eat as much ceviche as humanly possible. It’s good pretty much everywhere. Try conch if they have it. And lobster. Lots and lots of lobster.

[kevwun 15,798]

Ice and beans is a good coffee spot and has light breakfast stuff. A chicken and beans fry jack at Errolyns is a good breakfast option too. Pasta per caso Anna and Armando is supposed to be a damn good Italian place. The couple is from Italy so they know what they’re doing. We wanted to go last year when we were there but it was closed because the wife was ill. They also have a gelato place down by the lazy lizard. The rainbow grill is an open air bar and restaurant that’s built out over the water. They have solid food and the view is great. Their ceviche is good.

[PantsTent 2,002]

[CooterBrown 18,015]

In San Pedro, there's tons of great food...Wild Mango's, Estel's, Caroline's, Neri's Tacos, etc.  My favorite was Robin's Kitchen. Just some dude with some pits grilling up jerk chicken and fish for like $5 a plate.  The Truck Stop is a food trailer and drinking park that has a pool now so I would bet it's a chick magnet. 

Snorkeling/diving Hol Chan, Mexican Rocks, and Shark-Ray Alley is a must. 

Drinking wise, Belikin is the local beer. There's a local punch every place makes that delicious and strong.  

 

Edited May 12, 2018 by CooterBrown

[Hornin04 261]

Stayed at Caves Branch in San Ignacio 10 years ago.  Was a ton of fun, lots of outdoors adventure stuff like caving, hiking, tubing.  Did San Pedro and Caye Caulker on the cheap.  

[kevwun 15,798]

Da real macaw is a good place to stay in Caulker. Cheap and the ac works. Good porches for drinking too

 

[bobcat1995 71]

We went to Belize in 2005 and I can only imagine how its changed.  Spent 4 days around San Ignacio and 4 days in San Pedro.  We drove ourselves around on the mainland.   I will never forget out drive to the Hidden Valley Inn.  We were on this road off the main highway that consisted of rocks, holes, and ruts.  My wife is nervous that we are lost, secretly so was I.  It turned out that I took the first turn off the highway and should of took the second but both roads ended in the same place.  Anyway, as I am driving down this crap road, we pass a truck with Texas plates!!  I raise the hook em horns sign out the window as we passed!!    We also had to have a military escort to the Rio Frio Cave and the Caracol Ruins because Guatemalans were coming across the border robbing tourist.  We have a picture of us driving with a military jeep in front, sitting in the jeep were 4 soldiers with rifles.  Good times!!! 

While on Ambergris Caye we saw a group of kids feed a crocodile for money.  Rented a golf cart, bought a whole chicken, drove to the south end of the island, pulled up to a random pond, gave the kids the chicken and watched them go to work.  After they were done, we tipped the kids for the show and drove back to town.  Yes, kids feeding a crocodile out of a pond!! Crazy!! 

Not much advice for your trip but we loved Belize!!

Edited May 14, 2018 by bobcat1995
why not?

[Gil Bang 25,975]

csb alert:

I'm on a day trip to Caulker, and, trying to close a difficult escrow, i needed wifi.  Walk in the first place with a wifi sign, order drinks, and check my email.  All is well.

 

Order a nice lunch, and the white guy owner stops by the table to say hello.  He lives in Temecula CA, about 30 miles from my home.  Bought the place as a hobby and lives there half the year. 

[travelingtexan 198]

thanks boys

[NeverMarryAStripper 21,907]

Another csb

I once filed a 10Q from a beach on Ambergris Cay

 

 

[pepper brooks 580]

You can do a nighttime crocodile rescue deal on ambergris cay with Vince and his crew. It’s an awesome experience. Fishing is also great as is the diving. Everything else is pretty meh, imo.  Belize City is one of the most dangerous and murderous cities in the world. 

Edited May 15, 2018 by pepper brooks

[midtown 3,346]

I've been twice in the last year.  Both times to San Pedro.   Its a great place to fish eat, drink and generally lay around.

[travelingtexan 198]

15 hours ago, pepper brooks said:

You can do a nighttime crocodile rescue deal on ambergris cay with Vince and his crew. It’s an awesome experience. Fishing is also great as is the diving. Everything else is pretty meh, imo.  Belize City is one of the most dangerous and murderous cities in the world. 

yea, I have spent time in the Sinai peninsula, was there when ISIS shot 237 people in September, hitched out, I like edgy. Like everything just be aware and dont draw attention. It also doesnt help that im a large boy, definitely not a first target. What is this croc thing. I am a big spoiled with fishing so I would rather do other things.

[midtown 3,346]

On 5/15/2018 at 8:42 AM, pepper brooks said:

Belize City is one of the most dangerous and murderous cities in the world. 

I'll take exception with that stat.  No way is it even in the top 25.  

[travelingtexan 198]

Alright just got back from Belize late last night. Enjoyed it quite a bit, not my favorite place but had an above average time. I thought the Caye's were way too touristy with tourist pricing. I did some backpacking and met some aussies and dutch who were pretty great.

Pro's: Really friendly people, even in Belize City, I took the local chicken buses everywhere which were a trip. Everyone was always willing to help and answer questions, even point things out to me without me asking. People on the bus asking me what my stop was and helping notify me when it was my turn. Not many tourists on the local buses which made it a blast. Clear water was another pro, really beautiful. Food is fun but doesnt blow your socks off, however the nationwide habanero pepper sauce served everywhere is the bomb. Mayan ruins inland around San Ignacio were amazing and the ATM cave was brilliant and adventurous, swimming and climbing through a sacrificial cave filled with artifacts and skeletons.

Con's: Way more expensive than it should be. Snorkeling and diving I found to be mediocre or at least over hyped. Too many "disneyworld" style tourists running around.

Places I went: Belize City, San Ignacio, Belmopan, Caye Caulker, Caye Ambergeis.
Activities: Cehal Pach, Xuantunich, ATM Cave, Crystal Cave, Snorkeling, various beaches

[travelingtexan 198]

[travelingtexan 198]

[kevwun 15,798]

I think of all the times I've been, the sky has only been that clear for like 1 day.  You were lucky.

[CooterBrown 18,015]

42 minutes ago, travelingtexan said:

I thought the Caye's were way too touristy with tourist pricing. 

Pro's: Really friendly people, even in Belize City,

Con's: Way more expensive than it should be. Snorkeling and diving I found to be mediocre or at least over hyped. Too many "disneyworld" style tourists running around.

1. Yep. It's insane how the Cayes, in particular Ambergris, have blown up over the past few years. We went two years ago and I've followed the local news and blogs since then and the development has been INSANE. 

2. Absolutely true. 

3. Did you go out to Hol Chan or Mexican Rocks? If that's mediocre, I need to know where to go.

[travelingtexan 198]

20 minutes ago, CooterBrown said:

1. Yep. It's insane how the Cayes, in particular Ambergris, have blown up over the past few years. We went two years ago and I've followed the local news and blogs since then and the development has been INSANE. 

2. Absolutely true. 

3. Did you go out to Hol Chan or Mexican Rocks? If that's mediocre, I need to know where to go.

Hol Chan. Maybe I am just not that into it, but a bunch of rocks underwater with small fish swimming around just doesnt get me going that much. I liked Bermuda a lot and Australia. Red sea, Philippines. I like big fish, sharks, whale sharks, etc.

 

Glad you agree on the rest however. I dont understand why people pay a bunch of money to travel to hang out in a resort, with all the amenities of home, with people from their own country, paying US prices, doing overly-touristy things. Just stay at home and go to Florida.

[CooterBrown 18,015]

3 hours ago, travelingtexan said:

Hol Chan. Maybe I am just not that into it, but a bunch of rocks underwater with small fish swimming around just doesnt get me going that much. I liked Bermuda a lot and Australia. Red sea, Philippines. I like big fish, sharks, whale sharks, etc.

Must've just been the location we went to at Hol Chan. There were probably 5,000 fish within 200 feet of us including 30-50 nurse sharks, a dozen rays, barracuda, a couple of 100+ lbs turtles.  I just assumed it was all like that!

 

[Mack Tripper 696]

I know some people who were taking a puddle jumper from Belize City to Ambergis that crashed halfway into the flight. They lived, but had to float around for hours among a bunch of sharks waiting to be rescued. /CSB

[midtown 3,346]

15 minutes ago, CooterBrown said:

Must've just been the location we went to at Hol Chan. There were probably 5,000 fish within 200 feet of us including 30-50 nurse sharks, a dozen rays, barracuda, a couple of 100+ lbs turtles.  I just assumed it was all like that!

 

That's shark ray alley.   Not sure why people go to Belize and the Cayes and expect anything other than what everyone says you'll find.   It's a quaint little island(s) with good snorkeling, fishing, little restaurants with local fair, and plenty of beach side bars and live music.  San Pedro is a fun little kooky town that is easy to get to and easy to get around.   It's nothing like Florida. 

[travelingtexan 198]

59 minutes ago, CooterBrown said:

Must've just been the location we went to at Hol Chan. There were probably 5,000 fish within 200 feet of us including 30-50 nurse sharks, a dozen rays, barracuda, a couple of 100+ lbs turtles.  I just assumed it was all like that!

 

Yea you never know I could have had a bad day or whatever. At the worst the water is absolutely beautiful and I enjoyed myself just being in the water with the sun.

[travelingtexan 198]

37 minutes ago, midtown said:

That's shark ray alley.   Not sure why people go to Belize and the Cayes and expect anything other than what everyone says you'll find.   It's a quaint little island(s) with good snorkeling, fishing, little restaurants with local fair, and plenty of beach side bars and live music.  San Pedro is a fun little kooky town that is easy to get to and easy to get around.   It's nothing like Florida. 

Caye Caulker is better than San Pedro. San Pedro is a shit hole that they are building resorts on and trying to turn it into Mexico.

[travelingtexan 198]

38 minutes ago, Mack Tripper said:

I know some people who were taking a puddle jumper from Belize City to Ambergis that crashed halfway into the flight. They lived, but had to float around for hours among a bunch of sharks waiting to be rescued. /CSB

They would have only been nurse or reef sharks most likely. They have bull sharks and some other bigger sharks but they stay on the outside of the barrier reef because thats where the prey is. Still fucking crazy they crashed and I am sure they were terrified. I once was on a float plane that went down in British Columbia and we found a tanker that was converted into a rusted out shithole of a fishing lodge for germans. That was weird.

[midtown 3,346]

57 minutes ago, travelingtexan said:

Caye Caulker is better than San Pedro. San Pedro is a shit hole that they are building resorts on and trying to turn it into Mexico.

Jerry Jeff says go fuck yourself. 

[NeverMarryAStripper 21,907]

58 minutes ago, midtown said:

Jerry Jeff says go fuck yourself. 

Last time the ex and I were there we went up and knocked on his door, but he wasn't in town.  At least that's what the caretaker who answered the door said.

[Parliament 14,261]

Take an overnight trip to Tikal (in Guatemala). Sunset tour of the temples, hotel in the jungle. Awesome.

[kevwun 15,798]

Flores is really nice too if you do Tikal.  Cool old city and the island in the middle of the lake is a great place to stay.  Lots of good places to eat also.

[travelingtexan 198]

2 hours ago, kevwun said:

Flores is really nice too if you do Tikal.  Cool old city and the island in the middle of the lake is a great place to stay.  Lots of good places to eat also.

I havent done Guatemala but I am really excited. It seems to be a bit more raw and real aka offering a better experience vs a tourist vacation. San Ignacio offers a little bit of the same on the Belizean side.

[midtown 3,346]

So I am going back to Belize for the 3rd time in less than a year.  I went Aug 2017 by myself and got stuck due to the hurricane in Houston.  Stayed at the Blue Tang.  Fished with my guy Tino twice.  And did the Yolo.  Wandered around the island drank a lot at Palapa and Sandy toes and everywhere in between.  

Went this past Jan  with a young thing and stayed at the Paradise Villas.  Fished with Tino and used lil alfonse to snorkel.  Lots of palalpa and sanday toes in between bed time.   

Now I've got a new nurse that likes to travel, so were going to Belize. shes dive certified but is fine with fishing and snorkeling.     I send her a link to compare Caulker and Ambergris.  She said Caulker but really does't care as long as there "sun, sand, beer, and sex".   I can only sit around and do nothing before I get bored.   I know there is less to do on Caulker but will I have any problem getting fishing or snorkeling charters?    Plenty of little beach side bars and restaurants?   

[kevwun 15,798]

No there are several snorkeling outfits on caulker. Ragamuffin even has sailboats you can go out on to snorkel. I would recommend them for sure. There are fishing guides too. Barefoot fishing expeditions does fly and regular rods. Raf is a nice guy and I caught a tarpon. He was like 30 or 45 minutes late that morning so I would get his cell number just in case.

 

[Reagan1k 3,024]

I’ve fished with Tino on Ambergris.  Cool guy.  Knows his stuff inside and outside the reef. 

[midtown 3,346]

9 minutes ago, Reagan1k said:

I’ve fished with Tino on Ambergris.  Cool guy.  Knows his stuff inside and outside the reef. 

He's the man.  I'm sure I can get him to come get me and my special lady friend on Caulker.  We end up fishing that channel within site of Caulker anyway.  Although last time I went with Tino in Jan I hooked up a big cobia. out in the bay on the other side. of Ambergris. 

 

Anyone have a hotel reco for Cualker.  Something beach side with a pool?  My girl likes nice hotel rooms 

Edited June 2, 2018 by midtown

[Parliament 14,261]

On 6/1/2018 at 11:13 AM, travelingtexan said:

I havent done Guatemala but I am really excited. It seems to be a bit more raw and real aka offering a better experience vs a tourist vacation. San Ignacio offers a little bit of the same on the Belizean side.

Yeah my experience in Belize was good, but not as visceral as I hoped.

[NeverMarryAStripper 21,907]

Outside of Guatemala City Guatemala is pretty nice. Antigua is a cool place to go.

[Gil Bang 25,975]

Yeah my experience in Belize was good, but not as visceral as I hoped.

“I haven’t gone in yet and you’re already calling me a cocksucker”