I Belize we need this topic....

[kevwun 16269]

20 minutes ago, midtown said:

I go at least once a year and sometimes twice and I haven't seen Jet at Jet's since befor the pandemic.  Sexual harassment at Golden has plumeted 

I stayed at the Princess once and we didn't leave the hotel either and I was with a group who have been working in Belize on archeological digs for 40+ years.  The head guy was even kidnapped and held for ransom in the jungle back in the 80's.

Edited January 25 by kevwun

[kevwun 16269]

Finished booking our trip today.  A few days at Ramon's Village on San Pedro and then we're heading to Caye Caulker for a few more days.  Never been to San Pedro, but some friends stayed at Ramon's last year and really liked it.  Their descriptions and the pics look pretty good.

[Boss Hogg 808]

How much time is enough to land at Belize City before you jump on the flight to San Pedro and vice versa?

[NeverMarryAStripper 22238]

22 hours ago, kevwun said:

Finished booking our trip today.  A few days at Ramon's Village on San Pedro and then we're heading to Caye Caulker for a few more days.  Never been to San Pedro, but some friends stayed at Ramon's last year and really liked it.  Their descriptions and the pics look pretty good.

The ex and I always stayed at Ramon's.  On our last trip, there was a strong afternoon rainstorm with very high winds.  We sat on our porch drinking bourbon while we watched a sailboat flying a Texas flag get blown onto the reef just offshore in front of Ramon's.  It ripped a pretty big gash in the hull.

[midtown 3349]

How much time is enough to land at Belize City before you jump on the flight to San Pedro and vice versa?

Probably an hour. So schedule your puddle for 1.5. If you are early they will send you on the next flight

[kevwun 16269]

Their customs process is usually very fast unless a few planes land at the same time.  Even if the line is long, it still moves quickly.

[midtown 3349]

On 2/15/2024 at 1:55 PM, kevwun said:

Their customs process is usually very fast unless a few planes land at the same time.  Even if the line is long, it still moves quickly.

IMO the bottle neck is when you have to wait for a checked bag and then everyone jams up at the two customs booths.  Immigration has what 12 booths?

[CooterBrown 18272]

Went we flew on Southwest, our flight to Houston was delayed. So, for the flight to Belize, we were the last to board and had to sit in the back row.  Luckily, they have stairs for both the front and rear exit doors so we were the first to customs and it took 5 minutes.

[Boss Hogg 808]

We like to book a private boat tour on our trips. From San Pedro it looks like there’s a few different destinations. Any difference or preference between Secret Beach and Caye Caulker? It’s me, my wife and 4 kids. Age range 6 to 15. 

[midtown 3349]

We like to book a private boat tour on our trips. From San Pedro it looks like there’s a few different destinations. Any difference or preference between Secret Beach and Caye Caulker? It’s me, my wife and 4 kids. Age range 6 to 15. 

I think secret is more kid friendly as far as the water but it also has more of a club feel. Definitely bring your sunglasses to check out the strings while your wife isn't looking.

Caulker had more shops and restaurants etc to wander around.

[StassneyHorn 6755]

Sharing an email from a real estate guy down there that got me excited about the Yucatan getting much better connected:

Between the road paving project, new hospitals and medical facilities, gas stations north of the bridge, ferry/water taxi terminal, and additional Mexico water taxi routes it's better than ever to get in. 
 

New Water Taxi Route Connects San Pedro & Mexico
On February 24th, a new ferry route was announced that connects San Pedro & Ambergris Caye, Belize, to Chetumal, Mexico.

San Pedro Belize Express unveiled its latest addition, the Three Star Voyager vessel, marking a significant milestone in the connectivity between Belize & Mexico and expanding its service offerings.

The ferry route (water taxi) enhances the travel experience between Belize and Mexico but also holds significant potential for boosting tourism in Belize and facilitating trade in the region.

This new route also signifies a milestone in connectivity, improving not only transportation for tourism but also logistics. By providing a direct and efficient travel option, it opens up new avenues for economic cooperation and trade.

The trip between Ambergris Caye & Chetumal will take customers quickly and smoothly from Ambergris Caye, Belize, to Chetumal, Mexico.

The water taxi service will further increase tourism to Belize and Ambergris Caye, especially with the recent opening of the Tulum International Airport and the Tren Maya (Yucatan Express Train system).

The Tren Maya (sometimes also Mayan Train or Maya Train) is a railway system that traverses the Yucatán Peninsula. 

The railway begins at Cancún International Airport and travels down to Chetumal and the Mexico/Belize border.

New Water Taxi Terminal Connects San Pedro & Belize City
There is a new water taxi terminal being built in the southern part of San Pedro Town, which will relieve a lot of the downtown traffic and improve accessibility from Belize City to San Pedro & Ambergris Caye. The new Water Taxi Terminal has started constructing the boat terminal south of downtown San Pedro along Coconut Drive.

The project will be completed this year and is already well underway. This new boat terminal also has a seafront extension, an area for parking, unloading, loading, and dropping off passengers

Road Pavements and Gas Stations
A new gas station north of the bridge is complete and construction of another starting in Secret Beach.

[NeverMarryAStripper 22238]

So it's beginning to sound like we need to find some place else to go

[midtown 3349]

Yup. It's definitely starting to lose it's small feel.

[Gil Bang 26174]

That water taxi sounds pretty good.  My butthole was clenched when I was wedged in with a dozen other mofos on a Tropic Air flight.

[StassneyHorn 6755]

Have fun in Holbox!

[midtown 3349]

That water taxi sounds pretty good.  My butthole was clenched when I was wedged in with a dozen other mofos on a Tropic Air flight.

Taxi: cheap but timely not for those who get sea sick
Flight: more expensive and fast but not for those who don't like small planes.

[nolongerU2horn 768]

eh, I tend to get seasick but had no issues on the Belize Express

[kevwun 16269]

I don't ever remember it being rough on the ferry.  Sometimes they go slower if the sea is up, but that's about it.  There's not really any rolling like on smaller boats.  They also change up the route depending on conditions.  One day when it was super calm, I swear we made it back from Caye Caulker to San Pedro in almost half the time of a normal trip.

Edited March 5 by kevwun

[LonghornJones 838]

Leaving with the fam on Monday for Placencia. Haven't had a chance to research the area as I usually do for trips due to work obligations, but I am finally getting excited.

Any idea how bad mosquitos are this time of year down there? Anything I should be concerned with that is not on my radar (which is nothing)?

[kevwun 16269]

Bugs are never a problem if there is wind which there almost always is.  It's supposed to be a nightmare if it ever stops blowing though.  I have never been there when it does that, but my wife has.  We are heading down in 2.5 weeks for a week on San Pedro and Caye Caulker.

Edited May 22 by kevwun

[RPM 26557]

I stayed in Maya Beach on Placencia about 10 years ago. It was more laid back and less crowded than San Pedro. I don't remember bugs being a problem. If you want to have some cheap fun peel a banana and set it outside. The fruit bats will go nuts. I got some great pics.

[brownboy 46]

I'm ambivalent about what that water ferry from Mexico will do to Ambergris Caye since I'm thinking a trip starting in the Cancun area, spending the night at a few stops wherever the train goes, and then ending in Caye Caulker (have stayed on Ambergris enough times).  I presume immigration/customs will be smooth between Mexico and Belize.

[rage-a-holic 4707]

25 minutes ago, brownboy said:

I'm ambivalent about what that water ferry from Mexico will do to Ambergris Caye since I'm thinking a trip starting in the Cancun area, spending the night at a few stops wherever the train goes, and then ending in Caye Caulker (have stayed on Ambergris enough times).  I presume immigration/customs will be smooth between Mexico and Belize.

The tren maya is a hilarious piece of shit eco-nightmare/nationalist boondoogle. Don't base any travel plans around riding that thing.

[brownboy 46]

On 5/25/2024 at 10:28 PM, rage-a-holic said:

The tren maya is a hilarious piece of shit eco-nightmare/nationalist boondoogle. Don't base any travel plans around riding that thing.

yeah I'm definitely going to wait for some real experiences of people like us taking it

[rage-a-holic 4707]

On 5/28/2024 at 8:58 AM, brownboy said:

yeah I'm definitely going to wait for some real experiences of people like us taking it

This is a well written apnews piece about it.

https://apnews.com/projects/mexico-tren-maya-climate-yucatan/

Quote

In a violation of Mexican law, the government didn’t carry out a comprehensive study to assess the potential environmental impacts before starting construction. That’s led to blindly plowing into caverns with no clue what’s being damaged, scientists and independent lawyers say.

“Our president has little respect for the law. He’s in a sort of tug of war for power and he does what he wants,” said Claudia Aguilar, a lawyer at Mexico’s Free School of Law.

When a judge ordered construction of the line be suspended until an adequate report of how the train would affect the caves was carried out, López Obrador ignored the ruling, and the work continued.

At the same time, much of the project has been cloaked in secrecy as López Obrador has charged Mexico’s military with construction and blocked the release of information in the name of “national security”.

While Mexico’s Supreme Court ruled that unconstitutional, López Obrador disregarded that ruling, too, saying it was to protect his project from “corrupt” critics.

When the AP requested an interview with leadership of the Maya Train project, spokesperson Mariana Galicia said they were “ordered that we cannot give interviews” but could respond to questions sent over email to “better control” the information shared. They did not respond to questions sent by email.

 

[Shaddie 1684]

1 hour ago, rage-a-holic said:

This is a well written apnews piece about it.

https://apnews.com/projects/mexico-tren-maya-climate-yucatan/

 

Meet the new boss. Same as the old boss.

[VABuckeye 2481]

When we went to Ambergris Caye we were hanging out in San Pedro on a Thursday and the locals asked us if we were coming to boxing that night.  I asked who boxes?  They said they bring in Guatemalans and Mexicans.  I asked who they root for. The answer was the Guatemalans because they hate Mexicans. 

[NeverMarryAStripper 22238]

Only because there weren’t any Dutch fighters

[midtown 3349]

Throw some thoughts and prayers up for the people of Belize.  Looks like they might dodge the really bad stuff but all the Belize people/bars I follow on social media are shutting it down for a few days

Edited July 3 by midtown

[254512 236]

First day here and a little hike after a rain shower. 

[berlinerbaer 692]

On 5/22/2024 at 12:31 PM, LonghornJones said:

Leaving with the fam on Monday for Placencia. Haven't had a chance to research the area as I usually do for trips due to work obligations, but I am finally getting excited.

Any idea how bad mosquitos are this time of year down there? Anything I should be concerned with that is not on my radar (which is nothing)?

I was walking the Lamanai ruins earlier this week and the mosquitoes were otherworldly until we applied the DEET. Just be prepared.

 

[254512 236]

+1 on the Deet, don’t think I had any bites last week. Make sure to play Welcome To The Jungle on your phone if you have kids like I did, my 7yo got mad when it was time to rough it. Went to Tikal as well and this mutherfuckin spider monkey tried to come at me like a motherfuckin spider monkey!

[kevwun 16269]

Gallo is a pretty solid beer.

[midtown 3349]

You has me confused with the Gallo pic.  I thought I accidently clicked on the Guatemala thread

[Gil Bang 26174]

20 hours ago, 254512 said:

+1 on the Deet, don’t think I had any bites last week. Make sure to play Welcome To The Jungle on your phone if you have kids like I did, my 7yo got mad when it was time to rough it. Went to Tikal as well and this mutherfuckin spider monkey tried to come at me like a motherfuckin spider monkey!

nice cock

[hookem2010 2699]

What are people's experiences renting a car and driving inland? I'm looking at Black Rock Lodge and Lamanai for a possible trip with friends in a year or so.

[RPM 26557]

I rented a car in Placencia about 15 years ago. There is no Avis or Hertz down there that I know of. Mine was from an old lady that lived there and set up her own biz. All the cars were from the Miami Auto auction and in various states of fubar. Mine was a 10 yo Isuzu Rodeo beater with no a/c. It was relatively cheap, I think it was about $20 a day, but they told me absolutely no night driving because of animals and you know bad guys. I drove all over checking out Mayan stuff. ymmv

[Reagan1k 3040]

11 hours ago, RPM said:

I rented a car in Placencia about 15 years ago. There is no Avis or Hertz down there that I know of. Mine was from an old lady that lived there and set up her own biz. All the cars were from the Miami Auto auction and in various states of fubar. Mine was a 10 yo Isuzu Rodeo beater with no a/c. It was relatively cheap, I think it was about $20 a day, but they told me absolutely no night driving because of animals and you know bad guys. I drove all over checking out Mayan stuff. ymmv

Similar experience in Eleuthera.  'Rental company" was a just a guy and his car.  Told me to ignore the warning lights on the dash.....and when I was done, throw the keys in the seat, park it at the airport, and text him that we'd boarded our flight.

[mycox 587]

I've been in San Pedro a few days. Other than the locals, this place is mostly full of retired or soon to be retired Americans. Maybe it's off-season, but I would say the average age is 60+

 

[midtown 3349]

9 hours ago, mycox said:

I've been in San Pedro a few days. Other than the locals, this place is mostly full of retired or soon to be retired Americans. Maybe it's off-season, but I would say the average age is 60+

 

Yup and that's what most people like about it.  No loud obnioxious instagrmmers etc  Its a great place to just sit by the water and drink some Belikins and fish etc.  Now if you want to see young ass get on the YOLO

[StassneyHorn 6755]

On 12/8/2024 at 1:00 PM, mycox said:

I've been in San Pedro a few days. Other than the locals, this place is mostly full of retired or soon to be retired Americans. Maybe it's off-season, but I would say the average age is 60+

 

Caye caulker will have younger people. Might try Truck Stop in the evening in San Pedro

[mycox 587]

There isn't much to do in Caye Caulker, but it is nice. I did enjoy venturing out in the city of San Pedro.