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The
following are just some of the popular and exciting
destinations throughout Belize.
Ambergris Caye
The
largest of all the cayes at 36 miles long, Ambergris Caye
is renowned for its beaches and for scuba diving because
of it's proximity to the coral reef. Also popular are
sport fishing, manatee and bird watching. San Pedro is
the center of activity and offers a variety of accommodations,
restaurants, bars and nightlife.
East of the caye lies the Belize Barrier Reef which continues
some 190 miles along the length of the country of Belize.
On the far north tip of Ambergris Caye at a place called
Mexico Rocks the reef almost touches land.
On the west lies the San Pedro Lagoon which is connected
to the Caribean Sea by a small saltwater river running
east to west about two miles from the center of San Pedro
town.
Getting Here
Air
Ambergris Caye is located approximately 15 minutes by
air from mainland Belize. Hourly flights from the Philip
Goldson International Airport as well as the Belize City
Municipal Airstrip to Ambergris Caye are provided by the
local airlines Maya Island Air and Tropic Air.
Water Taxi
These are open speedboats with outboard engines with the
ride lasting between 45 min. and 2 hours depending upon
whether there are stops at the other islands in between.
Visitors can purchase tickets for the water taxis on the
north side of the river at the Maritime Museum located
at the foot of the Belize Swing Bridge in Belize City.
Popular Attractions of Ambergris Caye
- Largest
of Belize's 200 offshore cayes Ambergris Museum &
Cultural Center - Exhibits on history of the island,
including ancient Maya heritage.
- Bacalar
Chico - National park and marine reserve, accessible
by boat. Maya Ruins in the area ecotours arranged.
- Hol
Chan marine Reserve - Underwater park with 30-foot deep
channels known for coral grottos and caves.
- Shark
Ray Alley - Dive or snorkel with stingrays and nurse
sharks; guide required.
- Diving,
snorkeling,fishing,sailing,cruises,birding,manatee watching
Belize District
The
Belize District is centrally located between the northern
and southern borders of the country with a variety of
transportation options to any point both inland and out
to the cayes. The district is dominated by Belize City
and offers a host of attractions including several sanctuaries,
the world class Belize Zoo, a new museum, historic government
buildings, churches and the incredible Maya site at Altun
Ha. Fishing, snorkeling, diving and swimming are excellent
around nearby St. George's and Goff's caye while the rivers
and lagoons are great for boating and sightseeing.
The rest of the district's 1633 square miles sits in stark
contrast to the city itself with large areas of mangrove
swamp and marshland near the water that shifts to pine
savannah and tropical bush toward the interior. Beautiful
lagoons, two to the north of the city and two much farther
south, deliver a scenic change to the mostly low lying
coastal plain. Inland waterways vein much of the district,
creating habitats where hundreds of species of wildlife
thrive. From Crooked Tree to Bermudian Landing to Gales
Point and Cox Lagoon, natural attractions abound and most
are easily accessible with a wide selection of accommodations
and services.
Getting Here
Air
The Philip Goldson International Airport in Ladyville
is just 2 hours away from Miami, Houston and New Orleans
with service to the Belize offered by Continental and
American Airlines. Recently, a number of new connections
have been extablished including Air Jamaica out of Montego
Bay, U.S. Airways direct from Charlotte, Continental direct
from Newark and American Airlines direct from Dallas.
From the airport a taxi or a bus will carry you the roughly
10 miles into Belize City from where you can find a variety
of transportation options to take you anywhere in the
country.
Popular Attractions
- Belize
Maritime Museum & Terminal - Official departure/arrival
of boats to cayes
- Belize
Zoo - Native Belizean animals, including endangered
species, in natural habitats
- Bliss
Institute - Center of Belizean culture; Maya artifacts
- Community
Baboon Sanctuary - Home of black howler monkeys,
- Crooked
Tree Wildlife Sanctuary - Home of jabiru stork, largest
bird in Western Hemisphere
- St.
John's Cathedral - Built in 1812; oldest Anglican cathedral
in Central America
- Swing
Bridge - Historic colonial bridge, manually operated
twice daily
Caye
Caulker
Just
south of Ambergris Caye is the relaxed and slow paced
Caye Caulker. Here you can get to know the Mestizo and
Creole culture, customs and traditions. Offering budget
accommodations and excursions with a full range of services,
Caye Caulker is also well known for its friendly, easygoing
people who make it difficult for you to leave this sunny,
sleepy little island.
Due to the close proximity of the reef to Caye Caulker,
snorkeling and scuba diving is world class and one of
the most popular activities. There are also a wide variety
of other watersports to enjoy as well as shopping, dining,
bird watching, nature walks, or just relaxing on a quiet
beach.
Getting Here
Air
Both Maya Island Air and Tropic Air fly from the Belize
International Airport to and from Caye Caulker connecting
conveniently with International flights. Scheduled service
is also available from San Pedro, Corozal, and Belize
City Municipal Airstrip.
Water Taxi
Water Taxi service daily between the Marine Terminal in
Belize City, Caye Caulker and San Pedro. The Marine Terminal
is located next to the Swing Bridge in Belize City. The
Marine Terminal provides a pleasant place to buy tickets
for any of the six scheduled trips each day.
Popular Attractions
- Caye
Caulker mini-Reserve and Resource Center - Flora and
fauna
- Caye
Caulker Multi-Habitat Reserve - Protected land marine
areas opening in 1999
- The
Split - Watery passage created by Hurricane Hattie in
1961, divides the caye's north and south ends; popular
spot for sunning and water enthusiasts
- Diving,
snorkeling, fishing, kayaking, windsurfing, sailing,
birding, manatee
Cayo
Located
in the western interior of Belize, Cayo is a 1500 square
mile district that encompasses a good portion of the Maya
Mountains and has more than its fair share of ancient
Maya sites to visit and explore. To the east is the capital
city of Belmopan and to the far west, visitor friendly
San Ignacio, the main city of the district. Between the
two lie a world of forests teeming with wildlife and immaculately
beautiful tropical watersheds catered to by a variety
of jungle and river lodges to suit any style, budget and
adventure.
San Ignacio Popular Attractions
- Belize
Botanic Garden - more than 300 tree species; exotic
tropical fruits; orchids
- Butterfly
Breeding Center (at Chaa Creek) - "Belize Blue
blue morpho butterfly
- Caves
- Chechem Ha Cave: limestone cave with enormous Maya
pottery; Flour Camp Cave: Maya pottery, stone tools,
burial chambers, stalactites: Rio Frio Cave: spectacular,
half-mile long cave with huge boulders; Waterhole Cavern
(Bat Cave): subterranean lake, chambers, colossal formations
- Falls
- Five Sisters Falls: five waterfalls spill into one
pool; Hidden Valley Falls (Thousand Foot Falls): water
cascades over two steep ledges; Rio On Pool: swim in
mini-pools which create a series of falls
- Maya
sites - Cahal Pech: museum, artifacts; Caracol (The
Snail): largest known ruins of maya City; El Pilar Archaeological
Reserve: Maya site on Belize-Guatemala border; Pacbitun:
large Maya ceremonial center; Xunantunich (Maiden of
the Rock): major Maya site reached by hand-cranked car
ferry across the Mopan River; Yalbac
- Swimming,
hiking, trekking, ecotours
Northern
Belize
Northern
Belize includes the districts of Orange Walk and Corozal
and offers the adventure traveler natural wealth and archaeological
wonder. Spectacular ancient cities, highlighted by the
temples at Lamanai, evidence the ancient Maya's affinity
for the area. With jungles, rainforests, coastal lagoons,
and rivers, the region is home to an amazing array of
animal and plant life that includes the jaguar and the
manatee. Culturally the north is primarily mayan and Spanish
with the Mennonite farmers adding their old world flavor
to the mix.
Corozal District is the heart of Belize's sugar growing
and processing industry. While English is the official
language, Spanish is widely spoken, as many are the Maya
and Mestizo descendents of those who fled Mexico during
the Caste Wars of the mid-1800's. Population today is
around 9,000.
Consejo Village is at the Northern tip of Belize on the
Chetumal/Corozal Bay which divides mainland Belize from
the Yucatan Peninsula and Ambergris Caye. The Bay is calm
and well protected from inclement weather.
People move here to relax and enjoy the natural pleasures
in life.... Sunshine, Refreshing Breezes, Sparkling Waters
excellent for swimming, windsurfing, sailing, and boating.
The abundance of birds, butterflies and exotic animals
and vegetation, as well as the shade of palm trees for
some quiet reading or snoozing in a hammock. Neighbors
get together for barbeques, boating, bridge, exercise,
Spanish etc. and there are a couple of Hotels and Restaurants
in the immediate vicinity where visitors can stay or residents
socialize.
Within easy reach are many interesting places to visit,
Mayan Temples and Archaeological sites, 3000 ft high Maya
Mountains, the countryside of Belize with the Citrus Groves,
Sugar Plantations and surrounding tropical Jungles, 35
miles to the southeast is the famed Ambergris Caye. The
Barrier Reef is the second longest in the world. The Reefs
and Cayes provide the best fishing and diving in the western
hemisphere.
Getting Here
Air
To reach the Corozal or Orange Walk Districts by air,
visitors use one of the two local airlines (Maya Island
Air and Tropic Air, see contact info above). Both domestic
carriers offer service to various destinations in Belize,
including the airstrip in Corozal Town. The scenic flight
from Belize City stops first in San Pedro en route to
Corozal Town. The trip takes approximately thirty minutes.
Private Vehicle
Northern Highway runs from Belize City to the Mexican
border and is paved with good gas availability. The 85
mile drive from Belize City, along the Northern Highway,
takes 1 1/2 - 2 hours.
Bus
Northern Transport Company buses have frequent scheduled
services along the Northern Highway from Belize city to
the Mexican border town of Chetumal.
Boat
Corozal Town is a major maritime port of entry in Belize.
Upon reaching Corozal's port, you are required to report
your entry to the police or immigration authorities as
soon as possible.
Corozal Popular Attractions
- Cerros
- Ruins of Maya coastal trading center
- Chetumal
- Day trips to Mexican border town; shopping,nightlife
- Corozal
Museum - Replica of 1800s market; artifacts,antiques,religious
statues;Maya crafts,clothing, and utensils
- Corozal
Town Hall - Mural depicting Corozal history
- Santa
Rita - maya ruin; town and Corozal Bay visible from
summit
- Shipstern
Nature Reserve/Butterfly Breeding Farm - Butterflies,
hiking trails, labeled rare trees/medicinal plants
Orange Walk Popular Attractions
- Altun
Ha (Water of the Rock) - maya site
- Cuello
- oldest known Maya ruin; small 2,600-year-old ceremonial
center
- Ft.
Cairns/Ft.Moody -Ft. Cairns is town hall; Ft. Moody
is historic center of battles between British settlers
and Maya Indians.
- Godoy's
orchid Garde & Tour - 75 different species plus
45 species of mini-orchids.
- Lamanai
(Submerged Crocodile) - Ruins of once-magnificent Maya
city; best reached by boat
- New
River - Paddle boats and tours
- Rio
Bravo Conservation Area - Walk the Mahogany Trail through
this tropical forest; visit La Milpa, third largest
maya site in Belize
- Sarteneja
- Maya ruin; small fishing village built over Maya site.
Placencia
Sixteen
miles of natural sandy beach, a wilderness of coral-studded
cayes, a virgin mangrove-fringed lagoon, nearby jungle
rivers, and pristine rainforest, Garifuna, Creole and
Mayan cultures, and ancient Maya ruins make Placencia
the ideal location for the adventurous traveler!
Placencia is a a paradise for the nature lover in you,
as its knowledgeable guides, will show you. Start by exploring
the beauty of the abundance of plants and flowers, and
the birds and butterflies and iguanas they attract throughout
the village.
Kayak the mangroves in our tranquil lagoon and perhaps
you will be lucky enough to spot the manatees who live
here. And if you are one of the many adventure travelers
who come to Placencia (getting around Belize), you can
do the cayes by kayak, camping along the way on the unspoiled
islands that dot the horizon from there to the reef and
back again.
Hire a boat down by the dock and take a trip to Monkey
River where you will see the famous Howler Monkeys, iguanas,
and maybe even an alligator or two along the river shore.
If your pleasure is a more leisurely trip around the uncrowded
waters, there are sailing options from the catamarans
available with or without a crew, to private sailboats
for day-sailing or overnights, complete with captain and
catering.
A trip to Placencia is not complete without a boat ride
to the cayes, whether your desire is to snorkel the many
small reefs and flats, dive the uncrowded pristine reef,
fish the flats, or just relax on one of the many delightful
cayes that lie between Placencia and the Barrier Reef
- second in size only to Australia's Great Barrier Reef.
And when you've exhausted all the options around the peninsula,
expand your horizons with a tour to the nearby Mayan Ruins
of Lubaantun and Nim Li Punit, Cave tours, or explore
the jungle trails through Cockscomb Jaguar Preserve.
Placencia Popular Attractions
- Lughing
Bird Caye National Park - Superb swimming, diving, snorkeling
- Maya
Beach - Resort area with white sand beaches
- Placencia
Lagoon - Mangrove swamps with manatees, birds, exotic
flora and fauna
- Placencia
Village - Creole fishing village; resort area with sandy
swimming beaches
- Seine
Bight Village - Garifuna village with distinctive culture
- Birding,
fly fishing, manatee watching, diving, snorkeling, kayaking
Southern
Belize
Toledo
offers a prime opportunity for the adventure minded and
the adrenaline addicted visitor. A cultural lean towards
the Mopan and Kekchi Maya is evident and homestays will
give you an inside look at how the Maya have balanced
tradition with the demands of a modern world. The ancient
Maya cities, intricate cave systems and pristine rainforests
headline a long list of attractions accessible from the
coastal city of Punta Gorda, including lagoons, rivers,
creeks and cayes. Wildlife, birds, trees and plants in
astounding variety make Toledo a nature lover's paradise.
As the most sparsely populated and least developed region
in the country, Toledo is certainly not for the ordinary
tourist. However, for those with the spirit to venture
off the beaten track, the natural and cultural diversity
of Toledo makes a visit to a Southern Belize an unique
adventure. The land is blanketed with some of the most
pristine rainforest in Belize. The uplands to the Northwest,
consist of the foothills of the Maya Mountains bordered
by limestone outcrops - rugged, unexplored territory.
The coastal lowlands consist of softer grounds, formed
from the flood deposits of the many rivers draining the
uplands. Towering riverine forests line the rivers and
flood plains, while pine ridge savannahs and mangrove
surround coastal lagoons.
Toledo is blessed with a multitude of natural attractions,
including caves, sinkholes, and waterfalls strewn throughout
the rainforest. Jungle-covered ruins still exist as if
just discovered. Five major protected areas have been
declared wildlife reserves. These natural treasures abound
with wildlife and over 2000 species of flowering plants.
The Sapodilla Cayes offer great snorkeling, swimming,
kayaking and diving. Some of the best fly-fishing in the
country is done in the nearby rivers.
While the rugged terrain of Toledo provides a challenge
for the adventurous, it is the people of Toledo which
softens natures rough edges. At least five distinct ethnic
groups have settled in Southern Belize. While the town
of Punta Gorda consists of many cultures, 64% of the population
in the Toledo District is made up of the Mopan and Kekchi
Mayas living in over 30 different villages. Come experience
a touch of their rich heritage. English is spoken as their
second language, and visitors can communicate clearly
with the people for a genuine cultural exchange.
Getting There
Air
Travelling to Toledo by air is the most convenient. Two
local airlines, Maya Island Air and Tropic Air, have multiple
daily flights to Punta Gorda either from the Belize International
Airport or the Municipal Airstrip in Belize City. The
flight takes about an hour to an hour and a half from
Belize City or the International Airport, with stops en
route at Stann Creek and Placencia. Their schedules work
well with both international flights and other domestic
connections.
Car
Three major highways -- the Western, the Hummingbird,
and the Southern Highways --connect Belize City to the
South. With the exception of 9 miles, the Southern Highway
is now completely paved, significantly reducing the traveling
time to approximately 4 hours. The Coastal Road, an alternate
route to the Hummingbird Highway, is an unpaved dusty
gravel road that can save about a half hour.
Boat
Requena's Charters offers daily boat services to and from
Puerto Barrios, Guatemala, directly to Punta Gorda. The
crossing takes about an hour. They leave PG at 9:00 am
and return at 2:00 pm daily.
Stann
Creek
Stann
Creek is Belize's second largest district with 986 square
miles of possibilities for the adventure inclined traveler.
The coast is dotted with small towns and fishing villages
that offer cultural flavors in exotic combination, and
access to crowd free cayes as well as the remote reaches
of the Belize Barrier Reef. Beginning just a few miles
inland, the territory hosts Maya villages, the world's
first jaguar preserve, a wealth of tropical forests, and
a good portion of the Maya Mountains including Victoria
Peak.
From Dangriga down to Placencia, the coastal towns and
villages each have something special to offer. The people
are friendly, there are real beaches here, and offshore
the blue water belies a world of marine wonder that includes
the endangered manatee and the fabled coral reef. Underwater
adventurers will find an abundance of delights to immerse
themselves in.
With an amazing selection of adventures and attractions,
Stann Creek is a wonderful place to spend a few days of
discovery, and its central location makes it an ideal
base from which to explore the rest of Belize too.
Getting There
Air
Getting to Stann Creek District by air will bring you
in on one of the two local airlines (Maya Island Air and
Tropic Air) that offer service to various destinations
in Belize, including the airstrip in Dangriga. Just a
twenty-minute flight from Belize City, the flight into
Dangriga is a no hassle trip that will give you a great
look at the coastline, the cayes, the Maya Mountains and
the Caribbean.
Bus
Frequent daily buses wind their way back and forth between
Belize City and Dangriga going through the Belizean capital
of Belmopan. From Belmopan to Dangriga, the Hummingbird
Highway will present you with breathtaking scenery of
the Stann Creek valley and the eastern fringe of the Maya
mountains. Expect the trip to take roughly 3 hours by
bus. You can reach the bus station in Belize City by taxi
(about 20 minute ride and $20BZ) from the International
airport.
Car
Renting a car is an excellent way to tour Belize, providing
the maximum flexibility in what you can see and do. The
road system is simple, and the major roads are either
paved or soon to be, with plentiful gas stations at major
towns. There are a number of car rental agencies right
at the International airport.
Stann Creek / Dangriga Popular Attractions
- Bird
Cay Bird Sanctuary - Guided boat trips to Northern lagoon
- Citrus
Factories - Two manufacturing concerns located in the
Stann Creek Valley
- Cockscomb
Basin Wildlife Sanctuary - Home of the jaguar; 12 self-guided
hiking trails, camping facilities
- Gales
Point - Hire a boat for manatee watch to Southern Lagoon
- Garifuna
- Art; dance; traditional weaving, drum making and doll
making; community in Hopkins Village; Sabal's Community
Farm
- Maya
Centre - Maya village at entrance to Cockscomb Basin;
local crafts
- Old
Sugar Mill - Near Sittee River; built in early 1900s
and imported from Leeds Foundry in New Orleans
- Red
Bank Village - View flocks of scarlet macaws feeding
near this Maya village
- Tropical
Aquarium - Glimpse a tropical reef before you snorkel
- Diving,
snorkeling, fishing, island, hopping, birding, ecotours
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