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Belize
Vacation Packages
  
Being the Belize specialist here at James Travel Points,
I travel to Belize at least once a year. When I travel to this beautiful,
pure country, my goal is to see as many properties as possible, so that
I can properly inform travelers and answer their questions.
My recent trip was 8-nights, and had the chance to
experience it with two of my children, 10 and 7 years old, and my mother.
Belize has its coastal areas, with wonderful snorkeling,
fishing, diving, wind surfing, sea kayaks, and much more. Then you have
the mainland, which is a combination of rainforest and pine ridge, beautiful
mountains, ancient Mayan ruins, caving, rivers, horseback riding, wildlife,
and jungle treks. Here's a little information on the country itself, and
some of the highlights of the trip.
Belize is located in Central America, south of Mexico's
Yucatan Peninsula, and bordered by Guatemala to the west and south. Formally
known as British Honduras, Belize has a stable parliamentary democracy,
and is a member of the British Commonwealth. Belize is the only Central
American country were English is the official language.
A valid passport is required to enter Belize; there
is an exiting tax of $20 US per person. The currency is a stable exchange
rate of $2BZ-$1 US, establishments accept US $, and it is recommended
to use cash or travelers checks, and not credit cards, because of high
service fees.
The main staples are rice and beans, chicken, and
fresh seafood. It is very traveler friendly, with great array of activities
to enjoy.
On our recent trip we began on the Island of Ambergris
Caye, just a short flight from Belize International airport. Ambergris
Caye is the most traveled island of Belize's 200 off shore cayes. The
accommodation range from very moderate to luxiourous upscale properties,
the people are friendly, and there are numerous activities to enjoy. We
stayed at two properties the first was The Palms, and the second Banana
Beach.
The Cayes itself is a narrow, 25-mile long island,
the front side the Caribbean Sea, the back the lagoon/mangrove area.
The Palms is about a 5-minute walk along the beach to the town of San
Pedro, which is where shops, restaurants, and evening activities take
place. Banana Beach is out of town, and takes about 30 minutes to walk
into town, there are also restaurants near by. Both accommodations have
kitchens, and pools the staff was excellent, any day tours that you desire
can be arranged right there.
We decided to go with the glass bottom boat to Hol
Chan Marine Preserve/ Shark Ray Alley. While aboard the glass bottom boat
you enter the reserve where you can view coral formations, fish, and other
marine life without even getting wet! Inside the reserve is Shark-Ray
Alley, were you can see nurse sharks, and stingrays. Hol Chan is also
a very popular snorkeling destination, this is just one of the many sites.
The glass bottom boat is a perfect option for the less adventuraus, and
families traveling with younger children.
During our stay our evenings were filled with the
Costa Maya Festival, an annual event that celebrates most of the Central
American countries, their cultures, food, dance, music, and history. After
Ambergris is was off to the interior of Belize.
We rented a 4-wheel drive in Belize City, and drove
to the Cayo district of Belize. The Cayo offers Mayan history, endless
rainforest, wildlife, caving, trekking, and jungle horseback riding.
Our first night was spent at Ektun, about a 2 1/2-hour
drive from Belize City; Ektun is one of a kind. The property has two private
jungle cabanas, a natural mineral pool, beautiful gardens, dense jungle,
and ancient Mayan caves. We enjoyed the view on the open veranda overlooking
the river in the dining area, after dinner we walked back to our cabana,
along the walk Ken (the owner). He pointed out, tree cutter ants and then
the highlight an armadillo! Everyone was so excited that we could hardly
sleep. In the morning we woke to the sound of Howler Monkey's, Ektun has
three troops around there property.
After breakfast, the kids took a hike to a cave, which
is the home to numerous short tailed fruit bats.
Banana Bank was our next accommodation, it is located
in Belmopan, and is only an hour drive to Belize City. We stayed in a
two-bedroom jungle cabana w/loft. The lodge itself is along the Belize
River, offers views of lush jungle, beautiful orchids, a Jaguar named
Tika, a Spider Monkey named Chico, and two Macaws.
Banana Bank has the standard jungle tours to Mayan
sites, cave tubing, birding, and biking tours, but what stands out the
most is their equestrian center. They have miles of jungle and riverside
trails to enjoy by horseback, for any range or age of riders. My children
have never been on a horse, but that was what they wanted; jungle horseback
ride, yet another sleepless night filled with excitement.
In the morning after breakfast, off they went on there
first jungle horseback ride, about 15-30 minutes in the round pen to familiarize
themselves with their horses, Eric's horse Piza, and Carlee's Strawberry,
and even my mom on a horse named Poppi. They took a ride through the high
canopy jungles of Belize, and have not stopped talking about it since.
Belize has so much to experience, learn, and enjoy, it was the perfect
family vacation. Interested in Belize?
Give the expert a call, Tiffany at Belize TravelPOINTS
303 938-9165.
"Belize
TravelPOINTS" has been featured in the June 2000 and 2001 Conde
Nast Magazine under "70 Secret Agents" on page 172. Tiffany
Lough heads up the department with years of experience booking travel
arrangements into Belize. She has been selected as "one of the
best" by Conde Nast for booking and arranging travel into Belize.
Belize TravelPOINTS
has negotiated air, hotel, resort, dive, tour, contracts into Belize.
Give Tiffany a call and find out why she is one of the best.
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