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Scuba Forum / General / December 2004Traveling to Belize
I'm considering going to Belize in February for an escape from the cold Northeast USA as well as to do some diving. I have been throughout Central America and would be interested in hearing about Belize culturally as well as recommendations for relatively "upscale" places to stay. Any comments/suggestions will be appreciated. Thanks, Sy > I'm considering going to Belize in February for an escape from the > cold Northeast USA as well as to do some diving. [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > > Any comments/suggestions will be appreciated. Where in Belize were you considering? The easiest access to diving is from Ambergris Caye unless you intend to go out to the Atolls and stay at one of the handful of isolated dive/fishing dedicated resorts. If you want upscale, then I recommend Victoria House on Ambergris Caye. Take the river tubing tour through the caves, it's one of the highlights in Belize. >> I'm considering going to Belize in February for an escape from the >> cold Northeast USA as well as to do some diving. [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > the handful of isolated dive/fishing dedicated resorts. If you want > upscale, then I recommend Victoria House on Ambergris Caye. > Take the river tubing tour through the caves, it's one of the highlights in > Belize. the tubing we took thru the caves SUCKED BIG TIME! I would not recommend to anyone. Expensive! It took us about 45 minutes to get everyone in the water. We literall floated 15 feet and everyone had to get out and carry tubes over rocks in the cave, climb over huge rocks to get back in the water. It went downhill from there. We ended at Tiger Paw. > > Take the river tubing tour through the caves, it's one of the highlights in > > Belize. [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > in the cave, climb over huge rocks to get back in the water. It went > downhill from there. Well, mine trip wasn't quite that bad, but even so . . . I don't recommend it unless you are already staying inland and near where the tubing takes place. > We ended at Tiger Paw. Jaguar's Paw. Nice place. >>>Take the river tubing tour through the caves, it's one of the highlights > [quoted text clipped - 18 lines] > > Jaguar's Paw. Nice place. yeah that's right Jaguar Paw. I also forgot to mention the long walk in-between float segments thru the Belizean jungle. We were in the back with a couple of the women making sure they moved along okay (one had a bad knee) the guide and the rest of the group left us. We came to the proverbial fork in the trail. We went the wrong way, after we walked a little ways I noticed there was no prints in the mud. We had retrace to catch upon with the group. We were pissed. Lunched absolutely sucked , they took some wrapped up meat out of their packs - after the meat had floated in the water the first 4 hours of the trip - NO thanks. Also the one guide flipped a snake at us while we were in the water floating. I nearly strangled him, he thought it was funny. He said it was non-poisonous. Suffice to say I didn't' think it was very funny. The bus drive was also very scary - too damn fast coming out of the park (bad shape) and on what they call a highway. > > Jaguar's Paw. Nice place. > > [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > sucked , they took some wrapped up meat out of their packs - after the > meat had floated in the water the first 4 hours of the trip - NO thanks. Well, one thing I'll say about our lunch, it was fabulous and well worth the inclusion in the ridiculously high price. We ate at Jaquar. It was $100US at the time, but I understand it has gone up. $125, I think. Of course it does include a trip to the Belize Zoo. That was enjoyable even in the downpour, assuming one had a slicker. So, rained most of the day, including the trip out and back. The trip back by boat, once through the mangroves, was a misery, saved only by the high quantities of rum punch. Things just kept getting worse. The inebriation from the rum punch softened any concern for our safety. A plane went down into the lagoon due to nasty weather conditions, just as we arrived back at the first dock when we hit Ambergris. We were all set off the boat to find our own way back to the other end of the island because our boat had to head out immediately for the rescue mission. No blame there, not there fault and an absolute necessity at the time for our boat and crew. When I went to Actun Tunichal Muknal, the guides had absolutely airtight bags. So there were no concerns in that regard. Cameras, batteries and all, went in dry, came out dry. I highly recommend that excursion but you have to stay inland to do it. > Also the one guide flipped a snake at us while we were in the water > floating. I nearly strangled him, he thought it was funny. He said it > was non-poisonous. Suffice to say I didn't' think it was very funny. Yeah, that's a real knee-slapper all right. And I mustn't have been sitting in that damn tube right, my shoulder muscles were pretty sore the next day from laying on my back and reaching down to paddle backwards overtop of the rim. It was kinda cool when they turned all the lights out at one point and you couldn't see your hand right in front of your face. Regardless, that same action taken in the Tunichil Muknal cave was much more impressive. But meanwhile back to the cave tubing. It was raining heavily that day and while no biggie when in the cave, on the return trip out on the jungle trail, a lady slipped in the mud and gashed her leg pretty badly. > The bus drive was also very scary - too damn fast coming out of the park > (bad shape) and on what they call a highway. :^) > It went downhill from there. Uhhh... I thought that going *downhill* was the purpose of tubing... > > It went downhill from there. > > Uhhh... I thought that going *downhill* was the purpose of tubing... Not that kind of tubing. Going down stream. > Not that kind of tubing. Going down stream. Which is still downhill in *most* cases... > > Not that kind of tubing. Going down stream. > > Which is still downhill in *most* cases... You are so clever. ;^) >>It went downhill from there. > > Uhhh... I thought that going *downhill* was the purpose of tubing... in the cave that would be downstream! > Take the river tubing tour through the caves, it's one of the highlights in > Belize. Yeah, if you are already inland. But from the island, I thought it was an outrageous price for what it was worth. >Where in Belize were you considering? The easiest access to diving is from >Ambergris Caye Negative. The easiest access is from Peter Hughes Sun Dancer II, or the Belize Aggressor. Access requires rolling out of bed, accepting a made to order breakfast, walking to the dive deck and falling overboard. Ambergris diving can't compare for easy access. If diving is what you want, liveaboard is the way to go. >unless you intend to go out to the Atolls and stay at one of >the handful of isolated dive/fishing dedicated resorts. If you want >upscale, then I recommend Victoria House on Ambergris Caye. Upscale, schmupscale... hot showers, warm towels and snacks after every dive (5/day). Four course meals and morning wake-up calls with coffee or tea delivered to your room at your option. safe diving, bullshark Yeah, but I had a couple of friends die in the Belize hurricane a few years back on one of the dive boats......Yeah, he and his wife should have gotten off, but they left behind a couple of kids....so maybe that's still not the safest way all the time. ;-) Rain on a trip to the jungle? It's a rain forest what should one expect? In November, we did the trip to Lamai via Ramon's who subbed it out to some guys a few blocks up the beach. Long day, bumpy van ride, great boat ride. The food was great and they had lots of rum and Belikin. I'm an architect and I really appreciated the ruins. what I thought was wild was they let you climb to the top. The view was incredbile. We also saw in the wild howler monkeys, crocs, anteaters and a few birds. If you want pics, send me your email and I'll send them to you. -Mark > >Where in Belize were you considering? The easiest access to diving is from > >Ambergris Caye [quoted text clipped - 17 lines] > > bullshark >Subject: Re: Traveling to Belize >From: "mslf500" mslf500@netzero.(remove)com >In November, we did the trip to Lamai via Ramon's who subbed it out to some >guys a few blocks up the beach. Long day, bumpy van ride, great boat ride. [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] >howler monkeys, crocs, anteaters and a few birds. If you want pics, send me >your email and I'll send them to you. Did you get a chance to sit in the carved stone chair with the carved cups in the arms to catch the blood of the kings as they ceremoniously bled their wrists? Now that was wild! Capt. Bill > >Subject: Re: Traveling to Belize > >From: "mslf500" mslf500@netzero.(remove)com [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > > Now that was wild! They have one of those at Lamanaii too? They won't let you up to the one at Chichen Itza in Mexico. > >Where in Belize were you considering? The easiest access to diving is from > >Ambergris Caye [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > Ambergris diving can't compare for easy access. If diving is what you want, > liveaboard is the way to go. If you wish to pick nits, then you are absolutely right, of course. However, Sy said that he was "traveling to Belize" and also wanted to experience the culture. He won't get much of the "traveling to Belize" "experiencing the culture" or staying in any "relatively upscale" places with your recommendation. I was answering Sy and not specifically stating where to find the easiest access to diving. Under your tenet, no one would ever stay landbased to experience any other country aside from passing through from the airport to the port and back again. > >unless you intend to go out to the Atolls and stay at one of > >the handful of isolated dive/fishing dedicated resorts. If you want [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > every dive (5/day). Four course meals and morning wake-up calls with > coffee or tea delivered to your room at your option. Maybe he wants to sleep in a comfy queen/king bed, in a lovely room with a sitting area and bathe in his own private jacuzzi; or fall asleep to the sound of the waves crashing over the reef and wake to see palm trees out his window. Hard to know for sure since Sy hasn't said another word since he started the thread. >However, Sy said that he was "traveling to Belize" and also wanted to >experience the culture. He won't get much of the "traveling to Belize" >"experiencing the culture" or staying in any "relatively upscale" places >with your recommendation. Your tone is notable for it's implication that diving liveaboard precludes visiting the land. Nothing could be further from the truth. This page http://www.ambergriscaye.com/pages/town/facts.html argues that Ambergris is far removed from "Belize Culture". So it appears that your recommendation won't accomodate the OP either. It also appears that you may not have ever been on a good liveaboard. The diving on Ambergris is OK, but in my experience, a poor cousin to the atolls. Staying on Ambergris, you get to fork over $185/diver for kidney pounding daytrips to the atolls for three dives. Meanwhile, the liveaboards pretty much stay at the atolls, close enough to the palm trees to count coconuts, with their hammocks swaying in the shade by the Jacuzzi and their pax waking up to picture windows full of eye-busting blues, and pictuesque atoll lagoons at the foot of their king size beds with no rides, no waiting and nothing to set up. Sitting on the sun deck, watching porpoises play in the sunrise with a cup of coffee and the breeze in your face is so NOT "relatively upscale", I dont know what I was thinking. >Maybe he wants to sleep in a comfy queen/king bed, in a lovely room with a >sitting area and bathe in his own private jacuzzi; Eh? I thought "Sy" was a mans name...and anyway, I thought he wanted to go diving. My mistake. safe diving, bullshark > >However, Sy said that he was "traveling to Belize" and also wanted to > >experience the culture. He won't get much of the "traveling to Belize" > >"experiencing the culture" or staying in any "relatively upscale" places > >with your recommendation. (snip)> > The diving on Ambergris is OK, but in my experience, a poor cousin to the atolls. > Staying on Ambergris, you get to fork over $185/diver for kidney pounding daytrips to the atolls > for three dives. I guess you haven't done it on the new Pro48 but I will certainly agree with you that the diving there is a poor cousin to that at the Atolls. >Meanwhile, the liveaboards pretty much stay at the atolls, close enough to the > palm trees to count coconuts, with their hammocks swaying in the shade by the Jacuzzi and their > pax waking up to picture windows full of eye-busting blues, and pictuesque atoll lagoons > at the foot of their king size beds with no rides, no waiting and nothing to set up. I'm not arguing about the ease of diving off of a liveaboard. > Sitting on the sun deck, watching porpoises play in the sunrise with a cup of coffee and > the breeze in your face is so NOT "relatively upscale", I dont know what I was thinking. I gather your interpretation of his post and my interpretation of his post is somewhat different. > >Maybe he wants to sleep in a comfy queen/king bed, in a lovely room with a > >sitting area and bathe in his own private jacuzzi; > > Eh? I thought "Sy" was a mans name...and anyway, I thought he wanted to go diving. He said he was "traveling to Belize" and wanted to do "some diving", not that he was going specifically for the diving only. I used the context of his entire post when attempting to interpret his request for info. > My mistake. Looks like it to me. > safe diving, > > bullshark > >However, Sy said that he was "traveling to Belize" and also wanted to > >experience the culture. He won't get much of the "traveling to Belize" > >"experiencing the culture" or staying in any "relatively upscale" places > >with your recommendation. >Your tone is notable for it's implication that diving liveaboard precludes visiting the land. >Nothing could be further from the truth. This page http://www.ambergriscaye.com/pages/town/facts.html >argues that Ambergris is far removed from "Belize Culture". So it appears that your recommendation >won't accomodate the OP either. It also appears that you may not have ever been on a good liveaboard. Maybe he is traveling with a non-diving companion. That would rule out live aboards. Sandi - the non diving half of the family. > Maybe he is traveling with a non-diving companion. That would rule out > live aboards. > > Sandi - the non diving half of the family. :^) See you soon, sweetie. Yuppers!Kiddo is getting excited.....I'm ready to blow town ....Christmas break can't come soon enough! :^) Making my shopping list and getting our bus and ferry ticketsin a few days! S. > Yuppers!Kiddo is getting excited.....I'm ready to blow town > ....Christmas break can't come soon enough! :^) > > Making my shopping list and getting our bus and ferry ticketsin a few > days! Yippee, what are you getting me? I've got some wood bowls - want one?. The price of the bowls is better than what they charge in areas like Roatan or Copan Ruinas. Same salad bowl set I got for 400 Lempira here in Siguatepeque was being sold from 600 Lempira in Copan. The sugar bowl was 90 lempira here and 135 lempira in Copan. S. > I've got some wood bowls - want one?. The price of the bowls is better > than what they charge in areas like Roatan or Copan Ruinas. > Same salad bowl set I got for 400 Lempira here in Siguatepeque was > being sold from 600 Lempira in Copan. The sugar bowl was 90 lempira > here and 135 lempira in Copan. Naw, that's OK, I was just kidding. (But wait just a minute here. . . are you asking me to pay for my own Xmas present? hee hee) No....LOL......those were just comparison prices.......I know you were kidding. S >Sandi - the non diving half of the family. Sandi, I want to thank you for taking the time to post and tell us all about your special needs. safe diving, bullshark Had I been able to access my email, I would have responded that way instead through the group. Same with today - Yahoo and Hondutel don't seem to want to work real well right now. Sorry you seem to have such heartburn with that. Ummmm...I'm the non-diving half of my family...and my family does not include Sy. I have a 17 year old daughter who is a diver so we only go places that are suitable for both non divers/non-snorkelers and divers. So what special needs are you referring to? If it is the shopping list, chilly and I will both be in Roatan in the same area over the holidays. I've already offered to bring anything over to the island that may be needed and I was letting it be known that I was getting the list ready. Had I been able to access my email - yahoo and Hondutel were not cooperating either yesterday or today, I would have repsonded privately. Sorry you have a case of heartburn over that. > Ummmm...I'm the non-diving half of my family...and my family does not > include Sy. I have a 17 year old daughter who is a diver so we only go [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > were not cooperating either yesterday or today, I would have repsonded > privately. Sorry you have a case of heartburn over that. Does that mean you didn't get the email I sent you today? I'll try to get into it today. Friday and Saturday we were having problems with the phone company. Friends were able to access their Yahoo accounts by going to the internet cafes on those days....but I was unable to get there - I was on a school field trip and didn't get home until midnight on Friday. Saturday was spent dealing with some illness issues with one of our dogs, so I missed the internt cafes yesterday also. S. > I'll try to get into it today. Friday and Saturday we were having > problems with the phone company. Friends were able to access their [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > illness issues with one of our dogs, so I missed the internt cafes > yesterday also. Don't make the effort on my account. My note was just a very little light humor thing that goes with this thread. |
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