Just starting to plan a trip to Belize (was also considering Honduras and Costa Rica, but I think I've settled on Belize) for the last week in May and was hoping to garner some advice.
I'm definitely on a budget, traveling with one other, and would like to spend part of the time in the jungle and the last day or 2 on the beach.
From what I've heard seeing the ruins and doing the ATM cave tour are musts. Unfortunately I only have 5-6 days, including travel, let me know what you guys think.
Thanks!
5 days in Belize - Itinerary?
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I'd head straight straight to the San Ignacio area (the Trek Stop is a great budget place west of town and you can hike to Xunantunich from there) for 3 nights; spend 1 day scouting the ruins and 1 doing the ATM cave trip, then head to Caye Caulker. My photos, blogs, and travelogues are below in case you'd like to check them out. Happy trails!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/staceyholeman/collections
Not trying to be Debbie Downer, but with 5 days I'd pick one spot. Reason being you'll spend the first day getting to San Ignacio area and another day getting from there to Caye Caulker. Not too mention half a day getting back to airport. However, if you're not counting the day you arrive & leave, then you could do San Ignacio & Caye Caulker.
Hopeful's given you a good plan if you have the time. Enjoy!
Transfer timing is not quite as bad as stated above. From the airport it is about an hour's drive to San Ignacio. Figure you could be at your accommodation roughly 2 to 2.5 hours after you land. Depending on your flight time you could have plenty of time left in the dat.
San Ignacio to Caye Caulker likewise is only about 2.5 to 3 hours. Figure on an hour to the airport (either one) to arrive an hour before the flight and then half an hour in the air. Flights run almost continuously to Ambergris Caye and they stop at Caye Caulker upon request.
If you want to take the ferry from Belize City to Caye Caulker, same as above (you can arrive half an hour before sailing and the trip is about an hour).
Similarly, back to the airport is about 90 minutes by air. Figure 2 hours by ferry and then taxi to the airport.
You can have a good time in both centers in 5-6 days if you plan it right.
We did San Ignacio and Ambergris and loved both. Definitely go to Hol Chan if you like snorkeling; it's some of the best we've ever done - big rays, colorful fish, nurse sharks - very cool. If you can fit Tikal into your schedule, it's amazing.
We just returned from a week in Belize, 4 days in the San Ignacio area and 3 days on Caye Caulker. If you are never returning to Belize go for both inland and ocean. ATM caves and snorkeling were definitely our highlights. Both take full days. We actually went cave tubing on the way from the airport to San Ignacio and hit the zoo on the return trip.
In February I took advantage of new Caye Caulker/Belmopan flight. I was the only passenger. I think it took half an hour -- taxi waiting at the air strip and another half an hour (I think) to San Ignacio (lovely journey).