mrimah

We have booked our flight tickets to Belize - Arriving Aug 2nd and leaving Aug 8th....we have half a day on 2nd and on the 8th. So basically 2 half days and 5 full days. We are travelling with 2 kids - ages 7 and 5. Both are very athletic and energetic - so walks, hikes and climbs are not any problem.

I have been reading the forums - All I've got so far is get ROXY as a tour guide for the Tikal tours. We also want to do the ATM (are kids allowed?). Do we have time to cross over to Guatemala?

We will be renting a car...we haven't booked our lodging yet. Our plan is to get the itenerary down before we book accomodations. Any ideas where to begin?

I want to plan well in advance so we can save some bucks (any tips will be greatly appreciated) while also giving the best experience for the kids.

Thanks in advance for all your help.

JeanH

I'm not sure your kids are old enough for ATM. Write to Pacz Tours and ask. I think the youngest I've heard going is eight or so.

Are you planning on spending your entire stay in the San Ignacio area?

Most rental companies won't allow their cars to be taken into Guatemala. Crystal does, but, you will be totally uninsured while there.

As for where to stay, what kind of budget are you looking at, do you want to stay at a jungle lodge? Or, somewhere closer to town so you'll have more food options?

volcanogirl

Tikal is in Guatemala, so if you're going to Tikal, you'll be in Guatemala. We used Pacz like Jean recommended and thought they were excellent. We did a split between jungle and beach, and that worked out really well for us - half our time in the San Ignacio area with a daytrip to Tikal and then the rest on Ambergris for awesome snorkeling.

hopefulist

I doubt ATM will be a go but you could consider Actun Chapat - great ratings and (I think) more kid friendly.
http://www.belizeansun.com/
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractio...apat-Cayo.html

You have time to do Tikal if you don't do much else. You could stay 2 nights in the San Ignacio area, cross the border and spend the night in the park and tour with Roxy,
www.tikalinn.com
www.tikalroxy.blogspot.com

then fly from Flores to Caye Caulker (might require a night in Flores) and spend your last 2 or 3 nights on Caulker. We enjoyed this snorkeling tour:
http://raggamuffintours.com/hol-chan-snorkel/

My photos and trip reports are below in case you're interested. Happy trails!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/staceyholeman/collections

volcanogirl

If the kids aren't able to do ATM, we did the Barton Creek canoe tour, and it was really cool; you take a canoe through the caves and their are artifacts in there, and it's gorgeous. It would be perfect for kids.

mrimah

Thanks for all the replies.

1. No car to Guatemala - ok...that's something i did not think of. So I guess I have to look into that.

2. No ATM coz of the kids...so I'll have to research the canoe tour.
hopefulist - you've been extremely helpful..let me look into all those links and see if I can sort out my itenerary

Food options: we are vegetarians! OMG...it's awful isn't it?! Kids, no meat...

I think they'd love a jungle lodge - we can drive out for food, can't we. It can't be that far away - is it? (please say no!)

volcanogirl

Chaa Creek is a great jungle lodge; the food there was very good. I think you could get a vegetarian option if you wanted to. We found the food in Belize to be excellent with a lot of variety. To me, it would be a pain to go somewhere else for food; it's kind of far, and the roads aren't in great shape.

sylvia3

You can easily do a very rewarding day trip to Tikal from San Ignacio; a couple of companies provide reasonable day trips. Maya Mountain Lodge is perched just above town, and can arrange everything for you; they have several lodging options, too. (http://www.mayamountain.com/rates.asp) Feels like you're in the jungle there, and I have no doubt that they can provide you with the vegetarian food you want (just e-mail them; they are very good about responding).
The Mayan ruins (Cahal Pech) just above town are wonderful; your kids would love walking through and climbing around.
The cave of Chechem Ha might be ok for kids, and is spectacular; there's also Caracol and Xunantunich for day trips.
(I'm underwhelmed with Ambergris; hardpacked sand, sea grass, and every trip to the water will cost a boat fee; that adds up really fast when you add the cost of getting to and from the island (but if you go, take the boat, it's cheap and fun for kids).