Car rental? Drive from BC to Xunantunich to Caves Branch?
Nov 23rd, 2003, 06:39 PM
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Car rental? Drive from BC to Xunantunich to Caves Branch?
I'm seeking advice on the best way to get to the Zoo and Xunantunich from Belize City prior to getting to Caves Branch in time for dinner. Car rental? Tour? Bus?
2 of us will be overnighting in Belize City in December, and are looking for a way to see some sights during the day on Sunday before getting to Caves Branch that evening.
We are thinking of renting a car first thing in the morning, driving to the zoo and then to Xunantunich, dropping the car off in Belmopan, and taking a bus or taxi to get to Caves branch by 6:30 pm.
Is this feasible? Is the drive difficult? Would we be better off arranging a private tour/transport (how? taxi?). Could you tell me approximate driving times between BC, Zoo, Xunantunich, Belmpopan, Caves Branch? Thanks very much for your advice/suggestions.
-LNRET
2 of us will be overnighting in Belize City in December, and are looking for a way to see some sights during the day on Sunday before getting to Caves Branch that evening.
We are thinking of renting a car first thing in the morning, driving to the zoo and then to Xunantunich, dropping the car off in Belmopan, and taking a bus or taxi to get to Caves branch by 6:30 pm.
Is this feasible? Is the drive difficult? Would we be better off arranging a private tour/transport (how? taxi?). Could you tell me approximate driving times between BC, Zoo, Xunantunich, Belmpopan, Caves Branch? Thanks very much for your advice/suggestions.
-LNRET
Nov 24th, 2003, 07:07 AM
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Renting a car would be the easiest way to go to both the Zoo and Xunantunich, but I don't know about dropping it in Belmopan. At the least there would likely be a drop fee.
(You know, right, that Belmopan while the capital is just a small town -- a few thousand people?)
It's about 30 miles from Belize City to the Zoo. Figure around 45 minutes by car. Xunantunich is another 43 or 44 miles. So another hour, give or take.
The cheapest way would be by bus. Both the Zoo and the ferry across the Mopan to Xunantunich are right on the highway, and the bus will drop and pick you up there.
--Lan Sluder
www.belizefirst.com
(You know, right, that Belmopan while the capital is just a small town -- a few thousand people?)
It's about 30 miles from Belize City to the Zoo. Figure around 45 minutes by car. Xunantunich is another 43 or 44 miles. So another hour, give or take.
The cheapest way would be by bus. Both the Zoo and the ferry across the Mopan to Xunantunich are right on the highway, and the bus will drop and pick you up there.
--Lan Sluder
www.belizefirst.com
Nov 24th, 2003, 02:47 PM
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Thanks for your comments, Lan. Unfortunately, when I called Budget, they said their only car rental offices are in Belize City and at the airport (nothing in Belmopan). Taking a bus would be difficult, because we'll have our luggage with us (don't imagine we'd want to lug suitcases to the zoo and to the ruins!). We don't need a car at Caves Branch, so keeping it for the time we're at Caves Branch would be unjustifiably expensive. I'm afraid it looks like we may have to skip Xunantunich, unless we can find someone who could take us there, watch our bags while we tour the ruins, and then drop us off in Belmopan, where we could get a bus to Caves Branch in the late afternoon. If you have any thoughts about how I might arrange such a thing, please do let me know. Otherwise, we may just have to forego seeing Mayan ruins on this trip. THANKS!
Nov 24th, 2003, 06:06 PM
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Folks -- Just in case anyone has a future question similar to mine, I thought I would post a follow-up note with the solution I discovered.
It turns out that Maya Tours offers a "tour" from Belize City that includes the zoo and Xunantunich, and we could arrange to be dropped off in Belmopan instead of back in Belize City. More expensive than we'd like, but cheaper than renting a car for 4-5 days.
Thanks for the original info. too.
It turns out that Maya Tours offers a "tour" from Belize City that includes the zoo and Xunantunich, and we could arrange to be dropped off in Belmopan instead of back in Belize City. More expensive than we'd like, but cheaper than renting a car for 4-5 days.
Thanks for the original info. too.
Nov 25th, 2003, 03:16 AM
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That is the option I would have suggested. Hire a guide and driver. You'll absorb alot more info from all the sites you visit with a guide than on your own. Good move. Tell the guide you want to have lunch at Clarissa Falls. I love their black soup.
