Orientation & Planning

Orientation & Planning

Orientation

The main road to the Deep South is the newly paved Southern Highway, which runs 100 mi (164 km) from the intersection of the Hummingbird Highway to Punta Gorda (PG). Only a 9-mi (15-km) section, from Golden Stream at Mile 68.6 to Big Falls at Mile 77.6, is unpaved and sometimes rough going. For the paving of this last stretch, contracts have been signed, work has begun, and by the time you get to Toledo the road work should have been completed.

As you travel south on the Southern Highway, the Great Southern Pine Ridge is on your right, starting at about Mile 55. Farther in the distance are the Maya Mountains. On your left is the Caribbean Sea, and farther south, beyond Punta Negra, the Gulf of Honduras.

Branching off the Southern Highway are mostly unpaved roads, some barely more than muddy trails, that go to small villages. On the Southern Highway about 33 km (20 mi) north of Punta Gorda, at about Mile 83, you'll come to an intersection. If you turn left you'll stay on the Southern Highway to PG; if you turn right on the San Antonio Road, you'll go to Lubaantun, San Antonio Village, and other Mayan villages. To reach PG directly, continue to Mile 95, turn right on Saddleback Road, and go 5 mi (8 km). To enter from the prettier Bay of Honduras side, stay straight and go the same distance.

Planning

Safety

Punta Gorda is generally a safe, friendly town. Indeed, Toledo District has the lowest murder rate in Belize, and one of the lowest rates of other serious crimes. With normal precautions, you should have no problem walking around, even after dark. The nearby Mayan villages are also relatively free of crime. Guatemala's Caribbean coast, just a short boat ride away, has a reputation for lawlessness, which can occasionally spill over into Toledo.

When to Go

June through September is the peak of the rainy season in Toledo. Unless you love a good thunderstorm, come between December and April, when most of Toledo gets only about an inch of rain a week.

Restaurants & Cuisine

With relatively few tourists coming to the region, and most local residents unable to afford to eat out regularly, restaurants in Toledo often are here today and gone tomorrow. Those that do make it are usually simple, mostly basic spots serving local fish and staples like stew chicken with beans and rice. Prices are low—you'll rarely pay more than BZ$20 for dinner. Nearly all Toledo restaurants are in PG.

About the Hotels

The entire Toledo District has only about 30 hotels, most of them in and around Punta Gorda. Most are small and owner-run. You can usually show up without reservations and look for a place that suits you. Clean rooms are under BZ$100, and for BZ$150-BZ$200 you can stay at a charming small inn. Several jungle lodges have rates of BZ$300 or more.