fitz231

8 of us will traveling to Belize in March. We have a week before our charter, so we want to do some inland exploring. We would like to keep expenses on the moderate side. We know we want to see some ruins, do the cave and zipline, and get into the jungle.

Any ideas on the best way to do that? Our charter will leave from Placencia, so we will need to wind up near there.

Thanks

hopefulist

Cayo is a great base. Places we've loved are linked below - different environments and budget levels. I've also pasted the link to my photos and travelogues with recommendations for activities (we've loved every place we've stayed and everything we've done in Belize. Keep us posted!

www.thetrekstop.com
www.aguadahotel.com
www.belizecamp.com
www.cavesbranch.com
www.flickr.com/photos/staceyholeman/collections

fitz231

Thanks so much. We are meeting on Sunday with a map and our research to figure out how we want to do this. Your links and pics are wonderful.

hopefulist

Great! Will look forward to hearing what you decide.

fitz231

Well, as I could have expected, our plans have changed dramatically. About the only thing that has stayed the same is that we all will be sailing.

We are trying to figure out the best way to schedule what we want to do without having to backtrack constantly, and yet accomodate different arrival dates.

Some of us will arrive on a Sunday. We want to do a zipline/cave experience on Monday. On Tues. we would pick up another member and go to Caye Caulker so the divers can do the Blue Hole. Then we want to do the ATM cave experience and wind up in Placencia sometime on Thursday so we can get organized, connect with the rest of our group, and start preparations for our sail. We will need to get our own provisions since many of us have food issues.

Any help?

Katie_Valk

There are a few ways to do this, but seems it makes sense to spend a few nights at either Caves Branch or Pooks Hill from where you can do both the tubing/zip and ATM. Then book the BH from either Caye Caulker, Ambergris or Belize City. Do your provisioning in Belize City and fly or drive to Placencia.

hopefulist

ATM Cave and the Blue Hole dive trip are such full days you'd need 2 nights each to do them, imo. For example, Sunday night and Monday night inland with the ATM trip Monday, then Tuesday and Wednesday nights on Caulker for the BH trip Tuesday, then stock up in Belize City and fly to Placencia on Thursday. You might be able to come up with an abbreviated zipline/caving experience for Tuesday enroute to Caulker.

I don't know if Caves Branch takes reservations for less than 3 nights (they didn't use to) but maybe they would. You could hire them to transport you and arrange for the ATM tour, then see if there's a quick zipline/cave thing you could do there Tuesday before they deliver you to the dock to catch an afternoon ferry to Caulker. www.cavesbranch.com

Imo it would be better to choose between inland and Caulker and start planning your return trip now.