I have been planning our CR honeymoon for a while now & I think I'm changing my mind. To do everything we want in CR, we would be extremely busy & doing a lot of traveling. I don't want to be too overwhelmed or overheated (Early August), so I'm thinking going to Ambergris Caye instead & saving CR for a longer adventure trip.

It looks like we can do everything we want from one place, or we can just hang out at the hotel. Suggestions? Would we be totally missing out on Belize if we just stayed off the mainland & traveled in for specific tours? We've looked at Banana Beach as well, but any other lodging suggestions? Thanks!

I've not been to Ambergris Caye so am not qualified to answer (!), but I noticed you haven't heard from anyone else and didn't want your feelings to be hurt!

No way are you ever going to see all of what C. R. has to offer on any one adventure trip! I can tell you they have some lovely honeymoon packages at some very beautiful and intimate hotels. Many beaches will be almost deserted in August. The scenery is absolutely beautiful everywhere you go. You can do as much or as little as your heart desires. Even if you choose to go elsewhere for your honeymoon, I hope you go to Costa Rica sometime and you will see that many return trips will be necessary! By the way, Congratulations!

Well, yes and no. Belize, like CR, is diverse and worth seeing. But you could accomplish a good deal more based on the Placencia peninsula futher sourth with the better beaches and smaller more intimate beachfront inns. Yiu can dive, snorkel, fish, sail and kayak on the sea and lagoon out back and day trips to mainland for guided hiking in the Jaguar Preserve (rainforest), guided tour of he sites and caves in Maya villages and boat trips up jungle rivers to see manatees, howler monkeys, crocs and birds. Likewise, you can do the same from Abergrtis taking a boat or plan to the mainland to see ruins, caves, etc. Plaecncia would offer an better glance at both worlds though.

Thank you both for responding. I think my fiance is really into the Belize idea now, so it looks like we'll have to save CR for another time (& yes, I will make sure to visit!).

As for Placencia, I think we might end up splitting our time between the Cayo area & AC. That way we can do some of the mainland tours & be in a jungle atmosphere as well as spend time on the beach.

I appreciate the advice! Now off to place another post...

I just got back from Belize and have also been to CR. CR is incredible and there is so much to see if you are into nature, that I will be going back for a second trip. (And I usually don't do repeat visits...too many places to see and too little time). Belize is also great. You really MUST stay on the mainland for part of the trip. Ambergris will NOT give you a real flavor for the true Belize. It is very americanized. We stayed in the Cayo District at Chaa Creek and loved it. We could take day trips from there to a variety of places (Xuantunich, Caracol, Tikal, caving, etc) if you choose. Plus the grounds of the hotel are beautiful on their own. We spent a fair amount of time just hiking along their trails and canoeing on the adjacent river. Enjoy! You will have a great time.

Joni

Belize and CR have so many diverse things to see and do. Check out Makanda by the Sea in Manuel Antonio. That area has tons of things to see and do.
For Belize, we spent a few days up in the Pine Forest area and then spent a few days in Placencia (I vote for Kittys food-best we had). It gave us a really good feel for the different things Belize had to offer. While up in the Pine Forest we took a day trip to San Ignacio and then went over into Guatemala. Rio on Pools was neat as were the several Mayan ruins we visited. Placencia of course has the beach and lots of options for trips out to snorkle and dive. Didn't get to see the manatees in the Lagoon.