SnorklingFamily

Hello!

We are a family of 4 (kids are 7&9) with previous snorkeling experiences from Asia. We have never been in this part of the world so much going to be a new experience for us. The trip's length is going to be around three weeks and take place around Christmas/new year’s 2013. We are traveling on an average budget and not minding of a rustic setting. We usually try to stay in bungalow stile lodgings with a/c and bathroom facilities but could do without for some nights.

We began planning this trip thinking of going to Panama as our first choice but since we have been reading and posting on some forums and most say that Belize and Honduras are more suitable for us. Do you agree?

We want to have lots of snorkeling, preferably from land but will go with diving boats if possible (we have done this before) We will also try to get a few days( around two) in a rainforest to see as much wildlife as possible. A canopying tour and maybe an easier rafting tour or some sort of cave experience if we get the timing right is also in the plans.

Where would you go? How long for each place and why? Good day trips or overnight trips appreciated as well as places to stay. The goal is to have two longer stays around 5-7 days and the best I have found so far is Caye Caulker and Utila. Would you prefer Ambergris Caye and Roatan or what are the pros and cons for each place?

Anyone with experience of Raggamuffin tours overnight sailing trip? Or do you know of something similar?

Thanks in advance for any advice!

volcanogirl

Go with Ambergris if you want access to a lot of restaurant choices, etc.; go with Caulker if you want a little less developed. The snorkeling at Hol Chan is excellent if you want to take a quick boat trip. We saw huge fish, sea turtles, big rays, and lots of colorful tropical fish there. For caving, there's the ATM cave and also Barton Creek canoeing. We did Barton Creek and saw some artifacts and a human skull. ATM is the one that you climb through, and they have a full skeleton inside.

volcanogirl

We did a combo of Ambergris and the San Ignacio area. SI is good for access to a lot of tours and to the ruins in Tikal which are definitely worth seeing. I believe you can snorkel on the north end of Ambergris, but in the southern area where we stayed there's sea grass in the water, and we took a quick boat trip out to the reef.

Katzgar

The reef is the same from Cozumel mexico through belize and on to roatan in Honduras and is second only to the great barrier reef. Belize also has atolls to explore and the blue hole. The yucatan in mexico has cenotes to explore. roatan has walkin snorkeling but ambergris caye has walkin at the far north end only. use gmaps and youtube to look things over.

JMBelizetravel

I would advise you to Stay on Ambergris Caye and San Ignacio as one option. Another option is Placencia or Hopkins and Toledo. Caye Caulker and San Ignacio can also be combination. Caye Cualker is less develop but there is also a lot of options for dinner but as in caye Caulker dont except Italian or all of internation cuisine restuarant you find more local food and restaurant. You can snorkel right off the beach on Caye Caulker but it would be better from Ambergris Caye as the reef is the closed to land there. You can do Hol chan & Shark Ray alley from both Caye Caulker and Ambergris Caye. In San Ignacio that the mainland side we have over 100 Mayan Sites but only a few can be visited, you can do cave tubing & zip lining, ATM, Waterfalls, Horseback riding, you can also do overnight ATM or Tikal and caving canoeing at Barton Creek Cave. If you have any question feel free to check us out for more recommendation.

rpowell

I haven't been to Honduras, but give a high recommendation for Belize. We did the San Ignacio and Caye Caulker combination. You and your children will have lots to do; snorkeling, swimming, fishing, caving, Mayan ruins, hiking in the jungle, etc. We stayed at Iguana Reef Inn on Caye Caulker and at Mariposa Jungle lodge near San Ignacio.

hopefulist

Here are my favorite Belize links - lots of great ideas for kids. Happy trails!
_______________
My photo collections with blog, travelogue, and review links: http://www.flickr.com/photos/staceyholeman/collections/

My travel blog starting in 2012 (earlier ones linked with the photo collections):
http://hopefulistinlatinamerica.blogspot.com/

My descriptions and reviews on Trip Advisor:
http://www.tripadvisor.com/members-reviews/hopefulist

Guidebooks I like: Moon Handbook, Fodor’s Guide, and Explorer’s Guide.

Laminated wildlife identification cards: http://rainforestpublications.com/be...des/index.html

A very cool checklist book for Belize for the young or young-at-heart: http://www.amazon.com/Play-Belize-Me...0549187&sr=8-2
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Budget to midrange lodging site: http://www.belizeexplorer.com
Great island and lodging downloads: http://www.belizefirst.com
Informative transportation blog: http://www.belizebus.wordpress.com
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Shuttle recommendation: http://www.parrot-nest.com/belize-shuttle.html
Zoo: http://www.belizezoo.org
Great jungle camp in Cayo: http://www.belizecamp.com
Great budget lodging in Cayo: http://www.thetrekstop.com
Great value hotel with pool in Cayo: http://www.aguadahotel.com
Don't miss cave trip: http://pacztours.net/actun-tunichil-muknal/
Another, less-visited amazing cave option in Cayo: http://www.actunchapatadventure.blogspot.com/
Lodge with lots of adventures: http://www.cavesbranch.com
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Roxy Ortiz - fabulous, fun tour guide: http://www.tikalroxy.blogspot.com
My favorite hotel at Tikal: http://www.tikalinnsunrise.com
Good choice in El Remate, Guatemala: http://www.30minutesfromtikal.com/
Favorite midrange places in Flores: http://www.corpetur.com
Good value budget option in Flores: La Mesa de los Mayas, [email protected]
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Great inn in coastal Garifuna town: http://www.hopkinsinn.comf
Garifuna drumming center: http://www.lebeha.com
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Apartment on the beach on Caye Caulker: http://www.staycayecaulker.com/sailwinds.html
Another Caye Caulker option: http://www.gocayecaulker.com/accommo...xhapan-cabanas
Great day snorkeling trip: http://raggamuffintours.com/hol-chan-snorkel/
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Secluded resort on N. Ambergris Caye with snorkeling and flyfishing from shore: http://www.tranquilitybayresort.com
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Very rustic atoll experience, cheap if you have a week: http://www.glovers.com.bz/
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Great jungly place near Punta Gorda: http://www.hickatee.com
Rental apartments in the heart of Placencia: http://www.oneworldplacencia.com
Good Monkey River Trip guide: Jason Williams <[email protected]>
Good Placencia area fishing guide: Wayne Castellanos (dial 011 501 1st from US): 661.1151 or 634.2852
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Off the beaten track diving and snorkeling, Sapodilla Cayes: http://www.reefci.com
(haven’t stayed there yet thanks to Hurricane Ernesto in August 2012)

uhoh_busted

TTT - I like these links

Katie_Valk

Tropic Air flies between Belize Intl and Roatan. Or travel between the two via ferry from Punta Gorda in the Toledo district, which is a great option for jungle and mainland and also closest to Placencia beach area.

volcanogirl

Great links, hopeful.

Katie, I didn't know that about Tropic Air. How long would the flight be between Belize Intl. and Roatan? I've never thought about a combo trip, but that sounds like it would make things easier.

RAC

To maximize wildlife, why not do the Pico Bonito area of Honduras along with Roatan? It's right near the ferry, and has all kinds of cool rainforest wildlife, apparently (we're going in August).