Hi folks
I could use some help for our upcoming Belize trip. A little background-Stopped in Bz on a cruise a few years back and did a snorkel tour to Shark Alley and Hol Chan with stops in San Pedro and briefly at Caulker. Said then ,I'd be back. First of January,saw a good priced flight from our local airport in Iowa to Bze. After consultation (read that pleading) with DW ,decided to book,but promised BUDGET as we were leaving for a cruise and that was cutting into my travel budget deeply.
We aren't real hard to please.Love snorkeling,but don't have the stamina we used to have.Have been to Maya Ruins. Probably not as spectacular as available in Belize,but? A river paddle,waterfall swim,lesser ruins,jungle walk,and just getting to know a bit about local life are good for me. South,maybe a snorkel or Manatee jaunt or ?
Because of the short planning time,I hurriedly looked and booked part of the trip.Details below
Mar 10-arrive 3:45 PM-Booked 1 night at Belize Zoo
11- to San Ignacio(actually Santa Elena for 2 nights at the Aguada.
13th- open,but my thoughts are to go to Placencia for 2 nights and then back to Belize City for either boat or flight to San Pedro on the 15th where I'm booked at the Hotel Del Rio for 7 nights.
22nd-Original thought was back to Belize City for 1 night before flight late morning the 23rd,but maybe staying 1 more night on AC might be more efficient.
Questions- Looks to me like a rental car will be best. Expensive,but able to have the freedom of movement not afforded by busses and cheaper than transfers and taxis. Reasonable?
I know both Tikal and ATM are must do's on everyone list,but time and money constraints will make me forgo at least one,maybe both of these. Alternatives?
Any suggestions or alternatives for our jaunt south? Lodging? I'm figuring on local cafe's,street food ,and/or just a grocery store for part of our eating. Suggestions? Or anything I should bring with us that might be prohibitively expensive or unavailable?
Many more questions,but don't want to scare eveyone away.Will probably post this in a couple boards,but I recognize a few names so it seems some of you cruise the boards as I have done.Thanks for any help or direction. Jim

There are some ruins near San Ignacio like Xunantunich, Cahal Pech, El Pilar that you can visit if you don't want the expense of going to Tikal. Canoeing is another good, inexpensive activity.

Caulker is more budget friendly (and closer by water taxi) than Ambergris.

You should be able to make it back to BZE from either Ambergris or Caulker for a late morning flight.

Hello -
Looks like you're planning to sleep in 3 different places the 1st 5 nights of your trip; that seems like way too much moving around to me. You could cut the expense considerably by just sticking with the zoo and the Cayo, taking public transit (other than maybe a shuttle to the zoo) and picking some of the less expensive ruins and activities.

Both Cahal Pech and Xunantunich are easy to visit without tours or guides, just take a taxi (the friendly folks at the Aguada will call one for you). They both have nice, small interpretive centers and lovely grounds. Cahal Pech is just 5 minutes up the hill from San Ignacio and Xunantunich is just outside of San Jose Subbotz village, about 5 or 6 miles west of San Ignacio/Santa Elena. You'll have to be clear if you want the taxi to just drop you off at the hand-cranked ferry or cross on the ferry and drive you the last mile up to the ruins and wait for you to return.

Also in the village, the Trek Stop www.thetrekstop.com has a small natural history museum and a beautiful butterfly enclosure; they have a small outdoor restaurant that serves a great Belizean special for $4-5 US.

For caving, you could consider visiting Chechem Ha, about 20 minutes from Succotz, instead of the ATM cave. I'm not sure what the cost is now but probably 1/3 of the ATM expense. There are gorgeous falls on the property and the 1 mile guided hike up through the jungle is beautiful. It's a dry cave with artifacts and ceremonial sites that was rediscovered in the 80's by the family who owns the property. I think the Aguada folks could set that up or you could contact the Trek Stop people and they will.

The Aguada is awesome but if you want to experience a different area and save some money, consider the Trek Stop for a few nights if they have space (you can walk to Xunantunich from there and it's much closer to Chechem Ha). You could visit San Ignacio and Cahal Pech on your full day between Aguada nights, then have a day for Xunantunich, Chechem Ha, and then a day to laze around in hammocks and maybe float on inner tubes down the Mopan River to Clarissa Falls - the Trek Stop folks will pick you up at the end.

Lots of photos and other recommendations here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/staceyholeman/collections
Have a great trip!

Patty and Hopeful
Thanks for the replies. Have given me more things to look into. I agree that I may be pushing things the first few days,and its not written in stone yet,but I was trying to cover as much territory on the mainland as possible and then kick back. So much to see,so little time. I'll do some more looking. It really helps when others give suggestions and help narrow things down. Thanks again. Jim

We do that sometimes, too: move more at 1st, then stay put for awhile. It adds to the cost, though, and you'd be spending a couple of your precious few days on the road. No one but you can say if it would be better to simplify things, avoid the need for a rental car, and spend the money on a visit to Tikal and/or the ATM cave tour.

Have a wonderful time, whatever you decide, and be sure to tell us all about it!

hopeful
Had previously looked at your 2009 pics and commentary,but last night went back to your earlier trip. It was quite helpful,thanks.My original thought was to go from airport directly to zoo (1 hr drive?)check in ,relax,do the actual zoo in the AM and continue to San Ig. .Look around,plan an activity for following day. Stay second night and then head South,briefly stopping at whatever might catch our interest.(Still looking).Thought that would take the whole day,not sure of driving time. (4 hrs? more?)Activity next day in Placencia,another sleep and drive back to Bz City(3+hrs?) to go to Ambergris mid afternoon. A lot of travel,yes,but hopefully seeing the different landscapes and touching on a couple things. Do able,in your opinion? Thx Jim

Jim, as a fellow Iowan (Coralville/Iowa City), who is also thinking about Belize, I am interested in hearing your trip report upon return. My DH and I just spent 3 weeks in FL and it wasn't what we wanted. Perhaps someplace more exotic and warmer.

That's doable but it doesn't sound like fun to me - don't know what else to tell you. It's your trip and you can do whatever you like. Personally, I like to stay put at least a few days to get to know an area a bit. Those long days on the road just aren't that fun for me - I'd much rather be hiking, canoing, exploring ruins, enjoying local cuisine, talking to locals, reading in a hammock, snorkeling, diving, rappelling, caving, visiting a museum, shopping at a fruit stand, watching a soccer game, looking at birds through binoculars, buying a melon from a Mennonite, listening to Garifuna drumming, renting a bike to explore, buying home baked sweet breads, carvings, and textiles....

Are you actually staying at the zoo? If so, I hear great things about their night tours. It's on my list, if I ever get my butt off this island (Ambergris).

I think your plan sounds doable. Only drive in the daylight, too many people/bikes/animals on the roads to drive in the dark. The main roads are about the same as the county roads in Iowa, other than the huge speed bumps.

If you don't mind driving, I'd say go for it.

You might already know this but it gets dark around 6pm that close to the equator.

JAGM
Yes,I will post upon return.These boards and the folks that post here have been invaluable to me and I hope I will be able to give back at least 1 tidbit of info that someone is looking for.

Hopefulist
I'm smiling as I write this,remembering driving with 4 kids for 2 and 3000 miles,so the driving part doesn't intimidate.I too,like all the things you mentioned(except maybe the soccer)but if I decide to commit to the full agenda,I'll still try to stop to smell the roses.I'll just have to do it faster.Your input,and cautions,are great and I thank you. Jim

JeanH
Yes,staying at the zoo.DW ia a zoo fanatic and I hope this will be a treat for her.Will let you know how it goes.No night driving and watch the speed bumps and living obstacles, got it . Thx Jim