I'm going to Belize the end of March and can't decide between the areas where Victoria House is or Turtle Inn?? Does any one have suggestions on theses areas as well as things to do? We like scuba diving ,hiking, snorkeling, cave tubing,

Thank you

I hope that Lan Sluder doesn't mind me posting this. If he does, I'm guessing I'll here about it. Anyway, here is his comparison.

AMBERGRIS CAYE (often referred to just as San Pedro):

* The biggest island in Belize (originally a peninsula jutting down from the Yucatan) — northern Belize

* Settled by Mestizos from Mexico

* Most popular destination in Belize (for many good reasons)

* Tends to attract a crowd in their 30s and older, mostly couples

* Some 20,000 people on the island

* # 1 area in Belize for foreign investment and expat living — second homes, condos, retirement

* Some sand streets though some of the streets are now paved with concrete cobblestones, formerly no building over three stories, but some new developments have four stories.

• Significant new development taking place south of town and also on North Ambergris -- some 500 condo units recently built or are under construction on North Ambergris; large-scale development proposed for south end of island

* By far Belize’s widest selection of restaurants and hotels

* Among the best top-end hotels: Victoria House, Azul Resort, Pelican Reef and Mata Chica

* Among the best condotels: Grand Caribe, Villas at Banyan Bay, Grand Colony,

The Palms, Xanadu, The Phoenix, Las Terrazas

* Among the best mid-range lodging: Mayan Princess, Corona del Mar, Banana Beach, The Tides

* Among the best budget lodging: Ruby’s, Sanpedrano, Pedro’s Backpacker Inn

* Some shops, sizeable groceries, lots of bars and places to hear live music

* Some excellent restaurants including:

Very Expensive: Rojo Lounge, Capricorn, Red Ginger

Expensive: Blue Water Grill, Rendezvous, Elvi’s, Pinnochio’s, Hidden Treasure, Sunset Grill, Wild Mangos

Moderate: Caramba, Caliente

* Very nice beaches though like all beaches inside the reef somewhat narrow and with some goop bottoms and a good deal of seagrass – garbage on the beach in areas not policed by hotels

* Beaches along most of the Caribbean side (20+ miles)

* Reef just a few hundred yards offshore, closest at the far north

* Your first decision is to decide where to stay — in town, south of town, on North Ambergris near the river channel or on more remote parts of North Ambergris

* Lots of snorkel tours and day trips to the mainland to visit ruins

* Good recreational diving locally and excellent diving on day trips to Turneffe or Lighthouse atolls

* Get there by flights from international (US$63) or municipal airstrip (US$35) or by water taxi (US$10)

* Friendly and safe though usual cautions are in order — burglaries and thefts are fairly common, murders not unknown

* Transportation on the island — bikes, rental golf carts, cabs, water taxis

* Traffic in town is starting to get really bad

* bridge over Boca del Rio (carts, bikes and pedestrians only) is helping open up North Ambergris, but cart path there is still very rough in places

* Hotels from US$15 to $500+ a night

* Small condos and vacation rental houses available US$100 to $500+ a night

* Tennis available at sports club and at several hotels

* Water — safe to drink from municipal system or RO/wells

* Good fishing — tarpon, bonefish and other

* Little snorkeling from shore -- best snorkeling requires a short boat ride to Hol Chan Marine Reserve including Shark-Ray Alley

* About the same amount of rain as Atlanta, Ga.

CAYE CAULKER:

* Still a charming, laidback small village atmosphere with a Caribbean resort vibe

* The main part of the island really is just one village of about 1200 people, and on the average day maybe 300 or 400 tourists

* The vibes are laidback, easy-going, calm

* This is Ambergris Caye's little sister -- smaller and a cheaper date

* Moving more upmarket, with several condos recently opened, but it is still mostly a budget and backpacker island -- only five hotels on the island have a pool, for example

* Sand streets, few cars, you get around by shank's mare, bike or maybe a golf cart

* A mix of people on the island, Mestizos, some Creoles, a few gringos

* About 55 hotels and vacation rentals, mostly very small, with a total of around 900 rooms

* Beaches are not the island's strong point -- a little swimming from piers and one or two places south, but the Split is the main area where folks swim

* No municipal water or sewage system -- pipe water in many places smells strongly of sulphur (municipal RO water system coming)

* Best hotel on the island costs only about US$160 a night

* Iguana Reef Inn, Seaside Cabanas and CayeReef Condos are among the most "upscale" choices for Caulker, and all have pools

* Other good low-moderate choices -- Tree Tops, Trends Beachfront, Shirley's, Anchorage, Jaguar Morning Star, Lazy Iguana B&B, Caye Caulker Condos, De Real Macaw, Barefoot Beach, Maxhapan and others

* Good restaurants at the "top end" include Habaneros and Don Corleone's and good food, too, at Rosa’s, Rainbow Grill, Sand Box, Syd’s, Wish-Willie’s, Amor y Café, Femi’s, Jolly Roger and others

* Two or three dive shops do dive trips -- snorkeling and diving here are a little cheaper than San Pedro and Placencia

• The reef is just a few hundred feet offshore

* For booze and what action there is, hit the Lazy Lizard and I&I and a few other bars

* Rastas occasionally bug you

* No golf or tennis (golf available on Caye Chapel)

* Several high-profile crimes occurred recently on island – police force has been revamped

* Getting there is easy -- it's a US$7.50 water taxi ride from Belize City or San Pedro; also, by air on Maya Island or Tropic Air, US$63 from international, US$35 from municipal

PLACENCIA:

* 16-mile long peninsula in southern Belize (Stann Creek District) in the midst of a major cultural shift, from small, somewhat remote beach resort to a real-estate driven, development-oriented area, with hundreds of new condos and houses either just built, under construction or approved, though there are areas of quiet and charm

* Access from Belize City via road by rental car (3 1/2 hours, US$55-$90+ a day), bus (6+ hours, US$9), air (40 minutes, US$95 from international, US$80 from municipal)

* Placencia village is 25 miles from the Southern Highway; optional access is from Independence/Mango Creek on the Hokey Pokey across Placencia Lagoon (US$5)

* Paving of peninsula road is now finished.

* New airport under construction west of Riversdale – ultimate function of airport still unclear

* Two villages on peninsula -- Placencia (Creole) and Seine Bight (Garifuna), plus Maya Beach and the northern peninsula

* Before driving, check status of Kendal Bridge on Southern Highway near Maya Centre – it washes out after heavy rains

* Peninsula population about 2,500 to 3,000

* Wide choice of hotels from budget hotels in Placencia village to upscale resorts farther north

* Hotels from around US$20 to $400+

* Growing number of condos and vacation rental houses, US$100 to $400+ a night

* Among the best to-end lodging: Inn at Robert's Grove, Turtle Inn

* Among the best mid-range lodging: Maya Beach Hotel, Barnacle Bill’s

* Among the best low-moderate lodging: Ranguana, Tradewinds, Westwind, Seaspray, Manatee Inn

* Some restaurants in Placencia village and elsewhere, though some of the better restaurants are at hotels: in village among the good places to eat are Wendy’s, De Tatch, French Connection, Tutti Fruitti (amazing gelati), Rumfish y Vino, Yoli’s; north of the village Maya Beach Hotel Bistro and Inn at Robert’s Grove

* Transportation on peninsula -- taxis or your rental car (taxis are fairly expensive, especially if going way north -- BZ$40 one-way from Placencia village to Maya Beach)

* 15+ miles of very nice beaches along Caribbean side -- best beaches on mainland but not much different from those on Ambergris Caye

* Day trips to mainland to visit Cockscomb jaguar preserve and Mayflower and to Maya sites near Punta Gorda

* Day snorkel trips -- reef is 15 + miles out, though snorkeling is also available at islands and patch reefs closer in

* Little snorkeling from shore

* Few shops, only small groceries

* No golf; tennis for guests at Robert’s Grove

* Safe and friendly (though usual precautions are in order, especially regarding theft and burglaries in Placencia village)

* Water from municipal system safe to drink

* Good fishing for permit, bonefish, tarpon and other

* Access to small islands offshore for day or overnight visits

* Good to excellent diving on day trips

* Limited nightlife – mostly bars in Placencia village

* Usually more rain than the Northern Cayes (especially during rainy season June - November)

* Sandflies can be irksome

--Lan Sluder

http://wwwbelizefirstcom


If snorkeling and/or diving is a priority, I'd go with Ambergris. The proximity of the reef makes trips shorter and cheaper. There's also some ok snorkeling off some of the docks.

The beaches are narrower on Ambergris. But, the sand is softer and whiter, and the water is that wonderful Caribbean blue. Placencia's beaches are postcard perfect, but the sand is darker and coarser.

My personal favorite is Ambergris, but, I live here part of the year, so I am hardly unbiased. We did spend a couple of nights in Placencia last winter, it was pleasant, we walked around Turtle Inn a bit. I prefer the look/ambiance of Victoria House, although I've never stayed at either.

We absolutely loved Victoria House - beautiful white sand beach, hammocks, lounge chairs, nice pool, good food, etc. Our room had a nice private balcony that we loved. We paired it with Chaa Creek so we could have jungle time/ruins/caving and then the beach portion of our trip.

We picked Ambergris due to its closeness to Hol Chan like Jean mentioned - excellent snorkeling there.

Victoria House would get my vote too! Loved everything about it.

Thanks everyone!!! This helps and I am booking VH right now! Very excited