magnumholmes

How would it be if we wait until we arrive on Ambergris Caye to schedule any tours we would like to take?

By that, I mean, what would you recommend?

We kind of know what kinds of things we would like to do-- ruins, river cruises, perhaps fishing, (no snorkleing, unfortunately cannot swim one stroke).

Any thoughts?

shillmac

We did all of our scheduling after arrival. I can't think it would be a problem. By the way, DO you have to be a swimmer to snorkle? Honestly, I don't know. I am a very poor swimmer, but the water is so buoyant that my swimming skills (or lack thereof) have never been necessary. It might be a confidence issue, I can certainly see that. But the boats are equipped with lifejackets. I don't usually wear one, but have before.

cmp6e

We booked all our tours when we arrived. On the day we checked in, we just told the front desk at our hotel all of the things we wanted to do. They made phone calls and arranged all our tours for the week. It would also be easy to go to the offices of the tour operators and book through them.

I highly recommend the full day manatee watching/Goff's Caye snorkel trip with Searious Adventures. It was great and the lunch they cooked was delicious.

Shillmac - I'm not a swimmer either, and I snorkel using a life vest. My problem is probably confidence too, but having the vest makes me more relaxed and less worried about touching the corals and staying afloat. The boats will have life vests you can use and you can even purchase something inflatable to pack with you, if you want. The inflatable ones that are made for snorkeling are better than a regular boat life vests. Life vests are designed to keep your head out of the water, so, naturally, they are a little uncomfortable for snorkeling. Definitely do-able though. The tour operators may also have foam bands that you can wear on your waist. These are pretty convenient and comfortable.
Please don't let your lack of swimming confidence keep you from snorkeling. In my experience, it is not unusual for people to use vests of some kind.

JeanH

For some tours, you can save some significant money by booking yourselves rather than through the hotel. The hotel gets a commission, which the tour company charges you.

Tanisha Tours doesn't book through hotels. Their tours are awesome. I went to Lamanai last Saturday with them, cost was US$110.00 per person. Cost at Seaduced was about $US155.00.

I can't imagine any tour could have been any better than the one I was on. We stopped and looked for manatees on the way, spotted several. We saw crocodiles, loads of birds, I got to hold a tarantula. We saw howler and spider monkeys. Food was excellent and plenty of beer and rum punch for the ride home.

volcanogirl

I'm bookmarking for all these great tips.

magnumholmes

We won't be staying at a hotel or a condo. We have rented a place, a small house just 2 1/2 miles from San Pedro.

So, by your responses, there are tour operators everywhere and we can book when we get there?

I like doing some (and I emphasize, some) crazy stuff, but I don;t think I would ever, ever, ever try to hold a tarantula. Just gives me the willies just thinking about it.

Are the tour operators only in the town? Or are they elsewhere?

JeanH

I'm sure someone will tell me I'm wrong, but I consider the main tour operators for maindland trips to be Tanisha Tours, offices on the beach (actually on a pier) on the south side of town, almost across from Tropic Air. Searious and Seaduced, both have offices right on the beach, very close to each other, just a block or so north of Tanisha.

There are others, any of them will pick you up at the dock closest to where you are staying. I don't recall if you're staying north or south of town, not that it makes much difference, other than it's easier to get to town from the south.

virginiafish

totally agree with JeanH! Tanisha Tours was wonderful.