Ramon's village or Mata Chica
 

I posted this on the general latin america page by accident so I'll put it here as well. We are looking to take a last minute trip to Belize and are trying to decide between Ramon's or Mata Chica. Is one closer/easier to get to San Pedro. Is being close to the town necessary or good? I do know that Mata doesn't have a pool but that is not absolutely necessary. Rooms? We're looking for a good beach, do some excursions, not too over-built or spring-breakish. Are there other good places to stay we are missing? Any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks.

In April we stayed at Portofino's which is justnorth of Mata Chica. We went to Mata Chica for dinner which was great. Both require boats to get to. Ramon's is closer to town but on the south side & you can bike or taxi to town. We were just there 4 days & then went to Cayo Espanto (amazing!) for the remainder of our stay so being out of town was fine with us. It was quiet, practically had the beach & dock to ourselves. We just took the hotel boat into town one day & did the shopping, restaurant thing. Other nights we ate at the hotel or Mata Chica or had a late luch in town & just dessert at our hotel. But the weather in April was fantastic & the ocean mostly smooth so taking a boat (though $10.00 each way unless it is the scheduled hotel runs then it is free) was fine & fun. Not sure if the weather would be more of an issue now, weather.com is showing showers & T-showers. The beach was great, though there is seagrass mostly everywhere. We just took a boat out to the reef to snorkel. Check out http://portofinobelize.com/index.html, though Mata Chica looked great also. Hope that helps! We had a great time there & plan to return.

Ramon's is right at the south edge of town, across from the airstrip. You can walk to town. Mata Chica is maybe 6 miles north of town, on North Ambergris Caye. You have to take a water taxi or boat shuttle back and forth. <BR><BR>Mata Chica is a class act, very nicely done. But it is pretty remote. If you like to go to different restaurants and clubs, you'll be better off near town or south of town within a golf cart or taxi ride. Ditto Portofino which is similar in price and in some other ways to Mata Chica.<BR><BR>Ramon's is, well, Ramon's. Pretty pricey for what you get, but popular with travel agents and first-timers to Belize. You might also look at Victoria House or one of the condotels, such as Banyan Bay or Banana Beach, which offer a lot of space and value for the money.<BR><BR>--Lan Sluder<BR>www.belizefirst.com<BR>and San Pedro Cool, the new travel guide to Ambergris Caye

Thanks for all the advice. <BR><BR>We booked Mata Chica for 7/4 thru 7/9. I do like to get out and eat in town but we'll have to figure out the hotel boat schedule to keep costs down. I do have a few other questions. First, is there another way to get to San Pedro from Belize City other than a $93/pp flight? A ferry would work if somewhat regularly shcedlued or is there a little cheaper airline? Any help is appreciated. Also, any good excursions anyone reccommends(or are they hard to get to when staying on San Pedro?). Thanks for all your help.

If you fly from Municipal rather than International (it's a US$17.50 taxi trip between the two), you'll save about half. Fare from Municipal is US$26 one-way, $52 round trip -- both Tropic and Maya Island Air charge about the same.<BR><BR>There are ferries from Belize City for US$12.50 one-way. The better choice for most people now are the boats that leave from the new Tourist Village docks. You buy tickets at an office in the Village. The last boat from the Tourist Village docks is at 4:30 p.m., arriving at the Texaco dock in San Pedro Town a little before 6 p.m. Again, to get from the International Airport you'll have to pay the US$17.50 taxi fare (for the taxi, not per person.)<BR><BR>--Lan Sluder<BR>Belize First, www.belizefirst.com<BR>(I also am updating and co-writing the Belize section of the new Fodor's Belize & Guatemala)

Thanks Lan. The ferry sounds easy and MUCH cheaper. Does it make more sense to stay in Belize City the first nite and do a land excursion instead of trying to do one from the island? just a thought. Thanks.

You can stay in Belize City and do a day trip, plus there are few interesting things to see in the city, especially the new Museum of Belize (US$5 admission) in the old gaol. However, I think that for most people it makes more sense to just go ahead to San Pedro and do day trips from there. Belize City can be a little scary if you get away from the tourist areas such as Fort George.<BR><BR>--Lan Sluder

Lan, again thanks for all your help on our last minute trip to Belize. I just have 1 more question. I can't seem to find a ferry schedule or the names of any companies to call for reservations for the trip from Belize City to San Pedro. I've looked on a few websites as well as in many travel books. Any help? Thanks.

http://AmbergrisCaye.com/pages/town/quick.html#tra<BR>Try this link. It has the times & boats names leaving at 9am, noon & 3pm from Belize City to AC.<BR>Have a great time!

Believe that the link Peggy posted is for the Caye Caulker boats leaving from the Marine Terminal. Personally, I now prefer the boats leaving from the new Tourist Village. This is a nicer, friendlier, cleaner, safer place to wait, with more to do, and there are more departures to San Pedro and CC, and also most of the boats are bigger.<BR><BR>When I was there a few days ago, the departure times from the Tourist Village docks to San Pedro were 8:30, 10, 11:30, 2:30 and 4:30, with a 5 p.m. departure to Caye Caulker only. Fare is US$7.50 to CC and US$12.50 to San Pedro one-way. There's a little office in the Tourist Village that sells tickets.<BR><BR>You can call +501-223-6954 for reservations, though in most cases you don't really need them.<BR><BR>--Lan Sluder<BR>www.belizefirst.com, San Pedro Cool, Belize First Guide to Mainland Belize, Adapter Kit: Belize and co-author Fodor's Belize & Guatemala