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-   -   Suggestions for Belize in late May (https://www.fodors.com/community/mexico-and-central-america/suggestions-for-belize-in-late-may-328784/)

ellenwm Mar 23rd, 2008 05:04 PM

Suggestions for Belize in late May
 
Planning to celebrate my son's college graduation with a week in Belize may7 25-June 1. Me, my husband, college freshman daughter and son. Looking for suggestions on where to stay (on the beach I hope) and what to do. Hoping to find a reasonable package if possible. But also can go on our own.
Thanks!



JeanH Mar 24th, 2008 03:28 AM

The most popular beach destination is Ambergris Caye. Also consider Placencia, Caye Caulker and Hopkins.

Many people split their trip between the Cayo district for Mayan ruins, caving, hiking, etc., then head to the beaches from there.

With a week, you might just want to go to one place. Lots of condo options on Ambergris.

I don't know anything about package deals, I'm guessing there are some.

hopefulist Mar 24th, 2008 07:19 AM

Are you sure you can only muster a week? Any extra days you could add would multiply the fun. With just a week, I agree - check out Ambergris Caye and plan a full day trip to visit the Lamanai ruins for a taste of jungle and wildlife and history. If you had a few more days a split between the Cayo district with a side trip to Tikal and blue water time on an island would be great. We visited Belize with our kids when they were 17, 18, and 20 and really had an unbelievably wonderful trip. My photos and travelogues are linked below if you're interested. Have a great trip, whatever you decide!

http://flickr.com/photos/staceyholeman/collections

AlJ Mar 24th, 2008 08:52 AM

We've always preferred but spent a week on Ambergris Caye this year. From Ambergris or Caulker, you can make nice day trips to Lamanai or Altun Ha. To see bigger ruins, you'd need to consider splitting the trip between two locations.

Here's a link to our Belize trip reports and pictures. They'll let you see what some of these places look like. Pay attention to the differences between Ambergris and Caulker. I doubt anyone likes them equally well. Most prefer Ambergris.

http://www.alandsuejohnson.com/belize%20trips.htm

dfarmer Mar 25th, 2008 06:01 AM

Last year when we visited Belize I kept thinking how much my college age children would have loved it.

Tell us a little about your family. What types of activities are you looking for? How active is your family?

My son is hooked on the idea of going to Belize for caving, kayaking, etc, as well as a few days on a beach. I am suggesting to hime to try Caves Branch and then Ambergris or Caulker.

You may want to take a look at www.cavesbranch.com

We stayed in San Ignacio for 3 or 4 nights, visited some of the ruins, Barton Creek, some caves, etc. Then transferred to Ambergris for 5 nights on the beach. While on Ambergris we snorkeled, ate lots of food, fished, explored and relaxed. AC was for sure a very lazy time.

You can take daytrips from one of the cayes, however it will be a full day. But daytrips to the mainland are plentiful.

There was a family staying next to us on Ambergris that planned nearly everyday to the mainland. Personally this would be too much travel for us.

So if you stay say on Ambergris, you could be lazy a few days - just hanging out on the beach and exploring the island and town, snorkle a couple of times and plann a couple of mainland tours.

I will never forget the first time JeanH suggested a condo to me! I said no way do I want to see anything that resembles a kitchen while on vacation. WELL, during our stay on AC, I realized I was wrong! I would have enjoyed a kitchen for breakfast and a light lunch on a few of our days. And with a family, this would be a good way to go.

Packages - well I know they are out there. I dug up a few in my research, but nothing that interested me. You may want to take a look at www.belizeforum.com and www.ambergriscaye.com both have tons of good info on Belize.



ellenwm Mar 25th, 2008 05:11 PM

Thanks for the help everyone. My daughter, who spent a summer in Guatamala, really wants us to visit Tikal. So, after doing some minor research, we're thinking San Ignacio-Santa Elena (The Caya) Stay there from Sunday until Wed (Maybe a night in Flores but not mandatory) and then Wed travel to Ambergris Caye and stay there until Monday when we fly home. Maybe a condo in Ambergris if there's one on the beach. We like some hiking, and snorkling but are not a real roughing it family.

Sound reasonable?

hopefulist Mar 25th, 2008 07:59 PM

Sounds great. I highly recommend an overnight in the park at Tikal. It's such a blessing to explore the ruins and jungle in the cooler evening and morning hours when the wildlife is abundant and you practically have the place to yourself. Happy trails!

northerngetaway Mar 30th, 2008 05:37 PM

Just got back last night from Belize. We took our college son and his girlfriend with us for a week to Placencia. {sent them home and we stayed for another]. The kids had a blast because there is nightly music at different bars and they could get there saftely by golf cart. Plenty to do from Manatee trips, jungle trips, and snorkeling to excellet food. We stayed in a 2 bedroom condo with a beautiful beach and pool. The kids actually cried when they left. Awesome trip for all

ellenwm Apr 15th, 2008 04:32 PM

How did you find a condo in Ambergriis? Are they on the beach?

JeanH Apr 16th, 2008 03:45 AM

Lots of condos on the beach on Ambergris. Here's a link:

http://ambergriscaye.com/pages/lodge/lodging.html



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