I am planning a trip to Belize in Feb but all the talk about mosquitos and sand fleas makes me nervous. I'd like to stay in a jungle and beach location, in upscale hotels/lodges. Am considering Chan Chich or Blancaneux Lodge for the jungle portion and not sure about the beach location. Which has less mosquitos/sand fleas? Placencia or Ambergris? Does it make a difference if you stay in a hotel with a thatched roof? (Seems like bugs and even scorpions could penetrate that!) Or can you just alleviate all concern by sleeping under a mosquito net perhaps?

Your help and suggestions are greatly appreciated!
Joni

Start taking Brewer's Yeast tablets a couple of weeks before your trip. This will keep at least the fleas away from you and it works great for both people and pets! Consult your doctor (or vet) about the dosage.

i don't think i got any mosquito bites when i was in those places in february. however, san fleas will alway be there so just know that in advance, suck it up or don't go. where long pants and socks at dawn and sunset to help eliminate the bites.

I wouldn't be concerned at all about mosquitos at either Chan Chich or Blancaneaux (and of the two I'd choose Chan Chich if you're after wildlife spotting, birding and a beautiful bush setting, literally on top of a Maya site).

As to sandfleas, I've never had a problem with sandfleas on Ambergris Caye, in February or anytime. There are some on North Ambergris but they aren't a major problem at any of the beach resorts. In Placencia, there are some sandfleas, but they usually aren't too bad. They mainly bite at dusk, and if you put baby oil or Skin So Soft or similar they shouldn't be much of a nuisance.

On or near the water, you'll rarely see a mosquito on either Ambergris or Placencia.

This is my experience based on a dozen years of banging around Belize and having written half a dozen books on the country.

--Lan Sluder
www.belizefirst.com

I am sorry to disagree with Lan but we had a different experience in Placencia where we spent one week in the end of January. Sand flees were terrible and we stayed on the most manicured beach in Placencia in Mariposa. They were really, really bad and Off with DEET did not work. Maybe we should bath in it. We never had this problem in San Pedro. There were some mosquitos and sand flees but it was nothing comapring to what we experienced in Placencia. In Mariposa we met a lady who was bitten by these creatures so badly that here legs were bleeding from scratching. Sorry Lan but this was our experience.

Forgot to add that we visited Chan Chich three times, always in January, and did not have any problem.

Pat,

I occasionally hear from folks who do have your kind of experience with sand fleas in Placencia (especially in the winter) but I have to say this is not a common theme of reports from Placencia, and as I say I have not had a serious problem with sand fleas in many, many visits to Placencia.

However, they do vary from year to year, and from place to place even on the same stretch of peninsula. Also, some people are more sensitive to them than others.

Sorry you had that experience.

--Lan Sluder

I did too, Lan. But we still love Belize. We are a little affraid that things are changing in Belize. We were surprised to many (maybe too many?)new hotels, cars and tourists. It was so quiet in San Pedro only 10 years ago. What is going on with all those cars in San Pedro?

It should read "We were surprised to see many......."

Things do change. There are definitely too many cars in San Pedro now. If you want peace and quiet, and few tourists, though, there are plenty of places in Belize that fill the bill: Sarteneja, most of Toledo and rural areas anywhere.

--Lan Sluder