Over the past couple economy car rental st maarten of years I've received numerous emails from readers with questions on the places I visit from advice on where to stay, to what to do and how to make a stay unique. Most folks including myself economy car rental st maarten need travel direction and ideas on where to begin exploring a country. So I've decided to help my readers out by putting together brief country guides – a lay of the land, if you will, to help you figure out what part of the country economy car rental st maarten to visit according to your personal interests. No two visits are ever the same – and nor should they be. These guides economy car rental st maarten are meant as starting points and I hope you find them useful in launching your own solo (or couple) adventure.
The first destination guide: Belize economy car rental st maarten . It's the country I get the most questions about and probably one of the least known. It s also one I know fairly well now, after spending economy car rental st maarten three months there as a Road Warrior (writer/blogger and photographer in-residence) for the Belize Tourism Board and an additional two and a half months independently.
It's easy to overlook Belize. It's in a small corner facing the Caribbean sea and next to its larger, tourist-popular neighbors Mexico and Guatemala. Not to mention, most people think all there is to do there is diving or fishing, or that it s expensive.
Belize does have the second longest barrier reef in the world after Australia s, just a short hour and a half boat ride away from the mainland, and has three atolls and hundreds of offshore islands with waters that are home to some of the most unique catch this side of the western hemisphere.
But if you're willing economy car rental st maarten to drop all your preconceived notions of Central America, you're in for a treat. There's more to do in Belize than any thrill seeker or culture-holic (like myself) could dream up. No kidding.
Virgin rainforests. The world s only jaguar reserve. The largest cave system in Central America. More than two hundred Mayan archeological economy car rental st maarten sites. Over 40% of protected land. Mangroves and lagoons. Rivers with unique wildlife, economy car rental st maarten including over 200 species of birds. Two hundred plus "cayes" or offshore islands. Two hours from jungle to sea. Miles of Caribbean water and golden sand beaches to the east and south.
And the kicker the only country in Central economy car rental st maarten America with English as its official language, as a result of being the only former British colony. The result? A country that considers itself more Caribbean than Latin, yet with splashes of ancient Maya, Africa and Spain.
Among Belizeans you'll hear Kriol, their tongue of choice for all things unofficial (some parts of the country also speak Spanish, Mayan and Garifuna, in case you re looking to pick up even more skills).
That s why planning a trip to Belize is a big part of the fun because with a country that diverse, the choices of where to go and what to do are infinite. Six districts and a whole lot of activities, from outdoor to cultural. And no, it doesn t have to break the bank.
Go west to the green, lush district of Cayo to experience what was once the heart of the Maya civilization , as well as the more Latin-side of Belize. Sample some fresh made pupusas or tamales economy car rental st maarten at the weekly Saturday morning market in San Ignacio by the Macal River. Or, pick up some grilled chicken from an outdoor Saturday roadside barbeque. Besides being home to some of the more Latin-influenced eateries and bars in the country, the Cayo District's landscape is heaven for nature lovers or for the novice in adventure travel.
It would be a shame to visit Cayo and not stay at one of the numerous jungle lodges ranging from budget cabins to luxurious tree houses. Go river tubing through caves, spelunking, or hike through the rainforest in Indiana Jones style to the Actun Tunichil Muknal or ATM Cave, where you can see skeletal remains and ceramics thousands of years old. Cayo also has some of the most amazing Mayan sites a must-visit in Belize. Xunantunich one of Belize s most beautiful structures - is reached by crossing the river on a hand-cranked ferry. For those who don t mind a bumpy road, few drives can beat the one to Caracol, Belize economy car rental st maarten s tallest structure, as it takes you through rivers, the Mountain Pine Ridge and the Chiquibul Forest Reserve. A stop at Rio on Pools on the way for a fresh waterfall swim completes this most scenic area of Belize. Bring your waterproof camera!
For a taste of the more African side, head east to the Garifuna seaside village of Hopkins . Hopkins is attracting more tourists than ever, in part thanks economy car rental st maarten to its untouched beaches and affordable accommodations, including a hostel. Authentic Garifuna restaurants and meals, as well as drumming lessons will make you wonder if you re on the West African coast, if it weren t for the calm waters of the Caribbean. Be warned, it s a bumpy, dusty road to Hopkins from Dangriga, the nearest big (and also seaside) town where you can catch a domestic flight via Tropic Air. But it s worth the slight discomfort. A must try in Hopkins are the traditional Garifuna dish hudut , and a drumming lesson at the Lebeha Drumming Center. Dangriga , known as the culture capital also makes for an ideal day-trip from Hopkins and for more Garifuna economy car rental st maarten experiences like drum making or visiting a cassava farm.
Extreme adventure is in the southern district of Toledo and the town of Punta Gorda , which remain uncrowded and have some of the most untouched caves to explore as well as waterfalls, not to mention some of the most authentic jungle lodges. Besides being more off-the-beaten path and undiscovered to even many a Belizean, the Toledo District is the most diverse of all. From Punta Gorda, day tours to Mayan villages the highest number in the country- or Garifuna villages like Barranco on the coast give a distinct economy car rental st maarten view of rural life in Belize and are a only a short drive from town. You can learn how to make chocolate from scratch Maya-style economy car rental st maarten cacao is big in this district or how to make 30 tortillas in thirty minutes over an open-hearth fire. For an even deeper cultural feel, sign up for a Maya home stay and share life with a family for a couple economy car rental st maarten of days.
perfect" 16 plus miles of white sand beaches across three villages ( Placencia Village, Seine Bight and Maya Beach ). Its proximity economy car rental st maarten to some of the most stunning economy car rental st maarten offshore cayes Laughingbird and Silk Cayes make it an ideal base for diving, snorkeling, sea kayaking and other water sports. You can choose to laze in a hammock on that golden stretch of beach and fall asleep, uninterrupted from your apartment porch or from one of the many resorts economy car rental st maarten lining the beach. Party animals will find their heaven economy car rental st maarten here, too, as Placencia has one of the most active live music and nightlife scenes in Belize. Start at the Barefoot Bar for dinner and dancing to a live Kriol or Punta (Garifuna) band and work your way to the local after hours nightclub, D Eclipse, where the party goes on until the wee hours. Placencia is everyone s getaway tourist and local alike.
economy car rental st maarten Popular offshore getaways for water lovers are also Ambergris Caye and Caye Caulker , two of the most visited islands. They are an hour and a half water-taxi ride away from Belize City (with Caye Caulker being the closest) and the Barrier Reef. The beaches are not extensive on these Cayes, but the abundance of docks and swimming areas makes it easy to dip into the sea and laze in the sun without having to shake any sand off your towel. Ambergris Caye is the busier, economy car rental st maarten noisier and more Latin island, also home to a wider choice in high end boutique hotels, while Caye Caulker go slow motto reflects its more Caribbean laid-back feel, with reggae music in the air and no need to ever get out of your flip flops if you choose. Snorkeling or diving off the Belize Barrier Reef can be done from either of these Cayes.
Belize may be a small country, but with hundreds of offshore islands, it s easy to escape the city or even the tourists: those who can afford it can stay on a private island like Cayo Espanto , or a small resort island like the newer Hatchet Caye or South Water Caye . Other luxury getaway options are Francis Ford Coppola s Turtle Inn or Blancaneaux Lodge – for that movie-star-hiding-from-paparazzi effect.
economy car rental st maarten For the Kriol or Caribbean flavor, there s no better place than Belize City , where all international flights land. That s if you can handle some of that Caribbean city hustle and bustle. An ideal time to visit would be in September, the golden month, with independence celebration events over 30 days, including Carnival in Belize City in mid-September.
Once the capital of Belize before it was changed to Belmopan, Belize City gets a bad reputation as far as crime and safety, but the truth is that it has its good and bad sides like any other urban area. The key is to remember that the south side is the wrong side. Stick to the north end and know where you re headed. To skip Belize City entirely would be to miss seeing the true Caribbean soul and history of this Central American country, not to mention some of its best museums, eateries and nightlife. If you have a half-day to spend, brave the heat and stroll down Albert Street, then grab a taxi and head to the House of Culture and the Museum of Belize before having lunch at Suly s an authentic Belizean lunch spot where the food is so good everything sells out by 1:30pm. For more than a day in town, the Belize Zoo is well worth a short drive out of town it s one of the top rated small zoos in the world and houses Belize s unique animals in a habitat that is as naturally set up as you will encounter see the tapir, the toucan and the jaguar up close.
The most affordable (and most interesting) areas to base yourself are: Caye Caulker, Hopkins, the Cayo District and some guesthouses in Placencia Village. Caye Caulker and Hopkins have decent backpacker hostels as well as low-cost hotels at US$50 a night with A/C.
Only passing through Belize City for a day on a cruise? economy car rental st maarten Pick a tour offered that goes to Xunantunich Maya site and Cayo OR to one of the Cayes for snorkeling. Mo
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