I rescheduled my recent trip to AC due to health issues. I am now hoping to travel in early May and have added 2 nights more to my trip. I now am spending 7 nights on AC and have 2 more nights that I can spend on mainland. Since the only time I have spent on the mainland was Maruba Spa, I would like to see something else.

I can fly back to Belize City very early on a Saturday and then venture out from there. Hopefully I would get to my next distination so that I would have at least the afternoon to enjoy the area and then a full day next day and then would have to head back to Belize City to fly home the following day.

Please tell me your thoughts/recommendations. Thanks for your reply!

Recommend you check out Banana Bank Lodge - they have a Web site. Jungle, horseback riding, canoe trips - at BBL; other tours around the Cayo area from BBL include cave tubing, Belizian ruins, Tikal ruins, etc. Folks at BBL are great - honest, with personalized advice. Have a great trip!

Good Advice! By the way you can read all about it at: [wwwBananabank.com]

My husband and I travelled around Belize last February and the caving trip to Actun Tuniche Muchnal was one of the highlights. You can go with a registered tour guide from St. Ignacio. This is a full day trip and involves some effort but the Mayan ruins inside the cave will make it all worthwhile. Don't miss out!! We also did a day trip to Tikal and really enjoyed it. One day there was enough for us. Some people do an overnight trip and see the sunrise over the ruins in the jungle. Either way, Tikal is a must see!!

I would suggest the Cayo District as well. There is a wealth of stuff to do there from Mayan Ruins, to caving, to river trips, waterfalls, swimming holes, etc, etc. Take a look at www.belizex.com for some ideas.

Go to Caves Branch - do some cave tubing or do the Black Hole Drop.... you'll love it, and you'll be more than ready for some relaxation on AC when you're done! :p

Thanks everyone for your great suggestions. Banana Bank looks interesting. It isn't as far as some of the other lodges yet is close to many attractions. One hitch I have found so far - if Banana Bank provides the transportation to and from Belize airport - it will cost me $100US round trip (I'm traveling alone but get charged a minimum of 2 people). My other option is to taxi to bus station, take bus to Belmopan(?) and then taxi to Banana Bank? Is there another way to get there that may be a compromise between these two options?

Try taking the bus to Cayo, get off at the entrance to BB and walk in the dirt road, bang the gong and wait

Banana Bank will also pick you up at the Belmopan bus station free; just make arrangements with them. The market next to the Belmopan bus station is full of fruits at great prices. Bus ride to Belmopan is easy and cheap - see if express buses are available at your time of travel from Belize City. Happy trip!

Gela, I was just on the mainland for 4 days and I would recommend staying at the Aguada Hotel in Santa Elena and let Lenny Wragg arrange everything for you, from picking you up at the airport/ferry to arranging all tours. We did the Mountain Pine Ridge tour, The Ultimate Jungle Experience (better be in good shape for that), cave tubing at Jaguar Paw, and a trip to Tikal which should NOT be missed. Go to Caracol too!! The Aguada is VERY reasonable, only $27 a night when we were there. The food was the best. We were a little leery at first before we got there because of the price, but were not disappointed. How much time does someone spend in a room anyway? We spent it visiting with the owner and his wife, Bill and Kathy. By the time we got back after our excursions we were worn out and went right to sleep. Have fun and tell Lenny hi from Lynn and Lana.

Well folks, I've decided to stay at Banana Bank for two nights. Just a little taste of mainland. My health isn't up to really digging into the Cayo District.

I tried to get a hold of Novelos to confirm their current bus schedule, but was unsuccessful by phone (perhaps a BTL problem?). Anyway, Monica at Coconuts was kind enough to research for me. I asked her the schedule for "Express Buses" and here it is from Belize City going West:
7:00am, 9:00am, 11:00am, 1:00pm, 3:00pm and 5:00pm

Banana Bank said to call them and they would pick me up from the bus station. I see from their webiste that they charge $7US for the pickup. That plus the cheap bus trip (and the experience that goes along with it) is much better than $100 US to get there!

Thanks to all for your input. Can't wait until May!

Or you could go to one of the most beautiful places anywhere in the world -- Chan Chich, in the middle of the jungle. The drive there is long but a lot of fun (or you can fly).

You might even spot a jaguar strolling down the path, as we tried to do, getting up early in the morning before sunrise and wandering around late at night, only to return and see somebody's note on the bulletin board "spotted large jaguar walking past cabin #12..." I guess the key in seeing a cat is not looking for it.

You made a great choice. The bus ride is not bad at all and I think you will like Banana Bank. The place is areally a nice location , and you will find your Hosts to most accomodating. Can still remember the first time 12 years ago. Just too cool to bang the bell ,and they come across the river to get you...Have a fun time

Gela,
What days were you looking to go to the mainland? I may be interested in tagging along, if you do not mind.
email me:
jackie@belizeanparadise.com

Jackie,

I just read this thread and was thinking what an adventurous sort you must be! COOL!!! TOO COOL! I loved your trip photos they made AC look so beautiful (which of course it is) I am wanting to find someone to hang out with in Belize in February, but since my main trip is to Mexico I still don't know if I can swing it...Miss the mainland myself! I lived there for 6 months a years ago and have never got it out of my system... Maybe I will retire there.
You have fun now!!

GELA, So glad you are feeling well enough to travel... I think you will be rejuvinated by your time in Belize...BON VOYAGE!

Caves Branch absolutely brilliant

Cayo is fabulous. So is the Stann Creek/Toledo area. In Cayo I love Black Rock Lodge and Chaa Creek.

A good two day trip heading south would be to arrive in Belize City early (take the 7am flight), rent a car and head west (bring a packed lunch - Rubies coffee shop in San Pedro will pack one for you - they open at 6 am). Get to the Zoo by 8:30 ish, and spend an hour there (the animals will be awake). Then drive to Belmopan, make a quick zip around town (10 minutes) to see the Government buildings. Also stop in the Art Box gift shop - it's very special. Then head south on the humminbird highway. Stop at the Inland Blue Hole for a picnic lunch and a swim. Continue south to either Placencia or Punta Gorda. If you go to PG, you can stop at Nim Li Punit on the way. Next morning go to the Maya villages west of PG, swim in the river/water-falls along the way and then have a leisurely drive back north to Belize city. En route north, stop at JB's or Cheers for lunch. The Hummingbird Highway has to be amogst the world's most beautiful roads.

One more idea! Two days of getting pampered at Maruba could rank as "purrrrrrrrfecto!".
It's a pretty amazing spot - ride horses, swim int he pool, soak in mineral baths, get massages, facials, mud-baths ...... go home totally rejuvinated!

Banana Bank is a must. If you are into horseback riding they have excellent horses and the guide is exceptional. The meals are excellent. Bring you own wine or other drinks as they don't have liquor there. John will set up caving, Mayan ruin excursions etc. for you. It was our family's trip of a lifetime (to date.)

Stevie, thanks for your input. Funny about the alcohol, their website says under rates that "Beer" is $2.50. Wonder if that's rootbeer? At any rate, inspite of all the recent posts about the religious slant of the lodge, I am still looking forward to the visit. I will have had enough alcohol in AC to last me a while so the issue of no alcohol served is just find with me.

Gela, when I was there last year, the cooler in the dining room/common room was an honor bar. By that I mean, you could get yourself a pop and keep track of it on the sheet at the bar. However, there was no beer available.

There was much discussion though of how they might build a little bar away from the main buildings, even though this went against John and Caroline's beliefs. It was acknowledged that the customers would like something like that. I suppose the compromise has been to put some beers in the cooler.