Hey- I need a bit of advice and expertise. I am travelling to Belize with my three kids, I know some of you know how old they are since I have asked a lot of questions - but they are 9, 11 and 16 and are great adventurous travellers. We will be driving from Belize City to San Ignacio on Sept. 28th. I am planning to spend 2 days in San Ignacio. Have thought Clarissa Falls for lodging sounds great and since folks rave about the soup I will need to try it. What would be best to do? I would like the kids to explore Mayan ruins and learn a bit about them. They would also like to try cave tubing. I have read a bit about Ian Anderson but seem to think he does trips for days rather than just 1? Is this correct? I have read about a variety of caves- anyone have advice about which would be best? What suggestions do you experienced travellers have? I am trying to save a bit of the cost of going from AC on these trips since there are 4 of us. We will hang out on AC for a week after the mainland jaunt. Any ideas would be great. I have been reading a lot of guide books but would love to hear it from all of you.

Thanks - Mo & group

Sounds as if you have a wonderful time in store! When we were in the area, we stayed at the Aguada Hotel, a true bargain and most enjoyable. We went on our own to xunantunich, a fine trip. You would be close emough to do Tikal--can give you no advice there except that it's a place we very much want to visit. There are butterfly farms in the area as well as intriguing rivers. Have a wonderful time.

I recommend the Actun Tunichil Muknal cave trip. Your kids will love it! You can do Ian Andersons cave tubing as a day trip, but the cruise-ships are offering that tour. So it can be very crowded. The Barton Creek cave tour is great too. You don't have to book tours a head of time though. You may want to just take a walk around SI and see what the tour guides are offering before you decide.

Hi WePlay5! I'm so glad you are driving. Look, if you want a travel agent, get one, but really you can do this, all but the cave tubing, on your own, and if you check Lonely Planet, you'll find a guide right there, or ask your local hotel to set it up. Think adventure!!!!!! As I mentioned to you before, its about 80 +/- miles to San Ignacio on very good roads. Re San Ignacio, you could stay at Clarissa Falls, its nearly right there. The only other place I stayed in the area was Midas, and it has been the source of laughter to my husband and I ever since! Give them credit...they warned us. God knows, I love my out-of-the-way kind of places, but this and Mrs. Gonzale's up by Lamani almost extinguised that for me! It was two rooms, separated by a wall that only went to within a foot of the ceiling. So, you get the dubious opportunity to share, in every way, all your neighbor's doings. In every way! EVERY SINGLE SOLITARY WAY YOU CAN IMAGINE.

Having said that, it was very nice in other ways, clean, good breakfast, etc. I think they have other rooms, more private, you could check on that. Really, unless you really like tours, you can do this on your own! It will be an adventure. Don't miss Xauntanich...which can be easily done on your own. The kids will love the hand ferry over it. If you go cave tubing, I'd suggest you check into the Five Sisters Lodge at Mountain Pine Ridge, and they can arrange the tubing from there. Your gonna love it. Needless to say, check on all this...its been two years since I've been to this area. Have a great time! Don't forget the zoo!

Stayed at Caves Branch (Ian Anderson's place) a couple of years ago. They do do single day trips. They will pretty much build a tour around your needs.

The folks at Clarissa Falls are great, but prices have really gone up there. Depending on which lodging you get, it could cost you almost as much as staying at one of the better jungle lodges. Ian Anderson's is great for active travelers and does do one-day as well as longer trips.

I think most people would agree that Actun Tunichil Muknal is the must-do accessible caving experience. Lots of other things of interest to kids as well -- canoeing, waterfalls in the Mountain Pine Ridge, Maya ruins at Caracol, Xutanunich and elsewhere, Green Hills butterfly farm and of course back at Mile 30 of the Western Highway the Belize Zoo.

--Lan Sluder

If you are willing to wing it, you can always go to Bob at Eva's Restaurant in San Ignacio. I think their email is Evas@btl.net. He has connections to everyone in that area. He got us a wonderful room at Chaa Creek for 50% off. And, you are going kind of off season, so that might be a real option. I don't know if he can do anything in advance, short of regular rates, but you can check. We just wing it when we go.

Re Clarissa Falls, I would check on it even though Lan says its getting more expensive. Its a terrific place to take kids.

I didn't recommend Actun Tunichal Muknal because I thought it might be a bit strenous for the 9 year old. Go with what the guides recommend in this regard.

Cuz otherwise, I think it is FANTASTIC.

Thanks for all of the advice. I appreciate the sensitivity to their ages- the 9 year old is my most adventurous one. She was disappointed when we left Bali because she couldn't haggle for everything back in the US. She will be my traveller. I have gotten in touch with Caves Branch- they do do day trips, actually mentioned that they do not have lodging there during Sept. - Oct. so the day trips are the only option.

How about going to Tikal? Has anyone done this? I think my group would really like to see this up close. I read about getting on a bus in St. Elenas ( I think that was the city)- any suggestions. I read that the rental cars aren't allowed over the border.

Thanks! Mo

Hi Mo! My suggestion, fly in. I say this only because there has been some problem in the Peten area with banditos. Anyone who knows me on this site knows that I totally espouse winging it and driving on your own and finding a place when you get there. Its never failed for me anywhere in the world. But, this may be one not to wing it, especially with children. Tikal is wonderful. There are two hotels, not fancy, and I think I mentioned this to you before, right there (Lan, where are you when we need you!!!!!!!!). You can stay in Flores and bus in, but there is much to be said for staying near the place to wake up to the sounds of it. Do make sure you pick up the "Lonely Planet" book. It will give you a wealth of information on the site.

Hi,
We were in Belize this past November with our two kids (aged 10 & 7). Just wanted to add a few things to the excellent advice you have already been given.

- You may want to consider staying near the Belmopan area. We stayed at Pook's Hill, and loved it. It is really beautiful & there is a lot to explore. Also, it is closer to Actun Tunichal Muknal (I know - I butchered the spelling!) and Caves Branch than San Ignacio, so you would have less travel time.
- We took a day trip to Tikal. It was one of the highlights of our trip - BUT - it is an all-day venture. If you have only two days, you may want to consider some closer ruins. (By the way, Pook's Hill has a small ruin located just behind the cabanas.)
- I have heard that the political situation in Guatemala is getting unstable right now, and there have been isolated incidents of tourists being stopped on the road to Tikal. I almost hate to say that, since Tikal is such a fantastic place, but - as a parent - I would want to be informed before deciding to take my kids.

Hope you all have a great time in Belize. It was a great vacation for us!

I just returned from Belize and spent a week in San Ignacio and can honestly say that I could have spent more time!

I stayed at the Aguada and Shala arranged wonderful trips including Tikal, Carocal, but you can do things on your own too. Just walking around San Ignacio you can go to Cahel Pech and Xunatunech on your own.

The caving at Barton's Creek is on the way to Xunatunech and both can easily be done in one day.

If you go to Carocal stop at Rio on Rocks on the way back since this is great swimming after climbing ruins.

Your kids will love the whole adventure and then wind down at AC before coming home.

Have fun!

Hi Mo and other Folks! Let me reiterate this. If there is anyplace on this earth, short of the midwest of the US, that you can pretty much be sure you will be fine, Belize is it. Do be careful of Peten. Other than that just go and have fun. It is a wonderful thing to take your kids on an adventure when you rent a car, and just hit the road. It is a memory they will remember, forever. I'm a Mom, too, and I really wouldn't say this if I didn't know it was a safe place. You'll be fine, and go have your adventure.

Hey Mo, you said you want your kids to learn a bit about the Mayan ruins. Well I have a friend in San Ignacio who is a tour guide (Yucatec Mayan/Spanish)and works at Bartons Creek. He loves to teach about his culture while canoeing thu the caves then horseback riding. These are short, simple trips at one place. Also in the area are Cahal Pech and Xunantunich. He would be more than happy to show you these sites. I will be seeing him Monday 4/14 if you are interested email me sweetlilbigheart@yahoo.com.
There is so much to do...you almost dont need to plan in advance! It's a good way to sqeeze lots of adventures in though! Also dont forget to visit Spanish Lookout for ice cream!

Do a search here on whats been written about Tikal.

Cruise ship passengers go to Jaguar Paw, not Ian Andersons Cave Branch. And it's absolutely awful when the hoards are there. If you want to book the 1/2 day cave float in this area, make sure it'snot cruise ship day.

We took a day trip to Tikal, and it was AMAZING!!!

Alright, here I go again. I have no agenda here. Just as a former sales agent with Pan Am, who was in the business 10 years, could I suggest that there are few people on this earth, especially traveling in Belize, that couldn't do this on their own. Read up on Lan and Lonely Planet. Save yourself a couple bucks. Belizean bucks or otherwise. If you want someone to arrange it, then do it, but sometimes on this site, I see people who are difficult with that idea, my guess, who are in the travel business. You do not need help in Belize. This could be your adventure, unless you are really uneasy with doing it on your own. In that case, do get someone to help you. My only issue is, sometimes most of the fun is the adventure of getting out there and doing it on your own. Get that car and go! There is something to be said for the awful day. It is the one you remember.

Ditch the kids and visit the Casino!

I just might take you up on that suggestion about the casinos! Thanks again for all of the advice. I will go and buy the Lonely Planet book. I was able to buy 2 books at a Rand McNally place that was going out of business! I was actually thinking of going to Flores and taking a bus to Tikal.
Mihal- how did you take your family to Tikal? Did you drive or take a tour? I would think a tour there would be safe enough. I will definitely look into it before we go. Since we have a few months yet before we go (unfortunately) anything could change.THANKS! Mo

We5 -

While it would be awesome to drive through Belize ( having done it myself :p ), I would strongly suggest taking a tour to Tikal, especially since you have a little one.

Most car rental agencies won't let you go across the border anyway. Do a search on the board and you will see the general consensus.

I just got back from San Ignacio where I stayed at Midas. I wasn't as lucky to have the double cabana. It sounds really neat to spy on your neighbor!! Midas has many individual cabana's and they are clean, close to town, and guides arrive when requested. The best feature is, if your lucky, some horses and cattle make their way there in the middle of the night. Maria Preston and the staff are all delightful!!

I included a very detailed trip report of Tikal with my AC report under the AC chat heading.

Definitely recommend an overnight at the ruins. Despite my usual do-it-myself travel style, did book it through Katie at Maya Travel, because I heard and read repeatedly (in Lonely Planet and other reliable, but perhaps outdated sources) that the hotels at the ruins are hard to contact, and they are rumored to only take reservations from local agents or tour groups. Since I was going for Easter weekend, I did not want to take a chance.

You can definitely do this as a day trip, but it will be exhausting...and you can see a lot more when the tour buses all leave, and you have the ruins virtually to yourself (and the security guards, police and soldiers).

Billl, you missed a life event. Not only did you get to share in EVERYTHING going on with your neighbors, but you knew they were sharing your events. I never tried, before, in my life to pee quietly. It's harder to do than you might think. I hummed a lot to cover-up some of those little physiological issues. My neighbors weren't into humming, obviously. The good news, I'll never forget it! Ever notice how the weird events end up being the memorable ones!

I never knew how much biting my tongue could hurt......