Since you consulted "Lonely Planet", I assume you are on my "budget" and so will be stuck on buses annd boats, rather than planes and/or your own car, actually a great way to travel, if not the following goes one way or another. Even though Belize is a small country, the travel part always seems to eat up a lot of time. Don't plan to much for the days you are moving around, don't stress yourself. If you go South, try Hopkins, really nice little town, nice beaches, nice people, best riceandbeans I have ever had, with luck some wonderful Garifuna drumming, a little hard to get to if you don't drive, stay away from Dangriga, both San Pedro and Placencia will be busy that time of the year, so plan ahead a little, actually the whole country will be busy. Mountain Pine Ridge in Cayo is worth at least a day, in San Pedro, get somebody to take you up norht to Rocky Point, beautiful day trip with stops for snorkling, fishing, BBQ, just ask around for a captain to take you... in addition to Hol Chan and Shark Ray Alley of course! Try to go there early in the morning. Things change fast in Belize, so keep on asking this board or other boards for specifics! good luck and have a wonderful time!