AmbergrisCaye.com Home Forums Belize by District Cayo cost of eating in Cayo

Being that we are on a tight budget, we have to choose between paying for hotel and food separate or taking an inclusive room (breakfast and dinner included). The price of the room with 2 meals included for 2 people is $66 (Crystal Paradise), which is $40 more than the cheapest room I've found, which is $26 at Midas. Is it worth it to get the meal plan? Also, please keep in mind that we are in our 30s, and wanting to avoid the "resort experience." Our last trip was to the Florida Keys, we want something totally utterly different this time.
Where would be the best place to go to get the most un-American feeling experience in Cayo?
Thank you!!!!

Unless you have a car, if you're at Crystal Paradise or most any other lodge, you're not going to have the option to go into town for meals. There are no regular buses running on the Cristo Rey road and it's a l-o-n-g walk back into town. Guess you could stock up on groceries in San Ignacio and picnic for most meals.

If you stay at Mida's or one of the hotels in town, you will be able to go out for meals. You can eat pretty cheaply in town -- there's a place across from Eva's that has good tacos and such for not much money.

Clarissa Falls has a good little restaurant -- small tacos are like US 25 cents.

--Lan Sluder

You ask about which place would give you the most "un American" atmosphere. Not sure exactly what that means but you probably would want a place that is Belizean-owned, such as Crystal Paradise, Smith Farm, Clarissa Falls, Mida's, Martha's, Piache Hotel, etc.

--Lan Sluder

For the most "un American" feeling place - stay at one of the places close to town like Midas or Smith Farm. Walking distance to many restaurants. Eating is cheap. Try Hode's or Cafe Sol. Lots of places to choose from.

We enjoyed eating and staying at Martha's. But if you want to stay outside of town, your choices will be limited, unless you have a car.

A good feature of Midas is that it is quiet and still within easy (4 blocks) walking distance to the middle of San Ignacio. Hodes is about 100 yards from Midas.

We enjoyed Midas and Marthas lodging. Midas is a few blocks from town, Marthas in the heart. You can eat on way less than $40/day in San Ignacio.