Ambergris Caye Trip Report
#34214
02/01/01 11:07 AM
02/01/01 11:07 AM
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Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 30 forestville ca usa
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Belize Report:
Nine days in Ambergris Caye, we originally had plans to do ruins etc. It was so nice, we never left the island. We stayed at Rubies the entire time. Rubies is an inexpensive, more or less "travelers" hotel on the beach. The location for us was perfect. The important Stuff: We went to the distributors and had two cases of Bilikin delivered to us. This cost came to about $17us per case vs over $30us per case if you were to buy Bilikin in the store. BTW, if you buy Bilikin, just buy the regular beer--it is cheaper and better. If you want to buy Rum to take back to the states etc. buy it at the Duty Free shop in the Airport. Most folks know this.
Diving: We dove with Bottom Time Divers. They were excellent and the least expensive on the island. Once they dive with you and know your skills they pretty much let you dive your own profile, I was impressed the way they worked with and encouraged beginning divers. Though I am primarily a cold water diver, I have been to many dive destination all over the world, I have heard a lot of bad publicity about diving around Ambergris Caye--Bunk, Diving was excellent. For Blue hole Diving I would recommend Amigos Del Mar. I have heard a lot of people talk about the overnight trip on the Off Shore Express. I would not recommend. The owners have been trying to sell this operation for some time now and they are not properly maintaining the boat. It is in bad need of a major overhaul.-- Stick with the one day trips -- or go to a resort at one of the southern atolls.
Food: If you are a food or coffee snob, forget Belize. You will not go hungry, especially if you like stewed chicken, rice and beans. Price is not a reflection of quality. Los CoCos, inland from Hustlers was some of my best meals. The street vendors were excellent. The Lions club barbecue was cheap and good food too. Most of the coffee I drank was either Nescafe or Maxwell house.
Windsurfing: I never thought of Belize as a "mecca" for wind surfing (like some southern Caribbean islands) The winds are especially good for surfing and there is place to rent sail boards and wind surfers, in a palapa on the beach behind the Holiday Hotel.(barbeque on Wed nights) near Bottom Time Dive shop.
People: The people of Belize are wonderful, "no problem" is the code word. No "macho" attitudes like you find traveling in Mexico. All the folks I met (from all over the world) were very nice. I hope Belize keeps its low profile, It is not a place for "pretentious attitudes" and I hope those types stay away from Belize. Ruins: Go to one of the ruins, but don't try to see them all in one trip. It would be hard to combine a Tikal trip and Lamina in one week.
One more thing: Belize is a wonderful place; come, kick back and enjoy yourself. Don't try to accomplish too much in a short time. What you don't do this trip, you can always do the next time. Belize is a place you will want to come back to.
Bill
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Re: Ambergris Caye Trip Report
#34217
02/01/01 11:43 PM
02/01/01 11:43 PM
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 165 Washington, PA, USA
Karen Pasquariello
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Hi, Bottom Time should pick you up at the dock where you are staying, I think all the dive shops will do that. I've done the Blue Hole numerous times and have taken alot of people there and I do think it is worth it. If it's not a calm day, it could be a bit of a rough ride out there. What's nice about it is that you usually do three incredible dives, including the Blue hole and there is a stop on a caye with lots of red-footed booby birds. The Blue Hole does not have much fish life in it, but there is a kind of eerieness about that dive. It's kind of hard to explain. The other dives are in different areas and are usually wall dives. In regard to the best dives, I usually leave it up to the guides, they know the currents and where the best visilibity will be for that day. What's nice is that when you use the same dive operation for all your dives, they know where you have been and can take you to different places. All the dives shops are small. Have a great trip!
Karen Pasquariello
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Re: Ambergris Caye Trip Report
#34218
02/02/01 12:47 AM
02/02/01 12:47 AM
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Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 30 forestville ca usa
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Pam, as Karen said, Bottom Time will pick you up at your pier. Rudy, Chaco, Elija and Carlos are all great at bottom time. I was very impressed with the entire operation. All the dive sites are excellent, I was not so impressed with hol chan reserve--ok for snorkeling and good night dive. There are only a couple of folks who go to the blue hole and bottom time will book the trip for you. They use Amigos Del Mar. You will enjoy diving the outter atolls. have a great time.
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Re: Ambergris Caye Trip Report
#34221
02/06/01 11:06 AM
02/06/01 11:06 AM
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Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 30 forestville ca usa
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I have heard great reports about the overnight and wanted to get on the boat. The off shore express was broken down the entire time I was there. Engine parts were sitting on the pier. When I ask around, that was the info I received. AC needs a liveaboard I hope the best for the off shore express.
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Re: Ambergris Caye Trip Report
#34223
02/09/01 08:37 PM
02/09/01 08:37 PM
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 16
PamelaO
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I want to thank everyone, we have bascially planned our trip from advice and tips from this message board! I have a few more questions, anyone?
1. Bill, did you book your "Blue Hole" dive with Bottom Time before you got to San Pedro, or after you arrived? We have 5 days of diving booked, but the Blue Hole was not included as it is dependant on weather, but we want to make it one of our destinations if possible. Does Bottom Time have an E-mail address? How was their rental equipment??
2. Also, anyone, advice on who to use for the trip to Lamanai...there are ten of us. We want this to be a really great experience as 4 of our group do not dive and this is what they are excited about. Once again, do we need to book this before we arrive or can we do it after, we want to make sure we have the reservations.
3. What dive shop is located at the Villas at Banyon Bay? Would they be good for the Lamanai trip?
Thanks again, Pamela
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