We are planning to drive from the Belize International Airport to Dangriga to tour the Sanctuary Bay Development in early October. Does anyone have any tips for the drive there, and how long of a trip is it (miles and time)? Thanks for any advice you can offer me.
Karen

The first thing: do you need to go into Belize City for any reason? If not, then you can avoid it.

As you drive out of the airport to the Northern Highway, turning RIGHT onto the Northern Highway will take you to Belize City.

If you don't need to go to Belize City, then turn LEFT onto the Highway and go for about 5 miles. You'll reach a T-intersection, and there will be a police checkpoint at the intersection. Turn left onto the Boom Road and go for about 12 miles (passing the prison) until you come to a roundabout/traffic circle. Turn right onto the Western Highway and go until you reach the turn off to Belmopan. There are signs at all those intersections.

That part of the trip should take about 1 hour and all the roads are paved. You can travel at the maximum speed limit (50 mph) for most of the trip.

The road you turn onto from the Western Highway is the Hummingbird Highway. Go for about 1.5 miles and you'll reach a roundabout. Go straight for Dangriga or turn left if you want to see our capital. There are signs at the roundabout.

The Hummingbird Highway is winding in parts and very scenic. Maybe 1.5 to 2 hours to reach Dangriga.

If it's raining, the Western Highway gets VERY slippery.

Check it out on Google Earth.

Mister B266,

Thanks for your reply.

Is going to Belmopan worth the detour?

What do you know about Sanctuary Bay?

Thanks & good day!

karenofhdsn

Is going to Belmopan worth the detour?

It's only about a minute from the roundabout I mentioned, and you can drive around the whole place in 15 minutes. Not much to see or do. The parliament building is just a plain concrete structure. There are some embassies/consulates, but nothing worth a special trip. University of Belize.

For me, if I'd never been there, I'd go just to see it.

From Dangriga you take the Southern hywy, make a left on All Pines Roadto SB, after the Kendal Bridge, about 45 min drive.

Does anyone have a recommendation on where we should stay for the one night that we will be in the area of Sanctuary Bay? Looking for something nice, clean and affordable - hopefully, something reatively close to the Sanctuary Bay property.

Thanks for any and all recommendations!

Pelican Beach and Chaleanor Hotel are both good here in Dangriga.

If you want something close to SB, then it will have to be in Sitte or Hopkins.

I'd say you'd probably want to stay in Hopkins. For clean, nice and affordable, I'd look at Hopkins Inn, Beaches and Dreams and Jungle Jeanie's/Jungle by the Sea, among others. All are on the beach and should be under US$100 a night. Haven't checked to see if they're all open in October, though.

Thank you all for your help and recommendations! We are really looking forward to visiting Belize.

Have a great day (or night) and be blessed!!!