Re: Ambergris or Caulker
[Re: lainey]
#397921
01/20/11 08:09 PM
01/20/11 08:09 PM
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Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 431 Belize
MisterB266
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It sounds like you would like Ambergris better than Caye Caulker, but you should get over to CC at least for a day trip. If you're busing down from Playa, you don't need to continue by bus to Belize City to get the water taxi -- there are 2 water taxis from Chetumal to Ambergris -- much easier. Schedules here (Section 7): http://belizebus.wordpress.com/
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Re: Ambergris or Caulker
[Re: MisterB266]
#397954
01/21/11 09:43 AM
01/21/11 09:43 AM
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Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 3,278 Arizona USA
azbob
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Agree. I also recommend Ambergris with a 1/2 day trip to Caulker. You will not be disappointed. There are many great places on Ambergris, just give a little more info and you will get many recommendations.
"Hold on Tight To Your Dreams" ELO
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Re: Ambergris or Caulker
[Re: lainey]
#399632
02/05/11 06:55 PM
02/05/11 06:55 PM
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Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 3,054 Asheville, NC USA
Lan Sluder/Belize First
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Here's my boilerplate comparisons of the two islands: \ AMBERGRIS CAYE (often referred to as San Pedro): * The biggest island in Belize (originally a peninsula jutting down from the Yucatan) — northern Belize * Settled by Mestizos from Mexico * Most popular destination in Belize (for many good reasons) * Tends to attract a crowd in their 30s, 40s and older, mostly couples * Some 20,000 people on the island * #1 area in Belize for foreign investment and expat living — second homes, condos, retirement * Sand streets though some of the streets are now paved with concrete cobblestones; formerly no building over three stories, but some new developments have four stories • Significant new development has place south of town and also on North Ambergris * By far Belize’s widest selection of restaurants and hotels * Among the best top-end hotels and condotels: Victoria House, Azul Resort, Pelican Reef and Mata Chica * Among the best condotels: Grand Caribe, Grand Colony, The Palms, Xanadu, The Phoenix, Coco Beach, Las Terrazas * Among the best mid-range lodging: Mayan Princess, Corona del Mar, Banana Beach, The Tides * Among the best budget lodging: Ruby’s, Sanpedrano, Pedro’s Inn * Some shops, sizeable groceries, lots of bars and places to hear live music * Some excellent restaurants including: Very Expensive: Rojo Lounge, Capricorn, Red Ginger Expensive: Blue Water Grill, Rendezvous, Elvi’s, Pinocchio’s, Hidden Treasure, Sunset Grill, Wild Mangos Moderate: Caramba * Very nice beaches though like all beaches inside the reef somewhat narrow and with some goop bottoms and a good deal of seagrass – garbage on the beach in areas not policed by hotels * Beaches along most of the Caribbean side * Reef just a few hundred yards offshore, closest at the far north * Your first decision is to decide where to stay — in town, south of town, on North Ambergris near the river channel or on more remote parts of North Ambergris * Lots of snorkel tours and day trips to the mainland to visit ruins * Good recreational diving locally and excellent diving on day trips to Turneffe or Lighthouse atolls * Get there by 20-minute flights from international or municipal airstrip or by 75-minute water taxi * Friendly and safe though usual cautions are in order — burglaries and thefts are fairly common, murders not unknown * Transportation on the island — bikes, rental golf carts, cabs, water taxis * Traffic in town is starting to get really bad * New bridge over Boca del Rio (mostly carts, bikes and pedestrians) is helping open up North Ambergris, but cart path there is very rough in places * Hotels from US$15 to $500+ a night * Small condos and vacation rental houses available US$100 to $500+ a night * No golf on island * Tennis available at sports club and at several hotels * Water — safe to drink from municipal system or RO/wells * Good fishing — tarpon, bonefish and other * Little snorkeling from shore -- best snorkeling requires a short boat ride to Hol Chan Marine Reserve including Shark-Ray Alley * About the same amount of rain as Atlanta, Ga.
CAYE CAULKER: * Still a charming, laidback small village atmosphere with a Caribbean resort vibe * The main part of the island really is just one village of about 1,400 people, and on the average day maybe 300 or 400 tourists * The vibes are laidback, easy-going, calm * This is Ambergris Caye's little sister -- smaller and a cheaper date * Moving more upmarket, with several condos recently opened, but it is still mostly a moderate, budget and backpacker island -- only five hotels on the island have a pool, for example * Sand streets, few cars, you get around by shank's mare, bike or maybe a golf cart * A mix of people on the island, Mestizos, some Creoles, some gringos * About 55 hotels and vacation rentals, mostly very small, with a total of around 900 rooms * Beaches are not the island's strong point -- a little swimming from piers and one or two places south, but the Split is the main area where folks swim * New municipal RO water system * Best hotel on the island costs only about US$200 a night * Iguana Reef Inn, Seaside Cabanas and CayeReef Condos are among the most "upscale" choices for Caulker, and all have pools * Other good low-moderate choices -- Tree Tops, Trends Beachfront, Shirley's, Anchorage, Jaguar Morning Star, Lazy Iguana B&B, Caye Caulker Condos, De Real Macaw, Barefoot Beach, Maxhapan and others * Good restaurants at the top end include Habaneros, and good food, too, at Rosa’s, Rainbow Grill, Sand Box, Wish-Willie’s, Amor y Café, Femi’s, Jolly Roger and others * Two or three dive shops do dive trips -- snorkeling and diving here are a little cheaper than San Pedro and Placencia • The reef is just a few hundred yards offshore * For booze and what action there is, hit the Lazy Lizard, Ocean Front, I&I and a few other bars * Rastas occasionally bug you * No golf or tennis * Safe, but several high-profile crimes occurred recently on island * Getting there is easy -- it's a 45 water taxi ride from Belize City and less from San Pedro; or a few minutes by air on Maya Island or Tropic Air
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