We will be in Belize Feb 11-16 and only have reservations for the 1st night (Blue Tang). Is it safe to hotel-hop after we get there, or do places generally stay booked?

PatiSue, saw your message and since I am having difficulty posting a message myself I hope that replying to yours will get my message on the board. I am planning to take my two (college age) daughters to Ambergris Caye in May. Have looked at a lot of places (on line) and read the message board until I am dizzy. (a lot of great/helpful info) So, if others are reading this, I could use some info. Is it difficult to leave the Caye for the last two nights of the stay and rent a car In Belize City and drive to Caracol to see that site? From reading, it seems that, that site may be the most desirable to visit? Is renting a car difficult/costly? Is the drive easy/well marked? I would like to do the drive myself but have read that it is not entirely safe to do so without a guide/tour. Is the drive short enough to get an early start see the ruins and get on our way prior to dark? I have a million annoying questions for those well traveled in Belize so I'll save the others for another time. Here is to hoping that this reaches the message board!

Cheri, thanks for replying. I dont think we will rent a car, I hear they are really expensive and roads are bad (maybe someone will help us out on this topic) . I believe we will water taxi or take a Puddle-Jumper to Caye Caulker. I am trying to find out about some cool places to stay there, we have never been to Belize.

Cheri,
Unless someone knows of a more direct route, it's a couple hours' drive from BC to San Ignatio, then another 2-3 hours from there to Caracol. The road to Caracol is pretty rough, you might not enjoy it much if you drive yourself. Caracol is a day trip if you're based in SI or Mountain Pine Ridge, but not from Belize City. Where are you planning to stay for the last two nights?

What is in Caracol?

Patisue,

This link should help explain.

//ambergriscaye.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=3;t=001037

Joe

WHERE do folks read stuff like "I would like to do the drive myself but have read that it is not entirely safe to do so without a guide/tour." Goodness. Thousands of people each year rent cars in Belize and drive all over country. (I've been doing it for over 13 years.) Roads are generally pretty well marked and the main roads (Western, Northern, Hummingbird and Southern highways) are paved and in good to excellent condition.

Caracol is one of the most interesting historical sites in all of Central America. A thousand years ago, it rivaled Tikal in importance, a city-state of more than 150,000 people, with sophisticated building techniques and a wide-ranging knowledge of mathematics, architecture and astronomy (at a time when Europeans were still struggling to emerge from the Dark Ages). The trip there is half the fun. The unpaved road through the Mountain Pine Ridge and on to Caracol is in generally good condition, though after heavy rains it does get a bit dicey.

--Lan Sluder

Have been going to Belize for years, renting a car at the airport from Crystal and driving all over Belize, and even across to Tikal. Don't let someone scare you out of doing this. It is safe and the roads are generally good, occasional pot holes or mud in some rural areas but what an adventure. There are soooooo many more things you will see and experience that you would never have the change with a tour. (heard on a bus). Driving you will meet many more of the very friendly and helpful Belezian people. GO SOON TO BELIZE, DRIVE AND ENJOY IT. :p

Lan is 100% on target.

Belize = safe to drive
Los Angeles = don't even think about it

Janet, Thanks for your time and expertise. I have been reading and working on line for over a month now. So plans for lodgeing are only beginning to firm up. Have you (or nayone else) heard of Brianna's Beach House??) supposedly a 7 mile walk from SP and it looks great on line. I have written to Cayemanagement.com to ask more about the place? It is a rental. Safe area??
Well, re: the trip to Caracol sounds like I have to get closer and allow another day. Is Caracol the most expansive ruin site? Are there sites just as interesting closer to Belize (which you have visited) What about Belmopan? It looks to be a major city. Are there hotels... safe?? It looks to be a couple hours maybe 3 from BC. I am sort of thinking out loud? I will stop rambling here and hope for some great feed back.
Cheri

QUOTE]Originally posted by JanetBoston:
Cheri,
Unless someone knows of a more direct route, it's a couple hours' drive from BC to San Ignatio, then another 2-3 hours from there to Caracol. The road to Caracol is pretty rough, you might not enjoy it much if you drive yourself. Caracol is a day trip if you're based in SI or Mountain Pine Ridge, but not from Belize City. Where are you planning to stay for the last two nights?[/QUOTE]