Belize??
 

So, I found this dirt cheap ticket online for Belize, and I have a pretty good beat on a place to stay near the group I am going diving with. I can't be in the water all the time, and I was wondering what there is to do around the Belize City and Ambergris Caye area.

If you have been there and have any tips about things or places I should not miss (even if they're a little off-the-wall), I'd love to hear them.

Thanks in advance.

I haven't been, so basically this post will be of no help, but i really really want to go there. My father in law and I are in talks to buy some land there, perhaps even a bar we saw for sale. He's in the beer business back here in the States and has visited Belize as part of a cruise. It sounds amazing, i would love to hear what you think of it.

No good advice from me either, but when are you heading there? I may be swinging by the country, so maybe we could hang out. :) Are you diving the Blue Hole? I don't actually think I'll be able to dive much in Belize (if at all, too pricey!)

I just looked at my Central America on a Shoestring and maybe you could check out the Mayan ruins at Lamanai. :)

Thanks. I think I might pick up a copy of the Central America on a Shoestring (Lonely Planet, right?). I be there for the last part of July. I have decided not to dive the Blue Hole, after hearing that some of the other dive sites are actually better. The Hole seems more like a trophy dive rather then being a fun dive to do.

Yup, I have the LP, and I kind of figured the same thing about the Blue Hole (I think I'd rather fly over it than dive it :p).

Well, we may bump into each other, if you're interested to hang out let me know your dates and we'll see what happens. :)

There isn't much in either Belize City or Belmopan. I'd hightail it out of those places right away. In the interior, there are plenty of Mayan ruins...the most visually impressive being Xunantunich, while the more historically interesting being Caracol. Check out my travelog on Belize for a bit more info (link in my signature). Also, there's a lot of other rain forest kind of things to do in the interior...floating through caves on boats, jungle trekking, etc.

I always tell folks there are two Belizes: One, the interior with the jungle and Mayan ruins; Two, the ocean stuff on Ambergris Caye and Caye Caulker.

Oh, and by the way...good to see you back here, my friend!

worldwidemike

Thanks, Mike! That's awesome to know. Thank you for the tips about the ruins. All the info on the internet and in guidebooks makes every ruin or temple into a critical juncture in Mayan history and culture... and, while I am sure they all are critical, I can't see them all.

It's nice to be back. Things have gotten a little lately in the Home of the World's Only Air Assault Division. Good to know that you're still globe trottin' like a rock star!

It certainly worth getting out into the rain forests. Blue Hole National Park (not the Blue Hole for diving) is amazing. The night life in Belize can be fun as long as you are not going out alone. The Cayes are absolutely amazing.

Is there any specific types of things you are interested in? Any other specific questions? (I lived there for a while.)