As autumn begins to descend into a gray and miserable winter, the weather in Belize remains nearly perfect. Instead of laughing at or feeling sorry for those poor suckers and their northern latitudes, why not join them for a solid weekend of frozen drizzle at the annual BootsnAll Holiday Party?
If you can make it to Portland on Saturday, December 1, you could do a lot worse than attending this infamous bash. There will be free beer, wine, and munchies provided (no hoarding, please) but this year there will also be suspicious-sounding prizes handed out to attendees. The grand prize they are promising is a $500 flight voucher, but I have this feeling it might only be valid on one of those airlines that is now officially banned at EU airports due to shoddy safety records.
There is more information about this party on the Bootblog, which I assume will be updated periodically with new details. Some of us from Belizelogue will be there (under duress) so come up and say hello if you are in attendance. People who have survived previous editions of this party say it’s very fun, but those same people told us that “Viva Laughlin” was sure to run for at least five years on CBS just because Hugh Jackman was the executive producer and would make occasional appearances.
No Comments
We’ve always known that Belize is one of the top scuba diving destinations on the planet and this month we see that Scuba Diving Magazine agrees. The publication is an industry leader and in their October issue it contains a large spread about scuba diving in Belize along with its “Top 10 Reasons You’ll Love Belize.”
An abbreviated version of the material is available on their website, along with a chance to win a dive trip for two to the country. They’ve also included results from recent readers polls that …
No Comments
Many of us daydream about owning our own island, but Hollywood star Leonardo Di Caprio has actually done something about it. Multiple media reports say that the 30-year-old actor has bought Blackadore Caye in Belize, and he’s planning on building an eco-friendly resort on it.
Sources in Belize are reporting the Di Caprio bought only a piece of the 104-acre island that sits just a few miles west of Ambergris Caye for just over $1 million. They also suggest that the person who bought the entire island for $1.7 million is planning on selling other lots to various celebrities including Robert De Niro and Tiger Woods.
The 2-mile long Blackadore Caye is lined with sandy beaches, which is unusual for the area and makes it an ideal spot for well-heeled travelers. Di Caprio is reportedly already in planning stages on a luxury resort that will feature just a few exclusive villas, each with a private pool and terrace, as well as access to the beach. But the environmentally-conscious actor is taking the extra step of including the use of renewable energy sources, and designing it in such a way that respects the island’s wildlife and natural tropical setting.
No Comments
Ambergris Caye is much larger than nearby Caye Caulker, and it’s where you’ll find most of the island hotels in Belize. There are a few cheap hotels on this island, and one place that calls itself a hostel, but most of the hotels here are in the middle and upper price ranges for Belize, although many of those will still be bargains for people used to South Pacific or most other Caribbean prices.
By the way, Ambergris Caye is about 25 miles long and about 1 mile wide and hotels can be found on …
1 comment
If you’ve visited Belize in the past you probably have this image of a slow and simple Caribbean paradise, and the vast majority of the country remains that way. But specifically in and around Belize City in 2007 there has been a murder spree that visitors should be aware of. News keeps coming of multiple bodies turning up after bloody weekends, with one recent report of 6 murders discovered in two days. For a country with fewer than 300,000 people, these are sad and significant numbers.
A huge percentage of this violence is happening in Belize City and its neighboring districts. Even though most visitors do come and go from the former capital, the city doesn’t really offer much as a destination itself. There are strips of large hotels and small resorts located on the coast outside the city, and visitors shouldn’t have to worry staying in those areas. The main caution should be for anyone who is curious about staying in the heart of Belize City on their own.
1 comment
Hotels in San Pedro span the spectrum from low budget way up to posh mini-resorts, but what you won’t find here are large chain hotels of any kind. If you’ve never been to Belize or San Pedro before you are probably in for a bit of a shock when you get here. There are only a few paved roads on the whole island and there are no fast food franchises or anything else you’ve ever heard of before. This is an extremely laid back place that is its own world.
First though, …
No Comments
You can fly from Belize City to Caye Caulker or Ambergris Caye, and if you are very wealthy and have a fear of watercraft you can actually fly between Caulker and Ambergris, but most people ply this triangle on the famous Belize Water Taxi. It’s a mini adventure as well as a means of getting around, so you should be looking forward to it if you aren’t already.
First off, let’s talk about the name. It’s not really a taxi in any way, so you have to wonder where they came up with that one. And fortunately, it’s also not in the same price range as Venice water taxis so you don’t have to worry about selling all your possessions just to afford the trip. The highest price here is $US10 each way, but you’ll have plenty of company.
No Comments
Finding a hotel on Caye Caulker is rarely a problem, but if you’ve never been there before it’s important to know what to expect before you choose. Yes, the small 5-mile-long by 1-mile-wide island off the coast of Belize City is considered a resort island by many, but it’s not the sort of “resort” most people think of when they use that word.
There are no paved roads on Caye Caulker and a permanent population of only about 1,300. There are no chains there yet, therefore nothing you’ve ever heard of before. The recent tourism boom has brought the number of places calling themselves hotels up to about 60, but there are still fewer than 1,000 rooms available in total. So doing the math, this means the average “hotel” has fewer than 20 rooms, and in fact many of them are just two or four units.
Probably the best news is that hotels in Caye Caulker generally range from cheap to moderate. There are a few higher-end places that are basically full house rentals – often with a one-week minimum - but most places tend to offer few frills and are geared towards international budget travelers and the backpacking set.
No Comments
