Belize is the perfect Latin American destination for combining a beach vacation with a trip to the rainforest, and some visits to a few Mayan Ruins. The English speaking country offers a perfectly balanced vacation for those seeking primarily a laid back beach resort with a little bit of adventure travel thrown in. Belize also has some of the best scuba diving in the world.
Beaches & Resorts of Belize
Belize's main beach resort is that of San Pedro in Ambergris Caye. This is an excellent diving hub, with easy access to underwater wonders such as the Blue Hole, an extinct underwater volcanic crater teeming with sharks and other aquatic life. Another nearby Caye in northern Belize is Caye Caulker, which is more laid back and is popular with backpackers, though the beaches there are not so great. The best of Belize's beach resorts is probably Placencia, in the south of the country. The area is very laid back, and more unspoilt, with some of Belize's best beaches. Belize is also scattered with numerous small offshore Cayes - the best way to visit is by sailing boat. Top of the range beach resorts in Belize that we would recommend include Victoria House, the chic Mata Chica (both on Ambergris Caye) and Turtle Inn in Placencia.
Belize Rainforest Tours
Large parts of Belize's interior are covered in undisturbed tropical rainforests. The area around San Ignacio (Cayo), which is a couple of hours west of Belize City, offers some of the best lodges. A few luxury lodge suggestions follow - three or four nights is optimum in any.
Chan Chich - located on a huge private reserve, Chan Chich jungle lodge is located on the plaza of an ancient Mayan settlement. This is undoubtedly one of the best wildnerness lodges in the world. Chan Chich has just 12 thatched roof cabanas and activities include exploring the trail system, wildlife viewing, birdwatching, horse riding, canoeing, visits to coffe plantations and a host of other tours.
Chaa Creek - Chaa Creek activities are similarly jungle based including canoeing, horse riding and exploring jungle trails. While not as remote as Chan Chich lodge, Chaa Creek has the advantage of having easy access to Mayan sites such as Caracol and Xunantunich. You can even go on a long days tours in Tikal in Guatemala.
Blancaneaux Lodge - an upscale lodge located in Belize's Mountain Pine Ridge, not far from San Ignacio. The area has less tropical rainforest and more pine forest, and it is less humid and slightly cooler. Activities are similar to those at Chan Chich and Chaa Creek, albeit in a slightly different landscape setting - nature trails, canoeing , horseback riding etc. Blancaneuax Lodge is owned by film director Francis Ford Coppola, along with his other resorts La Lancha in Guatemala and Turle Inn in Placencia. The lodge is not far from the Mayan ruins of Caracol, those most spectacular ruins in Belize.
