Belize

I'll be going for three weeks soon and I want to combine diving with inland
trips. I have made no reservations yet, but I've been reading up on country
facts.

Observations on parts of the country not to be missed, hotels, dive
areas/shops are much appreciated.

"chilly" <slarson@shaw.canada> wrote in message
news:Oftrc.557337$oR5.432883@pd7tw3no...

> Make sure to take in Actun Tunichal Muknal.

Gezundheit.

Greg Mossman wrote:

> "chilly" <slarson@shaw.canada> wrote in message
> news:Oftrc.557337$oR5.432883@pd7tw3no...
>
>
>>Make sure to take in Actun Tunichal Muknal.
>
>
> Gezundheit.
>
>
Aldora Sucks!

"Joe English" <jenglish@accessusn.net> wrote in message
news:w-udnbqPr5acETPdRVn-uw@accessus.net...
>
>
> j b wrote:
>
> > I'll be going for three weeks soon and I want to combine diving with
inland
> > trips. I have made no reservations yet, but I've been reading up on
country
> > facts.
> >
> > Observations on parts of the country not to be missed, hotels, dive
> > areas/shops are much appreciated.
> >
> >
>
> skip the cave tubing trip!

Oh yeah, I've got to second that.

I'm always amazed everytime I hear someone rave about it.

Maybe for $20 . . .it's something to do on a rainy day . . .

On Fri, 21 May 2004 19:19:45 GMT, "j b" <jbray@nyc.rr.com> wrote:

>I'll be going for three weeks soon and I want to combine diving with inland
>trips. I have made no reservations yet, but I've been reading up on country
>facts.
>
>Observations on parts of the country not to be missed, hotels, dive
>areas/shops are much appreciated.
>

read US State Dept warnings. Interesting stuff. Just be aware.

"Jack Slopehead" <Jack_Sloan@jewbienation.com> wrote in message
news:of71b0pf1gc5ar6ccdsvdfam1cu2073k2o@4ax.com...

> read US State Dept warnings. Interesting stuff. Just be aware.

Why? U.S. State Department warnings are full of doomsday predictions about
all countries where we don't have a strong political motivation to send lots
of tourists. If they wrote one up about the U.S. it would really be scary.
Acts of terrorism killing thousands at major tourist destinations, one of
the highest crime and murder rates in the civilized world, rampant
homelessness and pandhandling in the major cities, traffic congestion,
horrible pollution, rampant disease and very, very expensive.

Hi JB,
I've done two trips to Belize in the last 5 months. I'm a dive instructor
and I lead groups all over the country. Here's my two cents worth:
Don't spend too much time in Belize City.. it is a dump. Either get on a
liveaboard (Nekton or Peter Hughes) or get to Ambergris Caye. I've done
both. Accommodations are plentiful on Ambergris, everything from backpacker
places to deluxe lodges. There are a lot of bigger dive shops, but after
scoping out all the big guns, we chose to dive with Reef Adventures (mainly
because they were willing to take out just two divers, wherever we wanted to
go and the price was the same as the big boats that need a minimum of 8-10
divers to make a trip go). Ched Cabral was the divemaster and you can e-mail
him at reefman74@hotmail.com. I'm sure he'll get you all the info you need.
They are connected with a lodge but you don't have to stay there to dive
there.
There is also some nice diving if you go further south off the coast of
Dangrigia (sp?). Glover's Reef/Atoll, etc. I know Hamanasi dives out there
and there is a resort right on the island. We didn't have enough time to go
out on the boats there, but we stopped in and chatted with the crew at
Hamanasi.
Hope that helps on the diving side. As for land stuff... see the Mayan
ruins.. there are lots. Altun Ha is probably the closest to Belize City, but
you can also take a day trip to Lamanai from Ambergris Caye. That's
well-worth it. You take a nice little river cruise to get to Lamanai. Bring
bug spray and sunscreen. Xunantunich is also a nice ruin with some good
carvings, etc. That's near the border to Guatemala. I would also definitely
recommend taking a two-three day excursion to Tikal. You can fly out of
Belize City's municipal airport and get there in an hour or so. Stay in
Flores or right in Tikal at one of the Lodges and you can see the sunrise at
the temples. We didn't get to do the cave tubing, as one day the river was
too low, then after some rain, it was too high (that was in Nov.) But the
price is steep ($90 pp) and you have to get to Belmopan or pay $25-$30 pp to
get transportation out there. We rented a 4x4 and drove around the interior
of Belize. Don't kid yourself, it is definitely third world poverty, but the
ruins and natural beauty of the land is awesome. Give yourself a week of
diving and a week of inland sightseeing if you have the time. I read a lot
of scary stuff about Belize before going, but found the people to be very
friendly and helpful. Obviously you stay out of the 'bad areas' at night,
etc. and use common sense, but for the most part, I found it to be safe.
Hope that helps.
Anything else I can answer for you, you can e-mail me:
www.DivingWithDoris.com

Blue skies,
Doris



"j b" <jbray@nyc.rr.com> wrote in message
news:lDsrc.50291$mX.19027321@twister.nyc.rr.com...
> I'll be going for three weeks soon and I want to combine diving with
inland
> trips. I have made no reservations yet, but I've been reading up on
country
> facts.
>
> Observations on parts of the country not to be missed, hotels, dive
> areas/shops are much appreciated.
>
>
>

"Jess Englewood" <pleasen@spam.com> wrote in message
news:dRJsc.12$gZ4.36269@news.uswest.net...
>
> "chilly" <slarson@shaw.canada> wrote in message
> news:uEJsc.552245$Pk3.52177@pd7tw1no...
>
> > > Stop it chilly, you're not a dive instructor who leads groups all over
> the
> > > country...................
> >
> > :^)
> >
> > No, just a diver who has spent weeks and weeks and weeks and weeks in
> Belize
> > over the past 4+ years. I met Ched on my first trip down, before he
> started
> > Reef Adventures, and I've been diving with him a few times since as
well.
> > Last I was there, Ched's boat was too small to go out on days when the
sea
> > was too large but I would certainly recommend him for those looking for
a
> > "boutique" type operation.
> >
> > Further, Reef Adventures is only associated with a couple of units at
> > Paradise Villas and not the whole complex.
>
>
> Yes...BUT...you're not a dive instructor who leads groups all over the
> country...................
>

OK, I'll admit it! I'm not a dive instructor who leads groups all over the
country . .. . mea culpa!

>

"Greg Mossman" <mossman@qnet.com> wrote in message
news:40b3750c$0$108$6c56adcd@news.qnet.com...
> "Jess Englewood" <pleasen@spam.com> wrote in message
> news:qEJsc.10$gZ4.34341@news.uswest.net...
>
> > Of course if you are a drunken attorney, that bar fight chasing you
around
> > is probably going to catch up in Belize City.
>
> Then I'll flash my OWI C-card and tell 'em I'm an instructor who leads
trips
> all over the country. They'd have to respect that.

But then again maybe they'll remember that some dive instructor who leads
trips all over the country, possibly you, called their home town a "dump".
And at this point I suspect being a drunk and/or attorney won't make the
beating any more severe.

And unlike our gracious, morally responsible government types, I don't get
the sense they'll apologize for sodomizing you either.

"Jess Englewood" <pleasen@spam.com> wrote in message
news:3DKsc.20$gZ4.43346@news.uswest.net...

> But then again maybe they'll remember that some dive instructor who leads
> trips all over the country, possibly you, called their home town a "dump".
> And at this point I suspect being a drunk and/or attorney won't make the
> beating any more severe.

Actually, being drunk will help make the beating feel better. At least
until the next morning. But I don't get beaten too often.

> And unlike our gracious, morally responsible government types, I don't get
> the sense they'll apologize for sodomizing you either.

Sure they will. Belizeans are a very gracious people.