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The primary
coastal areas in Belize are:
1.
San Pedro/Ambergris Caye:
San Pedro is actually the town located on Ambergris Caye (caye is the
local word for island), but many people use the terms Ambergris Caye and
San Pedro interchangeably. Ambergris Caye/San Pedro has the most tourist
facilities, the most (and varied) restaurants and bars, the most gift
shops, the most nightlife -- and the most tourists of any area in
Belize. However, Ambergris Caye has maintained its
small, friendly ambiance as a Caribbean
village rather than a mega
tourist destination such as Cancun.
Lots of tours
and tour operators to chose from, including ruins and jungle tours.
(Because Ambergris Caye is on an island, getting to the ruins and jungle
will involve a boat or plane ride to the mainland. The Mesoamerican
Barrier Reef is closer to San Pedro than it is in Placencia and Hopkins
(see below), so diving and snorkeling are a little less expensive than
in the more southern areas. Lots of lodging options to chose from, but
the beaches aren't as good as further south (mud bottoms rather than
sandy bottoms).
Also, there are two very different areas of Ambergris Caye -
the main Ambergris Caye
area, where San Pedro Town and most of the resorts are located,
and North Ambergris, which is across a small "cut"
and which is almost all
residential development and resorts.
It's possible to
take a golf cart across the cut and to travel up
North Ambergris Caye a short way, maybe a mile or two.
However, the "road" is really a trail, and if it's been
raining much, the trail is almost impassable. (My golf cart ended up
mired in the mud up to its fenders the last time I tried to go up to
Capricorn resort.) Therefore, transportation to and from North Ambergris
and San Pedro Town (for shops, grocery stores and restaurants) is mostly
by boat. The resorts on North Ambergris
Caye tend to be higher-end ones such as Mata Chica and Captain Morgan's.
There are also quite a few fairly large residences available for rental
on North Ambergris.
(Take a look at our
San Pedro Accommodations
Page for a few lodging recommendations.)
2. Caye Caulker:
Caye Caulker is San Pedro's budget island alternative in the north.
Lots of backpackers, relatively
inexpensive lodging and restaurants, although that's beginning to change
somewhat. (Some very nice new seafront condos just opened a few months
ago). Diving and snorkeling are much the
same as in San Pedro, and about the same price;
ruins and jungle trips require a boat ride. No beaches that slope to the
sea (the entire island is pretty much a beach, but a seawall separates
it from the Caribbean). Caye Caulker reminds me a little of Key West
about 20 years ago. (Take a look at our Caye Caulker
Accommodations Page for lodging recommendations.)
3. Hopkins/Sittee
Point area:
Hopkins Village itself is a small
Garifuna coastal village that is interesting for a day tour, or for an
evening out for authentic Garifuna cuisine. (More information on Hopkins
Village at
http://www.hopkinsbelize.com/ and
http://www.hopkinsvillage.com/).
Dangriga is the
largest town in the area and is about a 30-minute
drive from Hopkins. The roads in this area are in pretty good condition,
with only small portions still unpaved. Therefore, it's very easy to
travel between the coast and western and southern attractions such as
Xunantunich Mayan ruins, Blue Creek Cave, Cave's Branch, San Ignacio,
the Belize Zoo, etc. The Hopkins area is the only coastal area where
renting a car might make sense, especially for larger groups and
families.
a. Hamanasi
is a really good dive and
snorkeling resort in this area, and does some out-of-the-ordinary dive
and snorkel trips such as Glover's Reef Atoll and Lighthouse Caye. Very,
very nice rooms and suites (their new tree top suites are beautiful),
big beachfront pool, good on-premises restaurant, and because of
Hamanasi's fairly central location for southern Belize, inland
activities such as the Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary are easily
accessible.
b. Jaguar Reef Lodge
Like Hamansi, Jaguar Reef has a good central location for ruins, jungle
and cave tours. Very nice facilities, very good
family packages.
c. Townhouses,
villas and private homes.
The Hopkins coast is still relatively undeveloped, but a few very nice
villas and private houses are now available for rent.
(DeBraal
House,
Belizean Dreams Estates) Most are fairly large - 3-4 bedrooms
and are near Hamanasi and Jaguar Reef.
4. Placencia.
Placencia is a 12-mile long Peninsula
with Placencia Village located at its southern end. Lodging ranges from
very upscale resorts to moderately priced apartments, houses
and beach cabanas in Placencia Village.
(See our Placencia Lodging pages for more information on Placencia
lodging.)
Fishing, diving and snorkeling are really good
in the Placencia area, but the boat ride to the best
sites is longer than further north.
Land trips are much easier from Placencia than from Ambergris and
Caye Caulker, because, unlike Ambergris and Caye Caulker, Placencia is a
peninsula, rather than an island, so long boat rides
are not involved in ruins and jungle trips.
Placencia has more of an "adventurous," "Indiana Jones" type feel to it
than other beach locations in Belize. (Local Placencians claim to be
descended from pirates, and they just might be.) "Adventure with
amenities" (such as good tap water, electricity, phones, Internet
service, wide variety of lodging) is an apt way to describe Placencia.
For more info, take a look at the Placencia information on our site at
http://www.destinationsbelize.com/placenci.htm,
http://www.destinationsbelize.com/accommod.htm, and
http://www.destinationsbelize.com/is_placencia.htm (discussing the
difference between Placencia and San Pedro, the two most popular coastal
areas in Belize).
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