BELIZE IS......
Scuba diving, snorkeling and sailing over colorful coral on the worldıs second largest barrier reef. Belize is fishing for elusive permit and bonefish, leaping tarpon and snook. Belize is exploring caves strewn with Maya ceremonial artifacts. Belize is kayaking with dolphins and canoeing under rainforest canopy. Belize is sitting atop a Maya pyramid listening to the roar of howler monkeys. Belize is horseback riding and hiking jungle trails under tropical foliage abundantly draped with orchids, toucans and screeching parrots. Belize is a birding paradise with over 550 avian species. Belize is lying in a hammock under the shade of the coconut tree, lulled to sleep by the sound of the waves and refreshing Caribbean Sea breezes. Belize is nature laced with adventure. Belize is personal and educational discovery. Belize is a trip!
Belize is well suited for individual, family and senior travel, off the beaten track treks, outdoor enthusiasts, as well as for those who prefer the creature comforts of home. The countryside and islands provide a dramatic backdrop for wedding ceremonies. Our small inns and lodges offer honeymooners privacy in an intimate setting. Our jungles, reefs and legacy of the ancient and mysterious Maya civilization that once dominated Belize are the ultimate open classroom and living laboratory for student groups.
Belize is easy to get to and around in. We are less than two hours by air from Miami. We are the only English speaking democratic country in Central America. Our currency is tied to the US dollar, which is accepted everywhere. Accommodations and rates run the gamut and thereıs always something nice in everyoneıs price range.
Belize Tripsı specialty is customized vacations which we design with you and are honed to reflect your individual interests. Our consultation services are provided gratis.
The information contained within should serve to provide you with a rich and balanced understanding of the country you plan to visit. We hope you find this interesting and informative and look forward to hearing from you.
CONTACT BELIZE TRIPS Email: info@belize-trips.com
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The Belize Barrier Reef, the largest in the Western hemisphere, extends 190 extraordinary miles from north to south. This natural wonder has been designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. The reef is augmented by three pristine atolls, hundreds of coral encrusted cayes (islands) and patch coral which contribute another 220 miles of reef to explore from above or below. Savvy anglers, divers, snorkelers, kayakers and sailors have long been drawn to our shores.
Our busiest and most socially active destination is San Pedro town on Ambergris Caye. That being said, this twenty five mile long island less than a mile from the reef, is still pretty laid back by most standards. Ambergris has the largest selection of hotels, condos, house rentals, restaurants, bars and water activities in Belize. The majority of hotels and services are located on the southern end of the island, close to San Pedro town. The hotels to the north are fewer and farther between and accessed by water taxi. Hol Chan Marine Reserve and Shark Ray Alley (swim with docile nurse sharks and spotted eagle rays) are the islands most popular aquatic attractions. Snorkelers and divers can take advantage of full day boat trips to Turneffe and Lighthouse Atolls (Blue Hole). The area also offers great fishing, kayaking, sailing and windsurfing. You can rent bikes, jet skis or golf carts to explore the island and arrange day trips to the mainland for Lamanai, Altun Ha or Tikal Maya ruins, go horseback riding, caving or view wildlife. The island is accessed by plane or boat.
Neighboring Caye Caulker offers many of the same water and land based activities youıll find on Ambergris. Caye Caulker is a smaller island, much more laid back and less developed than Ambergris. Caye Caulker appeals to backpackers and people on a moderate budget. The island is serviced by plane and water taxi.
Caye Chapel is the next island south and its main attraction is a formidable golf course. The island is privately owned and has a few higher end two bedroom villas for available for rent. Caye Chapel has an airstrip and can be accessed by water taxi.
St. Georgeıs Caye served as Belizeıs first settlement. This quiet mostly residential island is only 9 miles from Belize City, less than a mile from the reef and has two small self contained inns.
South Water Caye and Tobacco Caye are each situated about 10 miles off Dangriga, directly on the reef. These islands are perfect for people who are looking for walk in snorkeling or fishing. South Water Caye is a beautiful 15 acre island with three inns, offering accommodations that range from private cabanas with a/c to dorm rooms with outdoor showers. Tobacco Caye is about the third the size of SWC with twice as many smaller inns geared to the budget traveler. Dive and snorkel operators sometimes offer day trips to Glovers Atoll, our most remote and pristine atoll. Both islands are accessed by water taxi from Dangriga.
There are four atolls in the western hemisphere, three in Belize. These are for the serious diving, angling or kayaking enthusiast or for those who want a quiet, private and remote locale. Turneffe, Lighthouse and Glovers are amongst the most pristine marine environments on the planet and attract people from all over the world. The lodges, usually one per island, mostly offer seven night packages, a few offer three and four night packages. Kayakers are best accommodated on Glovers, where two excellent operators, Island Expeditions and Slick Rock, base on separate islands.
The Placencia peninsula is eighteen miles long and home to three small very different villages. Placencia village lies at the very end of the peninsula. The accommodations run from budget to moderate. Itıs a very friendly village with lots of small restaurants, a few bars and tour operators offering both land and sea excursions. The people are of Creole descent. Seine Bight village is six miles up the road and populated by people of Garifuna descent. Both villages have traditionally depended on the sea for their livelihoods. Riversdale village, the smallest of the three, lies at the head of the strip. The peninsula is much less developed than Ambergris and best known for itıs smaller more intimate beachfront inns, a few with world class amenities. The reef is further from shore and all snorkel and two tank dive trips are full day excursions, based on a coral encrusted coconut shaded island on the reef. The most popular attraction in the area is the yearly congregation of whale sharks, who at forty five plus feet make this docile plankton eater the largest fish in the sea. Whale sharks appear in numbers March through July, three days before and after the full moon. They are attracted by spawning snapper. Operators offer both dive and snorkel trips to the area when the whale sharks are present. It is a humbling experience to be eighty feet under and see one of these magnificent creatures loom out of the darkness-like watching the cross-town bus glide by. The area has many year round dive sites and the fishing is plentiful and varied. The numerous islands offshore are perfect for kayaking and sailing trips. Placencia is close to many interesting and exciting day trips on the mainland and can offer visitors who want to base in one location only, a great option to see both reef and jungle. The most popular is the boat trip to Monkey River to see howler monkeys, crocs, manatees and water birds. Birders and naturalist will be mesmerized in the 102,000 acre Jaguar Reserve, otherwise known as the Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary. Maya guides ID flora and fauna along the hiking trails. The trip includes picnic lunch, swimming at a waterfall and river tubing. The Preserve boasts all five species of cats and over 550 species of birds have been logged in area. There are also day trips to Toledo, our least developed and most lush district, for guided tours of Nim Li Punit and Lubaantun ruins and caves in the Maya villages.
Corozal, Stann Creek, Toledo and Belize districts encompass both sea and mainland. Corozal is our most northern district and city, just across the bay from Chetumal, Mexico. Sugarcane fields drape the countryside. The town is Spanish in flavor and was settled by Mayas escaping the Caste Wars in Mexico in the mid-1800. The area features two ruins, Cerros and Santa Rita. Shipstern Nature Reserve is just outside the fishing village of Sarteneja. There is a growing group of retirees from North America who are taking advantage of the Belize Retirement Act and setting up households in Consejo Shores.
The Stann Creek District is the heart of the citrus and banana growing industries. Dangriga is the capital city as well as the center of Garifuna cultural life. The Garifuna people are descendants of African slaves shipwrecked off the coast of St. Vincent and Arawaks, formerly of South America. The Garifuna settled on St. Vincentıs and Dominica until the late 1700ıs, when the British and French joined forces to viciously squash this free Black society. Their survivors were shipped to the Bay Islands in Honduras, where they settled north and south along the coast of Central America. The Garifuna arrived in Belize by the early 1800ıs and today are prominent in Dangriga, Hopkins and Seine Bight in the Stann Creek district as well as Punta Gorda and Barranco villages in the Toledo District. The Garifuna are represented in all strata of society and known for their rich culture of language, dance, food, art, music and drum making skills. Garifuna Settlement Day is celebrated November 19th. Sea, river, rainforest and caving trips are all accessible from this area. The 102,000 acre Jaguar Preserve (Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary) has numerous trails of varying lengths, guided hiking, camping and picnic areas with waterfalls, river tubing and is one of the premier birding destinations in Central America.
The Toledo district in the south is the most remote and least developed in Belize. Punta Gorda is a lovely seaside town and home to many different cultures, including the Ketchi and Mopan Mayas, Garifuna, East Indians, Mestizos, Creoles, Lebanese and Orientals. The Mayas are predominant in the idyllic outlaying villages, offering visitors basic accommodations, jungle tours and a glimpse into village life. The islands and rivers in this area are spectacular and offer world classs diving, snorkeling, fishing and kayaking. Toledo has the most rainfall and therefore, the most lush and bountiful rainforest and landscape in Belize. Lubaantun and Nim Li Punit are both important and interesting Maya ruins. You can arrange guided tours of the ruins that can include caving, swimming and exploring the Maya villages and surrounding jungle. Few visitors journey all the way to Toledo, but those who do consider it a remarkable area well worth visiting.
Belize City, in the Belize District, is our largest city and the nationıs cultural and commercial hub. It is a close knit, vibrant, multi-ethnic community dominated by the Creole culture. Belize City has the largest stores and supermarkets, a nice selection of hotels and restaurants, a gambling casino, movie theatres, art galleries, shops and crafts. The exhibits at the Museum of Belize will shed much more light on our past, including a very impressive collection of Maya artifacts. Belize City can be a good place to base for caving, ruins, birding and wildlife, fishing, diving or snorkeling within a 60 minute travel radius of town. Friday night happy hour has become de rigueur amongst denizens of the city and is a great opportunity for you to meet Belize people much like yourselves. Most of the larger hotels have outdoor pool bars and offer local entertainment. Iım partial to the steel band at the Biltmore. The Belize Zoo is a remarkable facility that has received world wide acclaim for environmental, education and conservation efforts. The exhibits are animal friendly and youıll see just about every creature that resides in Belize at the Zoo. It is important to note that none of the animals were taken from the wild.
Crooked Tree is an interesting and friendly Creole Village on a lagoon that is home to the jabiru stork, the largest flying bird in the Americas. The lagoon is a premier birding destination managed by the Belize Audubon Society and the local community, who offer guided boat trips on the lagoon, rivers and back creeks. It is home to numerous species of water birds, the morlets crocodile and both howler and spider monkeys. The accommodations are small moderately priced family owned inns. The area is also known for growing and preparing cashew nuts.
The Baboon Sanctuary in Bermudian Landing is another good example of community based protection and management of local resources. Villagers were encouraged to protect the howlerıs habitat, learned to live side by side and thus benefit from one another. Guides can be hired at the small museum in the village.
Altun Haıs close proximity to the sea made it an important trading center for both agricultural and marine products. It is a well excavated ruin and several impressive jade pieces have been extracted, most important of which is a large carved jade mask. Altun Ha is actually in the Orange Walk district but is only a half day guided tour from Belize City.
Lamanai, also in the Orange Walk district, is a full day guided tour from Belize City. Itıs one of the better day trips, combining the Maya civilization with jungle, rivers and wildlife. Lamanai was one of the last of the Maya ruins to be inhabited and is quite impressive. There is a good museum on site and youıll almost certainly hear, if not see, both howler and spider monkeys, crocodiles, manatees, otters and a large array of water birds. .
Belize City is 10 miles from the Barrier Reef and a jumping off point for great diving, snorkeling or river and salt water fishing.
The Cayo district in western Belize is our most visited and diverse mainland destination. Rivers, ruins, mountains, jungles, pine forests and caves offer visitors a multitude of great activities to choose from. Cayo is fortunate to have an abundance of important ruins, including Tikal (just over the Guatemalan border), Caracol, Xunantunich, Cahal Pech and El Pilar. The Macal and Mopan Rivers meet to form the Belize River. These clean and picturesque rivers offer great kayaking and canoeing and are a wonderful vantage point from which to view wildlife. Cayo has some of the most extensive underground cave systems in the hemisphere and offers recreational river cave tubing and guided tours of caves used by the ancient Mayas for ceremonies and rituals-some still littered with artifacts and skeletal remains. The 100,000 acre Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve features some of the oldest geological formations in Central America and is an anomaly in an otherwise tropical environment. The pine forests blanket hills, escarpments, gorges and are home to some of the most scenic waterfalls, caves and rivers to be found in Belize- including the Rio Frio Cave, Rio On Pools and Thousand Foot Falls, the highest in Central America. Cayo has some of the best horseback riding and hiking trails in the country. Belmopan is our capital city and seat of government. Spanish Lookout is the largest of several Mennonite communities in the country. The Mennonites settled in the mid 1950ıs and provide for much of what appears on your dinner plates. The agrarian communities are run by church elders and each follows its own set of rules- the Mennonites of Barton Creek shun all types of machinery (even zippers) whereas the Mennonites of Spanish Lookout can repair just about any piece of old broken down machinery. Many travelers enter Belize via the Guatemalan border and base in the San Ignacio area, where most of these day trips emanate from. One could easily spend 5 nights in this area and be busy every day. This is a delightful area with a mixed population of Spanish, Maya, Mestizo, Creole and Lebanese.
Orange Walk districtıs most visited attraction is Lamanai ruins, overlooking the New River Lagoon. Day trips depart for the ruins from Tower Hill Bridge, Belize City, San Pedro and Caye Caulker. This is one of the better day trips, combining Maya civilization with jungle and wildlife. You could see manatees, numerous species of birds (including the jabiru), howler and spider monkeys, otters, crocodiles and lots more. There is an award winning lodge near the ruins. The ruins are both important and visually impressive. Citrus and sugarcane are the districts two main crops; rum, molasses and sugar are produced locally.
Which areas should you visit? Fill out the comment form so I will have a better idea of what interests you and Iıll reply with suggestions for you to consider.
Email: info@belize-trips.com
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We have traversed Belize from North to South, East to West, on foot and horseback, in kayaks, canoes, sail and motor boats, off-off road in 4WD and effortlessly by plane.
Belize Trips is helmed by me, Katie Valk, a music business refugee from New York City. I vacationed on Ambergris some 20 odd years ago and returned in 1989 to see the mainland. Iım still here.
Why? Belize is an extraordinary country and Belizeans are delightful people. I lived in the Cayo district for six years, working at the Rainforest Medicine Trail, operating horseback riding trips and managing a riverside jungle lodge. I moved to Belize City and worked for a local TV station producing original programming. In 1997, I was invited to join a prominent travel agency and develop their tourism component.
This brings us to 2003, when I started Belize Trips. We are much more than a travel agency or tour operator. We are Belize travel specialists. We love our work and all the activities and places weıll be talking with you about. We are well acquainted with the distinct flavors of each area of the country and have visited the hotels weıll be talking about. We pride ourselves on being up to date on current conditions and situations at each. Weıre enthralled by the Maya and their ancient cities, by life in the jungle, sea and in the air, by Belize people and their different ethnicities.
Weıre on hand and available to you during your vacation should you need to replace your lost eye glasses, passport or need assistance with any other situation that may arise. I am a Warden for the US Embassy, a volunteer position, and assist American citizens in need. We are active in local civic and environmental organizations, working hard to protect that which you have traveled so far to see.
Email: info@belize-trips.com
Here's what people have to say about us.
"..an incredibly helpful organization, whether you want to book tours, plan an itinerary or ask obscure questions about Belize. They can set up a variety of both mainland and cayes tours".
- Lonely Planet Guide book
I've been visiting Belize for over 20 years and writing guide books and travel articles for numerous publications for over 15 years and Katie Valk is the most knowledgeable and hard-working travel agent in the country. She's also one of the few people in Belize I can turn to for inspiration and advice -- and have complete faith in what she says. I wish Katie the very best in her new venture and I'll be proud to recommend her in my next books.
- Rough Guides/Peter Eltringham, Belize; Central America; Guatemala;The Maya World; Mexico www.roughguides.co.uk/www.roughguides.com, mail@roughguides.co.uk
"Katie Valk knows Belize like the back of her hand. If anybody can find the right beach hotel, jungle lodge, dive spot or adventure trip for you in Belize, Katie can."
Katie has lived in Belize for 15 years and knows the country up one side and down the other. She can put you exactly where you want to be in Belize, and should anything go wrong, she's right there in Belize to help solve the problem."
- Belize First Guide to Mainland Belize/Lan Sluder, Fodor's Belize and Guatemala, Adaptor Kit: Belize
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