Belize, Central America

Trip Planner

Corbin Fletcher

November 18, 2014

San Ignacio, Belize

U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U

1

1 Travel Dates:

1.1 Arrival Date:

December 9th

1.2 Departure Date:

December 22nd

2 Travel logistics:

¶ Arrive Belize City; . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Arrival Day

(a) Spend two full days and three nights in Belize City.1

(b) Belize City is a good place to acclimate to the Belizean culture before moving

on to other areas.

· Travel to San Ignacio Friday 12th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Day 4

(a) Depart Belize City, in the morning for San Ignacio. Travel by public bus.

(b) Spend three nights an two full days here.

(c) Many areas can be explored from San Ignacio, including: 1.) Xunantunich Ruin,

2.) Actun Tunichil Muknal (ATM) cave, and 3.) Caracol Ruin. All of these loca-

tion are within Belize and accessible in a one day trip when departing from San

Ignacio.

(d) Depart early Saturday December 13th for Caracol, Maya Ruin

i. Stay Saturday night in San Ignacio.

2

¸ Travel to Caye Caulker, Sunday 14th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Day 6

(a) Check out of your hotel on Sunday morning, and catch a bus back to Belize

City, and transfer to water taxi for transport to Caye Caulker.

(b) Your first night on Caye Caulker is Sunday 14th, stay five nights and four full

days on Caye Caulker

¹ Travel to Dangriga, Friday 19th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Day 10

(a) Depart – from Caye Caulker – early in the morning Friday 19th, arrive in Belize

City, and pick up rental car.

(b) During your stay in Dangriga we can make a quick one day trip to Gales Point

(e.g., Tamika’s home village), Hopkins Village, or Placencia. From North to South

respectively.

i. Spend two nights and one full day (Saturday 20th) in Dangriga.

ii. Dangriga is a good location to stay and Gales Point is easily accessible by

car from Dangriga. This would be a social/cultural experience and it is

worth the trip. Hopkins Village and Placencia are also accessible on a one

day trip from Dangriga.

(a) The only way to travel to Gales Point, Belize, is to rent a car. Car rental is easy

and affordable with no need to book in advance.

i. The locals hitch-hike, or rent a car, to travel between Belize City, and Gales

Point.

º Arrive Belize City; . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Day 12

(a) We will arrive in Belize City, late in the evening on the December 21st

(b) Check into guest house and relax for the night

3

» Departure Day;. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Day 13

(a) Wake in the morning, have good breakfast in Belize City, and prepare for your

return flight.

4

3 Ecotourism

3.1 General Information

Figure 1: Caracol Ruin

Belize is an ecotourism hot spot. There are many different

types of outdoor activites for tourist to do while they are in

Belize. You and John can visit the Cayes’ and San Pedro, or

Caye Caulker—if you want the more tarditional island experience. San Pedro and Caye

Caulker are accessible by boat from Belize City, and both hold a starkly different experience

for the traveler.

The Richest Ecosystem on Earth: Belize ecosystems’ are one of the wonders of our planet

and it contains an bewildering amount of unique floral and fauna. Belize has phenomenal

rainforest alive with beauty. Belize and its biodiversity reserve contains incredible diversity

of plants and animals species. Come explore Belize. . .

[ Note: \ Caracol is the largest Mayan ruin in Belize. Caracol has spectacular

views and it is in a remote location. However, the hike to reach this ruin is

strenuous. In contrast, the hike to Lamanai is shorter and the boat ride up the

New river is also a great experience. You and John will need to make a decision

on which ruin you chose to visit, and we can make arrangements.

4 Travel Tips

Tip: I suggest you travel as light as possible. If you notice–from section 2 of this trip

planer–you will be traveling frequently. Extra bags and personal items that are not

ABSOLUTELY necessary should be left at home. This will increase your enjoyment in Belize

by making travel easier and less cumbersome.

5

4.1 Some suggestion:

I suggest you bring:

¬ Binoculars 3

­ Small Digital Camera 3

® Sun block 3

¯ Hat and sunglasses 3

° Lightweight long-sleeved and short-sleeved shirt 3

± Lightweight long-pants and shorts 3

² Comfortable shoes, socks, sandals, or flip-flops 3

³ Bathing suit 3

µ Light insulating mid-layer (e.g., sweater) 3

Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y

4.2 Lodging

4.2.1 Gales Point

Manatee Lodge;

4.2.2 Belize City

Three Sisters Guest House;

Villa Boscardi;

Belcove Hotel; Inexpensive, clean, and safe with private bath and AC. On the river in down

town Belize City.

Bella Sombra Guest House; (this is where you will stay in Belize City. Hydes Lane,

Location)

6

4.2.3 Caye Caulker

De Real Macaw Guest House;

Blue Wave Guest House;

4.2.4 Orange Walk

Hotel de la Fuente;

St. Christopher’s Hotel;

4.2.5 Other

Chaa Creek Lodge this is an expensive higher-end lodge as an example.

5 The Cost:

Estimate cost while in Belize, can be determined by $500 U.S. dollars (USD) per seven

days or $ 71.42 USD per day cost. This is an in country cost that includes ground

transportation, lodging, food, car rental, and daily expenses (when applicable). It,

however, does not include hired guide service such as tour operator. If at some point

expedition members determined to hire a tour operator for any given leg of the expedition

this cost would need to be calculated accordingly. Additionally, if the expedition will be a

total of two weeks, each expedition member should allocate $1000 USD for expenses (e.g.,

$500 USD per seven days). Not including airfare to and from Central America.

An example of this calculation, and a rough estimation for a two week expedition:

500×2 = 1000+1000 = 2000, for a total expedition cost $2000 USD per person. Or, $1000

for air fare and $500 per week for two weeks.

7

Notes

1Lodging in Belize City, is to be determined. See Lodging section of this trip planner for details.

Turneffe Atoll, Belize

8

Appendix 1 Maps

Central America

9

Belize, Central America

10