Belize

I need recommendations on excursions in Belize City. I'm on the April 2nd sailing on the Dream and I've never been to Belize and want to get the most bang for my buck.

Head over to the Belize Threads in the Caribbean boards. Lots of ideas.

Best excursion is via private vendor and go cave-tubing. Unique to Belize port.

Other options are:

• Maya ruins. 3 ruins. Closest and best for private vendor is Altun Ha. For Xuntunich and Lamanai, preference would be ship excursion so you don't get left behind.
  
• Snorkeling, ship or private at one of the cayes.
  

Belize is one port where you want an excursion. We were on the Dream a few months ago and in Belize we did the excursion to Lamanai. It was an amazing experience!! History, culture, food, etc - this tour had it all. Fair warning: to get to the ruins you have to take a bus ride (air conditioned with guides who provide tons of great info) and a boat ride, so the journey is a few hours, but it was most definitely worth it. The ruins are beautiful and the view from the top unforgettable. The lunch that was included was delicious - even our (sometimes picky eater) kids all enjoyed the chicken, rice & beans dish that was served. A great excursion option. Happy cruising! 😉

cave tubing was fun.

Would not venture into city beyond port walls without tour or armed escort.

Second the cave tubing with a private vendor. There are plenty to choose from. No need to pay shore excursion prices.

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We will either stay on the ship or go to Rendezvous Caye. Been to Belize 3 times and it is simply not the port for me. I'd rather enjoy some peace and quiet on the ship.

Belize is one port where you want an excursion. We were on the Dream a few months ago and in Belize we did the excursion to Lamanai. It was an amazing experience!! History, culture, food, etc - this tour had it all. Fair warning: to get to the ruins you have to take a bus ride (air conditioned with guides who provide tons of great info) and a boat ride, so the journey is a few hours, but it was most definitely worth it. The ruins are beautiful and the view from the top unforgettable. The lunch that was included was delicious - even our (sometimes picky eater) kids all enjoyed the chicken, rice & beans dish that was served. A great excursion option. Happy cruising! 😉

I'll add that I had a similar experience visiting Xuntunich. Similar long bus ride, but no boat. Again, beautiful ruins and the lunch was also very good. The great thing about ruins in Belize is that they let you climb to the top and Xuntunich offers amazing views of the countryside. Just be careful if you have kids...as they don't have safety railings that you'd expect in the U.S.

Outside of Belize City, its really a beautiful country...if you can overlook the occasional load of garbage on the side of the road..LOL.

Check out cavetubing.bz you'll have an unbelizable time. LOVED it. Can't wait to do it again.

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We did this one and really enjoyed it. We were even able to climb to the top of one of the pyramids at the Mayan ruins.

"Altun Ha Mayan Site & River Wallace shore excursion for you if you’d like to visit an important Mayan ruin and see Belize’s wildlife in a lush tropical rainforest."

**boat- ride along Belize City’s scenic coast.

**Then Belize River, called Rio Wallace

**After approximately 90 minutes on the river, you tie up at a riverside dock for 30 to 45 minutes. Take the time to purchase a local lunch and browse the gift shop for Belize souvenirs.

**Then air-conditioned motorcoach for the 45-minute ride to Altun Ha, an ancient Mayan ceremonial center

**After the Mayan site, air-conditioned coach 45-minute ride back to the pier.”

 

Would not venture into city beyond port walls without tour or armed escort.

Ah, c'mon MG:rolleyes: I know you've been in worse places.

OP, there are a number of independent excursion hawkers right outside the cruise port who can be a tad aggressive in their approach, but aren't looking to do you harm. And given how Central American cities are laid out, you will have to travel through some very poor areas on your way out of the city. But the area immediately surrounding the cruise port also has hotels and casinos that cater to the 1%ers, museums, schools, and foreign consulates. The city overall is a working city, not designed for tourists.

One of my favorite ports I've been to. One time did an Altun Ha excursion via Carnival, the other time we hopped on the water taxi to Caye Caulker.

We have a WONDERFUL time in Belize when we went April 2016 on the Valor.

We went here: http://www.bananabank.com/

This excursion is not offered through the boat. We were interested in seeing parrots and a horseback ride. We have a friend w/ us on this cruise. The 3 of us did this excursion w/ a tour guide from the resort. It was wonderful. About a 45 minute drive from the port each way. They fed us a snack and refreshments when we go there, lunch after the horseback ride. Tour through the grounds, exotic birds, boat ride down the river. We wished we could have stayed longer. The resort is 500 acres of mahogany forest and the owners are originally from the states.

We have a WONDERFUL time!

Lamanai for sure. But use the cruise line. I booked thru Costco travel but bus broke down in middle of nowhere barely made the last tender with a little luck and quick thinking. It's a 30 minute tender then hour bus ride then an hour on a boat down river. Each way. We only had 45 minutes to tour site but very worth it.

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Probably coolest thing I saw on the boat ride was some locals in what had to be a hundred year old hollowed out tree canoe spear fishing. Several monkeys in trees at the ruins sleeping. Be prepared it is a jungle not Disney

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Ah, c'mon MG:rolleyes: I know you've been in worse places.

 

OP, there are a number of independent excursion hawkers right outside the cruise port who can be a tad aggressive in their approach, but aren't looking to do you harm. And given how Central American cities are laid out, you will have to travel through some very poor areas on your way out of the city. But the area immediately surrounding the cruise port also has hotels and casinos that cater to the 1%ers, museums, schools, and foreign consulates. The city overall is a working city, not designed for tourists.

When the police at the port are walking around with assault weapons it gives me pause.

cave tubing was fun.

 

Would not venture into city beyond port walls without tour or armed escort.

This is exactly why Belize port is just a chill port for me. No venturing.

This is exactly why Belize port is just a chill port for me. No venturing.

Would much rather go to HMC or Princess Cays than come here

Went Jungle ATV and cave tubing with Butts Up. 3 times now, and always a blast. Independant, and you don't pay until the trip is done. (Unless that part has changed in the past 2 years)

Cave tubing for sure. What an experience.

I would book through Carnival. We did, and our bus was late getting back to port. No problem, since it was a Carnival tour. But

We went to Lamanai and loved it. Used a private excursion I found recommended by many on here but can't remember who right now. The boat ride was super fun and the ruins very interesting. LOVED the wildlife we got to see here in their natural habitat that we haven't seen anywhere else. My son (probably 10-11 at the time we went) just said last week that this tour and whale watching in Alaska were tied for his favorite trips ever.

This is exactly why Belize port is just a chill port for me. No venturing.

Check out Harvest Caye....NCL's new Amber Cove/Grand Turk like stop outside of Belize with no tendering needed.

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Have done Alten Ha twice, and city tour - all booked thru carnival (wouldn't consider privately booking here). Excursions were just fine - poked about the port facility and enjoyed that as well. Got the shirt . . .

Through Carnival, we did the Altun Ha Ruins and River Wallace tour. It was AWESOME. We got about an hour and a half at the ruins, lunch at the Black Orchid resort, and then a 2 hour river boat ride with a completely awesome guide. Saw a lot of native animals, and a tapir even crossed in front of our boat. Just make sure to wear sunscreen as the boat isn't covered. (And it's VERY fast.)

There are just so many natural treasures in Belize that make it an interesting port. A variety of river tubing locations, ruins, jungle, etc. there are so many boring ports out there where there's nothing to do but go to the beach. Don't skip Belize because of fear; I've never heard of anything happening to someone booked on a tour - which makes Belize better than Miami and New York in terms of safety

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Thank You!

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