What's near the port?

[KateHarper]

Ive read on these boards that there is fenced in little shopping area near the port. Is there anything else? I believe someone said a bar, but i was wondering if i could get a little more details.

 

fun bars? laid back bars? pool bars?

 

i'm trying to figure out what there is to do in Belize. I dont think we are doing cave tubing and may just want to chill and relax that day. However i've read that the areas outside the "fenced in" shopping area are a bit unsavory. We are two single young girls looking to go do some fun stuff, but we want to stay in safe areas. any advice would be appreciated.

[wadethegringo]

Belize city can be a bit intimidating. If you can find a tour to Caye Caulker, that would be my suggestion. A very laid back bar right on the water....You can do it via water taxi. but find some friends to go with for the walk thru the city....

[World Gallery]

There really isn't anything near the port. That is the bad news. If you want to do anything of interest, other than walk around the fenced off tourist area with a few bars and shops, you need to leave that area (best with a tour or good plan).

Caye Caulker is a good option for laid back bars and restaurants in a pretty setting but it is not close! First you have to tender into Tourism Village which is about a 15 to 20 min. tender ride. Then you have to catch the water taxi (or you can book through Coral Breeze and take their private water taxi) and that is a 45 minute ride by boat to Caye Caulker then 45 minutes back to Tourisn Village, then another tender ride back to the ship. My suggestion is to research Caye Caulker to see if it is worth it to you. We did it because we had been to Belize several times and really wanted to try something new.

[crewsweeper]

THE bar at the Tourist Village is Wet Lizard. It's a fun and casual place. Best thing for Belize is a cavetubing excursion. Next is snorkeling off a boat, preferably via a ship's excusion where they pick you up at the ship versuus having to tender in. Then the Mayan ruins excursions. if by chance your ship is in port for a long time, 10+ hours or so, then try the water taxi to Caye Caulker or San Pedro. The taxi schedules ahve changed and they aren't as frequent anymore.

[clackey]

The tourist village is crowded and nothing but a tourist trap. We go there only to take independant tours, and to buy drugs. Prescription drugs that is.:D

 

Book something offshore. Bannister Island is nice. You can book thru the cruiseline or Coral Breeze. We went to Cay Caulker last year. Wouldn't do it again, especially since the water taxis have changed schedules. I heard that Fab Tours has their own island now but haven't seen any reviews.

[kr8z]

The tourist village is crowded and nothing but a tourist trap. We go there only to take independant tours, and to buy drugs. Prescription drugs that is.:D

 

Book something offshore. Bannister Island is nice. You can book thru the cruiseline or Coral Breeze. We went to Cay Caulker last year. Wouldn't do it again, especially since the water taxis have changed schedules. I heard that Fab Tours has their own island now but haven't seen any reviews.

 

My husband and I had planned on taking a water taxi to Caye Caulker. Can you tell me why you wouldn't do that again? Thank you.

[wadethegringo]

My husband and I had planned on taking a water taxi to Caye Caulker. Can you tell me why you wouldn't do that again? Thank you.

 

I live on Ambergris Caye, Belize. A neighbor of Caye caulker. I try to get to Caye Caulker a couple times a month....I found it for the first time on a cruise. I fell in love with the island and moved to Belize.

 

Caye Caulker as stated is a difficult excursion to do on your own. It can be done and in my opinion worth the effort. However with the travel time, leaving plenty of room for error, you will only have two hours on the island.

 

World Gallery has the travel process by water taxi posted. Another option, if in your budget is to fly from Belize air strip to Caye Caulker or San Pedro. This will involve a taxi to the airstrip. It is a 15 minute flight. TROPIC AIR has flight every hour.Better snorkeling in Cay Caulker.

 

On Caye caulker you can take a taxi to the Lazy Lizard. On San Pedro a taxi or you can walk the beach.....

[kr8z]

I live on Ambergris Caye, Belize. A neighbor of Caye caulker. I try to get to Caye Caulker a couple times a month....I found it for the first time on a cruise. I fell in love with the island and moved to Belize.

 

Caye Caulker as stated is a difficult excursion to do on your own. It can be done and in my opinion worth the effort. However with the travel time, leaving plenty of room for error, you will only have two hours on the island.

 

World Gallery has the travel process by water taxi posted. Another option, if in your budget is to fly from Belize air strip to Caye Caulker or San Pedro. This will involve a taxi to the airstrip. It is a 15 minute flight. TROPIC AIR has flight every hour.Better snorkeling in Cay Caulker.

 

On Caye caulker you can take a taxi to the Lazy Lizard. On San Pedro a taxi or you can walk the beach.....

 

Thanks, I appreciate the info. I did just look up their flight schedule and it is no longer every hour. Looks like we'd still only get around 3 hours at most on the island (again leaving plenty of room for error). I'm not sure if it's worth the extra $40-$50pp for another hour. We'd just be hanging out and probably grabbing lunch and a (few) cocktails anyway. Do you think we'd really need more than 2 hours?

 

My apologies to the OP if I am hijacking. It isn't my intention and we both may learn something valuable.

[kr8z]

Geez! I forgot to go back and do the reverse trip. I was only looking at schedule from Belize City airstrip to Caye Caulker and not the return trip. I am a dork. So, how long is the taxi ride to the city air strip? We may just do this. Thanks again.

[wadethegringo]

You are correct...from The international airport it is every hour...From the airstrip it is on the odd hours..my mistake....

 

You can Snokel from the bar....no coral but some fish and the occasional shark or ray...Cute village. you can do it all in 2-3 hours....

[clackey]

My husband and I had planned on taking a water taxi to Caye Caulker. Can you tell me why you wouldn't do that again? Thank you.

The main reason is the travel time. You have about 1 1/2 hours of water taxi and 30 to 45 minutes of tendering and that is not counting the time standing in lines and dodging vendors. We had a snorkel trip booked thru Star Tours. The outboard quit running several times going to and from the reef. Then when I asked the guide about the time he informed me that he didn't have a watch. Luckily we had 1 1/2 hours before the last water taxi.

In last water taxi I mean the last one that we could take to return to the tourist village to catch "THE LAST" tender boat. We almost didn't make it onto the water taxi. It was so crowded that they had to leave 4 or 5 people on Cay Caulker. I can only hope that they were locals.

 

Now the water taxi companies have merged, started charging more and have changed the schedules. You can go if you want to, but always remember, I told you so.

[KateHarper]

Thanks, I appreciate the info. I did just look up their flight schedule and it is no longer every hour. Looks like we'd still only get around 3 hours at most on the island (again leaving plenty of room for error). I'm not sure if it's worth the extra $40-$50pp for another hour. We'd just be hanging out and probably grabbing lunch and a (few) cocktails anyway. Do you think we'd really need more than 2 hours?

 

My apologies to the OP if I am hijacking. It isn't my intention and we both may learn something valuable.

 

No problem! i'm trying to learn as much as i can too. so from what i gathered there isnt much to do near the port except the tourist trap village correct? i was thinking about cave tubing but some folks have said that the water is very cold, its a relatively short ride in the caves, and they probably wouldnt do it again. i love tubing though, so i'm kind of torn.

 

my ship will be in the port from 8am-6pm. i hesitate to go too far away in fear of not getting back in time. i'll be a nervous wreck all day!

[World Gallery]

I understand how you feel because Belize makes me feel that way too! There are some unique things to do there but after tendering in, then having to go another long distance to get anywhere is very annoying,

We also did the cave tubing, once with kids and once without, once with the ship's tour and once on a private tour with Nacho and Cythnia (you can google their names with the words "cave tubing" and find them). I would never do the ship tour again because it was too many people but we had a nice time on the private tour. To me, cave tubing is okay. Depends a lot on the people you are with too because when you are with a fun group of people, anything can be fun. It was a unique experience and to my surprise, all of my kids loved it (ages 8 - 15). Yes, the water is cold but you don't have to get totally wet because you are in a tube.

Again, it is about a one hour drive to get there!

I wouldn't worry about missing the ship if you go with a good tour guide that knows how to handle cruise ship passengers. Also, you have a long time in port.

[alexandra cruiser]

It was advised to have someone go with the 2 girls,,,why???rough area,crime,etc?? Havent read about this in guidebook....

will be there in Nove. from 8am to 8pm,,,and wanted to see city with hubby,we re in our 60s,,,should we avoid it and just take ships tour?

 

Most inv. strenuous activity, not into tubing,snorkling,etc...any advice??

Not sure what to do....appreciate any ideas,,,,tours are inc. in cruise,so price not option,,,just which to chose,,,or none and stay on boat???:confused:

[wadethegringo]

It was advised to have someone go with the 2 girls,,,why???rough area,crime,etc?? Havent read about this in guidebook....

will be there in Nove. from 8am to 8pm,,,and wanted to see city with hubby,we re in our 60s,,,should we avoid it and just take ships tour?

 

Most inv. strenuous activity, not into tubing,snorkeling,etc...any advice??

Not sure what to do....appreciate any ideas,,,,tours are inc. in cruise,so price not option,,,just which to chose,,,or none and stay on boat???:confused:

 

Belize is not the same as the other ports in the Caribbean. You tender into the CITY. For island life or water tours, it is a way from the port. I would suggest a tour for these.

 

There is a lot of culture outside of tourist village. You will be safe. You must be firm with the vendors.. Just say NO!.

 

Like any big city. there is the Bad part of town. Unfortunately that is what Belize City is to Belize. during the day walking around town, outside of the ocasional vendor or begger you will be fine.

[clackey]

It was advised to have someone go with the 2 girls,,,why???rough area,crime,etc?? Havent read about this in guidebook...:confused:

On our first trip to Belize we went cavetubing. On our way out of town we got a good look at the town. High walls around some of the houses, many of the walls with broken glass imbedded into the tops. Most of the nicer houses (not many) had steel bars over the first floor windows. Then our tour bus was stopped twice by military. Someone had dumped trash on one of the roads demonstrating against the government. I could see that things could get interesting really fast. It may be safe for 2 girls to wander around unescorted, but I wouldn't recommend it.

[njsunshine]

honest- I went on a kayak excursion in Key West and almost had a panic attack when our kayak drifted from the instructor. Is cave tubing safe?????????

[cruznlobo]

Last time we were in Belize we took a horse and buggy tour of the city. When we got off the tender and found the Wet Lizard, had a couple Lighthouses (beer) then went on the tour by just getting one of the guys waiting outside the fenced area. Nice tour, slow and informative. He took us through the good sections and the not so good areas. We saw all the schools (the kids are all dressed in uniforms and impeccably clean). We saw the government house and the nice hospital. Then he took us by the poorer section and showed us the hospital there. The two were like night and day. Overall we got a good idea of what the city is like and afterward we went back to the Wet Lizard for more beer and a bite to eat. We are going to Belize again in January and plan on stopping by the Wet Lizard to see if our names are still written on the beam.

[texancruzer]

Went to Belize with my daughter a few years back. Went cavetubing with a private tour. Had a blast. But - been there - done that...... But if you have never done it - consider it. You will see the city (they took us for a short "tour") and the countryside and the rainforest. Wonderful lunch afterwards.... so a good experience and one I am glad I have done.

 

I think alot of people who visit Belize City are not prepared for it. Most Caribbean destinations have ports which are a bit more upscale than the rest of the area, in order to cater to the tourists. Most tourists when visiting a tropical locale expect a certain level of "niceness" which is not what you will find in Belize City. We tend to DIY many ports when we travel, heading into "unchartered territory" but this is one place I would not do that. Your best bet is to head out either into the countryside or to the cayes......imo

[mommie922]

Ive read on these boards that there is fenced in little shopping area near the port. Is there anything else? I believe someone said a bar, but i was wondering if i could get a little more details.

 

fun bars? laid back bars? pool bars?

 

i'm trying to figure out what there is to do in Belize. I dont think we are doing cave tubing and may just want to chill and relax that day. However i've read that the areas outside the "fenced in" shopping area are a bit unsavory. We are two single young girls looking to go do some fun stuff, but we want to stay in safe areas. any advice would be appreciated.

 

When are you cruising? We were in Belize last September and were booked to do the cavetubing thru Cavetubing.com (highly reccommended) but the caves were flooded so we didn't get to go tubing. (Friends went in October and had a blast) We ended up doing a Zipline excursion theu Island Marketing which was awesome! We are going back this year in November and booked a snorkel/beach/manatee excurtion thru www.coralbreezetours.com It's a 4 and 1/2 hour excurtion for only $60 pp. There really isn't alot to do if you don't book and excursion in Belize.

I would for sure NOT recommend you two walking outside the fenced in area by yourselves! My son's (19 and 20) ventured out of the fence last year and were quickly brought back in by the guard at the welcome center. Not trying to scare you but it was not one of the most comfotable ports we have been to. Good luck in choosing your activities! Happy sailing! :)

[mommie922]

It was advised to have someone go with the 2 girls,,,why???rough area,crime,etc?? Havent read about this in guidebook....

will be there in Nove. from 8am to 8pm,,,and wanted to see city with hubby,we re in our 60s,,,should we avoid it and just take ships tour?

 

Most inv. strenuous activity, not into tubing,snorkling,etc...any advice??

Not sure what to do....appreciate any ideas,,,,tours are inc. in cruise,so price not option,,,just which to chose,,,or none and stay on boat???:confused:

 

For sure get off the ship! I would suggest booking a tour thru the ship. Not sure what cruise line you are on but they should have a Belize City tour. If they don't offer a city tour check out Island Marketing LTD (google it comes right up) Last year when the caves were flooded our cave tubing part of our excursion was cancelled so the tour guide took us on a tour of the city before we did the second half of our excursion (zipline) Belize is something to see. We really enjoyed our tour. When your done with your tour, check out the Wet Lizard for lunch. It's located to the left when you enter the Port. It's an upstairs resturant/bar. Pretty laid back and wonderful food. We will be there in November also! Happy Cruising! :)