Belize City Tour

[BeadBabe]

I posted this under a Belikin Beer Tour thread, but thought I'd see if I got a response here...

 

North and South Belize City Tour with a visit to the Belikin Beer Factory

 

Anyone do the City Tour before? Comments?:D

[texancruzer]

Well all I can say is I can't believe they would charge someone for a tour of Belize City......

 

We were there a few weeks ago..... booked a cave tubing excursion (amazing !! ) and while waiting for two couples who were late showing up....they offered to drive us around Belize city for 15-20 minutes for a "tour". Very very poor place..... not really much to look at. An old church built with bricks used as ballast in an old ships hold..... a run down museum..... anyway just not sure I would have paid for this "tour"..... I can't imagine the beer factory is much either.... I may be wrong but I doubt it :o

 

Now the interior of Belize.....WOW We drove inland about 50 minutes to get to the caves..... it really gets beautiful inland. Next trip I will head out to the cayes for snorkeling though...... heard that is amazing also.

[BeadBabe]

Well all I can say is I can't believe they would charge someone for a tour of Belize City.......... I can't imagine the beer factory is much either.... I may be wrong but I doubt it :o .

 

Texan....thanks, and I hearrrr ya!! But I have a travel partner that is about to spontaniously combust over all the beaching, snorkeling and diving that I've already planned. So I had to let him plan one day, and this is what he picked. I know, I know...why would you go to Belize for a city tour and a beer factory tour....but...."viva la difference!" right??? I'm a firm believer in that you'll have a good time wherever you go, if you decide to. So I'm taking that stand. With your advice...I'm not expecting much, so can't be dissappointed. I have read all over the boards though that the beer is pretty good.

 

For the purpose of interest though, hear is what they say:

"New to Belize. If you're hungry for Belizean culture, there's no better way to sample the best of Belize than through our Belikin Brewery and Belize City tour. You'll get a taster's tour of the facility that produces Belize's best-known beer, get acquainted with the past and present of Belize's largest city, and top it off with a delicious lunch of authentic Belizean cuisine.

 

Your tour begins at the Belize Tourism Village, the docking area for all cruise ship tenders.. A few steps from your tender, you will meet our team at the Wet Lizard Restaurant and Bar. From there, an air-conditioned passenger van will guide you through Belize City.

 

Generally overlooked by tourists, Belize City is in fact a bustling, colorful town that features Victorian architecture from the British colonial era. Your guide will be sure to give you an insider's perspective on Belize's distinctive and diverse cultural mix.

 

Belikin Brewery is located just outside Belize City in the town of Ladyville. Although local sugar and water give the beer a Belizean flavor, the German influence is also clear. The brewmaster, plant equipment, and brewing recipe all trace their origins to Germany.

 

You will have an opportunity to review the brewing process from start to finish. However, visitors agree that the best part of the tour is in the tasting. Belikin produces a wide variety of beers, including lighthouse lager, regular, premium, stout and Guinness. You are welcome to sample as much as you'd like at the brewery's hand-crafter bar. Water, soda, and fruit juices are also available, along with nuts and chips. If you are lucky enough to be with us during shrimp season, you may get a taste of shrimp cocktail from Belikin's own shrimp farm.

 

After you've had your fill, we will resume our tour of Belize City, focusing on the southern half of the town. Your tour concludes at the Wet Lizard Restaurant and Bar in the Tourism Village. There, you will be treated to a sumptuous lunch of Belizean stew chicken, rice and beans, slaw, and plantains. Time permitting, you will be able to browse the local shops before catching your tender back to the ship. "

 

I'll let you know how it was. Sounds like WORSE case scenario, I'll drink the $ worth in beer! (Not a beer drinker, but I'm on vacation!!!)

 

Thanks for validating what I was thinking. We are still gonna do it, but going to keep reality in mind.

[vmom]

There was a stand at the pier which was offering the ruins at Altun Ha and tour of the bewery for about $50-55. You get the tour of the city automatically since you have to drive through the city to get to the ruins and bewery.

[BeadBabe]

There was a stand at the pier which was offering the ruins at Altun Ha and tour of the bewery for about $50-55. You get the tour of the city automatically since you have to drive through the city to get to the ruins and bewery.

 

Thanks for the tip!! I'm afraid I'll be pitched overboard if I book another ruin or water adventure!!! But I'll dangle that in front of him and see if I get "the nod" or the "rolling eyes" :eek:

[texancruzer]

Beadbabe: I hear you too...... we travelled with our best friends last year on the Serenade....... the guys were soooo good about letting us girls plan everything..... we are all divers but decided not to dive but snorkle instead as that let us have some time to "check out" all the beautiful islands we visited..... but I know it is a little give and a little take.....

 

I just wanted you to know that the city I saw was one of the poorest I have been to (bear in mind I have travelled all over Mexico and the Caribbean). Now I did have a Belliken.....pretty good but I do prefer either a Red Stripe (Jamaica) or a Pacifica (Mazatlan) but a good dark beer none the less. Also had a "Belize" lunch on the way back from cave tubing and it was really good..... chicken, rice and beans and slaw.

 

You will have a great time - no matter what you do...... TEX

[BeadBabe]

Beadbabe: I hear you too...... we travelled with our best friends last year on the Serenade....... the guys were soooo good about letting us girls plan everything..... we are all divers but decided not to dive but snorkle instead as that let us have some time to "check out" all the beautiful islands we visited..... but I know it is a little give and a little take.....

 

It is give and take for sure. Especially when you have one loves to dive, be outdoors, hike, explore and have adventure types....and one "where is the casino?" and "what do you mean they don't get Fox News?" type. LOL

 

You are right, we'll have a great time no matter what!!

 

Best to you for the holidays!:D

[BeadBabe]

I understand there is a little flea market/crafts market just outside the pier village. Has anyone been there? Is it safe? Walkable? More interesting things? Better prices?

[LHP]

I understand there is a little flea market/crafts market just outside the pier village. Has anyone been there? Is it safe? Walkable? More interesting things? Better prices?

 

I would not recommend going outside "the fence" unless you are on an organized tour.

 

The people are not mean or bad people....they are desperate people and that causes them to be a lot more aggressive than is safe for the average tourist.

 

We can not do a lot of of the physical excursions due to a special needs child, but next time we are going to go over to the "Wet Lizard" (restaurant and bar) and book a general driving tour with Gilly. (Gilbert Young)

 

The Wet Lizard is neat because it is "upstairs" and gives you a view of the harbor. Gilly has his kiosk (Belize for folding table) downstairs at the Wet Lizard entrance.

 

The good news is that Belize is the only Central American country where English is spoken (from their days of British rule)....so there is no lanuage barrier.

 

The Belikin (sp?) is pretty good. We gave it a try at the Wet Lizard.

 

Belize is a beautiful country. There are a group of licensed tour operators (Gilly being one of them) who are working together to try to get Belize "on the map". When I was talking to him, I told him that tourists have 2 major concerns...being safe and getting back to the ship on time!

 

I guess time will tell how well they do.

[98Charlie]

The good news is that Belize is the only Central American country where English is spoken (from their days of British rule)....so there is no lanuage barrier.

 

Think you'd better check your facts on that. Been to several Central American countries via cruise ships. Their people can speak English. :D

 

Belize was former British Honduras but that doesn't mean people in other neighboring countries don't speak and understand English as well.

 

Dianne

[vmom]

Yes right in the back of the port area is a little flea market. We went back there and felt very safe. Its only a few steps from the entrance to the port and there's lots of people and security all over. Prices are likely to be better back there with alot more offerings. There's even a little artist shop. I wouldn't go far beyond the flea market area, but wouldn't hesitate to go to the flea market.

[vmom]

Think you'd better check your facts on that. Been to several Central American countries via cruise ships. Their people can speak English. :D

 

Belize was former British Honduras but that doesn't mean people in other neighboring countries don't speak and understand English as well.

 

Dianne

 

I think what she meant is that Belize is the only Central American country in which English is the official language. In other countries they speak English but English is not the official language. The poster was correct in her facts regarding the use of English in Belize.

[BeadBabe]

Yes right in the back of the port area is a little flea market. We went back there and felt very safe. Its only a few steps from the entrance to the port and there's lots of people and security all over. Prices are likely to be better back there with alot more offerings. There's even a little artist shop. I wouldn't go far beyond the flea market area, but wouldn't hesitate to go to the flea market.

 

Vmom, that's what I had heard. Thanks for the verify and the thumbs up. :D

[Florida1947]

On 12/20/06 the Costa Magica stopped at Belize City and we took the basic city tour excursion. It was pretty pathetic. The people are mostly poor and the city highlights are disappointing. But crime is a problem and this was a safe way to venture out into the city. And the air conditioned minibus was a blessing. Our tour did not include the Belikin Beer Factory I am sorry to say. I wish it did. I am sorry we didn't go with the cave tubing. Friends said it was a lot of fun.

[BeadBabe]

I just returned off the NCL Sun, at the Belize port we did the City Tour and Belikin Beer Factor Tour thru CoralBreezes (non cruise ship excursion)http://www.coralbreezetours.com/Belize/Belikin/brewery/current_category.15/Product.151/tours_add.html?t_product=151

 

Coral Breeze has a great website, lots of details and they respond immediately. We found our guide waiting for us and he was great!! There were only 4 of us on the tour and Darwin gave us royal treatment. The van was comfortable and air conditioned. We saw the business, commecial district, some residential areas, and were taking by many sites of local interest. Darwin was well informed, charitable and clearly loves his country. We made some special requests regarding wanting to make a pit stop or two, and he was more than willing. Belikin Beer factory was spotless and state of the art, despite being a 3rd world country. All the ice cold beer you could drink in the tasting room, and we tried them all!!

 

The tour included a GREAT lunch at the Wet Lizard, right on the pier, great view. Order the fresh catch of the day! Was delicious!

 

Darwin encouraged us to visit the little flea market right behind the pier. It was perfectly PERFECTLY safe. There is lots of security. The merchants in the flea market are more aggressive sales people than the pier merchants, but a simple "no gracias" works just fine...and the prices are substantially lower in the flea market. Bargin, bargin, bargin...no price is firm. He won't tell you this, you'll have to ask, but ask him to take you to his cousins shop just down the street from the flea market. Again, it's very safe, but this shop is off the beaten path. All local artisan made crafts, not the imported chachkas.

 

If you want to get your hair braided, ask for Darlene at the hair braiding booth. Tell her the BeadBabe sent you!

 

If you like rum, hit the liquor store and buy Ron Zacapa Centenario. It comes in 15 year old and 23 year old varieties. The 15 is great, the 23 DIVINE. :D I can't tell you how good this is. It's actually Guatemalan Rum, but you'll find it in the pier stores here.

[texancruzer]

Beababe: See I told you that you would have fun no matter what :D

 

We just got back from 13 day land vacation to Florida / Bahamas..... great up till the last day and then wham....... everybody got sick..... weird thing was some got stomach virus (both ends) and others got flu-like (sore throat, coughing and fever). But had fun up till then.

[BeadBabe]

Beababe: See I told you that you would have fun no matter what :D

 

We just got back from 13 day land vacation to Florida / Bahamas..... great up till the last day and then wham....... everybody got sick..... weird thing was some got stomach virus (both ends) and others got flu-like (sore throat, coughing and fever). But had fun up till then.

 

Tex...yep, you were right! It was really a great day. Sounds like you had an almost perfect trip too!! Wow, clearly a couple of different bugs were swimming in your blood streams!! Hope everyone is feeling alright now.