Belize, Belize, Belize. Add it to your bucket list today.
Belize is a beautiful country, with beautiful people. It is easy to get to, and, if you’re coming from the US, you don’t have to deal with much jet lag. Also, an additional thing that makes this country easy to travel to from the US is that it is an English-speaking country.
Where the adventure started
I first became familiar with Belize when my husband and I started dating. He had just visited 10 months prior and purchased some land on the west side of the island, Ambergris Caye. Madonna famously speaks about this Island in her song ‘Isla Bonita”. My husband who is what I would call an investing enthusiast fell in love with the island when he was there and during his stay purchased the property in hopes of someday building a vacation and retirement home.
Several years later we made our first trip to the Island together. We flew into Belize City. From there we boarded a small 12-passenger plane for a 15-minute flight over some of the most beautiful water. We landed on a small airstrip in the middle of the island. There are very few if any cars on the island. Everyone gets around via a golf cart or by foot. Luckily for us, our hotel was walkable from the airstrip.
Island life
One of the things I love most about the island is its authenticity. It’s very laid back. You can find restaurants and bars all along the water’s edge with chill music, light breezes and plenty of drinks. And, many of the bars and restaurants have inner tubes tied to the docs where you can lounge in the water, with a drink, and soak up the sun…Yes, please!
Additionally, there are not a lot of large resorts on the island. There are small boutique hotels, yoga retreats, condos and homes to book for your stay.
Oddly, the east side of the island in Ambergris Caye is the more developed side. This side has warm inviting water, but no waves as the waves break out much farther from shore along the reef. The west side is just now beginning to develop. It also has no waves hitting the shore. The water is clearer on that side of the island and the beaches are more remote. There is a great little spot that has developed over the last seven years called ‘Secret Beach’ (it’s not much of a secret now but still worth going to). On our first trip we drove our golf cart out there on a very undeveloped road (You can also go via boat, which I would recommend). You can catch boat taxis back and forth daily. When you arrive it’s surprising to see several tiki bars, rows of lawn chairs and lots of people lounging literally in what feels like the middle of nowhere.
What to do
While I would consider us foodies, we aren’t big nightlifers when we travel. However, there are a couple of very fun evening activities that are a must. Both are at local dive bars on the beach. One is chicken shit bingo. Yep, you heard that right. You pick a number on the checkered board floor. They then let the chickens out and they run around on the floor and if the chicken defecates on the number you pick, you win! The other was a little less raunchy. It’s a snail competition. Everyone picks a snail with a number painted on their back. They let the snails go and the first snail to escape the area is the winner.
If you like a little more adventure I would recommend staying a few days in Belize City or near Placencia. I haven’t stayed in Plaencia personally, but I have heard wonderful things about it and it is on my list of must-dos for our next trip. On the mainland, there are lots of adventure tours and activities you can do. Brandon and I had a blast on our last trip zip-lining and even did a tubing adventure through the caves, which was really cool. I was freaked out most of the tubing journey because our guide told me that there had been an alligator spotted a few days earlier in the water. I was not up for having my buns nibbled on.
Additionally, if you are an avid scuba diver then Belize is an absolute must-do. I’ve heard it is second to the Great Barrier Reef.
All in all, the country of Belize is a pure delight. A great combination of authenticity, relaxation and adventure. We would love to help you book your escapade to Belize!