Belize Planning & Tips

The Art of Smart Timing
Belize is on the northern edge of the region known as The Mosquito Coast, and while that name refers to indigenous people known the Miskito, the inland regions of Belize are quite warm and swampy -- perfect breeding grounds for all sorts of bugs. Most oceanside resorts spray their properties, but the eco-lodges certainly do not. Either way, pack plenty of your favorite insect repellant.

As a Caribbean nation, Belize is most crowded when the cold and snow covers most of North America and therefore prices reflect that seasonal popularity. Late spring and early summer are less expensive times to visit and few of the tourist attractions ever close. Hurricanes occasionally make landfall in Belize, so late summer and early fall are riskier in that regard.

Getting There
Belize is an easy flight from most major US airports -- less than two hours from Dallas and Houston; less than three hours from Miami and Atlanta -- and most major airlines service Belize City. However, once you arrive in Belize, there's a good chance you’ll have to take a quick propeller flight or water taxi to your final destination. But don’t stress about this too much. Most hotel properties will make the arrangements for you.

Getting Around
Unless your visit is limited to Belize City -- which would be like travelers from other nations going to New York City and feeling they’ve experienced the United States in its entirety -- you and your family will have to become comfortable with flying in small propeller powered aircraft with as few as six or eight seats. That’s what it takes to reach many of the highlights of Belize in a timely manner. Busses are available, but uncomfortable and unpredictable.

Rental cars are not a bad choice, but rather pricey and not really necessary since most hotel/resort properties provide transportation options.

Small boats are another common form of transportation between the various cayes. In San Pedro, golf carts are the preferred mode of movement and yes, your older children can drive.

Seasonal Kid-Friendly Events
If your children are prone to food fights, they might especially enjoy the San Pedro Carnival in February. A part of the festivities include throwing eggs, flour and paint at each other in honor of the Mayan god Momo. There are a number of street parades with this week-long festival and some of them less appropriate for children than others. Doublecheck with locals before “exposing” the kids to more than you intended.

Cashews are a prominent agricultural product in Belize and therefore a festival each May in the village of Crooked Tree, near Belize City, celebrates the cashew. The storytelling, music and dance make it a family affair.

Off the Radar
A walk along the beach of St. George’s Caye reveals two treasures that speaks to the heart of Belize and its people. The first is a rusted cannon, a remnant of the Battle of St. George’s Caye in September 1798 when the poorly equipped, outnumbered settlers to the region drove the Spaniards from Belize for the last time. September 10 is a national holiday in Belize because and an image on the back of the Belizean $5 bill references this battle.

At little farther on down the beach is a true find for the kids. A nine-year-old boy named Carly runs a homemade aquarium in the boathouse behind his home. Carly has plans to be a marine biologist and narrates a fabulous tour of the many tanks filled with sea life. He caught many of them himself and can explain to your children in terms they understand how each creature in the ocean contributes to the quality of life on land. If not staying on St. George’s Caye, it’s worth a boat ride here just to meet Carly.

Visitor Bureaus
Belize Tourism Board