*** This post was made in generous partnership with NEUTROGENA® Canada. All thoughts and opinions are exclusively my own.
For our annual MDVP Campaign, we finally did something that we had talked about for years. Every time November rolls around, we all complain about how cold it gets, how we wish it were warmer, and how much happier we would be if we were on a beach somewhere. So, when we saw a flight deal for Belize back in May, everyone jumped at the opportunity and away we went!
When we were doing research on what to do, where to stay, what shots to get, there was so little information available! I’ll give you all the cheat codes that we figured out while we were there, but make sure to check out Vic’s, Mel’s, and Dave’s blogs as well, to see their perspective. The best thing about traveling in packs is that each person gets something different out of the experience!
Make sure you have USD
The currency in Belize is actually really efficient for tourists. A single American dollar (USD) is equivalent to $2.00 Belize Dollars (BZE). If you’re getting a burrito for $8.00 BZE, it only costs $4.00 USD. On top of that, USD is accepted throughout the country as a primary currency (although you’ll usually get change back in BZE). Bring your USD and in case you run out (those $1.25 USD tacos are so tempting), you can find plenty of Scotiabank locations around the country!
Staying in San Pedro
One of the first things we quickly learned through our research is that San Pedro is one of the more popular tourist destinations in Belize. Talking to our driver (that we randomly met at the airport), confirmed our belief that Belize City is limited in its attractions. Sure, many of the excursions that I’ll be discussing are inland, but the city acts more like a hub to get around to wherever you want rather than a place to stay.
San Pedro is an amazing place to stay. Located on Ambergis Caye, the ferry ride takes around 1.5-2.0 hours (depending on how busy it is). There are two primary ferries that go back and forth – the Belize Express Water Taxi and the Ocean Ferry. The Belize Express Water Taxi (which isn’t actually express), comes most often. With more frequent trips and a nicer ferry, the express costs a little more than the old Ocean Ferry. The Ocean Ferry doesn’t have as nice of a boat but is the traditional ferry for the islands.
Upon arriving in San Pedro, the city is yours. Find yourself a golf cart (make sure you negotiate, you can talk most places down to around $25-$40 USD/day during your stay) and roam around the town with them!
We stayed at two different hotels while we were there, something more economical and then one with some stunning views and a private beach! The Exotic Caye Beach Resort was where we called home for most of the trip and was conveniently located closer to the heart of San Pedro. There was a dock right by our hotel as well, so our sunrise shooting was done very easily and quickly! No morning missions to find somewhere to shoot at 5:30am – it was a quick grab and go, and back in bed by 6:00am, haha.
The Mahogany Bay Village Resort was an absolute treasure for us to stay at. Each occupant got an individual hotel room the size of a hut, so there was no connection with any other room. Our rooms were next to each other, so when we opened our windows, we were able to yell at each other! The only drawback was that it was in the forest, so there were a lot more mosquitoes, but it was totally worth it. Our morning tradition included Dave and I getting up and going to the lobby to grab coffee in our Gap PJs, while the girls were getting ready. When I go away on trips like this, I try to not bring anything wild in terms of clothes, in case something gets lost in transportation or if I don’t feel comfortable. Needless to say, sweat pants and a plain white T were my go-to.
Go to Secret Beach
Secret Beach is located outside the city, but it is an absolute treasure. I recommend you take a 45-minute golf cart ride out of the city, pay the toll bridge on your way out ($5.00 USD for a round trip) and make your way out to Secret Beach. While you won’t get incredible sand at Secret Beach, the view is incredible. It’s populated by 2-3 bars that have their own tables, chairs, and docks.
We went twice, to two different bars to experience the water in different locations. The water was extremely clean and clear, and the food was reasonably priced! It’s always a great feeling when you go to a touristy spot and the food and drinks are priced to a comfortable level, rather than paying absurd amounts. Make sure you pack lots of NEUTROGENA® sunscreen for all the beach time! Personally, I like the Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunscreen SPF 45. This sunscreen is lightweight, so it absorbs quickly and has a great, non-greasy feel. It’s also 80-minutes water and sweat resistant, making it perfect for a day at the beach!
Make your way to Caye Caulker
Caye Caulker is, without a doubt, one of the chillest places you will ever find yourself! The island does not allow people to drive around in cars; it’s an extremely small place, with only two main roads. These two roads connect the island together, so all you need are two healthy legs or a bicycle, which you can rent! The locals here are super friendly, and Mel managed to find the biggest coconut of her life for $2.50 USD.
You can also make your way to the Split, which is where the island split apart in the ‘60s after a major hurricane. Now, it’s an area where people can go to drink and relax. Make your way to the port at the other end of the island (legitimately a 12-minute walk) and you’ll find yourself getting on a boat to go to Koko King, a private beach area with an incredible environment! Super clear waters, beautiful docks, and stunning decor is all you’ll see at Koko King.
Set aside a day for snorkeling at a catamaran ride!
When we were making plans for the trip, we wanted to be accommodating to each person, so we each chose one excursion that we really wanted to try. For Dave, that meant going snorkeling and going on a catamaran. For me, that meant that I’d have to jump into water at insane levels, while still learning how to swim. Not great. But I have absolutely zero regrets! With my NEUTROGENA® Hydro Boost Water Gel Sunscreen on (also water-resistant for 80 minutes), I took a deep breath and just jumped into the water. I had to muster up the courage, but as corny as it sounds, I had my people with me to make sure that I didn’t die (oh and our tour guide was great). He spotted me instantly as the slowest swimmer in the group and had me hold on to his buoy, and I got a free ride to check out all the sea life. We jumped off at the Hol Chen Marine Reserve, where we were able to check out some coral, nurse sharks, sting rays, and a bunch of other sea life. Special shouts to our tour guide, James of the Searious Adventures, who was incredible. He got up and close with the wildlife and ensured that we all saw what was happening to get the full experience.
For the rest of the time, James gave us a history lesson of Ambergis Caye, the Hol Chen Reserve, and introduced us so some delicious lobster on Caye Caulker, where we had lunch. For the rest of the afternoon, make sure you get your sunscreen on and relax on the catamaran as the crew takes you for a nice ride on the ocean waters.
Get a history lesson and then visit some monkeys!
Now this was my excursion to-do! I’m a big history nerd, so when I found out that I could visit some Mayan ruins, you better believe I was game! Having never gone to places like Mexico, I was never exposed to these types of excursions (Canadian history isn’t as aged), so getting to see and climb the Altun Ha ruins that are thousands of years old was an amazing experience. We lucked out and went on a day where there were no cruise ships arriving, so we had the plot of land all to ourselves.
We then made our way over to the Community Baboon Sanctuary and were escorted into a jungle/forest by a guide. This was truly an amazing experience; we got to learn about the plants in the area and what brings the baboons to the yard. Hint – it’s cocoa nuts and knowing how to call them out of hiding.
Eat all of the food you can find
Belize has a large Spanish culture and heritage, and it’s evident in the food. You’ll be able to find a lot of tacos and burritos around for fairly cheap prices (we found street vendors selling tacos for $1.25 USD each!).
In terms of unique local cuisine, we indulged in a lot of fry jacks (basically like a fried dough stick that you eat with congee, except it’s flat), meat pies (these were like two-bite meat pies), and a lot of stewed chicken with rice and beans. Ok, that last one was just me, not everyone else, but I love my roasted chicken! I’d recommend hitting any of our stories to check it out since food made an appearance basically all the time.
Make a day of horseback riding, ziplining, and cavetubing
This was our last excursion of the trip and it was an absolute blast! It was my first time going ziplining and cave tubing, and they were both great experiences. I’m not much of an adrenaline junkie, so I wasn’t sure how I would be with ziplining, but it was incredibly fun zipping through the forest at crazy heights! Horseback riding gave me the opportunity to show off my cool, cowboy skills (check out my experience with GMC last summer at the Calgary Stampede).
ENJOY YOURSELF
Belize was truly an amazing experience. I was skeptical going into the trip because I don’t know how to swim and I thought that’s all I was going to be doing. But, I learned that when you go with a good group of people, anything can turn into a blast!
