Archive for the ‘Belize’ Category

Finding The Right Scuba Diving Package

Friday, October 15th, 2010

A scuba diving holiday can definitely be a fun and exciting. But careful planning must be done for this kind of excursion. A scuba diving holiday is a lot more complicated than your regular excursions, especially if you plan to go diving in another country.

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You should do some careful planning for this kind of holiday.

When planning a scuba diving vacations, the most important thing is to determine where you want to go.  The goal is finding a destination that will fit within your set budget, but also one that offers diving for the type and experience level you need.  Taking all this into consideration will ensure a perfect balance so your vacation time is excellent.  This coupled with the assistance of a travel agent that specializes in dive trips is s of good diving destinations for your trip.a scuba diving holiday image

Since your focal is to go scuba diving, you want to make that your primary focus but you should also consider other adventures you could do while on land.  Typically, destinations for diving are exotic and surrounded by natural beauty, which means you can take in gorgeous views along the way.

To make your planning even easier, you might want to start by creating a list of everything you would need.  This would include items for the diving gear but also what you would need based on your level of certification.  Additionally, if you plan diving outside of the US, then you would have other things to consider such as possible vaccinations, currency exchange, and your Visa.

Doing research on each of these aspects of the trip will make things go much smoother.  The good news is that finding information about diving is a breeze using the internet.  In fact, everything you could possibly need to know so you have an incredible trip is available online.

To help you get started, we wanted to provide you with a partial list of some of the things you would need to consider for a scuba diving holiday to include:

Set the dates of your trip, but leave room for flexibility. Shop carefully for the right scuba diving package. Substantial saving can be realized with careful shopping Mark diving gear you well so that you can easily identify. Buy a travel insurance that includes scuba diving. Make copies of your key documents. Keep one for yourself and another copy to a trusted person back home. Do not forget to bring your medications and orders. Putting the bulk diving gear in your carry-on luggage. Ask your airline about their restrictions on scuba diving equipment.

Obviously, you want your scuba diving holiday to be something special, a time to remember.  Once a person experiences the wonders under the ocean, there is no turning back.

For the most amazing diving, obviously we believe it is in Belize. Just be sure to drink your Belikin beer after your amazing dive.

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Belize still untouched and beautiful

Tuesday, September 14th, 2010

belizeDespite what you may think, Belize remains a little-visited country.

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Outside of cruise tourists not many visit Belize each year… far less than most other Caribbean tourist destinations. (To give you a comparison, every year about four million tourists visit the Dominican Republic, and just over two million travel to Cancun, just a few hours north of Belize.)

About half of the tourists who visit Belize go to Ambergris Caye. Real estate prices are a bit higher (but still quite  reasonable) there but remain fairly low  in the rest of Belize.

Exploring the rainforests, jungles and barrier reefs of Belize

Saturday, September 11th, 2010

If you are looking for cheap flights to Belize, there are some great places that offer a number of flight deals. Belize is a great place to visit and additionally is an area where you can find a number of vacation deals. There you will find a large amount of things for you to opt from.

Here you will find information on travel to Belize, in addition to other tips. A number of different cheap flights to Belize offer you a great choice in regards to giving you a place that is close to Central American jungles and the Caribbean Sea.

One of the best features of Belize has to do with its location and how part of it is within the jungles of Central American, while the other is near the Caribbean Sea. In addition, a number of flight deals to this destination makes it a great option for those who are looking to stay on budget. In Belize, there are number of things you can do and places that you can stay. When you are offshore, you can enjoy activities such as kayaking, as well as snorkeling. While you are within the clear waters, you will enjoy seeing things such as dolphins, turtles, fish, and coral. In addition, people have the option to go exploring inland.

On land, you will find things such as ruins from ancient civilizations, as well as a number of species of birds that you can watch. Actually, you will find just about 570 species of birds for you to enjoy. Therefore, cheap flights to Belize are great for those who are bird lovers and explorers. Additionally, you will find a number of wildlife sanctuaries, marine reserves, as well as national parks. Due to the large amount of land protected, you will find countless numbers of birds, and other creatures that you can enjoy.

Most of those who are visitors to Belize find a number of flight deals so they can enjoy the mysteries of Maya sites. Two of them famous to visitors are the Lamanai and Altun Ha.

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As for areas to visit for bird watching, crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary is one of the popular sites. As for snorkelling, many enjoy visiting to each year.

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Always make sure you find a reputable travel planner for your vacation. By doing this, you will find cheap flights to Belize, in addition to other flight deals for you to enjoy.

As for the accommodations in Belize, you will be happy to know that there are currently more than 500 guest houses, lodges, resorts, as well as hotels as a choice. Many of the hotels and resorts within Belize are family owned and operated. Most of the hotels have less than a 100 rooms and for those who want to stay away from everything, you have a choice to stay within a lodge in a remote location and will not have to worry about giving up any of the necessities. In any case, you are sure to find a large range of prices in regards to cheap flights to Belize, in addition to deals on rooms that will fit your budget and needs.

Usually, the best time to visit Belize depends on your preferences, as well as if you are looking for flight deals. If you are looking to stay when there are fewer tourists around, then your best bet is visiting in September and October. In addition, you are more likely to find cheap flights to Belize. If you don’t want to worry about the rain, then you would want to come in between February and April. On the other hand, if you are interested in having the best visibility underwater, then you would want to visit between March and June. However, if you find that you are on a budget and want to find the best hotel prices and flight deals, then you would want to visit between the time after Easter and before Thanksgiving. In any case, when you are looking for cheap flights to Belize, you are sure to find it with the right place.

Best song about Belize

Friday, September 10th, 2010


“La Isla Bonita”

Madonna’s song about Ambergris Caye.

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Notice how she says she’s “dreaming of San Pedro.”

The Barrier Reef off Ambergris Caye, Belize

Thursday, September 9th, 2010

The Barrier Reef lies about half a mile off the windward side of the island. It is the longest barrier reef in the Western Hemisphere and the second longest in the world. To the east of the Barrier Reef are three separate atoll reefs. There is also a fourth atoll reef, Banco Chinchorro, just to the north in Mexican waters, which will be of particular interest to wreck divers.

The three Belize atoll reefs are formed on two tiers of submarine ridges: Turneffe and Glover’s on one ridge and Lighthouse on a separate ridge farther to the east. This accounts for their similar outlines and NE-SW orientations. Deep marine trenches separate the two ridges.

Inside the reef the water is shallow, with a blue tinge; outside the reef the water is deep and from the air shows a dark royal blue. On very clear days the reef appears as a narrow yellow line dividing the two shades of blue. Only near Ambergris Caye does the reef run so close to a well-populated caye. Here it is an almost so!id wall of magnificent coral formation broken only by narrow  channels called “quebradas”.

Here an observant diver can be kept entertained for hours on end by the unending variety, shapes and colors of the tropical coral. But the reef is more than just a decorative sideshow. Without it the island would not exist for it serves as a natural break-water protecting the beach from erosion by the waves, and sheltering the caye and its inhabitants. The remarkably clear and shallow water inside the reef allows excellent viewing of the fabulous marine life of the area. Rainbow tinged tropical fish, delicate sea fans and majestic coral gardens abound. Outside the reef, the  seabed drops sharply in a series of plateau to depths of thousands of feet. Out here in the blue are found the gamefish – mackerel, kingfish, wahoo, tuna, sailfish and marlin. Although it looks like dead stone, the reef is in fact a living wall formed by millions of coral organisms. These coral are carnivorous animals, known as polyps, which eat small sea creatures that float by, capturing them with stinging tentacles. They feed, however, only at night, pulling their tentacles back into the skeleton during the day.

Within the reef skeleton live minute blue green algae. These give off oxygen which the coral polyps breathe; the algae, in turn absorb the carbon dioxide which the polyps give off, forming thus a genuine symbiotic relationship. Coral are multicolored varying from gold to red, orange, green, brown and yellow The soft, living tube shaped coral polyp protects itself by forming a hard layer of calcium carbonate called the corallite. Colonies of these polyps form the structure of the coral reef growing in strange and exotic shapes that give the different varieties their popular names, such as brain coral, staghorn coral and elkhorn coral.

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The reef needs two factors to survive – solar energy and chemical nutrients. The nutrients flow into the sea as plant and animal organic material from rivers is broken down into its chemical derivates by bacteria and other microorganisms, thus providing the nutrients necessary for reef growth. The warm clear water off the coast of Belize, fed as it is by various mainland rivers and streams, form an excellent environment for the reef. The entire island of Ambergris in fact probably resulted from the accumulation of coral fragments along with silt from the Rio Hondo.

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The report of the British Honduras Land Use Survey Team of 1959 notes: “The connected chains of coral islands known as Ambergris Caye was formed from the accumulation of coral fragments…first as a shoal patch. These shoals tend to build up in long lines parallel to the coast of the mainland. It is thought that their orientation may be connected with submarine geological strata rather than being entirely the work of sea currents.”

The preceding article was excerpted from the book Ambergris Caye, Paradise With A Past, published by Cubola Productions of Benque Viejo del Carmen and written by the Honorable Glenn D. Godfrey, Area Representative from Belize Rural South. It is available in local bookstores.

Belikin Dark in Belize

Saturday, August 28th, 2010

Belikin Dark

Sights in Belize

Monday, August 23rd, 2010

Once known as British Honduras, the small country of Belize can be found in the northern hemisphere above the equator in Central America, with Mexico to its North, the Caribbean Seas lapping the East coast and Guatemala on its South border.Although the Latin American and Creole qualities flow through this country, the main language spoken here is English due to its British colonial heritage.

Although Belize gained independence in 1981, it still proudly displays the other cultures which have influenced its authentic traditions and architecture. These include Spanish and Mennonite plus a strong Mayan heritage which is responsible for some of the historic remains that can be discovered across Belize in places such as Belize’s tallest man-made structure of ‘Caana’ at Caracol in the Cayo district, Altun Ha, the ‘High Temple’ in Lamanai and ‘El Castillo’ at Xunantunich.

Traveling around this country is easy as it is serviced by regular local boats and airlines and is linked by an effective highway system, plus EU passport holders do not need a visa. It is divided into different regions of Toledo, Stann Creek, Cayo District, Belize District and Northern Belize. In Northern Belize you can find Blue Creek Village, Gallon Jug and the cities of Orange Walk and the coastal Corozal.Belize District houses the airport, Belize City, Crooked Tree, Bermudan Landing, Altun Ha and a number of popular off-shore islands. The Central District of Cayo is home to some of Belize’s main attractions and the small town of San Iganacio (Cayo), the capital city of Belmopan and the ancient Mayan city of Caracol. The coastal Eastern region of Stann Creek provides boats to the quiet reef islands includes  Punta Gorda, Lubaantun, Big Fall and San Antonio.

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Known as the Caribbean gateway to Central America, Belize enjoys a tropical climate with average temperatures from January to July in the coastal regions from 25 °C, with very distinct wet and dry seasons. It is thanks to this climate that an abundance of unique ecosystems have thrived, resulting in an area which is rich in biodiversity. This section of the Western Caribbean Zone boasts a 174 mile reef, which is the second-longest barrier reef in the world and lines much of the vast wetland and white sand Belize coast.

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There is a wide range of watersports on offer from diving and snorkeling on its reef, to surfing at over 1,000 small off-shore atolls, including the Glover’s Reef Cave, Caye Caulker, Half Moon Caye and the famous Ambergris Caye. The well known large underwater sinkhole (or vertical cave), The Great Blue Hole, can be found just off the Belize coast – near Ambergris Caye and the center of Lighthouse Reef. This natural attraction is over 300 meters in width and reaches depths of 124 meters and houses an abundance of marine life.

Other sights to see are its tropical rainforests and jungles of Chaa Creek or you can head to the Cayo District in the West which is home to Big Rock Falls, the Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve and 1,000 ft Falls which are the highest in the region. Belize also possesses an extensive cave system and you will find the Mayan sacrifice of the ‘Crystal Maiden’ in Actun Tunichil Muknal in Caves Branch.

If you’re thinking of getting away from it all, you can find great package holiday deals with Avis voucher codes.

Firing Up Your Romance Through Travels

Wednesday, August 11th, 2010

When people get married, it’s a lifetime commitment that’s why keeping the relationship interesting is very crucial. You need to have a strong foundation so that your romantic relationship can last even longer.

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You can rebuild your relationship or keep the fire burning in numerous ways.

Traveling is a very good example.Traveling makes you see several different places, thus, both of you are in a different world away from the reality. You can enjoy a great escapade, just the two of you alone together. You can relive those memories and reminisce about the great times that you had and get that sparkle back. Traveling is fun since you can leave those problems behind and just be yourselves in a different setting.

If you’re setting out for a vacation with your partner, the following that can help you rediscover each other and just have a good time safely:

- Do not wear expensive jewelry as this can attract thieves or snatchers. Wear only the essentials like your watch, wedding bands and comfortable clothing.

- If you can’t avoid bringing valuable items like pieces of jewelry, your passport and any other, make sure that you put them in a safe place like a safety deposit box. Hotels have deposit boxes for their customers so you may need to inquire about it.

- If you are traveling to a different  country, like Belize, try to get emergency numbers and keep track of them with you for the rest of your vacation.

- Be sure to place your full name with your contact number on your luggage but never your home address or your residential phone number.

- For pregnant women, make sure you check with you obstetrician at least a week before your flight to check your and your baby’s health status and to know if you are fit to travel.

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Traveling is not only a possibility to see the other side of the world but it is also a good way to help strengthen your love and rekindle the spark in your life always.

Explore all inclusive cruises and find which one could be best for you and your partner. Or try somewhere you’ve never been to nor imagined you would ever visit. How about a Belize all inclusive trip? It’s all up to you. The choices are all online and they’re many. You just have to choose the right online agent to help you with your planned travel.

Facts You Need to Know When Considering Low-Priced Air Travel

Monday, August 9th, 2010

We love it and many of us hate it. Most people really like to go on family trip and also a lot of people require it for business tours, but there’s a downside to air travel. We now have a contrasting relationship with it, and in particular in these days of increased security. With all the arrival of dirt ever. That sets a strain on the large airports in the best of times and there’s an ever growing concern about the environmental effect of all the flights.

There isn’t any worse sight than a crowded terminal waiting area having disappointed passengers slumped on the seats, when there are delays.

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I commiserate most with the kids. Many parents move their youngsters across the world, right after they might possibly  be far more pleased on their local beach destination. Air Travel to any destination coming with the best traveling package deals is excellent any time it functions, any time it doesn’t, it’s a problem. When we’re in the airport, we are a captive audience and so they can charge us a lot to get a java including a doughnut because they are able to do.

Of course, it is possible to find very good issues about currently being on a jet. You have the opportunity to read, or perhaps sleep, maybe watch over a movie or maybe two. From time to time, anyone puts together towards me trying to do those issues in peace. You will find the garrulous passenger sitting near to myself, and although I’ve known them just for ten whole minutes, they let me know their own life story in great details. Some people enhance the stories of the grandchildren. I try to start looking fascinated. From time to time on air travel, it is better to pretend being asleep. Now some of the airplanes going from the mainland to the Cayes in Belize are not the latest in travel , but they are exciting!

I must tell you I like airplane foods. I do know I am without doubt atypical in this, however I really enjoy the meal and little appetizers. Basically, the great thing with flights for me often is the adorable little cartons and sachets that you’ll get. The food is in most cases great and it is usually enjoyable to open all sorts of things.

The near future of flying will be in a situation of flux at the moment due to high security signals and even everyone is on edge.

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The idea of getting affordable airfare tickets will probably turn into more challenging and never easier. Possibly they need to re-think the airport terminal environment. A movie theater could possibly be good or they could decide to put a number of beds in!

Drinking Belikin Beer in Belize

Saturday, July 17th, 2010
Donna Ferrante’s Dad Drinking Belikin