Belize, an Adventurer’s Paradise

BELIZE

AN ADVENTURER’S PARADISE

| BY JARONE ASHKENASHI

On the eastern coast of Central America, Belize offers a mix of a dense jungle along with beautiful sandy beaches. Home to Mayan ruins, the Belize Barrier Reef (the longest barrier reef in the Western Hemisphere) and an abundance of adrenaline-packed activities, the warm client and friendly atmosphere, has made it a go-to spot for adventure travel. From the scenic beauty, amazing wildlife, incredible land and sea adventures, the enormous variety of cultures, traditions and cuisine, Belize truly is a burgeoning tourist destination.

Flying into Belize City, the first stop on the trip was San Ignacio. The host for the trip, the Belize Tourism Board, accompanied along the nearly two-hour drive inland towards San Ignacio. Stopping along the way for a quick bite, we chatted with locals at Amigos Restaurant Where Friends Meet, who welcomed us like family while sipping their cold bottles of Belikin. The journey took us through dense, lush scenery with greenery as far as the eye could see and an abundance of speed bumps. Ramon, the driver, shared that these bumps not only mark the delineation between towns, but they also act as pedestrian crossings and offer the opportunity to stop for fresh fruits, vegetables and spices, along with tacos, salbutes, empanadas, rice and beans, burritos, bar-be-que (roasted meat), meat pies and conch fritters.

SAN IGNACIO RESORT HOTEL

(credit: San Ignacio Resort Hotel) We arrived in San Ignacio, just past downtown and the open market, and then drove up the steep hill to the truly majestic San Ignacio Resort Hotel. Upon arrival, Elito a butler who has been at the resort for four years, greeted with a huge smile and a refreshing fresh glass of ginger, mint and lime. The passion for his craft immediately came through as he began sharing the history of the hotel (the queen visited in 1994, along with Prince William and Kate Middleton in 2022) along with pointing out Bradford, the iguana, on the large palm when sharing more about the wildlife and surrounding fauna. After settling in the room, the Green Iguana Conservation Project is one of the several on-site activities which can be booked through the resort. Here is where the guide shared the role that Green Iguanas play in the ecosystem as well as presenting an interactive experience from feeding the iguanas as well as having the two-month-old iguanas being placed on shoulders and heads for a special photo opportunity.

ATM CAVE PHOTO

(credit: Belize Tourism Board)

The next morning presented a special cave adventure with the sage of caving in the area, tour guide Renan Castellanos. While Renan was short in stature, his presence and knowledge of the history of the country and the cave itself (more on that shortly) made him appear as a giant. It was quickly evident the reverence the younger tour guides had for Renan, as when we arrived at the Actun Tunichil Muknal (ATM) Caves, they all showed him the respect and reverence the 54-year-old guide deserves, following his 24 years of guiding at the ATM Caves. This tour started with a 45-minute walk crossing three river channels, where Renan explained about the history of the region and the plants and animals that lived in the surrounding area. Upon entrance to the front of the cave, Renan shared about the cultural significance of caves in Mayan culture and that at the turning-point of our journey in the cave, that we’d see historical artifacts and learn more about ceremonies of the past. Walking, wading through the cave was truly spectacular. Armed with only a headlamp and flashlight, the surrounding formations and colors just were a marvel. Before entering the preserved area of the cave, our shoes were removed and we walked along the guided path to see ancient Mayan ceramics and stoneware, along with even human remains. The eye-opening experience was just truly unbelievable. We passed by several artifacts, learned about the bloodletting rituals and saw two skulls and the full skeletal remains of a seeming teenager.

CAHAL PECH

(credit: Belize Tourism Board)

After a near full-day experience with Renan at the ATM caves, Elito greeted us upon return and shared that there are some Mayan ruins just near the resort that are must-see. The 20-miunte walk to the Cahal Pech Archeological Site was the first time on the journey where walking through the town, you saw the warm, welcoming and friendly nature of locals. The sprawling site was a palatial, hilltop home for an elite Maya family and presented an opportunity to visually walk the path of ancient Mayans and see the grand 25-meter temple along with a total of 34 total structures. Upon returning to the resort and laying in the hammock by the pool, the chef at Running W Restaurant prepared a lovely meal with a special fried jacks desert. The night called us in early as there was an early wake up for the next day’s adventure.

BOCAWINA

(credit: Belize Tourism Board)

Greeted by Cruz, we set off on the journey through the twin towns of San Ignacio and Santa Elena, over countless speedbumps, to the Sittee River Forest Reserve in Southern Belize. We arrived at Bocawina, a 7,000-acre park, which offers numerous hikes as well as rappelling and ziplining. Local guides Andres and Hersan led us through the dense rainforest, explaining the significance of plants and trees along the way, to the Lower Bocawina Falls (it is one of two falls where adventurers can rappel from) for our rappelling experience. The thrilling descent down the 100-ft cascading waterfall ended with a relaxing swim in the natural pools before heading out to their nine-line, two-and-a-half mile zipline course. Hungry after a full morning of adventure, lunch was prepared at onsite Wild Fig Restaurant, where Cruz further shared insight into the cultural history of the area and how the region came to be. After the two-hour drive back to the resort, there was Elito again. Ever-present with that same welcoming smile shown when we first met. He was eager to hear more about the journey and advised that before leaving the next day, to head to Pops for a true Belizean breakfast. stepping down from the 14-seater plane, before a quick 10-minute golf cart ride to Victoria House Resort & Spa. Featuring 42 rooms a spa and two pools, the resort is the perfect venue for total relaxation and comfort. Located in Belize on Ambergris Caye, the resort offers a taste of barefoot elegance along the sandy shores of San Pedro, La Isla Bonita. Steps from its own 300-foot private beach, guests can be seen playing lawn games and relaxing under the palm trees where staff were cutting down fresh coconuts to serve to all guests.

BLUE HOLE

(credit: Belize Tourism Board)

Next adventure led us back to the airport to meet Tropic Air’s guide where the pilot and guide took us for a mesmerizing fly over of the Great Blue Hole, several atolls and even a sunken ship. Lasting just over an hour, the highlight of the experience was diving down and flying around the giant marine sinkhole (it measures 318m across and 124m deep). Part of the Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System, the guide explained the history of its creation and before jetting off to flyover multiple other world-class dive spots and small atolls before touching back down in San Pedro.

VICTORIA HOUSE RESORT & SPA

(credit: Victoria House Resort & Spa)

After some fried jacks and johnny cakes with beans (and of course Marie Sharp’s Habanero Hot Sauce), the next stop on the trip was Maya Flats for the short flight to San Pedro. The friendly Tropic Air crew greeted us upon

SHARK RAY ALLEY

(credit: Belize Tourism Board)

Following the morning in the air, a lovely fresh lunch (with a fresh coconut of course) was prepared at Victoria House before the quick five-minute taxi ride to Ramon’ s Village. It is here where guides Joshua and Dominic took us out 15 miles to Hol Chan Marine Reserve to snorkel through the reef and see some beautiful marine life including schools of snappers, groupers, jacks and blue tang, turtles, moray eel, eagle rays, nurse sharks, southern stingrays and barracudas. The tour continued to Shark Ray Alley, a place where fishermen would clean their catches, and the penultimate adventure to end the amazing trip. Beside sting rays and other groups of fish, Joshua and Dominic fed small sardines to the nurse sharks and told all guests who were brave enough to jump out the other side to swim with the four- to six-foot sharks. The experience was one not to be missed. Up close to these slower-moving sharks, we were fingertips away to these marvelous creatures who thrilled and awed with every movement.

The Belize Tourism Board, in collaboration with the Central American Promotion Tourism Agency (CATA), are both aiming to provide visiting journalists with a first-hand experience and enjoyment of Belize’s tourism product. To wow and mesmerize travelers with the rainforest, beach and ancient wonders of the coun-try and offer unique adventurers that will be remembered for a lifetime. 