Revealed Travel

Belize Country Feature Newsletter April 2017

Revealing Belize English-speaking Belize offers a wealth of exotic wildlife and natural beauty including rainforest, mountains, waterfalls and white sand beaches. See amazing wildlife including monkeys, wild cats, fantastic birdlife & butterflies. Relax on tropical beaches fringed by a barrier reef offering spectacular diving and snorkelling. Combine all this with the splendour of ancient Mayan ruins, an eclectic cultural mix of Maya, Mestizo, Mennonite, Garifuna & Creole peoples and adrenalin-fuelled adventure such as zip-lining, caving and canyoning – to discover Belize, a holiday destination not to be missed.

Belize is a perfect romantic honeymoon destination. You can stay in a remote luxury jungle eco-lodges with opportunities for rainforest walks, private waterfall dining, viewing stunning wildlife in their natural habitat – mixed with fun adventure activities such as canopy zip-lining, caving and tubing. You can visit majestic Mayan temples and ruins, sample different foods and get a feel for the music, religion, customs, markets, arts & crafts of the Belizean people. Travel to the tropical soft white sands of Belize’s Caribbean for some laid-back barefoot luxury with beach and poolside R & R, sunshine and spa pampering coupled with fantastic snorkelling and diving. World-class Diving Warm, crystal clear waters, multiple dive sites, 70 types of coral and around 400 species of fish characterise diving in Belize. Ambergris Caye offers 25 miles of Belize Barrier Reef less than 1km offshore. Great dives include the Blue Hole at Lighthouse Reef and the Elbow at Turneffe Atoll. Whale sharks can be sighted in the southern reef at Gladden Spit and Silk Cayes Canyon from April to June.

We hope these pages provide you with practical information to help you plan your trip.

Getting there

There are no direct flights to Belize. American Airlines now has a flight four times a week via Miami with a same day onward connection. Other airlines offer flights with an overnight stay in the United States (usually Atlanta, Houston, Miami or Newark). Longer stays can be arranged. For the return journey we usually arrange through flights with a change of plane in the United States. Inevitably, this means passing through US immigration. We can arrange stopovers as necessary. Please contact us for flights which combine Belize with other places in the region, e.g. Mexico, Guatemala or Nicaragua. Belize Hotel Association The BHA is a consortium of lodges, hotels and companies involved in the travel industry to promote sustainable tourism to Belize and ensure visitors receive quality of service at a fair price. The BHA is a not-for-profit, non-governmental organisation. Some of the featured hotels are members.

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The Cayes Belize is home to the biggest Barrier Reef in the Northern & Western Hemispheres and the coral cayes & islands off Belize’s Caribbean coast are great for diving, snorkelling, sailing and ocean fishing. There are some fantastic luxury hotels offering delightful tropical beach R & R.

Ambergris Caye is the biggest island, but options vary with the more laid-back Caye Caulker and many smaller private islands.

Practical Information for Travellers

Suggested Itinerary Day 1: Fly to USA; overnight airport hotel Days 2-4: Placencia Days 5-7: Cayo District Days 8-10: Orange Walk Days 11-14: Ambergris Day 15: Depart Belize Day 16: Arrive UK

Hopkins Hopkins is a bohemian coastal fishing village and a centre of Garifuna culture and food.

Less busy and built-up compared with Placencia, this unspoilt small beach and diving resort offers some great hotels. As well as the chance to chill, the area is convenient for the nearby Cockscomb Jaguar Reserve and the famous Scarlet Macaws at Red Bank.

Seasons and Climate The dry season runs from December to April, and the rainy season is from June to October. May and November are ‘shoulder’ periods as one season evolves into the other from dry to rainy or rainy to dry.

Placencia Placencia is Belize’s premier mainland beach resort. Set on a thin 16-mile long peninsula strip in the Caribbean, and home to tropical soft white sands this bustling seaside town offers great beach and poolside R&R, sea kayaking and access to reef snorkelling & diving. Inland attractions include the great Monkey River wildlife trip.

Entry British nationals travelling on a full, valid British passport do not require a visa for entry to Belize. You should ensure that it is valid for at least 6 months beyond the date of arrival. Getting Around We book land transfers and internal flights

Cayo District Jungle rainforest, mountain pines, waterfalls, wildlife, birds, butterflies & tropical plants create the stunning natural beauty of the Cayo District. Attractions include impressive Maya ruins, the bustling market town of San Ignacio and Actun Tunichil Muknal, the cave of the Crystal Sepulchre (better known as Cave ATM). Together with adventure activities such as zip-lining, the Cayo District is one of Belize’s most popular destinations.

in small aircraft for travelling within Belize,

together with excursions and activities according to your own particular needs and requirements. Hotels Belize offers a range of hotels to suit most budgets, from three star standard accommodation to remote boutique lodges to 5 star luxury. Please call us to discuss your preferences.

Orange Walk Located in the north of Belize, the Orange Walk’s remote eco-lodges are rich in wildlife and birdlife – and offers one of the best chances of seeing jaguar in the wild. This scenic area is also host to the amazingly preserved ancient Lamanai ruins, and a river-bank home of rural Mennonite communities.

Vaccinations It is advisable to check your immunizations for Polio, Tetanus, Typhoid and Hepatitis A. If you have been to Africa within 3 months of arriving in Belize you may need to provide proof of vaccination against Yellow Fever. There is a low risk of malaria in the Stan Creek area.

Toledo Lesser-visited Toledo, in the south, is a very natural and unspoilt part of Belize. Rainforest, wildlife, spice plantations, & adventure activities such as Blue Creek Cave swimming combine with Maya community cultural visits and homestays to offer a genuinely off-the-beaten track experience. Punta Gorda is the main town and a ferry port to Guatemala.

Costs Prices will vary according to season, standard of accommodation and whether services are on a private basis or as part of a group. Please contact us for further information.

enquiries@revealedtravel.co.uk Tel: 01932 424252

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Revealed Travel

Belize Ocean Club, Placencia Hidden Valley Inn, Cayo Hatchet Caye, Placencia

Belize Ocean Club Adventure Resort is situated on the beautiful Maya Beach, just a short distance from Placencia. This PADI 5-Star Dive Resort is perfectly located for easy access to both jungle

and ocean adventures.

Hidden Valley Inn is a private nature reserve set in 7,200 acres of wilderness in the Maya Mountains of Belize. An area of majestic waterfalls, creeks and fantastic scenery. Explore jungle trails, visit underground caves; great birdwatching.

Hatchet Caye is a private island resort that offers an unspoiled environment for an authentic and unforgettable tropical experience the way nature intended; just you, a pristine sand beach and the crystal clear sea. Enticing.

Blackrock Lodge, Cayo

Belcampo, Punta Gordo

Victoria House, Ambergris Caye

Blackrock Lodge has just 20 cabins with stunning views of Black Rock Canyon, the Macal River and the surrounding rainforest. Set in 242 acres, activities include canoeing, tubing, hiking, biking, caving and birdwatching. Portofino, Ambergris Caye

Portofino offers unpretentious barefoot luxury in a peaceful setting, accessible only by boat on the north of Ambergris. The pace is unhurried, the beaches are white and the water amazingly azure. We like it!

Set in the verdant hills above the Caribbean coast of southern Belize, Belcampo is a jungle lodge, organic farm and a 12,000-acre nature reserve, offering, active adventures, wildlife viewing and saltwater fly-fishing. Lamanai Outpost Lodge, Orange Walk

Lamanai Outpost Lodge is surrounded by an incredible variety of habitats that facilitate unsurpassed nature-based and soft-adventure activities that depart right from your cabaña’s doorstep.

The award winning Victoria House beach resort has just 42 rooms and is an ideal venue for relaxation and comfort, a romantic getaway, a dream beach wedding or an unforgettable family vacation. Early booking is essential. Blue Tang, Ambergris

Blue Tang is located on San Pedro's north coast with spectacular views of the ocean and reef. Fourteen exquisite suites with fully equipped kitchens and air conditioning. Relax by the private pool with inspiring panoramas of the ocean and reef.

www.belizerevealed.co.uk 01932 424252

Belize Revealed

Our Belize Revealed website has further information about the country, suggested tailor-made itineraries and small group escorted tours, group tours, climate details and useful facts for travellers and links to other Central America Revealed websites.

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Revealed Travel

Belize Revealed is part of the Revealed Travel group owned by Mercator Enterprises which specialises in customer-focused tailor-made holidays and tours throughout Central America and the wider Latin American region.

We would be delighted to discuss your plans and design a personal holiday itinerary according to your own particular needs.

On the ground we have a team of experienced, English-speaking guides with a wealth of detailed knowledge and we have appointed a local ground agent in each country to represent us and to look after our passengers locally.

Revealed Travel: a personal service and value for money from travel experts.

South America Revealed

South America appeals to travellers with a true sense of the spirit of adventure, from the wonders of the Iguassu Falls and the Atacama Desert to the dramatic scenery of Patagonia; from the Amazon jungle to Machu Picchu, the Galapagos Islands, the Pantanal, Uyuni Salt Flats and Antarctica. Please take a look at our regional website:

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South-East Asia Revealed

Whether you have a yearning to visit Angkor Wat in Cambodia, the Golden Temples of Myanmar or wish to travel the mighty Mekong River, explore Halong Bay on a Vietnamese sailing boat or visit some of Indonesia’s islands we will put together a bespoke tailor-made itinerary just for you:

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Revealing some of our Revealed Travel websites for Central and South America, South-East Asia and beyond:

Bolivia Revealed Bolivia has become one of the most exciting destinations in Latin America in recent years with an immense variety from Amazon lowlands to the altiplano of the Andes. Highlights include the Uyuni Salt Flats, which cover an astonishing ten thousand square kilometres, the coral island of Isla Incahuasi covered in giant cacti, some of them hundreds of years old and the Reserva Eduardo Avaroa National Park where Laguna Colorada is home to over 30,000 flamingos.

www.boliviarevealed.co.uk

Vietnam Revealed Revealed Travel has launched a new website for Vietnam, one of the most robust economies in the developing world. It is a country that exemplifies tenacity, determination and spirit. In its long history, the Vietnamese people have kept China at bay for over a millennium, repelled three Mongol invasions, and, in more recent times, declared victory over the United States in what they call the American War. It is a fascinating and interesting country, with extraordinary landscapes and undiscovered gems.

www.vietnamrevealed.co.uk

Antarctica Revealed The magnificent ice continent of Antarctica is teeming with wildlife and dramatic sights. It is the coldest, driest and windiest place on the planet and 98% of it is covered by ice that is at least a mile thick.

Our Antarctica website is designed to be a comprehensive guide to the full range of Antarctic cruises and expeditions which travel between October and March, avoiding the darkness of the Antarctic winter.

www.antarcticarevealed.co.uk

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