I'm going to Belize!

On Monday night, I leave for Belize. That's only 4 days away! I'm going with Dave, and it's coming at a time when we both really need some time off from work (or is that all the time?).

The plan right now is to hit Caye Caulker first, since it's close to Belize City and the airport. We have a somewhat hellish flight schedule (two stops, overnight) so the thought of getting on a bus for several hours probably won't be appealing when we disembark. Caye Caulker seems a perfect place to relax and destress from the flight, but still promises the opportunity to explore. We had considered going to Placencia first, because it's more off-the-beaten path and supposedly the best beach in Belize, but I think the ease of getting to Caye Caulker makes it an obvious first stop.

We'll stay on C. Caulker for one or two nights. From what I've read, you can walk around the entire island with relative ease, and it's pretty laid back. Less touristy than Ambergris Caye, but more so than most of the others. Still, it will be a nice transition into the rest of the country. Plus, there are some cabanas on stilts, right on the water, that still manage to be less than $40/night. A worthy splurge.

From there, I think we'll probably head to San Ignacio, as I'd like to vary it up a little and go inland before we return beachside. I'm a little torn though - from San Ignacio, we can make an easy daytrip to Tikal in Guatemala - supposedly the most spectacular of the Mayan ruins. But if we skip that, we can see lesser ruins in Belize, and spend more time further south in the mountains and in the Cockscomb Wildlife Sanctuary which is huge and looks amazing. We'll probably go to San Ignacio though, and take a day to go to Tikal. A friend of ours backpacked Guatemala and said they were something not to miss.

After that, we will backtrack to Belmopan, then take a bus south to Dangriga, and continue south to Cockscomb. Still on the fence as to whether or not we'll spend the night there - I guess it will depend on how long we stay in San Ignacio. Nevertheless, the end destination is Placencia.

Placencia is supposed to be gorgeous - for anyone who doesn't know, it's a long, narrow peninsula which for years, I believe, only had a sidewalk-sized road. I think Placencia Village at the tip still has that, although the rest of the Peninsula has been further developed and boasts at least a semi-full-sized road. Shame.

I'd like to go further south into Toledo, but the reality of it is, we're taking public transport - which from most accounts is spotty and slow - and we just don't have time. Right now the priorities are: carribean beach, rainforest, and Mayan ruins.

Hopefully I'll be able to report from Belize - although I have no clue yet when we will have internet access as one thing that's not a priority to me is sitting behind a computer!