Belize Travel Forum

Hi! I'm tenatively planning a three week trip to Belize/Guatamala in September. Is it easy to travel from Belize over to Tikal National Park? Has anyone stayed at The Caves Branch Jungle Lodge? Or have any other recommendations for caving In Belize? (I have experience.)

Also, I'll be traveling from London - can anyone recommend a good way to get there - is it easier/cheaper/or even possible to get a connecting flight from Cancun?

Thanks very much!

The only one of your questions that I can answer is that yes it is easy to get from Belize to Tikal if you take a tour from the Cayo district. Most car rental companies won't let you drive their cars into G. A day tour may not be enough for you, but it is the only really easy way to do this trip.

Most of the caving that I'm aware of is tubing through caves and isn't 'real' caving.

When we flew into Belize, we went from Miami. Flights into Belize are probably the most expensive part of the trip.

I don't think there is a direct flight from europe to belize city.Try San Pedro Sula Honduras and take a connecting flight to Ambergris or Belize city through MAYAISLANDAIR.or take TACA airlines and go through San Salvador onto belize.

The cave trips are very beginer friendly but if you search around there might be some tour operators that will take you rapelling into some sinkholes.Heard Caves Branch was nice but never been there.

Crystal car rentals used to let their rentals across the border but expect a couple hours at customs each way.Best to walk across the border at Benque Viejo and pick up a taxi to Flores on the Guatemala side-Or arrange for a hotel in El Remate or Flores to send a driver to the border to pick you up.

Have fun-Lots of Brits down there.

No connecting flights from Cancun, but you can take the ADO bus to Chetumal, and then a bus to Belize City and further.

Contact Bruno Kuppinger at ITBM tours (suncreek@hughes.net) for lots of information on caving in the Toledo District.

We flew into Cancun and drove to Belize, there is one car rental company that will let you take their car across, the Mexico Belize border isn't to bad, you can get Belizean insurance right there, it's about 20. usd for 7 days. We didn't take the car to Tikal, it was a hassle for Quatemalan insurance, we didn't reseach it enough so it seemed a bit overwhelming at the time.Of you could fly to Cancun and bus to Chetumal, it's about $25. USD then walk across the border and get a bus to your next destination, we would probably do that next time. It's a beautiful country, you're going to have a great trip.

i took a bus from cancun to belize city once, had to change bus,s in Chetumal at the main bus terminal at belize mexico border,a long 8 hour hot trip,you may want to try flying into mexico city,transfer to a flight to chetumal,not cancun,from the chetumal airport a $5.us taxi ride to the main bus terminal,get on a bus to belize city from there,maybe 2-3 hour bus ride. make sure you get to the bus terminal in chetumal before 2pm or 3pm in the afternoon,also make sure you know how to say, "main bus terminal" in spanish,not much english spoken there. if you happen to get stuck in chetumal for some reson, a great hotel is Hotel Ucon on Mahatma gandi ave. $20u.s. a night. a five dollar cab ride back to bus terminal.
the border is easy, you get off the bus at the border for one minute, present your passport,pay ten dollar u.s. fee to leave mexico, get back on the bus, about 3 hours to belize city, or i think there may be direct flight from europe now, not sure. but either way, the best place to stay for a night is the Belcove hotel in belize city,[belcove.com] very clean very safe, rooms start at $26us a night. use the hotel for at least the one night, they can arrange any tour you want,bus tickets, very nice people. in the morning, ask to stay one more night, leave your bags,very safe, grab a towel and walk the 200ft to the main water taxi terminal, get a water taxi to caye caulker [a must see!!] at caye caulker find "the split" a swimming hole with a bar, great place, if you like it there, want to stay, ask around to find "tinas place" i nice hostel, you may want to spend a couple days. never never go anywhere with the local beach boys who hang around the bars, some are animals, dont let them touch you, dont leave your drink unattended.
in belize they only sell local beers, only drink "lighthouse" all others are horse ***.
no offence to any horses.
i use the Belcove hotel for all my adventures, they can arrange all tours, caving, zoo, mayan sites, anything, they are great people.
if you ever need a taxi, only call someone you know. a guy i have known for years and trust is a taxi driver who sits in front of the main water taxi terminal in belize city, his name is Gerald Lewis, nice guy, his cell is 621-4675. tell him Gordo sent you.
remember, travel from belize city to tikal is not hard, a bus leaves every hour or two, however the border into guadamala is seriously a strange place, try not to go alone, the border gaurds may look you over not as a traveler, but as a potential target, cops can not be trusted. most likely you will get though with no problems, but the futher away from civilation, the more a target you are. be carefull.
Start with belcove.com for a safe place to start in Belize city.
any questions, e mail me i will be there in Sept.
iamgordo@hotmail.com