Belize was founded by adventurers—pirates, loggers and roughneck settlers who carved a place to live from swamps and jungles. A few centuries later, adventurous ecotravelers found this corner of Central America, and today, Belize is a rising star among those seeking active and educational vacations. Tourists go to see its vast expanses of rain forest, rich collection of birds and animals, long stretch of coral reef and plentiful Maya ruins. As a result, tourism has replaced agriculture as the largest industry in Belize, generating almost one-fifth of the country's GDP. Many people go to Belize for everything from honeymoons to snorkeling.
Of course, Belize's growing popularity is making it somewhat less wild than it used to be—especially if you find yourself in a well-appointed jungle lodge or seaside resort (even the sounds of howler monkeys can seem rather civilized when you're sipping cappuccino on the veranda). San Pedro on Ambergris Caye offers a pleasing mix of informal living, watersports and the country's best restaurants and nightlife.
Belize's travel infrastructure is continually improving but remains far from polished: Some areas are difficult and/or expensive to get to, and conventional resort amenities such as golf courses and tennis courts are few and far between. Belize's handful of "highways" are narrow but in fairly good condition, and getting around the country is not without its delays and challenges. We find these to be rather minor drawbacks, however. A bit of rawness just seems fitting for a place that caters to so many active travelers.
Location
Belize was all but ignored by Caribbean cruise ships until 2001, when a docking terminal for cruise-ship tenders opened in the historic Fort George area of Belize City. Called "Tourism Village," this waterside minimall has a host of overpriced shops, bars and other amenities. On some days, three or four large ships may be in port at the same time, stretching Belize's limited tourism infrastructure and overcrowding popular sites such as Shark-Ray Alley near Ambergris Caye and the Altun Ha ruins, just north of Belize City. A few smaller ships sail into other ports in Belize, stopping at fishing villages on the mainland and at tiny islands off the coast so passengers can dive or snorkel.
Belize City's central location (near the middle of the country on the Caribbean) has made it a convenient base for trips into the interior to explore rain forests and Maya ruins. The northern cayes also are a short plane flight or boat ride away from Belize City.
Shore Excursions
Consider signing up for the excursions offered by your ship, or hire one of the independent Belizean taxi drivers you'll find waiting for you in Belize City. Among the most popular excursions are cave tubing near Jaguar Paw Lodge, dolphin encounters on Spanish Lookout Caye, visits to the Maya site of Lamanai or Altun Ha, and snorkel tours at Hol Chan Marine Reserve. (Trips are also usually offered to Xunantunich, but this may take two hours each way.)
Ship-sponsored tours may not be the least expensive way to see Belize, but you won't waste your limited time making arrangements yourself—and you won't have to worry about missing the ship. Also, most passengers signed up for excursions will get priority when they are tendered to port—a big factor when a couple thousand people are flooding the docks on small boats. Shore excursions—and their prices—vary from cruise line to cruise line, depending on the time a ship is in port. Some may include lunch and drinks, and the number of stops may vary. Check with your ship's shore-excursion staff or travel agent for additional information.
