Belize vacation Planning 2 weeks..one week wet, the other dry.

[Storm]

I can tell you that im(sic) not a dive op or a champion and I thought amigos was less than average.

Yes, I did read your post (it was appreciated) and it was given due weight. I can assure you that your comments were not ignored; in fact they were quoted to the agent when I booked. Both they (through me) and I will be watching. I was asked to pay particular attention, and report my findings back to the agent for their action (should the operator be found to be wanting) and/or commendation (should the operator do well).

.On the refund issue I doubt you would get a refund unless the dive shop says they screwed up wich (sic) wont happen.

That might be your impression (and again an assumption), but considering the signed agreement I have with the agent (which is confidential so I will not be disclosing it), I am not concerned about this particular aspect of the trip.

Thanks for your input, and for your previous post; they are both appreciated.

Especuially (sic) at this time of little work/money, if you venture into Belize City with an expensive camera you are more than likely to lose it, even in broad daylight in busy populated areas.

As regards Belize as a whole, I recommend to you the Astrum Helicopters' tour of Belize early in your trip. You can see an example of the tour as a video on their website.

Please don't be surprised that people who actually live in a place and have business dealings with each other are not open in their criticisms of others. In a place like this you'll read fulsome praise but you'll rarely see open and documented criticism. That's where you have to be a little more subtle and perceptive in interpreting what you are told. New York "tell it like it is" doesn't apply here.

Thanks for pointing out the air tour, I was about to ask about those.

As far as the street photography is concerned, from what has been said here, (through PM and publicly) and from what I've read in other places, it’s a wash. The risk is not worth the reward; even if I could have freelanced some shots to offset the expense of the trip. It is simply not worth the risk my gear or my neck (yeah folks often say I need to rethink my priorities ) to get some shots while I'm supposed to be on vacation.

As to the whole PC comment, I DO get the tone (even appreciate it somewhat), and have read most of the history behind it (at least what's been aired here). I am, above all things, a writer, photographer and journalist. I follow the disciplines of proper sourcing (always have three verifications) when pursuing a story.

For the record, I have my own personal questions about the two operators in question. How could I not considering what’s been said. (Hence the very heavy handed agency agreement I have in place). But this I will tell you, I will be trying to do at least one dive with Aqua Dives (if they have room for me), and if time permits, Ecologic as well. I have both personal and professional reasons for doing so.

Hopefully those little samplings will give me enough to make up my own mind...after all I plan on at least one more trip to Belize...perhaps even a few more.

Again thanks all for your advice.

Cheers!

Rick

 

[Downing]

Especuially at this time of little work/money, if you venture into Belize City with an expensive camera you are more than likely to lose it, even in broad daylight in busy populated areas.

Good point. That's why I leave my wallet and watch in the hotel safe before I venture out. Another good trick is to walk around at sunrise. Bad guys all over the world tend to be sleeping off another hard night of robbing and pillaging at sunrise. Not guaranteed, of course, but you increase your odds of not being mugged that way.

Rick, I doubt that such a tour exists unless the guide's authorized to carry a machete and a shotgun. Honestly, there's not a lot of the typical tourist-type stuff to see. A decent walking tour would start with the Baron Bliss Tomb/Ft George Lighthouse, walk along the Harbor and work your way to the Swing Bridge over Haulover Creek. The creek is the north-south divider. You'll see some colonial homes, most in dire need of repair, along the way. You could turn right at Queens Street and take a serious risk of ending your vacation prematurely or turn left, cross the bridge and find yourself smack in the center of the commercial district. The Supreme Court's on your left along with Battlefield Park. Walk south on Albert Street about a quarter mile and you'll come to St John's Cathedral on your left, then Yarborough Cemetery in front of you. Turn left, go one block and turn left again on Regent Street. You'll see a colonial mansion on your right. I assume it was the British Governor's house back in the day. It's now a museum. Continue north on Regent or cut over to the seawall. Either way puts you back at the Swing Bridge. Total time somewhere around an hour, maybe more.

Keep in mind Belize City is really poor and really rough so keep your expectations accordingly.

 

[Storm]

Good point. That's why I leave my wallet and watch in the hotel safe before I venture out. Another good trick is to walk around at sunrise. Bad guys all over the world tend to be sleeping off another hard night of robbing and pillaging at sunrise. Not guaranteed, of course, but you increase your odds of not being mugged that way.

Rick, I doubt that such a tour exists unless the guide's authorized to carry a machete and a shotgun. Honestly, there's not a lot of the typical tourist-type stuff to see. A decent walking tour would start with the Baron Bliss Tomb/Ft George Lighthouse, walk along the Harbor and work your way to the Swing Bridge over Haulover Creek. The creek is the north-south divider. You'll see some colonial homes, most in dire need of repair, along the way. You could turn right at Queens Street and take a serious risk of ending your vacation prematurely or turn left, cross the bridge and find yourself smack in the center of the commercial district. The Supreme Court's on your left along with Battlefield Park. Walk south on Albert Street about a quarter mile and you'll come to St John's Cathedral on your left, then Yarborough Cemetery in front of you. Turn left, go one block and turn left again on Regent Street. You'll see a colonial mansion on your right. I assume it was the British Governor's house back in the day. It's now a museum. Continue north on Regent or cut over to the seawall. Either way puts you back at the Swing Bridge. Total time somewhere around an hour, maybe more.

Keep in mind Belize City is really poor and really rough so keep your expectations accordingly.

Thanks. See above regarding street photography. When I'm shooting street stuff, I'm actually not looknig for the typical touristy subjects, but I'd rather do so without the fear of being treated like a baby seal by someone who is just trying to feed themsleves, or their habits.

(muses to oneself...I wonder if I broke out some of my ancient film gear if that old crap would be deterernt enough..afterall some of my old gear looks like it's not worth a red cent..still takes good shots though.

 

[Hank49]

Storm, it takes about 2 1/2 hours or so to drive from San Ignacio to Orange walk town. You're on two of the main highways in the country the whole way. Decent roads.

Regarding safety in Belize City. I've been here almost 11 years and have been to Belize City....50 times at least. I've walked all around shopping on the side streets, the port, driven boats in and out of the river tying up at the old gas station behind SaveU, walked all around that area, and I have never had a problem, never had anything stolen nor have I felt threatened in any way.
I see lots of tourists walking around with cameras shopping, looking around, taking pictures. I think the danger is being greatly exaggerated by a few on this thread.
Most of the crime there is drug related and not focused on tourists.

 

[peterbj7]

I hear what you say Hank. I have professional photography equipment, and I've thought several times of taking it to Belize City to photograph the few interesting building there are there. Each time I've been dissuaded by locals who say it's just too risky, so the best I've ever done is with my trusty G10, which is pocketable and inconspicuous. A few months ago I visited a lawyer off Regent Street and after my meeting, mid-morning, I wanted to walk to the bus station to get up to the zoo. I had my expensive camera gear with me. My lawyer was so appalled at the idea that he jumped into his car and drove me there (the bus station, not the zoo), postponing his next appointment.

Maybe it isn't quite as bad as people here including myself have made out, but it's still pretty bad and offers so little in compensation that it's simply not worth it. I feel less safe in the daytime in parts of Belize City than I ever did in Lusaka or Los Angeles at night, that is if I'm carrying things of obvious value.

 

[Downing]

Thanks. See above regarding street photography.

I did, lol. That walking tour I described would be fantastic for street photography as that's the hustle and bustle of the place. I was listing landmarks to help guide the way. I don't think your typical tourist gives a cr*p about the Supreme Court Building or Yarborough Cemetery.

The Swing Bridge would be a fantastic subject if you can catch it when it's being opened. It takes four men to crank the gears that swings it open to let the boats pass. I've been told that quite the crowd gathers in the evening to watch the show so lots of chances for great street shots. My understanding was that if it opened it would be at 6 pm or 6 am, so I trotted down there both times but no luck. This time I'll have more opportunities, so I'm hoping my luck will change.

You may want to check out the travel guide, Insight Guides Belize. Be sure to get the 2008 edition, not the 2003. It's a great resource, 350 pages chock full of beautiful color photographs and maps. It covers pretty much everything from a brief history of the place to places to stay to things to do and see district by district, including the cayes. It's my all-time favorite guide book. It lists for $24 USD but you can get it for less on Amazon. Combine it with the Belize Insight Fleximap (laminated) for $8 and you'll get free shipping.

Hank, you're the man! Want to join us for dinner later this week? My treat, my friend. Just don't order the lobster.

 

[Hank49]

My cell is 670 3836. I'd enjoy it. Thanks

 

[Downing]

Hank, I'll give you a call. I'm assuming my cell phone won't work there (AT&T) but just in case it's 503-460-7652. We're staying in Room 16 of The Great House.

Thursday or Friday night would be best for us.

Btw, this offer's open to all the "regulars" on this forum. If anyone else wants to join us, let me know.

Just remember, no ordering the lobster.

 

[Storm]

Just to get this one back on track a bit....

Has anyone done the River Tour to Lamanai, and if so where is the best place to pick up the tour?

Is it better to do it as a day trip from Ambergris, or to find a place to stay in Orange Walk and pick up the tour from there?

One idea would be to pick up a rental at the airport (after the return flight from AC of course), drive over to Orange Walk, fund a decent place for the night, to the tour the next day, stay the following in OW then head over to our accommodations in the Cayo district. ON the surface this sounds fine but it will entail an night in OW.

The second though would be to extend our stay on AC by one day, use our original check out day for the tour. Fly out to Belize City the following day, and then head over to the Cayo district.

I'm just not sure which would render the better day; doing the tour from AC (with all that extra travel time) or doing it from Orange Walk but having the extra hotel booking to deal with?

Any ideas??

 

[Hank49]

Since the day you're going to Lamanai will take all of one day, you might as well go to Belize, rent the car and do it that way, if you can work it out and get to the river launch site on time..do the ruins and then drive up to Cayo the same day.
If you do it by boat from San Pedro (my mother and kids did that back in 2000 and said it was ok) you'll spend one day doing that, back to SP and then the next spent getting to Cayo. You should be able to get up there by noon if you leave early from SP.