best location for jungle + beach with diving (Belize or other location)

[soonerwatch]

Looking to travel with my wife (non-diver snorkeler) and daughter (diver) to one location where we can do some jungle activities and also dive in June in the region of central america. Seems like Placencia might be the best option? Open to other suggestions (even non-belize locations). Anywhere else I am overlooking?

We only have a week and don't want to switch hotels to experience beach and jungle. We've enjoyed trips to Akumal, Playa, Cozumel, and recently St. Lucia. Belize and Costa Rica have been our wish list for a while. With Costa Rica seems like staying in 2 places would be required to see jungle and beach / diving?

 

[KathyV]

You might also take a look at St. Croix, it has beaches and non-diver activities and very good snorkeling and diving, including the Fredricksted Pier which is a top Caribbean dive and snorkel destination. They also have very thick forests, not truly a jungle but a large, dense areas that the locals refer to as "the rainforest".

Curacao has beaches, great diving - both boat and shore diving, and both deserts and forests. Bonaire has the same but there isn't as many attractions for a non-diver on Bonaire IMO. And Bonaire is pretty flat, there are lots of hills and valleys and winding roads through the jungle on Curacao.

Dominica has it all, including some really impressive jungles to explore, but not much for a non-diver to do topside, except enjoy and explore the natural beauty of the island.

I wouldn't consider Roatan a great spot for a non-diver, but they do have beaches and diving and you can take gondola boat rides through intricate tunnels carved out of the mangrove forests!

I would have also mentioned Mexico and St. Lucia but you have been to those spots already.

I have never been to Cuba or Grenada, but they might be other good options for you. And if you are willing to travel further I am sure that there are many choices in the Philippines and elsewhere in SE Asia.

Have fun wherever you decide to go!

 

[agilis]

You might also take a look at St. Croix, it has beaches and non-diver activities and very good snorkeling and diving, including the Fredricksted Pier which is a top Caribbean dive destination. They also have very thick forests, not truly a jungle but a large, dense area that the locals refer to as "the rainforest".

Curacao has beaches, great diving - both boat and shore diving, and both deserts and forests. Bonaire has the same but there isn't as many attractions for a non-diver on Bonaire IMO. And Bonaire is pretty flat, there are lots of hills and valleys and winding roads through the jungle on Curacao.

Dominica has it all, including some really impressive jungles to explore, but not much for a non-diver to do topside IMO.

I wouldn't consider Roatan a great spot for a non-diver, but they do have beaches and diving and you can take gondola boat rides through intricate tunnels carved out of the mangrove forests!

I would have also mentioned Mexico and St. Lucia but you have been to those spots already.

I have never been to Cuba or Grenada, but they might be other good options for you. And if you are willing to travel further I am sure that there are many choices in the Philippines and elsewhere in SE Asia.

Have fun wherever you decide to go!

It seems to me that exploring Dominica's rainforests is exactly what a non-diver would want to do topside. I'm a lifelong diver, but I've come to spend more time in Dominica's magnificent 'jungles' than I do diving over the course of more than a dozen trips there. One hasn't really felt the subtle magic of Dominica until experiencing a small river body float from cool freshwater shaded by towering vegetation all the way to the waiting warm sea.

 

[flyboy08]

Costa Rica! Wonderful country for diving, rain Forrest, coffee trails, volcano, wind surfing, surfing, great food, inland eco resorts, and oh yeah, diving!

Plenty of other places too, but this is my 2cents...I've been to every CA country. All are awesome and offer various enjoyment.

Stay in Flamingo and then Arial....

 

[KathyV]

It seems to me that exploring Dominica's rainforests is exactly what a non-diver would want to do topside. I'm a lifelong diver, but I've come to spend more time in Dominica's magnificent 'jungles' than I do diving over the course of more than a dozen trips there. One hasn't really felt the subtle magic of Dominica until experiencing a small river body float from cool freshwater shaded by towering vegetation all the way to the waiting warm sea.

That's true, I was thinking of shopping, restaurants, and the more extensive commercial attractions that are available at many Caribbean vacation destinations - but that may not be what the OP's non-diving spouse is looking for. I have amended my original post above.

I guess the suggestion of Belize had me thinking of places with a wider range of tourist offerings. But there are many lovely things to do in Dominica, too. We went on a whale watching tour that was a great experience while we were there.

Dominica is beautiful, and it definitely has gorgeous rainforests! But the OP's family only have a week and Dominica isn't always the easiest place to get to, unfortunately.

 

[Downing]

I go to Placencia every year for both diving and jungle. Usually spend three weeks, diving weeks one and three and exploring the jungle during the week in the middle. It's easy because the jungle's just right up the road, starting with Cockscomb Basin. Hiking, rafting, caves, Mayan ruins everywhere. My wife and I will be there in June, so perhaps we'll see you there.

We snuck into Cuba a few years ago. Overall, very disappointing. Loved Havana and wish we spent our entire time there. Dived off an island just below Cuba. Could have been anywhere because Cubans can only live there if they work there. Otherwise, the island is restricted to tourists. The one and only dive op was not very good. Nice people but they didn't really know what they were doing. All of which could have been overlooked but the diving itself was pretty subpar. We would love to visit Havana and the surrounding countryside again but won't be doing any diving there.

Other than the craziness that is Cancun/Cozumel, we haven't gone anywhere else in CA but this trip we're going to spend a few days in Mexico City and El Salvador before making our way to Belize.

 

[drrich2]

I've read it tends to take 2 days to fly to and again back from Dominica. That true here? If he's only got a week ...

 

[chillyinCanada]

I'd say Grenada but that's not in Central America proper. I'm not familiar with Costa Rica.
Love Belize. If you wanted to stay on Ambergris Caye and feel like you were in the jungle and at the beach, then I recommend Xanadu Island Resort.
Otherwise, since you only have one week, I'll second Downy's recommendation for Placencia. Though this comes with a cautionary note. The diving from Placencia is quite far out and you'll be gone longer than if you stayed on Ambergris Caye in San Pedro. From San Pedro, you could do two morning dives and be back for lunch with non-divers around 12:30.

 

[Kharon]

I've read it tends to take 2 days to fly to and again back from Dominica. That true here? If he's only got a week ...

It can be done a lot quicker. But it depends on where you are coming from and day of week, and maybe time of year. And it takes real effort.

You can't do it with Kayak, etc. You have to research individual airlines and various stop cities. No one airline does it. And prices can vary wildly. Best bet I've found lately (from Albany, NY) is to fly to San Juan and puddle jump from there.

The island is fantastically untouched. No casino, no fast food, but 7 different ecosystems, tons of rivers/streams, waterfalls all over, magnificant jungles, the last Caribe population in their own village, and one of the only 2 boiling lakes in the world.

Lots of poverty but when I was there, no begging. People would ask if you wanted to buy something they made, but I was never asked for a handout nor strongarmed to buy.

 

[agilis]

I've read it tends to take 2 days to fly to and again back from Dominica. That true here? If he's only got a week ...

The schedules of the SJU to Dominica flights have been modified, in effect reversed. From San Juan now leaves in the afternoon, and from Dominica to SJU leaves in the morning. It's now possible to do it all in one day, depending on where your flight to and from SJU originates. In Newark we have early morning flights to San Juan making a one (full) day of traveling in each direction quite possible.