Help me with my itinerary please

Sorry I miss the bus in to let from your earlier posting.

1. is it the same bus terminal in Belize city for me to trasfer?

Yes, the ADO buses uses the same terminal as the Belizean buses, but the express buses to Guatemala use the water taxi terminal.

1. is it fairly easy to walk around San Ignacio and Culkner and find budget accomodation or should I prebook?

Yes. Both are small and easily walkable. September is a low month for tourism -- I wouldn't reserve in advance. The exception might be Yuma's House Hostel on CC which always seems to be full.

1. on the way back from Caulker to BC, then To Cuncun Airport; I would prefer to take the overnight bus, arriving at Cancun airport at 7am and take my flight a few hours later at 1240PM. are the bus reliable and prompt or am I taking a major risk and should overnight at Playa the night before my flight?

In my experience, ADO buses have always been reliable and prompt. I have heard of buses running late -- very rare, but I'd prefer to overnight closer to Cancun.

I would scratch San Ignacio and visit Lamanai instead as it is right on your way as you pass by Orange Walk on the bus. This will save you time since you don't have a lot of it to spend in Belize. Take the bus from the airport to Playa Del Carmen. They leave every half hour or so. From Playa get a bus to Tulum. After a long plane ride you will really appreciate spending a couple of nights in Tulum as there are great beaches, cenotes and a great ruin at Coba. These are things you won't find in Belize. Take an early morning bus from Tulum to the Chetumal Bus Station and from there taxi to the other bus station for the Belize Bus. Cross the border on the Belize bus and get off at the second stop in Orange Walk. Spend a night there and the next morning take the all day trip to Lamanai. It is spectacular. The next morning get back on the Belize bus and go to Belize City. From there you can water taxi and be on Caye Caulker by noon. Spend several days there and instead of busing it back to Mexico, take the boat, the San Pedro Express all the way back to Chetumal. It is a great 90 minute ride and saves you from going back to BC and the long bus ride.

Mister Bee, Greggo, and others, help!
I've finally read up and came up with a list of sites to see and things to do.
After all the postings about bus from Cancun, I was able to get a cheap fare all the way to Belize city. (hopefully, the Cuncun info could help others). I fly into Belize city September 13 (this Saturday) arriving 2:30pm. flying back from Belize city on the 23.
I plan to spend half of the time in San Ignacio, and half in Caye Caulker
upon arrival, i plan to take the first available bus to San Ignacio. and make it my base to see Xunantunich, Caracol, possibly El Pilar and Actun Tunichil Caves
1. the lonely planet is not very clear on ways to get to Xunantunich and Caracol independently through local busses. is that even a possibility?
2. If I have to book a tour, is there one that does both?
3 is Actun Tunichil muknal redundant if Im really pumped about Nohoch che'en caves?

second part of my trip would be chilling at caye Caulker.
4. is Caye Caulker a good base for Altun ha, Lamanai and Nohoch che'en cave? or do you recommend staying a night or two in another town central to do those sites, before heading to Caye Caulker to chill on the beach?

Once again, you guys rock!!! many thanks from Toronto.

1. From San Ignacio, get on a bus going to Benque. Ask the driver or conductor to let you off at San Jose Succotz at the road to Xunantunich. Cross the river on the ferry, and then walk about 1.5 km to the site. I don't know of any public buses to Caracol.

2. I wouldn't book a tour to Xunantunich -- go on your own. For Caracol, try Pacz Tours in San Ignacio, or go to the Cayo Welcome Centre for tourist information.

3. I wouldn't call CC a good base for those site. You can get to the sites from CC, but Lamanai is definitely a full day trip from CC. A night in Orange Walk Town might be the best idea.

Dude, you have about 8 days, spend 3 in San Ignacio, 2 at Tikal, screw Lamanai and spend the rest on Caulker.
You'd be silly to get to SI and not travel a couple hours to Tikal.

Hi Again,
It's good that you are flying into Belize then but you still only have a little time. I would follow Joe's advice and head straight for San Ignacio, spend a night there and choose one day trip for the next day. Spend another night and then head over the border to Tikal. It really is pretty easy. Spend a night or two at Tikal right in the park. Make sure you visit the ruins before sunrise. Then get up early like about 6 AM and catch the bus that will take you all the way across the border to the marine terminal in BC and spend your remaining days on Caye Caulker. You can even spend your last night there and still have time to make your plane the next day. This is a tried and proven way to get the most out of the time that you have. Oh, Travel light and on travel days always leave early in the morning so you will be settled before it gets dark. Have Fun! Greg

I would do just as Greg suggests, choosing the ATM cave trip for the first full day and adding a visit to Yaxha to your time in Guatemala. Have a great trip, whatever you decide!

Anyone know approximately what time the Cancun-BC bus arrives in Orange Walk? Would it be like 3:30am or something? Hmm wondering how safe i is to be around that area when its dark...planning on using Orange Walk to get to Lamanai, any suggestions? Don't really want to be in Orange Walk any longer than necessary. Thanks in advance

With the exception of Caye Caulker there is nothing of interest to me in Belize but it seems that I read about a water-taxi from Chetumal to Caye Caulker, saves the ordeal of going through BC on the way with the plus of bypassing the disgustingly filthy Orange Walk.

Then from Caye Caulker take the water-taxi to BC then a shuttle to San Ignacio.

Perhaps some of the Belize lovers can fill you in on that option?