Itinerary advice

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kwrenr
kwrenr

I am trying to work out the itinerary for my first trip to Belize in February am looking for some advice/feedback:

We are starting with a 6 day kayak/snorkelling tour which includes a night at the Belize zoo and ends in Dangriga. After that I have another 6 days and the friend I am traveling with has another 5 1/2 days.

We definitely want to spend some time in Toledo to do a chocolate tour visit some of the Mayan communities and possibly Lubaantun. (tentatively booked for the first two days after the kayak tour.) We also are planning on spending a couple days in San Ignacio and going to ATM. We would also like to work in a trip to one of the big ruins (Caracol or Lamanai, maybe Tikal) and my friend really wants to end the trip on the coast. I am having a brutally hard time trying to figure out how to get everything without making feel more like a marathon than a vacation!

Do you think it would it be possible to get a transfer/tour from San Ignacio to Lamanai and then from Lamanai get back to Belize City in time to get the last water taxi to Caye Caulker (If so- any recommendations as to who to do the tour/transfer with) or, in the alternative, after an ATM tour, catch the bus that night from Belmopan down to Hopkins or Placencia?

Any input would be much appreciated!

Karen

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hopefulist
hopefulist

With 5.5 or 6 days I'd pick 2 areas; 3 would really be a stretch since you're naming areas that are really scattered all over Belize. You'll need at least 2 and maybe 3 nights in Toledo for those activities, then most of a day (unless you fly) to get to San Ignacio; ATM cave is a full day so you spend the night again - that's 4 or 5 nights already. You could visit Caracol or Tikal as a day trip (though an overnight is better for Tikal imho), but it would be a stretch to make it to the dock in time for the last ferry after any of those 3 things. I'd leave either San Ignacio or Lamanai out. Actually, I'd call the 6 day snorkeling/kayaking part your beach time and just split between Toledo and San Ignacio with an overnight to Tikal (which is a lot to cram in to a small timeframe already). Good luck, whatever you decide!

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misterbee
misterbee

Not a lot of time, but after your trip to Toledo, head to San Ignacio and do the ATM. Now, depending on how your time is going, Tikal would be number one on the list of Mayan sites -- if you see Tikal, don't worry too much if you don't see the others. If you don't have time for Tikal, then see Caracol.

The best way for you to get to Lamanai might be with a transfer service. There are buses but they take time (involve a change in Belize City) and time is something you don't have a lot of. William's Belize Shuttle gets good comments, and he should get there via a road (Boom Road) that bypasses Belize City saving some time. There's a link to William on the BelizeBus site (see my profile page for the link to BelizeBus).

Pacz Tours in San Ignacio also gets some positive comments.

For the end of the trip, I prefer Caye Caulker over Placencia or Hopkins. If you're coming from Lamanai, you should be able to make the last water taxi.

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