malaria

any need to take malaria meds for the trip...will be primarily in san ignacio with local trips into ruins...and hikes

Hi,
Well, my public health nurse told me to take anti-malarials.
I usually take Larium.
I did not care for the bug repellants or sun screen I was able to buy.
Stores in some places are screened off and you ask a clerk for what you want, you may get the right stuff.
So I prefer to bring my own packed in luggage.

Here's a a link to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) site for travel in Belize. Your risk of malaria is likely fairly low but we usually choose to follow their advice. We pack lightweight longsleeved shirts and long pants for early morning/evening outings in buggy areas and take good bug stuff. From our experience and research I recommend Ultrathon or Sawyer's Controlled Release Deet. Usually not many bugs in the Cayo, though. Have a blast!

chloroquine. Its cheap, no side effects, and you only need to take it once a week.
Doxocycline causes sun sensitivity so I wouldn't recommend it. Malarone is very expensive.

As scubatravel said, take chloroquine. It's very cheap ... just need to remember to take it once a week for around eight weeks. Why take chances and not take something so easy?