CAYMAN ISLANDS WEBSITE - http://www.caymanislands.ky/
MAP OF GRAND CAYMAN - http://www.caymanactivityguide.com/Cayman.htm - this site offers several maps of locations on Grand Cayman including Seven Mile Beach and a dive site map
MAP OF GEORGETOWN - http://www.caribbean-on-line.com/cy/gtmap.shtml (see drop down options under ‘Maps’ on left side of page for more maps)
Grand Cayman is the largest and most populated island in the Cayman Islands and its capital, George Town, is the main cruise ship port. It is a British Crown Colony and is one of the more expensive islands you will visit. It has one of the highest standards of living in the Caribbean due to being the offshore banking center of the Caribbean. The Cayman Islands Dollar (KYD) costs $1.25 US for every Cayman dollar however American currency is generally accepted, as are major credit cards.
George Town is a tendering port which means that your ship will anchor offshore and ferry in passengers on smaller tender boats. Factor this element into your plans for the day as waiting in line and tendering to and from the island will eat into your ‘fun’ time on the island. There are two docks in George Town – North and South. If there is a lot of wind, this port could be cancelled as tendering is dangerous in high winds.
TRANSPORTATION
Taxis - There are always lots of taxis available near the pier areas. Cab fare from the pier to Seven Mile Beach will cost around $4/pp. Since there are several drop off points for this beach, the cost varies depending on where you get dropped off ie: Royal Palms $4, Beach Club $4, Public beach $5, Sea Grape Beach $5, Courtyard Marriott $6, Cemetery Beach $6.
City Bus – for the more adventurous, you can take advantage of the local bus system. The ‘buses’ are actually large vans and are much cheaper than cabs, if you are looking to save some money. The bus depot is located on Edward St, next to the library and across from the Hero's Square Fountain - a 5 minute walk from the pier. The average cost is around $2.50 US per person each way. Fares are usually in Cayman Island currency but drivers will accept US dollars so carry small bills and change to avoid having to get change in CI currency. Generally, fare tables are displayed in the window but you can also ask the driver the cost as you are getting into the bus. Wherever you get dropped off, just return to that same spot, on the opposite side of the road and hail a bus heading back to George Town by waving when the driver toots his horn.
Taxi license plates have red numbers on a white background. A bus has white numbers on a blue background and buses that go to the beach have a yellow circle with #1 or #2 WB on the windshield. Any bus marked WB will pass by West Bay Beach and Seven Mile Beach. Upon boarding, tell the driver where you want to get off. Buses to the beach run every 15 minutes, buses to Bodden Town every 30 minutes and to the East End or North Side run every hour.
Signs located on the front and back of buses will identify routes:
George Town to West Bay - Route 1 (yellow) and Route 2 (lime green)
George Town to Bodden Town - Route 3 (blue)
George Town to East End - Route 4 (purple)
George Town to East End and North Side - Route 5 (red)
North Side to West Bay - Route 6 (dark green)
George Town local - Route 7 (dark green with white numbers)
George Town to Hutland (in North Side) - Route 8 (orange)
SHOPPING
There are lots of duty free shops on the island. The three main spots to check out if you are interested in shopping are: Cardinal Avenue; Galleria Plaza (located on West Bay Road) and the Governor’s Square Mall.
INTERNET
You'll find options at Galleria Plaza on West Bay Road. Also, there is free internet at The English Bakery which is a yellow building with a red roof right in front of Capt. Bryan's stingray excursion‘s office… just a few blocks from the tender area. For yet another option, take a right at the North Terminal dock to find an internet location on Cardinal Avenue behind Columbian Emeralds (25 cents/minute).
ATTRACTIONS/SIGHTS
Stingray City – located in the middle of the North Sound, this is an amazing spot where the sting rays have been congregating for many years. They have been fed by tourists for many years and are very tame. Standing in about three feet of water, you get the opportunity to interact with the rays. Your tour operator may give you the chance to hold a ray or feed them squid out of your hand!! Hold the squid in your fist and the ray will suck it out of your hand. Make sure to tuck in your thumb or they will suck that in too!! There are many tour operations that offer excursions to Stingray City. See ‘Tour Operations” for options.
Blow Holes – located near the eastern end of the island, the blow holes are geysers created by the water pressure in underwater caverns which spray high into the air and create a dramatic roaring noise.
Dolphin Encounters - there are two dolphin encounter operations on Grand Cayman.
Dolphin Discovery (http://www.dolphindiscovery.com/grand-cayman/cayman-location-overview.asp)- located in West Bay, across from the turtle farm and Dolphin Cove (http://www.dolphincove.ky/ ) - located near the west end of the island on the edge of North Sound. Both give you several packages to choose from where you can swim with and play with the dolphins. The Dolphin Cove operation tends to get more positive reviews overall however, there are many concerns about dolphin encounters in general…especially where the dolphins are in captivity and may not be taken care of properly. This is just something to be aware of when selecting these excursions.
The Cayman Islands National Museum - http://www.museum.ky/Content/16.htm - operating hours are 9am – 5pm Mon – Fri and 9am – 1pm Sat. Located opposite the George Town Harbour on the corner of Shedden Road and Harbour Drive. Offers a gift shop, a theater, and a café. I cannot locate any information on entrance fees on their website but one of the discussion boards indicates entrance costs $5 for adult and $3.15 for children, but I am not sure how current this information is.
Boatswain’s Beach (formerly Cayman Turtle Farm) - http://www.boatswainsbeach.ky/ - Located in West Bay, this is a marine park and research facility with an eye on conservation of the endangered green sea turtle as well as breeding of turtles for commercial use. You can see turtles in every stage of development and can try some turtle dishes as well as snorkel with sea turtles in their lagoon. Per their website “This 23 acre park features a reef lagoon in which guests can snorkel, a predator tank, a free flight aviary, a woodland nature trail and a zero entry fresh water rock pool, complete with waterfall provide guests with hours of entertainment”. You can purchase tickets for the turtle farm portion of the park only ($30US adult/$20US child) or tickets for access to the entire park ($45US adult/$25US child).
Hell – this is a small seaside village located on the northwest side of the island. The village gets its name from the craggy black rock formations that give it an ominous and ‘hellish’ appearance. There is a gift shop and a post office where you can send a postcard home with the postmark from Hell.
Pedro St. James "Castle" – http://www.pedrostjames.ky/ - located near Bodden Town, this is the oldest stone structure in the Caymans and is now a historic site and museum. The Pedro St. James "Castle" is considered the birthplace of democracy in the Cayman Islands. It has lovely grounds which are ideal for a quiet stroll and some beautiful photo opportunities. You can also get a panoramic view from the Great Pedro Bluff. Entrance fee is $10US.
Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park – http://www.botanic-park.ky/ - this is a 60-acre park that offers some beautifully landscaped gardens, a wide variety of unique flowers and is home to the Cayman Blue Iguana. The park is located a good distance from town and is quite a drive to get to so it usually isn’t crawling with crowds. You should rent a taxi and arrange for it to either wait for you or come back at a specific time to pick you up. Entrance fee $10US.
Mastic Trail - http://www.nationaltrust.org.ky/info/mastic.html - Guided tours will take you through the 2 mile long Mastic Trail. The walk normally takes 2 ½ - 3 hrs and winds through a variety of habitats.
Wreck of the Cali – for an interesting (and free) snorkel, head north of the cruise terminal where you will find Divers Down and the Wreck of the Cali which is about a 4 minute walk. The wreck is in shallow water (20 ft) offshore and located just past a floating raft where you can catch your breath, if needed. A good tip is to look for where the excursion boats are stopped and then wait until they leave so you won’t be in the middle of a crowd.
Cheeseburger Reef – about a 5 minute walk from Divers Down near the Burger King. A good (free) snorkel.
BEACHES
All the beaches on the Cayman Islands are public beaches and free to access. Many hotels/restaurants offer use of sun loungers and their facilities but there will usually be a fee for these services (rental fee, day pass fee or you will be expected to purchase food/drinks).
Seven Mile Beach - located at the west end of the island, this is the most popular beach on the island and will be very crowded, especially if several ships are in port. The ride will take you between 10-15 minutes by bus or taxi. See info under ‘Transportation’ for cab fares, bus routes and costs. You can rent loungers at many of the hotels lining the beach and there are also water sports available at some locations. Many of the beaches below form part of Seven Mile Beach. The snorkeling is not the best along this stretch of coast as it is smooth, white sand with very little coral to attract fish.
Cemetery Beach – located at the far north end of Seven Mile Beach, Cemetery Beach is very quiet and a pretty good snorkel spot to enjoy. Any minibus with the letters WB will go right past this area. Fare $6pp. You get dropped off pretty much in the middle of a neighborhood and you walk down a sandy path beside the cemetery in order to access the beach. The beach is on the backside of the cemetery and there are generally very few people as there are no amenities available so take same food with you. There is a reef offshore with lots of coral and fish to be seen. There is a grocery store about a 10 minute walk away if you want to grab a few snacks.
Royal Palms – located near the southern end of Seven Mile Beach, this section of beach is so named as it is located in front of the Royal Palms Resort. It is a short 5 minute ride from the pier (see ‘Transportation’ for fare details) and tends to be quite crowded when cruise ships are in port. The Royal Palms has lockers, showers, bathrooms and lounge chairs ($7 rental) and umbrella rentals are provided on the beach. Some visitors have complained that there is loud music so this may not be the spot if you are looking for peace and quiet. If you are looking for a party atmosphere, then head here for some fun in the sun.
Sea Grape Beach - Sea Grape is also along Seven Mile Beach but is a quieter and sandier beach section than Royal Palms. There is a small bar/grill for drinks and snacks.
Rum Point Beach/Cayman Kai – located at the farthest point in the North Sound, this beach is quite a distance from port and probably involves the most effort and expense to get to. Rum Point is a refuge that extends along part of the coast and boasts a barrier reef area, to the right of the pier, where you can enjoy a good snorkel. The Cayman Kai resort is located farther along the same stretch of beach. It is at least a 40 minute ride from downtown depending on traffic. Taxi fare would be quite expensive so your best options would either be to rent a car or select an excursion that includes this stop. Since many tour companies feature this stop, it can get very crowded!! There are hammocks set up along the beach and the Wreck Bar is nearby if you get hungry or thirsty but food and drinks are pricey, so be prepared for some ‘sticker shock’. NOTE: if you use US $, you will receive change in CI currency. There are facilities, lockers, showers and some water sport rentals available as well. If you want to get away from the crowds, head away from the pier area and walk down the beach to the left toward the Kaibo Beach Club until you get near the houses where it is quieter.
Smith Cove Beach - small, quiet beach located south of the cruise terminal (almost 2 miles) on South Sound Road, just past the Grand Old House. Good snorkel spot. No concessions, chairs or umbrellas but does have washrooms, picnic tables and a shower to rinse off.
Governor’s Beach – part of Seven Mile Beach located near Governor’s Mall, beside the Westin, in front of the governor’s house.
TOUR OPERATORS
Since the Caymans Islands are known for their excellent diving and snorkeling options, there is an abundance of tour operators to choose from. Grand Cayman has easy access to reefs, wrecks, and walls, which can be reached directly from shore. The average water temperature in the Caymans is 82 F and the visibility is excellent. The map link at the top of this article will give you an overview of the various dive sites around Grand Cayman.
If you want to get additional details on some of the best shore dive/snorkel sites, click on the link to read about 10 great shore dives: http://www.sportdiver.com/article/Bonus-Coverage/Grand-Caymans-10-Great-Shore-Dives
Most tour operators will offer a variety of snorkel and dive excursions. Most will use power boats or cabin-type cruisers for their excursions although some use catamarans or sailboats. There is no way that I could cover all of the tour operators so I have summarized the ones that receive the most exposure and better reviews on the discussion boards.
Nativeway Water Sports - http://www.nativewaywatersports.com/ – this operation offers a wide variety of snorkel and sting ray tours. No deposit is required. We have personally been on an excursion with this outfit back in 2005 and would recommend them highly. We were on a boat with only about 14 people. When we saw the ship’s excursion boats pulling up with 50-60 people on board, we knew we had a more appealing set-up!! The company also gets excellent reviews on the discussion boards.
Eden Rock Diving Centre – http://www.edenrockdive.com/ - is about a five minute walk from the South Terminal at 124 South Church Street. Exit the terminal and turn right. Don’t stop at the first Eden Rock sign as it is actually located outside the Paradise Bar and Grill...walk past the sign to the two storey blue building. Eden Rock offers a reasonably good snorkel about 100 yards offshore. The shore snorkel is free (unless you rent gear) but they also have snorkel and dive excursions available as well. They have snorkel gear rentals (see their site for pricing), lockers ($5 rental, $5 refundable deposit) and bathrooms. You can rent loungers, if you wish, but this is not really a great beach spot. There seems to be some controversy about inflatable snorkel vests. Eden Rock insists that you wear one as they say they are legally required on Grand Cayman however, it is difficult to confirm if this is actually law or just a requirement of Eden Rock??? If you don’t have your own, you may have to rent one for $6.
Red Sail Sports - http://www.redsailcayman.com/en/about/index.html - this operation has locations at several of the major resorts on Grand Cayman. It offers a wide range of excursions including scuba diving, snorkeling, catamarans, etc. Red Sail contracts excursions for Disney and Royal Caribbean ships so won’t likely book directly with you if you are on one of those lines.
Atlantis Submarine - http://www.atlantisadventures.com/grandcayman/atlantis-submarine-tour/ - is a 50-foot long submarine that carries passengers 65 to 100 feet below the surface for a close-up look at the Cayman Wall. Tour lasts about 1-1/2 hours. Price: $84US adult, $59US child.
Captain Marvin’s – http://www.captainmarvins.com/ - Small groups. Good reviews.
Moby Dick Tours – http://www.mobydicktours.com/ - small groups. Good reviews.
Captain Bryan’s - http://captainbryans.com/ - offers a variety of excursion. It appears that Captain Bryan does most of his bookings through Island Marketing (see below for website). He gets very positive reviews from past visitors and uses a catamaran.
Island Marketing - http://grandcaymancruiseexcursions.com/ - Island Marketing is a booking agent, not a tour operator. They offer a wide variety of tours but subcontract to local operators for their tours. Island Marketing has a good reputation but keep in mind that your experience will all depend on the actual tour operator providing the excursion.
You definitely will have a hard time choosing what to do on this beautiful island!!
Showing posts with label Western Caribbean. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Western Caribbean. Show all posts
Monday, December 20, 2010
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Roatan, Honduras
(this map is actually on one of the resort websites but it is the most detailed map of Roatan that I could find).
Be aware that ship’s time vs Roatan time can become an issue so pay close attention to ensure that you get back to the ship in time. Leave your watch on ship’s time so there is no confusion.
There are two cruise ship piers on Roatan: Coxen Hole (the original pier) and the new cruise center, Mahogany Bay.
Mahogany Bay Cruise Center – http://www.mahoganybaycc.com/
Mahogany Bay is a new two-berth cruise terminal built by Carnival for Carnival-owned lines such as Carnival, Princess, Holland America, and Costa. One problem that has arisen with the new pier is that if the weather is windy and/or wavy, there can be difficulties docking so sometimes ships are redirected to the older pier at Coxen Hole. The cruise center has the usual offerings such as restaurants, snack bars and a wide variety of shops.
If you choose not to venture out and about on the island, you can take a chair lift from the welcome centre to Mahogany Beach for the day. The price started out at $5pp for an all-day lift pass, but it appears that the price has been increasing quickly and now stands at $10pp. The beach offers free beach loungers and also has eight private cabanas for rent. The cost is $200 for 4 people and the cabanas have loungers outside and the interior is air-conditioned. There are snorkel rentals available, but past visitors haven’t been very impressed with the caliber of snorkeling off the man-made beach area. There are much better snorkel sites elsewhere on the island. You can rent a kayak for $20 for ½ hour (pricey) but you are restricted as to where you can go.
LOCAL TRANSPORTATION
Cab fares on Roatan tend to be quite pricey so be prepared for some sticker shock. You may be able to negotiate better rates, especially if you have more than 2 people, but it all depends on finding a driver who is willing to negotiate. Walk down the line of cabs until you find one who will give you a better price.
For more adventurous (and frugal) travelers, there is a great summary of the local mini-bus transportation system at: http://www.roatanisland.net/cruiseship.htm
ATTRACTIONS
Santé Wellness Centre – http://www.santewellnesscenter.com/ - Owners, Angela and Leon, consistently get rave reviews from their guests. Angela is skilled in a wide variety of treatments and also gives private yoga classes. They offer a $45 day pass for visitors who don’t take a spa treatment. The day pass allows you to enjoy their facilities (beach/pool/ocean-front hot tub/hammocks), snorkeling, kayaking, and breakfast or lunch. The 20-minute cab ride from the pier costs around $15pp or $40 per cab – round trip. Get your cab driver to call to let them know you are on your way and they will meet you with a boat to take you on a 5 minute boat ride to the spa. Spa prices are less than half the price of ship’s spa offerings so this should be an all-day experience!! Facials start at $55, massages at $65 for an hour and they offer several spa packages for $135. It is total pampering and relaxation…in the Caribbean. What more can you ask for???
Spa Baan Suerté – http://www.spabaansuerte.com/ - this is another spa on the island but isn’t as frequently reviewed as Santé however any reviews I have read have been positive.
Maya Key - http://www.mayakeyroatan.com/en/index.html - is a private key located just a few minute’s ferry ride from the Coxen Hole pier area. It offers a beach, pool, snorkel center, gift shop, bar/restaurant, cultural exhibits, animal rescue/rehabilitation centre and shopping at Artisan’s Plaza. I believe the cost is $30pp for the day but I cannot get a response from them via their website. There are rumors that they have changed to only be accessible via ship’s tours when cruise ships are in town which means the price will likely be much higher.
Gumbalimba Park – http://www.gumbalimbapark.com/ - is an attraction where you can see monkeys, have birds sit on your shoulder, tour botanical gardens, learn about the island’s history and enjoy some food along with a beach and/or pool. It sounds like you can only book this excursion through the cruise lines when ships are in port but some people have toured the park with one of the island tour operations but there doesn’t appear to be a whole lot of solid information on this option.
Carambola Gardens - http://www.carambolagardens.com/ - these botanical gardens are located in Sandy Bay. You can hike through the trails in the garden. Admission is $6pp. This stop is also able to be included in an island tour through one of the tour guides listed under “Tours”.
Sherman Arch's Iguana Farm – http://www.roatanisland.net/iguana_farm.htm - Entrance fee $8pp. If you want to handle the iguanas, arrive in early afternoon, which is when they have their feeding time. This stop is also able to be included in an island tour through one of the tour guides listed under “Tours”.
Dolphin Encounter – http://www.anthonyskey.com/en/index.html - Anthony’s Key Resort is contracted to cruise lines when they are in port so you should book your excursion through the ship to enjoy this special encounter.
Sea Plane Tours - http://roatancruiseexcursions.com/SeaPlaneIslandTour.html - $130US for up to 2 passengers for a 20 minute island tour by air. $200US for 35 minute tour. $380US for 2 hour Deserted Island Tour (includes lunch). Planes operate out of the Fantasy Island Resort.
Horseback Riding - http://www.barriodorcasranch.com/ - click on ‘Cruise Ship Excursion Packages’ for available options. There are packages that include a beach stop at West Bay Beach and also one that includes a sail with Salty Dog Sea Charters (see more info under “Sailing/Charters” below).
ZIPLINING
There are several ziplining outfits on Roatan. I have outlined the most popular (and best-reviewed) below. Remember that ziplining is an ‘extreme’ excursion and you zipline at your own risk! For any of these operations, get there early so you get ahead of the cruise line excursions and crowds.
Clip ‘n Zip – http://www.clipnziproatan.com/en/index.html - is located within a 150-acre nature park just across the street from Mahogany Bay and a 10 minute ride from the Coxen Hole terminal. The cost is $45pp and they offer a $5 discount for cruise passengers arriving at Mahogany Bay. The cruise lines offer this excursion at almost twice the price. The course takes 45 minutes to an hour to complete, depending on crowd traffic. They have three zipline cables, instead of the usual two cables. You can make a reservation in advance or just show up on the day you dock, although you may have to wait for others who have reservations to go first. This outfit gets rave reviews from past visitors for their commitment to safety and the friendliness of their staff.
South Shore Canopy Tours – http://www.southshorecanopy.com/ – located near West Bay Beach, this course has two cables (main and safety) and 13 ziplines across the 3km course. The longest zipline measures 860 ft and the course takes between 45- 90 minutes to complete, depending on how many groups are on the course that day. You get some gorgeous views on your way down the course. My husband and I did this course in 2005 and it was one of the highlights of our cruise! The cost is $45pp and a cab will cost you about $20pp round trip. They also have a booth at the pier in front of The Thirsty Turtle. Past visitors give excellent reviews of this operation.
Island Marketing – http://roatancruiseexcursions.com/ - you can book many different tours and adventures through this well-known company. Their zipline tour costs $52US, which includes the zipline experience and then a stop at West Bay Beach (Foster’s) for some sun and fun.
SCUBA AND SNORKEL TOURS
Roatan is known as a great spot for scuba diving and snorkeling so there are many companies that offer dive and/or snorkel tours. Check out the websites below for pricing and additional information. This is not a comprehensive list, but they are the most commonly mentioned on the discussion boards and all get great reviews.
Subway Watersports - http://www.subwaywatersports.com/ - there are two locations: one at Turquoise Bay Resort and the other at Palmetto Bay Plantation.
Atlantic Sea Divers – http://atlanticseadivers.com/index.html - this is a new dive company located at Half Moon Resort. It is getting some great reviews for a new operation. They offer tank dives and snorkel tours.
Bananarama – http://www.bananaramadive.com/cruise-shippers/index.html - located on the popular West Bay Beach, this resort offers both dive and snorkel tours. The cab ride takes between 25-30 minutes and costs about $20pp round trip.
Sueno Del Mar Diving Resort - http://www.suenodelmar.com/cruise_packages.htm - located in West End Village, this resort has been around for many years and has a good reputation.
Upachaya Snorkel Tour – http://www.upachaya.com/ - gets fantastic reviews from past visitors. There is a maximum of 10 people per tour so book your spot in advance!
SAILING
Roatan Sailing & Catamaran Charters - https://sailroatan.com/ - $89pp for a 4 hour sail, including transportation to/from the pier.
Salty Dog Sea Charters - http://www.roatansailing.com/cruiseship-roatan.htm - sail with Captain Dusty - maximum of 8 people per sail. Pricing on website is not current so you will have to contact them for pricing.
TOURS
Bodden Tours – http://www.boddentours.com/ - owned by Victor Bodden, this tour operation gets great reviews from past visitors. Victor offers a wide variety of tours that include an island tour, zipline tour, snorkel and fishing tours. The basic island tour has various upgrade options that allows you to personally select the stops that you want to make. The more people you have, the cheaper the tour cost per person. One of the popular options is Victor’s Monkey Business ($5pp) which offers a unique and up-close encounter with white-faced capuchin monkeys and spider monkeys. The operation has several guides with Tex, Hanno and Ali getting top reviews. You can specifically request one of them for your tour. Victor also has a kiosk at Coxen Hole pier, if you make a last minute decision to do this tour.
Theris Dixon - http://www.therisroatantours.com/ . Theris gets great reviews on the discussion boards for her friendliness and professionalism.
Island Marketing – http://roatancruiseexcursions.com/index.html - this outfit operates on many Caribbean islands. It acts as a ‘one stop shop’ and offers a wide range of tours which they subcontract to other tour companies (such as those mentioned above).
Rony’s Tours – http://ronystours.com/ - The cost for Rony’s island tour varies depending on how many people you have in your group. With four or more people, the price is $25pp. See the website for a detailed description of the tour.
BEACHES
NOTE - sand fleas can be an issue on the beaches in Roatan. Take bug spray and cover at least from feet to knees…more on your kids since they will likely be sitting in the sand. As long as you are protected, this should not cause any problems on your day in Roatan.
Celeste’s Island Cuisine is located just a few minute’s walk inland behind Bananarama Resort (look for signs) and gets high praise as a great place to have a fantastic lunch. Lunch offerings are a variety of baleadas which are small burritos with refried black beans and your choice of filling such as chicken, grouper, lobster, pork, etc. Lunch should run you between $7 and $9pp.
I have read about a water taxi that runs from West Bay Beach to West End Village for $3pp each way, but I haven’t found more details than that.
Half Moon Bay – located near West End Village, this is a much quieter and less crowded beach than West Bay. The beach is not as nice but the West End area includes lots of bars, restaurants and shops to explore. If you are a beach person, West Bay is probably more appealing but if you enjoy wandering through quaint shops and grabbing a quiet lunch, with a beach stop along the way, this spot is for you. FYI - The Argentinian Grill rents lounge chairs. Cab fare from Mahogany Bay runs around $20pp round trip as well. The cost would be less from Coxen Hole.
Sandy Bay Beach – is the longest beach on the island and is very quiet beach with not a lot of amenities. There are some bars/restaurants within walking distance.
RESORT DAY PASSES
FYI - If your ship gets in later in the day, and you aren’t the only ship in port, you may have some issues getting lounge chairs at the resorts.
Infinity Bay Spa and Beach Resort – http://www.infinitybay.com/en/index.html - located on West Bay Beach. Cab fare costs about $20pp round trip from Mahogany Bay, less from Coxen Hole. The ride takes around 30 minutes. $15pp for use of loungers, restrooms, outdoor showers and the pool.
Foster’s Resort – http://www.fostersroatan.com/shoreexcursion.html – there are two Foster’s Resorts, one at West Bay Beach and the other at West End. Most visitors tend to go to West Bay. A day pass costs $5pp plus an additional $7 to rent a lounger. You can also select a package that includes transportation, if you have more than 8 people in your group (see website for details). Cab fare costs about $20pp round trip from Mahogany Bay, less from Coxen Hole. The ride takes around 30 minutes.
Bananarama – http://www.bananaramadive.com/cruise-shippers/index.html - also located on West Bay Beach. $5 to rent a lounger. They also rent snorkel gear and kayaks (see website for details). Cab fare costs about $20pp round trip from Mahogany Bay, less from Coxen Hole. The ride takes around 30 minutes.
Mayan Princess – http://www.mayanprincess.com/ - located on West Bay Beach. A day pass costs $10 to use beach loungers, pool and facilities. This is one of the cheapest day passes but they limit the amount of passes they issue on a first come, first served basis. If your ship arrives later in the morning or there are several ships in port, you may have problems getting a pass. The best snorkel area is about a 5 minute walk down past the Infinity Bay Resort.
Turquoise Bay Resort - http://www.turquoisebayresort.com/ - located near French Harbor, quiet area, not a good snorkel off the beach but you can take a boat out to the reef to snorkel, great spot for kayaking. A day pass costs $25pp, including transportation to/from the resort.
Make the most of your day on this beautiful island!!
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Cozumel, Mexico
COZUMEL
Cozumel has some great shopping and is known for its snorkeling. In general, bargaining is expected on this island – know your prices to ensure that you don’t get taken advantage of.
There is more than one pier where cruise ships dock so transportation prices to a destination can vary depending on which pier your ship docks at. You can get information on the various piers and find out where your ship will be docking by visiting: http://www.cozumelinsider.com/cruiseships
MAPS OF COZUMEL
www.si-mexico.com/city_maps/cozumel_area_map.htm
This map shows all of the beaches and dive/snorkel sites on the island.
www.cozumel.net/1maps/citymap.htm
This map is of downtown Cozumel.
ATTRACTIONS
Chankanaab Park is a great place to visit. They have a pool, snorkeling, a dolphin swim and a manatee encounter. They only allow biodegradable sunscreen to minimize harm to the fish, dolphins and coral. A $12 cab each way (4 people) will get you there and admission is $19 for adults and $10 for kids. There is a $2 off admission coupon on their website ( http://www.cozumelparks.com/ ).
It is not extremely crowded and people say that the snorkeling is good. There was some damage during a hurricane a few years ago but the reef is starting to recover.
Mini-Golf - See website for location and pricing. www.eagleraydivers.com/minigolf.htm
Playa Del Carmen - you can take a ferry over to the mainland to Playa Del Carmen for the day. There are two ferry companies, Barcos Mexico and Ultramar, that take passengers between Cozumel and Playa Del Carmen. Round trip fare is about $15 per person and the trip takes between 30 and 45 minutes each way.
When you get off the ferry, you will be at the end of 5th Avenue, which is a pedestrian-only street lined with shops and restaurants. The beach runs right along the street so you won't have to go far to find what you're looking for. Walk to the north if you want to get away from the crowds.
You can also take a cab from there to the Xcarat Eco Theme Park or Tulum (Mayan ruins). Plan carefully and be aware of the time to ensure that you get the ferry back to Cozumel in time to be back on board for departure.
BEACHES
Most of the appeal of Cozumel is its beaches. There are beaches all along the coastline and the majority of them are associated with a beach club. All beaches in Cozumel are public and free to access but, if you want to use the loungers/umbrellas at the beach clubs, they will expect you to buy drinks and/or food. If you don't want to pay for access, just find a spot (not in front of the loungers), put your towel down and enjoy your day. I will summarize of few of the most popular beaches:
Paradise Beach – http://www.paradise-beach-cozumel.com/
This is an extremely popular option if you just want a fun beach day. It is a $12 cab each way (up to 4 ppl). At Paradise Beach, it is usually expected that you will buy about $10pp worth of drinks/food (I would say for adults…not the kids if they aren’t using the loungers). They have lots of water toys and things like water trampolines, etc. $10 pp for kids to use the water toys all day. There are larger toys for older kids and smaller toys for younger kids.
Playa Mia - is an all-inclusive day resort where many ship's excursions go for their 'beach break' tours...which means that there are lots of people and a party atmosphere. If that's your thing, then this is the place to go!! There are several package options that range in price from $16 up to $70pp. A cab ride takes 10 minutes and costs between $14-$16 for up to 4 people.
Nachi Cocom Beach Club - This beach club also operates like an all inclusive. You pay a flat rate for the day and have access to the amenities, drinks and food. For an extra cost, you can book a massage, a snorkel tour to the world-famous Palancar reef or even parasailing. They limit the number of people to 100 daily and rumour has it that it may be down to 80 people now, so it's best if you make your arrangements in advance. You can get more details and book your spot through Island Marketing at: http://www.cozumelcruiseexcursions.com/CozumelBeachBreak.htm.
Playa Palancar - The attraction at this beach is the nearby Palancar Reef which is world famous for its excellent snorkeling. They offer snorkel tours out to the reef for $35pp adult. This beach is a bit of a drive and is somewhat isolated so there aren't many crowds. A cab to the beach will cost you between $17-$20 each way for up to 4 people. They do have a website but it seems to have some technical difficulties and you can't always make the 'english' button work so everything is in Spanish. http://www.buceopalancar.com/index.html
Playa Uvas - http://www.playauvas.com/
This beach club has received excellent reviews in the past but since they now only offer their 'clear kayak' excursions for ship's tours, visitors are less than pleased with not having this popular activity available to them. Carmen and Eduardo appear to offer excellent customer service and go out of their way to ensure their visitors have a wonderful experience at Playa Uvas. They offer various package options for the day. You can find the options on their website. Click on 'full price list' for details and pricing. The snorkel tours get great reviews, as do the food and service. They have recently built a spa area for their popular massages!
Mr. Sancho's Beach Club - This is another beach club that offers an all-inclusive experience for the day. It is located just inside a protected marine park which means that they require you to wear only biodegradable sunscreen when swimming to ensure no harm comes to the fish and coral. They offer massages, shopping and a variety of water sports and activities. They also offer a horseback riding tour and an ATV tour along the beach.
Passion Island - This is a popular destination for those looking for a very quiet beach getaway with not a lot of activity. It is located on a private island off the coast of Cozumel. Food and drinks are included in the price. Lots of ship's excursions visit here, as well, so there are often lots of people around but there seems to never be a problem with finding a quiet spot out of the way. You can arrange this excursion in advance ($65pp online-adult) through many online tour operators or you can also book it at the pier for $45pp at a kiosk. It is cheaper to arrange it on your own than to go through the cruise lines. Some tours offer a 'twister' boat ride that takes you on a speedboat to the island and spins you around in circles along the way.
SNORKEL TOURS
The two outfits that receive excellent reviews online are:
Mystic Snorkel - Rave reviews for snorkel tours offered by Swiss-born, Rosi. The tours leave from Caleta Harbor which is about 10 minutes from port and costs about an $8 cab to get there. The tour lasts approximately 4 hours and visits 3 different stops (35-40 minutes each). The cost is $65 pp adult. You can get more info and an email contact for Rosi at: http://www.cozumelmycozumel.com/Pages/CozumelCruiseToursSnorkeling.htm
Eagle Ray Divers - http://www.eagleraydivers.com/index.htm
Enjoy all that Cozumel has to offer!!
Cozumel has some great shopping and is known for its snorkeling. In general, bargaining is expected on this island – know your prices to ensure that you don’t get taken advantage of.
There is more than one pier where cruise ships dock so transportation prices to a destination can vary depending on which pier your ship docks at. You can get information on the various piers and find out where your ship will be docking by visiting: http://www.cozumelinsider.com/cruiseships
MAPS OF COZUMEL
www.si-mexico.com/city_maps/cozumel_area_map.htm
This map shows all of the beaches and dive/snorkel sites on the island.
www.cozumel.net/1maps/citymap.htm
This map is of downtown Cozumel.
ATTRACTIONS
Chankanaab Park is a great place to visit. They have a pool, snorkeling, a dolphin swim and a manatee encounter. They only allow biodegradable sunscreen to minimize harm to the fish, dolphins and coral. A $12 cab each way (4 people) will get you there and admission is $19 for adults and $10 for kids. There is a $2 off admission coupon on their website ( http://www.cozumelparks.com/ ).
It is not extremely crowded and people say that the snorkeling is good. There was some damage during a hurricane a few years ago but the reef is starting to recover.
Mini-Golf - See website for location and pricing. www.eagleraydivers.com/minigolf.htm
Playa Del Carmen - you can take a ferry over to the mainland to Playa Del Carmen for the day. There are two ferry companies, Barcos Mexico and Ultramar, that take passengers between Cozumel and Playa Del Carmen. Round trip fare is about $15 per person and the trip takes between 30 and 45 minutes each way.
When you get off the ferry, you will be at the end of 5th Avenue, which is a pedestrian-only street lined with shops and restaurants. The beach runs right along the street so you won't have to go far to find what you're looking for. Walk to the north if you want to get away from the crowds.
You can also take a cab from there to the Xcarat Eco Theme Park or Tulum (Mayan ruins). Plan carefully and be aware of the time to ensure that you get the ferry back to Cozumel in time to be back on board for departure.
BEACHES
Most of the appeal of Cozumel is its beaches. There are beaches all along the coastline and the majority of them are associated with a beach club. All beaches in Cozumel are public and free to access but, if you want to use the loungers/umbrellas at the beach clubs, they will expect you to buy drinks and/or food. If you don't want to pay for access, just find a spot (not in front of the loungers), put your towel down and enjoy your day. I will summarize of few of the most popular beaches:
Paradise Beach – http://www.paradise-beach-cozumel.com/
This is an extremely popular option if you just want a fun beach day. It is a $12 cab each way (up to 4 ppl). At Paradise Beach, it is usually expected that you will buy about $10pp worth of drinks/food (I would say for adults…not the kids if they aren’t using the loungers). They have lots of water toys and things like water trampolines, etc. $10 pp for kids to use the water toys all day. There are larger toys for older kids and smaller toys for younger kids.
Playa Mia - is an all-inclusive day resort where many ship's excursions go for their 'beach break' tours...which means that there are lots of people and a party atmosphere. If that's your thing, then this is the place to go!! There are several package options that range in price from $16 up to $70pp. A cab ride takes 10 minutes and costs between $14-$16 for up to 4 people.
Nachi Cocom Beach Club - This beach club also operates like an all inclusive. You pay a flat rate for the day and have access to the amenities, drinks and food. For an extra cost, you can book a massage, a snorkel tour to the world-famous Palancar reef or even parasailing. They limit the number of people to 100 daily and rumour has it that it may be down to 80 people now, so it's best if you make your arrangements in advance. You can get more details and book your spot through Island Marketing at: http://www.cozumelcruiseexcursions.com/CozumelBeachBreak.htm.
Playa Palancar - The attraction at this beach is the nearby Palancar Reef which is world famous for its excellent snorkeling. They offer snorkel tours out to the reef for $35pp adult. This beach is a bit of a drive and is somewhat isolated so there aren't many crowds. A cab to the beach will cost you between $17-$20 each way for up to 4 people. They do have a website but it seems to have some technical difficulties and you can't always make the 'english' button work so everything is in Spanish. http://www.buceopalancar.com/index.html
Playa Uvas - http://www.playauvas.com/
This beach club has received excellent reviews in the past but since they now only offer their 'clear kayak' excursions for ship's tours, visitors are less than pleased with not having this popular activity available to them. Carmen and Eduardo appear to offer excellent customer service and go out of their way to ensure their visitors have a wonderful experience at Playa Uvas. They offer various package options for the day. You can find the options on their website. Click on 'full price list' for details and pricing. The snorkel tours get great reviews, as do the food and service. They have recently built a spa area for their popular massages!
Mr. Sancho's Beach Club - This is another beach club that offers an all-inclusive experience for the day. It is located just inside a protected marine park which means that they require you to wear only biodegradable sunscreen when swimming to ensure no harm comes to the fish and coral. They offer massages, shopping and a variety of water sports and activities. They also offer a horseback riding tour and an ATV tour along the beach.
Passion Island - This is a popular destination for those looking for a very quiet beach getaway with not a lot of activity. It is located on a private island off the coast of Cozumel. Food and drinks are included in the price. Lots of ship's excursions visit here, as well, so there are often lots of people around but there seems to never be a problem with finding a quiet spot out of the way. You can arrange this excursion in advance ($65pp online-adult) through many online tour operators or you can also book it at the pier for $45pp at a kiosk. It is cheaper to arrange it on your own than to go through the cruise lines. Some tours offer a 'twister' boat ride that takes you on a speedboat to the island and spins you around in circles along the way.
SNORKEL TOURS
The two outfits that receive excellent reviews online are:
Mystic Snorkel - Rave reviews for snorkel tours offered by Swiss-born, Rosi. The tours leave from Caleta Harbor which is about 10 minutes from port and costs about an $8 cab to get there. The tour lasts approximately 4 hours and visits 3 different stops (35-40 minutes each). The cost is $65 pp adult. You can get more info and an email contact for Rosi at: http://www.cozumelmycozumel.com/Pages/CozumelCruiseToursSnorkeling.htm
Eagle Ray Divers - http://www.eagleraydivers.com/index.htm
Enjoy all that Cozumel has to offer!!
Belize
MAP - http://www.lonelyplanet.com/maps/central-america/belize/
This link will give you access to a map of Belize as well as links to maps of Belize City, Caye Caulker and Ambergris Caye.
BELIZE CITY
Most ships port in Belize City. Belize is a very poor country and Belize City is not going to compare to a North American city for sights and cleanliness. The boards are full of people who did not feel safe walking around town but we did not have that experience, personally. You just need to know what to expect and go with the flow. Expect the vendors to be quite aggressive when you first exit the Fort Street Tourism Village near the tender dock. There will be lots of yelling to get your attention, etc. Just say “No, thanks” and keep on walking past. If you are not an experienced traveler then you may feel unsafe and opt to stay within the confines of the Tourist Village but having traveled all over the Caribbean, we did not find that Belize was much different than other, less prosperous, ports. It is a very poor area and you need to take some basic precautions if you choose to tour around town. The best advice is to not walk alone, be aware of your surroundings, avoid wandering into uncrowded areas of the city, don’t wear expensive watches/jewelry and don’t carry a lot of cash! This is good practice wherever you travel : - )
I would definitely recommend an excursion of some type, at this stop, as there is not much of anything close to the pier. Most attractions are at least a ½ hour drive or more away from Belize City. Bugs can be bad here, so take bug spray with you.
An important issue to be aware of is that you always keep your watch set on ship’s time. Ship’s time and local time can vary significantly and the ship will always arrive and depart based on ship’s time!!
TENDERING
This stop requires tendering into Belize City. Ships dock a few miles out as the country is very vigilant about protecting the coral reef that runs along their coast. You will take a tender boat into the city from the ship. Be aware that most cruise lines fill their first couple of tenders with passengers who are booked on ship’s tour excursions. Some cruise lines require printed confirmation of a private tour in order to get you prioritized on a subsequent ‘early’ tender. You usually are encouraged to make arrangements for an early tender on the night before you arrive at a port or, sometimes, early in the morning. The tenders run constantly throughout the day but you would not want to go in and out too many times as travel time can take a good chunk of your day (usually around 20 minutes a trip). Some excursions, offered through the ship, will actually pick you up at the ship instead of having to spend the time tendering in and back out again, which is a bonus.
EXCURSIONS/ATTRACTIONS
The most popular excursions in Belize are the Mayan ruins, ziplining, cave tubing and snorkel tours. I usually don’t recommend taking ship’s tours since the prices are always higher than making your own arrangements however, I would make an exception at this port of call. I would recommend a ship’s tour if you are planning to go anywhere that takes a significant amount of traveling time. You don’t want to be worrying all day about whether you will get back in time for the last tender of the day. More than other stops, I have read a lot of accounts of nearly missing the last tender…or having to get a private tender out to the ship.
A. Mayan Ruins/TemplesThe three most well-known Mayan sites are:
Altun Ha – this site is the closest to the pier but is still about an hour’s drive to get there. These are the smallest ruins and are generally more crowded with tourists as they are closer than the others. You can only climb selected temples. Some excursions also combine a river tour with visiting the ruins and this tour gets great reviews. We really enjoyed our visit to Altun Ha.
Xunantunich – this site is about a 2 hour drive away from town. It boasts 26 temples, some of which you can climb, and is much larger and more impressive than Altun Ha. You will need the entire day for this excursion as it takes so long to get there. I would recommend a ship’s tour if you want to visit this spot.
Lamanai – this site takes about an hour and a half of travel time to get there. Reviews say about 45 minutes on the bus and another 30-40 minutes by boat. Visitors love the boat ride along the river to access the site as there is lots of wildlife to see. It is the largest site but has fewer temples than Xunantunich. Howler monkeys can be seen around the site. It is in the jungle and not as open to the sun as Xunantunich.
Take good walking shoes, a hat, sunscreen and bug spray! Some visitors wear long pants and long-sleeved shirts but we were fine in shorts and T-shirts. If you are really sensitive to bug bites, then you may want to cover up if the bugs are bad. The temperatures can get really high so make sure you keep hydrated.
B. Beaches
There are not a lot of beaches near Belize City and most require some travel time to get there.
Bannister Island – this is a private island that offers a quiet beach break and great snorkeling. If you want lots of activity and a party atmosphere, this isn’t the spot to go. You cannot get to this island on your own so you should book a tour with one of the tour companies. The two tour operators that have great reviews for this excursion are Coral Breeze and Eco Tours (see below for websites).
Cucumber Beach – is a man-made beach located at an attraction called Old Belize Adventure (http://www.oldbelize.com/). It is about a 10 minute drive from the pier and tends to be where the locals go when they want to go to a beach that is nearby.
C. Caye Caulker – http://www.gocayecaulker.com/ - This is an island off the coast of Belize that is well known for great snorkeling and scuba diving. “The Split” is a snorkel area that can be walked to from the water taxi pier. You can book through a tour company or make your own way there via water taxi (see water taxi info below).
D. Ambergris Caye – is another island a bit further up the coast of Belize. It also is known for great snorkeling and scuba diving offshore. The main town is San Pedro, which can also be reached via the water taxi. The trip takes around an hour and a quarter each way. You can get more info on the water taxi site (see water taxi info below). If you are a new cruiser, I would probably recommend a ship’s excursion or a private excursion to this spot due to its distance from port. Some outfits will even fly you over to the island, which makes timing much less of a factor.
WATER TAXIS
There are two water taxis that operate near the tender pier. One is the San Pedro –Belize Express (see http://www.belizewatertaxi.com/ for fares and schedules) which also makes a stop at Caye Caulker before proceeding on to San Pedro. Take a left outside of the Tourism Village and it is pretty much next door. The trip to Caye Caulker takes about 45 minutes. The trip to San Pedro takes 1 ¼ hours.
The other water taxi is the Caye Caulker Water Taxi which is about a 5 minute walk beyond the San Pedro pier. For fares and schedules, see their website at: http://www.cayecaulkerwatertaxi.com/. Fares are quoted in Belize currency which usually is about 1 US dollar for 2 Belize dollars.
For both water taxi’s, timing is very important on your return trip to ensure that you get a spot as ferries tend to get very full on return trips later in the day. I would not wait to get the last ferry out!!
OTHER ATTRACTIONS
Belize Zoo - (http://www.belizezoo.com/)
City Tours - There are lots of local operators who can take you on a tour of Belize City, if that is your interest. You can find them just outside the pier area.
Syesue Adventures - Griffith Eusey (syesue_bz@yahoo.com) gets great recommendations for his tours. One offering is a city tour that includes a visit to the zoo. Great for younger families as it isn’t a long outing. Contact him in advance to make arrangements. City tour price is around $50 per person.
Horse & Carriage Tours - You can also get a horse & carriage ride around the city. You can find the carriages just outside the Tourist Village and, with some bargaining, you should be able to get a tour for around $30 for an hour.
Horseback Riding – http://www.smugglersrunbelize.com/ – Smuggler’s Run Plantation is located about a ½ hour outside of Belize City.
TOUR OPERATORS
I have listed below, several tour operators that get good reviews on the discussion boards. This is not an exhaustive list of all tour operators…just the ones that appear most often and are recommended by other cruisers who have used them. They all offer a wide variety of excursions and all of their tours can be booked online in advance. Some operators also have a booth at the pier. I would encourage you to book in advance unless you are undecided and won’t be disappointed if a particular tour is already booked up when you get to the pier. The prices generally are the same on-line or at the pier.
NCQ Belize Adventure Tours - http://www.ncqadventuretours.com/ – husband and wife team, Nacho and Cynthia, are well recommended for their friendly service and personal attention to their guests.
Island Marketing - http://www.belizecruiseexcursions.com/ – this tour company operates at several destinations in the Caribbean and gets good reviews all over.
Fab Tours Ltd. - http://www.fabtoursbelize.com/ - tours can be booked online or at their bright yellow booth on the boardwalk by Terminal 3 at the Fort Street Tourist Village.
Coral Breeze Tours - http://www.coralbreezetours.com/ - tours can be booked online or at their booth at the pier, next to the Wet Lizard.
Ecological Tours & Services - http://www.ecotoursbelize.com/
Chukka Caribbean Adventures - http://www.chukkacaribbean.com/caves.php
This outfit runs a popular excursion called “Raiders of the Lost Mayan Cave”. It is getting great reviews from more adventurous cruisers but this outing is very active so you should be in relatively good shape to tackle it! It involves lots of hiking, crawling through caves, a suspension bridge, rapelling and a zipline segment. Visitors recommend long pants and bug spray!! It is about an hour’s bus ride and the last part of the ride is very bumpy. Sometimes this excursion may only be offered through the cruise lines so make sure to ask this question when inquiring.
QUESTIONS TO ASK WHEN BOOKING AN EXCURSION
To make your excursion the best experience it can be, it is always helpful to ask some key questions in advance. This helps you better select a tour operator/excursion that will meet your expectations. Some people prefer smaller, more intimate groups. Others don’t mind a big crowd. Some operators tend to overbook their tours which can create delays and cut short your tour in order to get back to the pier in time to tender back to the ship.
How many people will be on this tour?
Is there a cap on the number of people?
How long of a drive is it to get where we are going?
Will we travel by bus or boat?
Is the bus air conditioned?
Is there an advance deposit required? How much?
If we are unable to make the tour, will you refund our money?
This link will give you access to a map of Belize as well as links to maps of Belize City, Caye Caulker and Ambergris Caye.
BELIZE CITY
Most ships port in Belize City. Belize is a very poor country and Belize City is not going to compare to a North American city for sights and cleanliness. The boards are full of people who did not feel safe walking around town but we did not have that experience, personally. You just need to know what to expect and go with the flow. Expect the vendors to be quite aggressive when you first exit the Fort Street Tourism Village near the tender dock. There will be lots of yelling to get your attention, etc. Just say “No, thanks” and keep on walking past. If you are not an experienced traveler then you may feel unsafe and opt to stay within the confines of the Tourist Village but having traveled all over the Caribbean, we did not find that Belize was much different than other, less prosperous, ports. It is a very poor area and you need to take some basic precautions if you choose to tour around town. The best advice is to not walk alone, be aware of your surroundings, avoid wandering into uncrowded areas of the city, don’t wear expensive watches/jewelry and don’t carry a lot of cash! This is good practice wherever you travel : - )
I would definitely recommend an excursion of some type, at this stop, as there is not much of anything close to the pier. Most attractions are at least a ½ hour drive or more away from Belize City. Bugs can be bad here, so take bug spray with you.
An important issue to be aware of is that you always keep your watch set on ship’s time. Ship’s time and local time can vary significantly and the ship will always arrive and depart based on ship’s time!!
TENDERING
This stop requires tendering into Belize City. Ships dock a few miles out as the country is very vigilant about protecting the coral reef that runs along their coast. You will take a tender boat into the city from the ship. Be aware that most cruise lines fill their first couple of tenders with passengers who are booked on ship’s tour excursions. Some cruise lines require printed confirmation of a private tour in order to get you prioritized on a subsequent ‘early’ tender. You usually are encouraged to make arrangements for an early tender on the night before you arrive at a port or, sometimes, early in the morning. The tenders run constantly throughout the day but you would not want to go in and out too many times as travel time can take a good chunk of your day (usually around 20 minutes a trip). Some excursions, offered through the ship, will actually pick you up at the ship instead of having to spend the time tendering in and back out again, which is a bonus.
EXCURSIONS/ATTRACTIONS
The most popular excursions in Belize are the Mayan ruins, ziplining, cave tubing and snorkel tours. I usually don’t recommend taking ship’s tours since the prices are always higher than making your own arrangements however, I would make an exception at this port of call. I would recommend a ship’s tour if you are planning to go anywhere that takes a significant amount of traveling time. You don’t want to be worrying all day about whether you will get back in time for the last tender of the day. More than other stops, I have read a lot of accounts of nearly missing the last tender…or having to get a private tender out to the ship.
A. Mayan Ruins/TemplesThe three most well-known Mayan sites are:
Altun Ha – this site is the closest to the pier but is still about an hour’s drive to get there. These are the smallest ruins and are generally more crowded with tourists as they are closer than the others. You can only climb selected temples. Some excursions also combine a river tour with visiting the ruins and this tour gets great reviews. We really enjoyed our visit to Altun Ha.
Xunantunich – this site is about a 2 hour drive away from town. It boasts 26 temples, some of which you can climb, and is much larger and more impressive than Altun Ha. You will need the entire day for this excursion as it takes so long to get there. I would recommend a ship’s tour if you want to visit this spot.
Lamanai – this site takes about an hour and a half of travel time to get there. Reviews say about 45 minutes on the bus and another 30-40 minutes by boat. Visitors love the boat ride along the river to access the site as there is lots of wildlife to see. It is the largest site but has fewer temples than Xunantunich. Howler monkeys can be seen around the site. It is in the jungle and not as open to the sun as Xunantunich.
Take good walking shoes, a hat, sunscreen and bug spray! Some visitors wear long pants and long-sleeved shirts but we were fine in shorts and T-shirts. If you are really sensitive to bug bites, then you may want to cover up if the bugs are bad. The temperatures can get really high so make sure you keep hydrated.
B. Beaches
There are not a lot of beaches near Belize City and most require some travel time to get there.
Bannister Island – this is a private island that offers a quiet beach break and great snorkeling. If you want lots of activity and a party atmosphere, this isn’t the spot to go. You cannot get to this island on your own so you should book a tour with one of the tour companies. The two tour operators that have great reviews for this excursion are Coral Breeze and Eco Tours (see below for websites).
Cucumber Beach – is a man-made beach located at an attraction called Old Belize Adventure (http://www.oldbelize.com/). It is about a 10 minute drive from the pier and tends to be where the locals go when they want to go to a beach that is nearby.
C. Caye Caulker – http://www.gocayecaulker.com/ - This is an island off the coast of Belize that is well known for great snorkeling and scuba diving. “The Split” is a snorkel area that can be walked to from the water taxi pier. You can book through a tour company or make your own way there via water taxi (see water taxi info below).
D. Ambergris Caye – is another island a bit further up the coast of Belize. It also is known for great snorkeling and scuba diving offshore. The main town is San Pedro, which can also be reached via the water taxi. The trip takes around an hour and a quarter each way. You can get more info on the water taxi site (see water taxi info below). If you are a new cruiser, I would probably recommend a ship’s excursion or a private excursion to this spot due to its distance from port. Some outfits will even fly you over to the island, which makes timing much less of a factor.
WATER TAXIS
There are two water taxis that operate near the tender pier. One is the San Pedro –Belize Express (see http://www.belizewatertaxi.com/ for fares and schedules) which also makes a stop at Caye Caulker before proceeding on to San Pedro. Take a left outside of the Tourism Village and it is pretty much next door. The trip to Caye Caulker takes about 45 minutes. The trip to San Pedro takes 1 ¼ hours.
The other water taxi is the Caye Caulker Water Taxi which is about a 5 minute walk beyond the San Pedro pier. For fares and schedules, see their website at: http://www.cayecaulkerwatertaxi.com/. Fares are quoted in Belize currency which usually is about 1 US dollar for 2 Belize dollars.
For both water taxi’s, timing is very important on your return trip to ensure that you get a spot as ferries tend to get very full on return trips later in the day. I would not wait to get the last ferry out!!
OTHER ATTRACTIONS
Belize Zoo - (http://www.belizezoo.com/)
City Tours - There are lots of local operators who can take you on a tour of Belize City, if that is your interest. You can find them just outside the pier area.
Syesue Adventures - Griffith Eusey (syesue_bz@yahoo.com) gets great recommendations for his tours. One offering is a city tour that includes a visit to the zoo. Great for younger families as it isn’t a long outing. Contact him in advance to make arrangements. City tour price is around $50 per person.
Horse & Carriage Tours - You can also get a horse & carriage ride around the city. You can find the carriages just outside the Tourist Village and, with some bargaining, you should be able to get a tour for around $30 for an hour.
Horseback Riding – http://www.smugglersrunbelize.com/ – Smuggler’s Run Plantation is located about a ½ hour outside of Belize City.
TOUR OPERATORS
I have listed below, several tour operators that get good reviews on the discussion boards. This is not an exhaustive list of all tour operators…just the ones that appear most often and are recommended by other cruisers who have used them. They all offer a wide variety of excursions and all of their tours can be booked online in advance. Some operators also have a booth at the pier. I would encourage you to book in advance unless you are undecided and won’t be disappointed if a particular tour is already booked up when you get to the pier. The prices generally are the same on-line or at the pier.
NCQ Belize Adventure Tours - http://www.ncqadventuretours.com/ – husband and wife team, Nacho and Cynthia, are well recommended for their friendly service and personal attention to their guests.
Island Marketing - http://www.belizecruiseexcursions.com/ – this tour company operates at several destinations in the Caribbean and gets good reviews all over.
Fab Tours Ltd. - http://www.fabtoursbelize.com/ - tours can be booked online or at their bright yellow booth on the boardwalk by Terminal 3 at the Fort Street Tourist Village.
Coral Breeze Tours - http://www.coralbreezetours.com/ - tours can be booked online or at their booth at the pier, next to the Wet Lizard.
Ecological Tours & Services - http://www.ecotoursbelize.com/
Chukka Caribbean Adventures - http://www.chukkacaribbean.com/caves.php
This outfit runs a popular excursion called “Raiders of the Lost Mayan Cave”. It is getting great reviews from more adventurous cruisers but this outing is very active so you should be in relatively good shape to tackle it! It involves lots of hiking, crawling through caves, a suspension bridge, rapelling and a zipline segment. Visitors recommend long pants and bug spray!! It is about an hour’s bus ride and the last part of the ride is very bumpy. Sometimes this excursion may only be offered through the cruise lines so make sure to ask this question when inquiring.
QUESTIONS TO ASK WHEN BOOKING AN EXCURSION
To make your excursion the best experience it can be, it is always helpful to ask some key questions in advance. This helps you better select a tour operator/excursion that will meet your expectations. Some people prefer smaller, more intimate groups. Others don’t mind a big crowd. Some operators tend to overbook their tours which can create delays and cut short your tour in order to get back to the pier in time to tender back to the ship.
How many people will be on this tour?
Is there a cap on the number of people?
How long of a drive is it to get where we are going?
Will we travel by bus or boat?
Is the bus air conditioned?
Is there an advance deposit required? How much?
If we are unable to make the tour, will you refund our money?
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