 |
Altun Ha is a popular tour destination from San Pedro, though the trip is not as scenic as the one to Lamanai |
You can use San Pedro as a base to tour much of Belize, including other cayes and much of the mainland. You can even do a day trip to Tikal. Most hotels will help you arrange tours and guides. Prices, schedules and destinations change regularly, depending on the weather, the season, the particular guide and how many other people want to go, so it's best to wait until you get on the island to make your tour plans.
If you are independent-minded, you can put together your own day trips and perhaps save money. For example, instead of paying US$125 per person for a day tour of the Belize Zoo and points west, find another couple to share the costs, grab a map and guidebook, take the ferry to Belize City (or fly into municipal airport) and rent a car for the day. You can easily visit the Belize Zoo, Xunantunich and Cahal Pech ruins and see something of San Ignacio. Done this way, your cost will should be less than US$75 per person including your share of car rental, gas and entrance fees.
However, a guide can add a lot to the quality of your sightseeing. All guides in Belize must attend training and are licensed by the government. The San Pedro Tourist Guide Association is in the Town Hall on Barrier Reef Drive, tel. 501-2-62391.
Here's information on few of the popular day trip and tour options, with price ranges.
Belize Zoo/Western Belize: This trip usually begins with a flight on Maya Island or Tropic to the municipal airport, where you connect with a shuttle bus which takes you on the Western Highway for a visit to the wonderful Belize Zoo, maybe a quick peep at Belmopan, Belize's mini-capital, lunch and perhaps a tour of Xunantunich, a Classic Period Maya site. Around US$125 per person.
Lamanai Ruins: Most of these trips start with a short boat ride across the lee waters of Ambergris to the mainland, then a trip up the beautiful New River. You will see many birds and perhaps manatees, crocodiles and other wildlife. Lamanai has a wonderful setting on the New River Lagoon. You'll get a private tour of this Maya site and likely will see a troop of black howler monkeys. Often includes lunch at Lamanai Outpost Lodge. About US$125 per person.
Altun Ha Ruins: You go by boat across to the mangrove cut, where you transfer to a van to visit this Maya site, which dates back some 2,000 years, on the Old Northern Highway. Not as spectacular a trip as Lamanai. May include lunch at Maruba Spa. About US$60 to $75 per person.
Baboon Sanctuary: You go by boat to the mainland, then up the Belize River to the Community Baboon Sanctuary area. About US$50 to $75 per person.
Crooked Tree: Birders will want to investigate this trip. It usually includes a round trip flight to the municipal airport in Belize City where tour members are met by a van and driven up the Northern Highway to Crooked Tree, one of the main birding centers in the country. Around US$125 per person.
Caye Caulker: A day trip to Ambergris Caye's "little brother" island can be done by air or boat. If the latter, the trip is usually packaged with a snorkeling tour. One of the best trips to Caulker is on the Winnie Estelle, a classic island trader. Several catamarans also do this trip. US$40 to $75 per person.
Tikal: The Tikal ruins in the Petén district of Guatemala are, in excavated area at least, larger and more spectacular than any Maya site in Belize. It's an astounding place. The only way to get there and back in one day from San Pedro is to fly to the air strip at Flores. Several tour companies offer day trips from San Pedro, around US$250 per person.
Among the many tour outfits offering trips are:
Tropical Tours, tel. 501-2-62314
Hustler Tours, tel. 501-2-62279
Winnie Estelle, tel. 501-2-62394
Sea Belize, tel. 501-2-63221
Excaliber Tours, tel. 501-2-63235
Amigo Travel, tel. 501-2-62180
Maya Travel Services, tel. 501-2-31623
Day One: Relax. Decompress. Forget about the real world. Take a lazy walk through town.
Day Two: Relax some more. Take a snorkel trip to Hol Chan and Shark-Sting Ray Alley (or go diving).
Day Three: Bike or cart to the North End. Walk the beach and have lunch at one of the North End beach hotels or have a seaside picnic.
Day Four: Take a day trip to Lamanai or Altun Ha ruins or to the Belize Zoo.
Day Five: Take a catamaran or other boat trip to Caye Caulker, or take a day trip to the Belize Zoo and Western Belize.
Day Six: Bike or cart to the south end of the island. Take a snorkel trip to Mexico Rocks (or go diving.)
Day Seven: Relax and start worrying again about going back the real world.
What to Expect | What It Costs | Beaches, Diving, Snorkeling & Fishing
Hotels | Restaurants & Nightlife | Tours, Trips & Activities | Boat Charters
Maps | How to Get to San Pedro | Practical Facts: If You Go
For More Information | Living in Paradise?
