Adventuring in Central America, by David Rains Wallace. ISBN 0-87156-473-4. Sierra Club, 1995. 445 pp. US$16. This volume owes it existence to the Paseo Pantera, created by two conservation organizations, the Wildlife Conservation Society and the Caribbean Conservation Corporation, with some funding by the U.S. Agency for International Development. The Path of the Panther is devoted to "restoring the land bridge" in Central America, in part by supporting nature tourism and helping national parks in the region. Although the goals of Paseo Pantera are laudable, and Wallace is a knowledgeable writer, like so many worthy efforts this one turns out to heavy going for the typical reader. The book design is stultifying, and the text at times runs on and on. C'mon, Sierra Club, put a little pizzaz in your Panther!

Berkeley Guides Central America. ISBN 0-679-02979- 6. Fodor's Travel Publications, 2nd ed. , 1996. 501 pp. US$18.95. Written by and for a young audience, this is the kind of guide that calls Tony's in Corozal Town "ritzy" and Dangriga the "New Jack City of Belize." The 58 pages devoted to Belize offer some good information, but they miss a lot, especially for the older or middle-class traveler. Overpriced, considering what you get.

Frommer's Costa Rica, Guatemala & Belize on $35 a Day, by Karl Samson with Jane Aukshunas. Macmillan Travel, 3rd ed., 1995. 372 pp. US$15.95. Frommer's got its start as a budget travel guide, and although most of its guides now cover all levels of travel, the Costa Rica, Guatemala and Belize volume, now co-authored by Karl Samson's wife, Jane Aukshunas, has refocused on budget travel. I've used previous editions of this guide in Belize and Costa Rica, and I appreciate its organization and easy-to-out layout. The 70 pages on Belize provide generally reliable and accurate info, but for most Belize travelers, even budget ones, this is just not enough. No photos, very limited maps.

The Maya Road, by Jim Conrad. ISBN 1-55650-522-1. Hunter Publishing, 1992, 274 pp. US$15.95. Intelligent guide to Mayan sites in Belize, Guatemala, and Eastern Mexico, although it is now somewhat out-of-date on practical details such as access to Caracol.

OTHER BOOKS ABOUT BELIZE AND THE REGION
Belize Retirement Guide, by Bill and Claire Gray. ISBN 1-880862-46-8. Preview Publishing, 3rd. ed., 1995. 139 pp. US$19.95. This book talks turkey on a subject a lot of folks want to know about: Is Belize a good place to retire? The answer, according to the authors (who live much of the year in Corozal) is Yes. They say you can "live in a tropical paradise on your Social Security check alone." You can digest Belize Retirement Guide in one sitting, and you may still be hungry for more details, but one thing is clear: If you're thinking about Belize for relocation or retirement, this book is a necessary starting point, with down-to-earth, practical advice by people who have done it themselves. The new 3rd edition (the original edition came out in 1990) is much improved, with color photos and a good deal of new or updated information.
RECOMMENDED BY BELIZE FIRST MAGAZINE

Warlords and Maize Men, a Guide to the Maya Sites of Belize, by Byron Foster, ed. ISBN 968-6233-06-7. Cubola Productions, 2nd ed., 1992, 82 pp. US$10. This was the first popular guide to 15 important Maya sites in Belize. It's one of a series of interesting volumes, both non-fiction and fiction, published by Cubola in Benque Viejo del Carmen, Belize.
RECOMMENDED BY BELIZE FIRST MAGAZINE

The Best Mexican & Central American Travel Tips, by John Whitman. ISBN 0-06-273268-4. HarperPerennial, 1994. 356 pp. US$15. The author attempts to duplicate the success of his Best European Travel Tips, which has sold 250,000 copies since 1981 with this compendium of travel tips, both basic ("never sleep under a coconut palm") and advanced ("if you find yourself surrounded by jellyfish, dive down and try to swim under them.") Most of the tips are the kinds of things travelers pick up their own, from trial and error and talking with other travelers. The vast majority of the tips relate to culture and language of the Spanish-speaking countries in the region, and there are only a few pages of information specifically about Belize. This book may be useful for the novice traveler visiting Mexico and a number of Central American countries, it is of very limited value to Belize travelers.

Sastun, My Apprenticeship with a Maya Healer, by Rosita Arvigo with Nadine Epstein. ISBN 0-06- 250255-7 HarperSanFrancisco, 1994. 190 pp. US$22 cloth. The story of U.S. herbologist Rosita Arvigo's apprenticeship to the late Don Elijio Panti, renowned Mayan healer. Fascinating!
RECOMMENDED BY BELIZE FIRST MAGAZINE

The Maya, by Michael D. Coe. ISBN 0-500-27716-8. Thames and Hudson, 5th ed., 1993. 224 pp. US$14.95. Yale professor Michael Coe is one of the giant figures in Mayan studies. If you want a scholarly but readable short overview of the Maya civilization, this is a good choice. However, it is extremely limited in its Belize references. In the text and in the many fine illustrations there are only a few mentions of Belize. The focus is mostly on Mexico and Guatemala.

"Hey, Dad, This is Belize" by Emory King. Tropical Press, 4th printing, 1994. Originally published in the Belize Times in the 1970s, these sketches, most of them in a light vein by Belize's most famous expat, now are a window on a quieter time in Belize City and the country.
RECOMMENDED BY BELIZE FIRST MAGAZINE

Diving and Snorkeling Guide to Belize, by Franz O. Meyer. ISBN 1-55992-033-5. Pisces Books, 1990, 96 pp. US$11.95. Overview of dive and snorkel sites in Belize. Lots of color photos, some maps.
RECOMMENDED BY BELIZE FIRST MAGAZINE

Inside Belize, by Tom Barry. ISBN 0-911213-39-2. Inter-Hemispheric Education Resource Center, 1992, 193 pp. US$10.95. Good general overview of Belize history, society, economy, politics, and education.

RECOMMENDED BY BELIZE FIRST MAGAZINE

Belize, a Guide to Business Investment and Retirement, by George W. Rea. The Business Company, 1995, 99 pp. US$29.95. Contains basic information on living in and doing business in Belize. Forms, contact names.

MAPS

Driver's Guide to Beautiful Belize, by Emory King. Tropical Books. Updated annually. US$12. This mile-by-mile guide is a must if you're driving in Belize.
RECOMMENDED BY BELIZE FIRST MAGAZINE

International Travel Map to Belize. ISBN 0-921463- 24-3. ITMB Publishing, 3rd edition, 1995. US$7.95. This 1:350,000-scale map is the best general map of Belize.
RECOMMENDED BY BELIZE FIRST MAGAZINE

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