We were very fortunate that wonderful photographer Duarte Dellarole came down for a CBC vacation so we decided to get some updated images of Caribbean Beach Cabanas! As our past guests know…..:)…..we are always making small changes and upgrades, so it will always look new, fresh, and different for your next visit (we make sure it is always in the best of ways, to improve your CBC Vacation!)
We are thrilled with how they turned out. If you are on your way down, here is some eye candy to get you excited for your trip!! I’ll post the Cabana and Villa updates next, along with some new ones from around the Cabanas.
Hacienda- Our two bed, two bath, Hamptons-style beachfront home
3.) Johnny Depp has been slated to play John McAfee – and much of the movie will take place in the time he spent in Belize – this one is a big deal because, the population and size of Belize is tiny, to have a major motions picture featuring Belize is a REALLY big deal! (Yes, there will probably be some negatives about his time here, but you can bet the aesthetics shot in Belize are going to be amazing!)
https://www.breakingbelizenews.com/2017/03/29/johnny-depp-play-infamous-john-mcafee/
4.) It recently came to light that the Wyndham is going to be opening a huge mega resort in Belize – this is a BIG deal because Belize has typically not been a place for corporate resorts to land, because of the small population and tourist numbers. The fact that this is the second huge resort to build here (Mahogany Bay is the first) says that the world is taking notice of Belize (this resort is way north of town in Ambergris Caye, although there is a lot of unhappiness about chain resorts in Belize, it is far away enough not to take away the authenticity and charm of San Pedro!)
http://www.sanpedroscoop.com/2017/03/morning-drive-wyndham-grand-belize-ambergris-caye.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+GetMySanPedroScoop+%28Get+My+San+Pedro+Scoop%29
5.) Another big deal article – Forbes names Belize as one of the top 10 diving spots in the world!!!
https://www.forbes.com/sites/breannawilson/2017/03/13/10-must-dive-destinations-for-2017/#5669051a67af
6.) Southwest just had their inaugural first non-stop flight arrive, from Denver!
https://www.breakingbelizenews.com/2017/03/12/southwest-airlines-btb-celebrate-inaugural-flight-denver-belize/
7.) Oyster.com highlighted Belize in a great article about what to know before you visit!
https://www.oyster.com/articles/57863-8-things-you-need-to-know-before-traveling-to-belize/?platform=hootsuite
8.) Your dad gets elected as the new president….and you can go anywhere in the world….where do you go if you are Tiffany Trump? BELIZE!
http://www.cosmopolitan.com/entertainment/celebs/a9124576/tiffany-trump-ross-mechanic-vacation-belize/
9.) VIVA lifestyle and travel agrees that Belize should be your next getaway, thanks to its “undiscovered’ nature!
http://vivalifestyleandtravel.com/belize/travel-and-lifestyle/feature/undiscovered-getaway
10.) Hello Travel also featured a top 10 where to go in Belize article!
http://www.hellotravel.com/stories/10-place-to-visit-in-belize?platform=hootsuite
This is a hard question to research or google when you are on vacation…..if you are looking for a tranquil afternoon, you might head to a pool bar, but then find it is a crazy loud place. Maybe you are a vegetarian and you head to a place that specializes in stewed chicken. Here are some helpful hints past guests have reported on, to help you find your perfect vacation spot!If you want to….
WATCH SPORTS
This is a common request. While many of the bars have TV’s, and this isn’t too hard to find, I will say that the award for best place to watch sports is Pickled Parrot. Eugene and Lynn are huge sports fans and there are always fun events and characters to interact with here!
EAT THE BEST LOCAL FOOD
This is an arguable one. However, based on guest feedback, these are not the fanciest places, but the places where people have found the best local dishes….Dawn’s Grill and Wende’s Creole Resaurant.
Mim’s! This is not online, and is very modest looking – you’ll find it on main street if you walk right to the street from CBC, on the right. They have the best authentic stewed chicken, rice and beans, for $5usd. (If you are not staying at CBC, it is located north of the village, just south of Top Value)
MEET EXPATS LIVING IN PLACENCIA
Friday afternoon – Yoli’s – the Lost Reefers are playing, and there is always fun in this lively Caribbean style bar. It is not easy to find online or in person, but it is right by Paradise Hotel on the southern tip of the peninsula.
HAVE THE BEST ICE CREAM
Tutti Frutti – it is not a secret!
HAVE LATE NIGHT PIZZA BY THE SLICE
We finally have a pizza shop that is open kind of late, and sells by the slice! Cha Chi’s right next to Tutti Frutti.
PLAY TRIVIA
Thursday night…..Pickled Parrot again….just put your game face on because this is serious business.
SING KAREOKE
Thursdays at the Tipsy Tuna Sports Bar and Sundays at J-Dees!
HAVE A MEMORABLE MEAL
Get a cab to Maya Beach for one night and visit the Maya Beach Bistro…..it is probably 100% approved by past guests.
WATCH THE SUNSET
Placencia has most of its fun on the Caribbean side, and you have to go to the lagoon side to see the sunset. If you are in town, head to the pier where you can watch the fishermen bring in their catches, people and dolphin watch, and then see the sunset from the southernmost point in the village.
HAVE SOMEONE COOK YOUR FISH FOR YOU
Omar’s right in the village is recommended by past guests.
FIND THE BEST SOUVENIRS
My personal opinion on a great souvenir….go to any local grocery store and pick up some $1 mini bottles of Marie Sharps! Or visit Leo the woodcarver on the sidewalk near Tipsy Tuna.
MEET LOCALS
Head back to the pier and hang out near Brenda’s Caribbean Cooking food stand…you are guaranteed a fun experience!
FIND THE BEST VEGETARIAN MEALS
A guest favorite is Rick’s on the sidewalk, the vegan salad is amazing!
HAVE LOCAL BBQ
John’s BBQ in the area right by the fields, where you will see three wood houses, a great place to hang out!
SEE AN ISLAND RIGHT OFF A CALENDAR
Visit Ranguana Caye for the day.
HAVE THE MOST OUTRAGEOUS EXPERIENCE IN THE COUNTRY
Although it is a long drive, it is one of the most popular activities in the country. At Actun Tunichil Muknal (ATM) Cave Tour, you will feel like you are Indiana Jones.
HAVE A QUIET AFTERNOON OUT OF THE VILLAGE
Visit the Quarterdeck Bar at Laru Beya, it is almost always quite tranquil, and the restaurant there will serve you right at the pool, well worth a visit out of the village!
PARTY ON A SUNDAY
Barefoot Bar is the place to be!
I LOVE seeing the pictures people post of their time here…it is something I look at at least 2x a week. Seeing Belize through the eyes of a first time guest reminds me of how incredible it is, and also lets me in on new things I didn’t know about! My favorite site to see pictures is Instagram, and you don’t have to be on Instagram to see them. You can google #placencia pictures, and you can see several sites that grab the latest Instagram pics and list them chronologically. Here are my top favorites from the last week – I try to pick a group of photos that explains the feel of Placencia, as sometimes pictures can explain it much more than words!
Gracie and the staff are super friendly and fun!
2.) You can feel comfortable driving in Belize – it is not a place where you need to worry about crime on the road, and the “highways” are like country roads, but they are not terrible. You just need to know about speed “humps”, the fact that the sun sets early and driving at night is not recommended for your first time, and to know what the check points are – you can read about all that HERE.
3.) The sun rises at about 5:30 year round, and sets about 6 year round. Belize has a healthy appetite for happy hours, and these are right as the sun sets, which is awesome! You will DEFINITELY find yourself saying, “it is only 7pm?? I thought it was 10pm!” And then wake up, wide awake, at 6am :).
4.) I will tread lightly here because the laws do exist, and are sometimes enforced. But, here’s what you will see all over the place… you will see people EVERYWHERE walking around (even riding a bike/driving!) with a beer. If you get carried away with it you might get approached(and it is not always advisable to carry glass around), but this country is very friendly to beer and alcohol drinking. You can even bring in a beer from home into a bar. You can drink on the beach, you can drink a beer with breakfast – no judging! There is beer sold everywhere as well.
5.) Watch yourself – in Placencia, Caye Caulker, and San Pedro, there are no sidewalks on the main roads – you really do want to watch youself when you are walking in traffic. You will be inches from bikes, scooters, golf carts, and cars. So combine that with #4, and just be careful 🙂
6.) Beach dogs- you will see happy, friendly, mostly cute beach dogs everywhere. They are not going to hurt you, occasionally people report they were chased by a dog near a property, but in town this rarely happens. You will notice that they are all fat and happy in Placencia and Ambergris Caye.
7.) Tipping is appreciated, but it is not the same as the US. 10% is an appropriate tip.
8.) Ask before you get that third cup of coffee – most restaurants do not have free refills – I didn’t know this was more of a US thing 🙂
9.) What’s with the napkins on the beer bottles at bars? The bottles are recycled, and when the bottles sit in the salt air, they often get a bit of rust. Use that napkin to wipe off the mouth of the beer – recommended. Also there is only a couple kinds of beer you can get in the country and when you are ordering a Belikin, just order a “beer” – yes it feels weird but you’ll get a Belikin every time. You can also bring your own beverage containers to bars – you’ll see people do it all over the place.
10.) Golf carts – it is FUN to ride around on a golf cart as your transportation, because how many places can you do that?? It is like a video game. It is highly recommended you get one for a day, they are about $40-50us per day, and very easy to rent everywhere.
11.) Almost everything can be delivered if you ask. Even a case of beer!
12.) This one is obvious…..but you’ll see sunburns everywhere. The sun is HOT here….even when it is cloudy. Unless you have been hitting the tanning beds like a champ, wear sunscreen and don’t ruin your trip. Especially when snorkeling – wear long sleeves and lotion up your butt and legs, the burn you can get on the water is astounding.
13.) You want to get up close to that turtle, the size of a car, while you are snorkeling? Go ahead! There are few regulations here compared to the US – you decide the level of risk you want. This is another shining example of why Belize is fun. Or, will leave you with a good story about the jacka** thing you did.
14.) You may hear Belize is dangerous – in reality, this is only in southern Belize City. There are few violent crimes here. What does happen is theft. It is highly recommended that you behave with your stuff as if you really, really care about it – only bring out with you the necessities – not ALL your credit cards, passport, etc. While I know few people who have gotten things stolen, it happens often enough and can happen so fast. Usually because of #4.
15.) Another reason people love Belize – you don’t hang out in your all inclusive resort here. Locals hang where everyone else does, and everyone lives in harmony. You’ll hear people say “I want to go where the locals go” because they want to have an authentic experience – you don’t have to say that here. Everyone is everywhere!
16.) You really do not need a car – unless you plan on jetting around the whole country, rental cars are expensive, gas is expensive, and you just won’t use it. If you are staying near town you can walk to everything, and the tours will pick you up. See #10 for the alternative.
17.) People sometimes get freaked out because they hear Belize is a “third world country.” Actually a better term is developing country – and that is what this is. If you get out of town at all, you will see very rustic villages, and in some Mayan villages they have dirt floors, palapa roofs, and sleep in hammocks. And if you visit, you will find that it is really peaceful. You will see that the maintenance is maybe not what you see in the US. By the end of your trip, you will hardly notice these differing standards. There is so much natural beauty here, and there is also a charm in rustic wood shacks painted in every color! There is very little begging in Placencia or Ambergris and MUCH less than most places. You will be asked if you want to buy a necklace by a child sometimes, but they are not pushy and rarely ask for money.
18.) Bugs – how to manage. “Sand fleas/no-see-ums” are present here, and everywhere warm. They come out in cooler weather, at night, after a rain, or by mangroves. You may not have a problem at all – a lot of it is pure luck. If you are hell bent on not getting bit, wear baby oil on your legs, they can’t bite through it. Mosquitos – they are no worse here than anywhere in the summer – wear DEET at night, especially between 5:30-7.
19.) Sometimes I hear that Belize is expensive compared to other Central American countries. There are things that are expensive, like imported US foods and booze. Other things are cheap. There are beachfront hotels you can find for about $40us a night. You can eat like a local (stewed chicken, rice, and beans) for $5us. You can drink local beer, rum, and vodka for about $2.50-3us a drink. You do not HAVE to go to the US standard restaurants, which have US prices. You can stay in a US standard hotel, which is really hard to run here because you have to import everything. A US standard hotel will be about the same cost as the US – BUT – for perspective, check the hotels in high season in Key West, in town – those run about $500us a night, for what you can get for $200 a night here. Belize is a tourism country, not a manufacturing country, so goods are expensive, and it is why it is simple and rustic here – and totally charming :). Let’s not forget Belize has the 2nd biggest reef in the world, hundreds of islands, jungle, Mayan ruins, and a totally unique experience that is nothing like your sanitized Myrtle Beach vacation. There are almost NO chain restaurants or hotels in the country.
20.) People will ask if the sea grass is a problem, and how are the beaches? We are very close to the reef and the reef life has to eat – and they eat sea grass. There is sea grass that washes in a few days a week, and some people are bothered by this. But, again, you are close to the reef!! The sea grass is part of the environment here, and while many places rake and keep it clean, it is also a part of the ecosystem. If you go snorkeling here you will feel better about it, because you will swim with all the creatures that are feeding off it :). There are MANY beaches that are among the most beautiful in the world, but 100% of the beach here is not pristine. You can easily find the pristine beaches if you want them here!
21.) Will I be inundated by people selling things to me? It is NOTHING like Mexico or any cruise port here – not even close. Yes, people will want you to buy their things but the culture here is very laid back. They will not argue or chase you down. If you say no thanks – that’s it. And yes, you will easily find someone that may ask if you want to “buy some green.” If you don’t want it, just say no thank you 🙂
22.) Another reason people come back to Belize again and again is because – the locals really are that warm and friendly. Go out for one evening and you’ll see and feel it :). It is a truly charming, welcoming culture here!
4.) In lil’ old Tipsy Tuna on NYE…..there were two major celebrity sighting….Drew Carey and James Franco were seen having a blast!
http://www.ambergristoday.com/content/stories/2017/01/04/celebrity-spotting-hollywood-stars-bring-new-year-belize#.WG0uT-wGCgQ.facebook
5.) Oyster.com, a “hotel tell all” site, ranked Belize as one of the “cheapest” Caribbean destinations to visit this winter!
https://www.oyster.com/articles/55759-the-11-cheapest-caribbean-destinations-to-visit-in-winter-2017-ranked/
6.) Business Insider ranked Belize as one of the 11 trips everyone in the 30’s should take!!
http://www.businessinsider.com/trips-everyone-should-take-in-their-30s-2016-12/#peru-7
7.) Brightside.com ranked Belize as one of the top 15 places you should visit before they “fill up with tourists!” We agree that Belize is one of the few rustic and authentic beach vacations around…
https://brightside.me/article/15-gorgeous-places-you-need-to-visit-before-they-fill-up-with-tourists-42355/
8.) The Washington Post published this wonderful article about Belize, calling it “breathtaking.” 🙂
https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/travel/beneath-the-surface–caving-and-diving–belize-is-breathtaking/2016/11/03/1c9c52a8-97bd-11e6-bb29-bf2701dbe0a3_story.html
9.) The Telegraph called Belize the most surprising Caribbean destination!
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/central-america/belize/articles/adventures-in-belize/?WT.mc_id=tmg_share_fb