The Belize Gringo

Relax on Thatch Caye

July 18th, 2008 | Belize - Family Friendly, Belize - Gringo Favorite, Belize - Must See or Do, Belize - Places to Stay | No Comments »

The handmade island complex of Thatch Caye is an ideal spot to relax and enjoy the very best of Belize. This 12 acre marine park in south-central Belize is just 9 miles from the city of Dangriga and the Stann Creek district. The half hour boat ride from the city makes Thatch Caye one of the most accessible offshore Cayes in Belize.

Set two miles inside the Great Western Barrier Reef, the resort is a launch pad for some of the most fantastic marine exploration in the world. Premier snorkeling, kayaking, scuba diving and saltwater fly fishing are some of the Caye’s biggest attractions. Capable guides are on hand to lead you deep into the sea. Read more

Business is Booming

July 14th, 2008 | Belize - Business, Belize - Culture, Belize - Travel Tips | No Comments »

In recent years Belize has grown tremendously as a source of foreign investment. The International Bridge of Friendship connects Belize to its NAFTA neighbor, Mexico, facilitating the transportation of goods from this small Central American country to the rest of the world.

Belize, once a British colony, gained its independence in 1981. Still, its political, legal, economic and educational systems are all based on British models, and are therefore more familiar to investors from the U.S., U.K., and Canada. English is the official language and 90% of the workforce is literate, making Belize a powerful tool for production and development.

Ideally located just south of Mexico, Belize also serves as a gateway of sorts from the Read more

Packing Tips

July 6th, 2008 | Belize - Travel Tips | 1 Comment »

Having trouble deciding what to bring to Belize? If you are planning on staying near the coast, packing is quite easy; a couple of swimsuits, shorts, tank tops and sandals are all you will need. You can choose to bring your own sunscreen, sun-tanning oil, and bug repellent, or buy them in any one of the local shops. Beach towels and wide-brimmed straw hats are practical for your trip, and make great keepsakes or souvenirs.

Traveling inland requires a different sort of attire. If you plan on doing any hiking make sure you bring sturdy boots and lightweight long pants and long sleeve shirts. These help ward off the bugs, but bug repellent is highly recommended. If Read more

Up Close with the Ocelots

July 4th, 2008 | Belize - Adventure, Belize - Must See or Do | No Comments »

I’m not sure if “zoo” is the right word to describe the Belize Zoo. This haven has been created for animals that need a place to live; animals that have been injured, animals that cannot fend for themselves in the wild, and animals that have been seized by the government for being owned illegally, something which is taken quite seriously in Belize. Due to this, the whole Zoo has a bit of a personal feel. The animals are all native to Central America; none are shipped in from other countries. Workers know the animals individually and are therefore better able to care for them.

If you want to get an up close look Read more

Storm Winds are Brewing

July 2nd, 2008 | Belize - Relocation, Belize - Tourist Trap, Belize - Travel Tips | 2 Comments »

Belize normally sees its share of hurricanes during the fall months of October to November, however the season actually runs from June to November, and this year the storms are starting earlier than normal! A day early, to be precise. On May 31st, one day before the official start of hurricane season, Arthur dumped torrential rains on southern and northern Belize.

The rains caused extensive flooding in areas and actually shut down the Costal Road and the Hummingbird Highway, which lead to southern Belize. Several archaeological sites and resorts were affected by the damage, so make sure of your plans well in advance. Track the weather, and try to stay out of Read more

A Prison Worth Visiting

June 30th, 2008 | Belize - Culture, Belize - Family Friendly, Belize - Must See or Do | 1 Comment »

My guess is going to jail isn’t on your list of things to do while in Belize, but if a trip to this converted 19th century brick prison isn’t, then maybe it should be. In 1993, the government decided to convert the prison into the Museum of Belize. Despite the fact that it is a national museum, it is quite small, although its permanent collection packs a punch.

The first floor has a number of different exhibits that showcase the history of the City of Belize. On the second floor there are a generous amount of artifacts from the Mayan civilization, including pottery and masks made from ceramic and jade. The bug room contains an amazing Read more

Caye Caulker’s Best Bar and Grill

June 10th, 2008 | Belize - Business, Belize - Family Friendly, Belize - Places to Eat | No Comments »

If you have a chance to head off of the mainland to Caye Caulker while visiting Belize, make sure you head to the Rainbow Bar. The large deck out back is perched overlooking the sea, and the prices are more than reasonable, at less than 10 dollars per plate. Portions are large, and filling. The vegetable wrap comes highly recommended, as does the shrimp. Of course, every meal is made complete by a Belikin, Belize’s favorite beer.

The laid back attitude that draws everyone to Caye Caulker reigns at Rainbow Bar as well. While the locals urge you to take it easy, you will find yourself more than relaxed sipping a beer and dining on excellent Read more

Explore Belize's Caves

June 3rd, 2008 | Belize - Adventure, Belize - Family Friendly, Belize - Must See or Do | No Comments »

Deep within the Tapir Mountain Reserve, an hour from San Ignacio, is the Actun Tunichil Muknal Cave , an ancient site of ceremonial worship for the Mayan civilization. Inside the limestone cave visitors can see thousands of artifacts left behind, as well as 14 skeletons, most of which were sacrifice victims.

Upon entering the mouth of the cave, you have to swim about 10 meters before reaching the rock shelf. Climbing up there a half hour long hike/swim leads you to a hidden dry chamber where the majority of the artifacts are found. It is considered to be sacred ground, and visitors are asked to remove their shoes.

The trip is challenging, but it’s also quite Read more

One Stop Shopping in Belize City

June 2nd, 2008 | Belize - Best Shopping, Belize - Business, Belize - Family Friendly, Belize - Must See or Do, Belize - Travel Tips | No Comments »

If you have a long list of people to bring souvenirs home for, then do your shopping at the National Handicraft Center on South Park Street in the Fort George District of Belize City. Over 500 Belizean artisans sell their works here, which range from hand-made jewelry to ironwood and black slate carvings.

While you may tend to head straight to the Mayan textiles, rosewood bowls and coconut shell necklaces, there are other shops offering less than a-typical trinkets. The real treasures found here are the homemade condiments and spirits. If you’ve never tried guava jam, Belikin beer or pineapple habanero jelly, this may be your chance.

Whatever you walk away Read more

Relax on Thatch Caye

Business is Booming

Packing Tips

Up Close with the Ocelots

Storm Winds are Brewing

A Prison Worth Visiting

Caye Caulker’s Best Bar and Grill

Explore Belize's Caves

One Stop Shopping in Belize City

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