A golf cart is mandatory to get around the island. Fun and crazy!
You can also do day trips to the jungle like cave tubing, Mayan ruins, and the ATM Cave. However, we highly recommend spending 3-4 days in San Ignacio to do those activities.
The Belize Barrier Reef is the second largest barrier reef in the world and offers amazing options for scuba diving and snorkeling.
Blue Hole & Lighthouse Reef Atoll
Hol Chan with Shark Ray Alley
Mexico Rocks
2) Caye Caulker Day Tour
A full day tour that combines Hol Chan snorkeling with other fun activities and a lunch stop at Caye Caulker.
Snorkel Hol Chan Marine Reserve
Snorkel Shark Ray Alley
Manatees
Tarpons
Sea horses
Explore Caye Caulker
3) Fishing
You will need to charter a boat and guide. You can stay inside the reef where it is calm and fish with light tackle, or you can go outside the reef in search of marlin, wahoo, dorado, and tuna.
4) Beach Activities
Some hotels have a beautiful beach and some do not. If the beach is important to you, be sure to book the right hotel. Hotels with beach will have beach games, kayaks, and paddleboards. Alternatively, enjoy the afternoon at Secret Beach.
5) Secret Beach
It is a 40-minuteMany beach restaurants right next to each other. All have food, drinks, tables, lounge chairs, massages. Some have tables in the water, swings in the water, etc. I recommend aiming for the Secret Beach Water Park (when you get to the end of the road, turn right, go to the last group of buildings, and park on the left.
6) Dining
Here are some popular restaurants:
Truck Stop – north of town, food trucks (Asian, cantina, pizza, bar), lawn games, pool with pool bar, music many nights, outdoor movie 1-2/week, dock facing west good for sunset
Secret Beach – Many beach restaurants to choose from, open for lunch through early dinner.
Elvi’s – In town, great food, make a reservation
Blue Water Grill – located in the Sunbreeze Hotel near the airport, on the beach, make a reservation
Pineapples – at Ramon’s, on the beach
Purple Pelican – good for sunset
Palapa Bar & Grill – located in the middle of town out on a dock, casual dining, tubes in water by dock, rays, sharks, tarpans, can see sunset even though facing east
Runway Bar – serves food late, sports bar with lots of tv’s, right at the airport
1) Walk the Sidewalk, beach bars, shopping, dining, sunset, rum tasting
The Sidewalk is almost 1 mile long that goes from the harbor to the north following the coastline. There are many restaurants and shops along the way as well as local color.
The main beach bars are the Barefoot Bar, Tipsy Tuna, and Cozy Corner (next to each other). Be sure to check out the Big Titty Rum Bar near the harbor.
Recommended Restaurants:
Rumfish — Can be a long wait
Koi Sushi — Sushi and ramen, next to Rick’s Cafe, a/c
Turtle Inn — There are 3 fancy restaurants at this Francis Ford Coppola Hotel just north of town.
2) Snorkeling at Silk Caye, Moho Caye, or Laughing Bird Caye
Some of the best snorkeling in Belize is by the reef near Placencia. You can do a half-day or full day snorkeling excursion.
3) Monkey River Day Tour
This is a full day tour and includes lunch. You will see local wildlife including howler monkeys, iguanas, crocodiles, turtles, tropical birds, and hopefully manatees. It is a boat ride along the coastline and then inland on a river plus and easy walk in the jungle.
4) Fishing (inner or outer reef)
You will need to charter a boat and guide. You can stay inside the reef where it is calm and fish with light tackle, or you can go outside the reef in search of marlin, wahoo, dorado, and tuna.
5) Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Preserve
You can arrange for a half-day guided tour, or you can rent a car and drive on your own. The dirt road as you get closer to the park office is a bit rough. Go early before it gets too hot. Cockscomb is famous for its large concentrations of jaguars, but you would have to get there very early in the morning to have a chance at seeing them.
There are many hiking trails to choose from. Many of them have pools and waterfalls to dip into. You can rent a tube there and float down the river. Be sure to do the short walk into the crashed airplane — interesting story! There is a $5/person entry fee.
6) Golf, Pickleball, Tennis, Miniature Golf
Inky’s Recreation Area is located mid-peninsula and offers tennis, pickleball, and mini golf. It also has a restaurant, martini bar, and ice cream.
Balam Golf, located next to Inky’s, opens a 9-hole golf course starting February, 2026. It also has a restaurant, pool, and 3rd story golf range.
7) Day Trip to King Lewey Caye or Ray Caye
King Lewey Caye is about a 40-minute boat ride from Placencia. It is set up like a pirate island with eating, drinking, lawn games, water slide, water swings, and friendly parrots.
Ray Caye is about a 1-hour boat ride from Placencia. They have a pool, restaurant, kayaks, paddleboards, and snorkeling.
The main hotel in town is the San Ignacio Resort Hotel. If you think you want to eat at restaurants in town, go to the farmers market, etc., this is the best option.
Most of the other hotels are outside of town, so you will have to take a taxi into town. They are all in a lovely jungle/garden setting, so great for relaxing.
Lovely hotel right in town but still with a jungle feel. You can see monkeys, iguanas, and a large variety of birds in the trees. It has a nice restaurant with indoor and outdoor seating, bar, and large swimming pool with nice deck area all the way around. The bar has happy hour every day 4-6pm (a drink of the day is 2-for-1), and it also has espresso drinks. There is filtered water to fill water bottles.
Rooms have a coffee pot, robes, desk, and 2 luggage racks.
Garden view rooms have a balcony with 2 chairs, small table, and (rather useless) hammock.
Regal rooms are larger with a loveseat, but no balcony.
Garden and Regal are the same price.
The hotel has a Green Iguana Project on site, and it is worth a tour. The tours depart every hour, on the hour, 9am-4pm and takes about 45 minutes. The price is US$11.50/person.
You can walk into town for dinner or to the San Ignacio Farmers Market, but it is a steep hill back.
Vanilla Hills
Vanilla Hills is the closest “jungle lodge” to town. Located just 7 minutes away by car from San Ignacio down town, it is in the middle of the nature and has a cozy boutique feel to it.
The bar is beautiful with gas firepit, fountain, and wine cellar. The 3 Senses Restaurant is world-class. There is a lovely pool.
There are 6 guest houses, all with A/C, positioned at least 50 feet apart from each other, so there is plenty of privacy.
3 Tree Houses which are designed for 2 guests
Guest house Hibiscus can host 3 guests
2 guest houses (Villa Vista and Orchid) have two bedrooms and can host 4 guests (Orchid) or 6 guests (Villa Vista).
Ka’ana Resort
The Ka’ana Resort is a boutique hotel with 17 rooms. There are
5 standard rooms – 1 queen bed, no patio or outdoor shower (1 has a deck with hammock)
4 master suites – 1 king bed, outdoor shower, plunge pool
one 1-bedroom villa – 1 king bed, outdoor shower, plunge pool
one 2-bedroom villa – 1 king bed + 2 twin beds, 2 bathrooms, outdoor shower, plunge pool
A full breakfast is included with the villas and a continental breakfast is included with the other rooms.
They offer a full spa, yoga (one class is free), Maya Cooking Class (90 minutes), s’mores night, 2 bonfires, onsite vegetable garden.
You can request a special dinner in the vegetable garden, wine cellar, stargazing, or jungle garden.
Lodge at Chaa Creek
This is a 5-star property with 28 rooms. This is the most luxurious lodge in the area. There are 28 rooms and villas tucked into the jungle. Each room has slightly different characteristics.
All of the rooms have a deck and 2 hammocks. Only some of the rooms have A/C, but they all have fans. There are no TVs in the rooms except the Spa Villa. Most rooms have a mini-fridge except the standard rooms. One villa has 4 beds for families. Entry level rooms do not have a/c but lots of fans.
There is a beautiful restaurant and bar. Breakfast is included with the rooms. The bar offers infused rum.
There is a large infinity pool. There is a Butterfly Exhibit on site plus nature trails, farm, and a bird watching tour every morning. There is a complimentary canoeing tour on the Macaw River.
Wow, this excursion is a whole new definition of “sporty”. The Actun Tunichil Muknal (ATM) Cave is one of the top tours in Belize, and it is truly amazing to see and do. The cave formations are incredible – you hike in 1/2 mile in the cave and each cavern is spectacular. At the far end of the cave, you see lots of Mayan artifacts from 700-900 A.D. – pots, ceremonial areas, skulls, and 1 full skeleton.
But let me prepare you a bit…. This is not for people who are afraid of tight spaces, have bad balance, are too round, or even too tall.
You will be wet for the entire 4-5 hours. It is about a mile hiking to the cave. Immediately out of the parking lot (with life jacket, helmet, and headlamp), you walk through a river that is chest deep. There are 2 other river crossings thigh deep, but it is the cave that is really challenging. To enter the cave, you swim (water is deep). From there, the water is ankle to neck deep all the way in.
The bottom is rocky, so it is a bit tricky to balance. There are some points of narrow passageways that you have to squish through, short areas where you are ducking, slopes where you are scrambling up or sliding down. Each cavern opens up and – AMAZING!!
There were moments where I said out loud, “This is insane.” That said, it is an incredible and challenging experience, and I definitely would do it again 🙂
Wear for that day: Water-friendly shorts and top (no cotton), tennis shoes that are okay to get wet, and socks. (My husband wore Tevas and wished he had worn tennis shoes.) I recommend a long-sleeved top, so something like a long-sleeved rash guard shirt is ideal or poly-pro top. This is all you wear/bring for the tour plus your water bottle. Everything else stays in the van (no phone/camera, sunglasses, etc.).
Bring in the van: Extra set of clothes and sandals/shoes to change into afterwards, long-sleeved shirt or light jacket (as you might be chilled), small towel, water bottle, sunglasses.
After the tour, there are showers in the parking area. The water is not hot, but also not cold, so okay to rinse off quickly and change clothes. You will also get lunch at the picnic area.
I recommend eating a decent breakfast because you will be exerting yourself, and it will be afternoon before you get lunch.
Final note: Tennis shoes do not dry in the humid climate, as I found out, so I recommend one of these options:
Bring an old pair of shoes that you just throw away after the tour.
Give your shoes to the front desk right after the tour and ask them to put them in the dryer.
Use a hairdryer to dry them out (I did this on Hot/Low, which worked well, but it is noisy, and the bathroom got quite hot).
We stayed at the Hotel Nord Nuova Roma. It is very close to the train station. Rooms were small (typical of big cities), but clean, nicely decorated, nice bathrooms. Breakfast was fine, but nothing exciting. It has a rooftop bar, which opens at 6pm and is a nice place to see the sunset or relax after a long day of walking. There is a fitness center.
If you walk out the front door and turn left then left at the corner, there is an upscale restaurant with live music. Very lovely.
TICKETS
You need to pre-book tickets with set time for the
Colosseum (and Forum and Palatine Hill)
Vatican Museums
Pantheon (on weekends)
Book early – a few days or even a week.
COLOSSEUM
You need to pre-book the tickets and an entry time for the Colosseum. Then the ticket is good for 24 hours for the Forum and Palatine Hill. The Colosseum opens at 9:30am.
We spent 4 hours between the Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill. It can get hot mid-day.
I highly recommend getting the “Full Experience” ticket. This includes the underground area inside the Colosseum plus some other areas in the Forum and Palatine Hill. It is only a little bit more, and it gives you options.
VATICAN MUSEUMS (Sistine Chapel)
You need to pre-book the tickets and an entry time for the Vatican Museums.
We spent 2.5 hours in the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel.
From St. Peter’s Square, the Vatican Museum entrance is at least a half-mile away. If you are facing St. Peters Basilica, go to the right all the way to the end of the buildings/walls, turn left, and the entrance is to the left. If you are not going early in the morning, just go against the crowds of people coming towards you (coming from the museums).
There is a taxi stand outside the Vatican Museums.
ST. PETER’S BASILICA
You do not need to pre-book the entry into St. Peter’s Basilica. Lines can get long, so go early (plan on 30-60 minutes), and then schedule the Vatican Museum visit.
HIGHLIGHTS OF ROME
Plan a walk to the
Trevi Fountain
Spanish Steps
Pantheon — Get tickets!
These areas are great to visit during the day, and also at night when lit up. Also explore the side alleys and a block or two to the left/right.
I like the Rick Steve’s books and App. I also love the GPSmyCity App for walking tours.
PLANNING YOUR DAYS
If you have a few days in Rome, plan your itinerary by weather and day of week:
Sundays – Remember that churches will be closed to visitors on Sundays
Saturdays – Popular areas get very crowded on Saturdays (Trevi Fountain, for example) and reservations for the Colosseum and Vatican Museums book up well in advance.
Rainy Days / Super Hot Days – Better for indoor activities, like the Vatican Museum and churches
Sunny Days – Better for Colosseum and Roman Forum + Trevi Fountain and Spanish Steps
DINING
There are so many street restaurants in Rome it will be hard to pick. The area between the Trevi Fountain and the Pantheon are thick with cute restaurants. Close to the tourist areas, the sales pressure is a bit much. And so many gelato stores, some of which are very fancy.
SCOOTERS
We used the Lime scooters to get around town. Download the app, add your credit card, and it is pretty easy to figure out. The only downsides are that there are off-limit areas where you cannot park, and some of the roads are very bumpy. Just check the app for where to park (for the Vatican, we had to park back by the bridge)
There are at least 4 companies that have scooters. Lime seemed to have the most scooters and also has bikes. But the other companies allow you to park in more areas.
BIG BUS
I am a fan of the double-decker hop-on/hop-off buses in the right situation. In Rome, it costs about $35/adult for a 1-day pass, and there are many other combo tickets. It is a great way to get around town – you will see some areas you might have otherwise missed, you get a little commentary, nicer than the Metro, and cheaper than a taxi.
A taxi at 7:30pm from the Vatican to our hotel by the train station (4 miles and 20 minutes) cost 35 Euro.
TRAIN
The train to the international airport is the Leonardo Express with TrenItalia. It takes about 30 minutes and costs 14 Euro. The ticket is valid for any time that day. Sometimes the train is delayed, so give yourself extra time.
If you buy the ticket from the kiosk, it is the “Fionachi Aeropuerto” for 14 Euro.
If you want to buy from a person at the desk, there are kiosks that give you a number. You wait for your number to appear and go to that desk.
They board at platform 23 or 26 – just look at the board.
*** WARNING: If there are people trying to “help” you buy a ticket – don’t let them! They are trying to steal from you. Even the first page at the ticket kiosk is a warning. When we were there, there were 3 people attempting to “help” people. They are sneaky, so stay away!!
Lepogo Lodges are situated within the 50,000-hectare (123,552-acre) Lapalala Wilderness Reserve in the malaria-free Waterberg region of Limpopo province in South Africa. Created as a conservation legacy, Lepogo Lodges is not-for-profit, with all proceeds reinvested in conservation projects on the Lapalala Wilderness Reserve. Lepogo Lodges comprises two luxury properties: Noka Camp, sleeping a maximum of 12 guests across five vast villas sold on an individual basis, and Melote House, sold on an exclusive use basis sleeping a maximum of 16 guests across eight suites and featuring incredible views, three swimming pools, a spa, gym and floodlit waterhole. Noka Camp and Melote House are the only two commercial properties on the reserve, ensuring your guests have an exclusive safari experience.
Lapalala Wilderness Reserve is home to the Big Five as well as cheetah, pangolin, and wild dog
Vital black and white rhino private sanctuary, providing the opportunity for guests to see fully horned rhino
Home to a purpose-built Pangalorium, which is a rehabilitationand release centre offering hope for the future of pangolin
Rare antelope species such as sable, eland and roan
Fully guided day and night game drives. Noka Camp is maximum four guests to a vehicle (unless a group of six have booked together)
Walking safaris
Tracking wild cheetah on foot
Boat trip with drinks, canapes and fishing lines
Visits to see ancient rock art
Conservation experiences (booked at an additional cost) to support initiatives on the Lapalala, such as changing wildlife collars or participating in research projects.
Noka Camp takes children over 10 years old, unless the whole camp is booked exclusively
Noka Camp has four luxury villas, which can be double or twin. Each villa is 150sq metres and features a large bedroom, sunken bath, lounge area with glass-fronted views over the Palala River, heated plunge pool, indoor and outside showers, air con, mini bar and runs off hi-tech solar.
Noka Camp Family Villa is 325sq metres and features two ensuite bedrooms, a heated infinity pool and indoor/outdoor living areas.
Melote House has six suites across three floors including a master suite with a plunge pool. The house consists of a large swimming pool, bar, dining area, au pair room and study.
Melote House’s separate cottage contains two suites, which can only be booked with the rest of the house, allowing for two prices: one for the main house (sleeping 12) and one for the main house plus cottage (sleeping 16).
Both properties are off grid and run on solar. Noka Camp had the first solar walkway in South Africa.
All hotels have a swimming pool (except Brisa Oceano), A/C, fans, TV, hairdryer, Internet, safe, mini-fridge, and laundry service (extra cost), unless specified.
For pickleball players, Turtle Inn has a court, and Inky’s has 4 courts located mid-peninsula (very close to Naia).
Briso Oceano is located right in the center of Placencia village on the “Sidewalk”, so it is easy access to restaurants, shops, and grocery stores. The Pickled Parrot bar is right next door, which plays American football games on the TV.
It has 24 units — standard rooms, studios with kitchenette, 1-bedroom/2-bedroom/3-bedroom suites with full kitchen. All are ocean view or ocean front. The 1-bedroom suite ocean front and studio ocean view are interconnecting, making it a 2-bedroom. All have a balcony, but some are larger than others. There is no telephone in the rooms.
The hotel is located right on the beach, but there is no swimming pool. The beach has kayaks, volleyball, corn hole, beach chairs, and bicycles.
The small restaurant is on the second floor, serving breakfast and dinner, with nice views of sunset. There is a small gym and lots of parking.
2) Turtle Inn
The Turtle Inn is a tropical luxury Francis Ford Coppola hotel just outside of Placencia village.
It has 25 cottages. Garden cottages and 2 garden view villas have A/C, but all units have ceiling fans and outdoor showers.
There are 2 pools + a kids pool. The family pavilion also has a gelato bar. Beach bikes and kayaks are free to use. Paddleboards and trimarans are an extra cost. There is scheduled shuttle service into the village. They also have a pickleball court.
There are 4 restaurants:
Mare Restaurant – Italian and seafood (BLD)
Aunti Luba’s Kitchen – Belizean food on the lagoon side (Dinner)
Gauguin Gill – Seafood on the beach (Dinner)
Pizzeria (BLD)
Laughing Fish – Pool bar (Lunch)
Continental breakfast is included with the room.
There is a full spa.
Wine Tasting is offered when possible. It lasts 1.5 hours for 2-12 people, near the Wine Aquarium 4-5:30pm. The price is $60/person for 2 whites + 2 reds, or $100/person for upgraded wines.
3) Ellysian Boutique Hotel
Located right in Placencia Village with 13 rooms in a tall building on the beach. There is no elevator.
There are 13 rooms. No interconnecting rooms, but some are next to each other.
Studio: 1 King bed, mini-fridge, and coffee maker, ocean view more expensive than garden view.
Suites: 1 king or 2 queen beds, kitchenette
1 Penthouse: 3 bedroom
Muna Restaurant is on the 4th floor with great sunset views. It serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. There are a few outside tables.
There is a nice pool next to the beach and a pool bar. The spa in on the 5th floor. They have parking by the street, and they have bikes.
4) Umaya Resort
Umaya is located on the northern part of the Placencia Peninsula in Maya Beach. Some rooms are west facing with a lagoon view and some are east facing with ocean view.
Most of them are 2-bedroom/2-bathroom condos (1 king+2 twin beds), but they can also be rented as 1-bedroom/1-bath. There is a separate area of the resort with six 3-bedroom/2-bathroom self-contained cottages (1 king+2 queens) and a small separate pool — also oceanfront. All units have a full kitchen and patio/balcony. There are no interconnecting units. There is one penthouse condo with 1 king + 2 queens and more small appliances.
The resort has a large pool that faces the ocean with a nice beach. The pool has a bar and wood-burning pizzeria. The beach has hammocks, kayaks, and paddleboards.
The main restaurant serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner and faces the lagoon. Next to the lagoon is a dock and firepit area, which is a perfect spot for watching the sunset. There are other restaurants close to the hotel as well.
There are bikes you can use and also a shuttle to Placencia town twice a day.
5) Naia Resort & Spa
Naia is a boutique hotel with 36 rooms. They all have 1 king bed. One twin bed can be added to a beachfront room. There are 5 units with 2 bedrooms/2 bathrooms and have a small pool. Some houses have a pool and some do not. They have a standalone tub and outside shower. Rooms can be beach front or beach view. All have a porch/balcony and a kitchenette. There is also a 4-bedroom house.
Located in the Maya Beach area in the northern part of the Placencia Peninsula.
The swimming pool is on the small side. There is pool bar. The main restaurant serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Meals are not included but can be added. There is a second fancier restaurant upstairs.
There is a full spa, tour desk, and gift shop. They have kayaks, paddleboards, snorkel equipment, and bikes.
6) Itz’ana Belize Resort
Itz’ana is about 4 miles north of Placenia village (Siene Bight). The shuttle to town is $5/person one-way.
It has 62 rooms, including 14 villas, which are 3 bedrooms, which can be rented together or separately. All rooms have a king bed, patio or deck, filtered water, mini-fridge (minibar is not included), French press for coffee, and showers. The 3-bedroom villa will have a plunge pool, and washer/dryer. You can book your room with or without breakfast.
There is a huge swimming pool, and the pool bar has a wood-burning pizza oven.
The long, beautiful beach has lounge beds, swings, hammocks, and bean bag chairs. They have kayaks, paddleboards, and bikes.
The restaurant has indoor and outdoor seating in a nice garden area. Check out the Biblio Bar – it has a “secret room” which can be rented out for private events.
Yoga is offered every morning on the Yoga Deck. They also offer massages, but there is no gym.
Meet at 9am, 1 hour to Silk Caye, briefing by ranger, snorkel around island, lunch on island, snorkel at second spot, 1 hour boat back (return at 2pm).
Immigration at the Belize Airport can be awful, taking 1+ hours in line. Immigration will ask what hotel you are staying at. Then you collect your luggage and put it through an x-ray machine. When you exit security, your driver will be there with a sign with your name.
Drive to Placencia (2h30m). Driving in Belize is relatively easy. This particular drive is a bit painful with all the speed bumps.
Dinner at Barefoot Beach Bar
There are a number of restaurants right on the beach with tables inside or in the sand. They are all lively and fun with decent food.
Brisa Oceano Hotel
This hotel has rooms and apartments, some facing the ocean and less expensive units facing in. It is in a great location right on the beach and on the Sidewalk. There is an upstairs restaurant and a small gym.
DAY 2: Explore town
Sidewalk, Beach, Rum tasting, Coffee shops
DAY 3: Cockscomb Wildlife Sanctuary
Hiking
Great views, waterfalls for swimming, river tubing, and crashed airplanes
DAY 4: Snorkel at Silk Caye
Meet at 9am, 1 hour to Silk Caye, briefing by ranger, snorkel around island, lunch on island, snorkel at second spot, 1 hour boat back (return at 2pm).
DAY 5: Pickleball, Umaya Resort
Pickleball at Inky’s
Umaya Resort
DAY 6: To Ambergris Caye
Drive to Belize Airport, fly to Ambergris
Check-in for Maya Island Air is fairly easy and casual. Keep your luggage tags handy as they ask for them on the other end. Maya Island Air is at Gate 9.
Golf Cart
All transportation on the island is by golf cart. Fun and crazy!
Isla Bonita Yacht Club
1-bedroom condos that can be interconnected. There is a swimming pool and dive shop.
DAY 7: Secret Beach
Secret Beach
Pickleball at Mata Rocks
DAY 8: Scuba Diving
Scuba diving barrier reef
DAY 9: Full day Caye Caulker
Snorkel Hol Chan Marine Reserve
Snorkel Shark Ray Alley
Manatees
Tarpons
Sea horses
Explore Caye Caulker
DAY 10: Snorkel Mexico Rocks
Snorkel in 2 spots
DAY 11: Fly to Belize, drive to San Ignacio
Fly to Belize — I recommend flying back to the Belize International Airport (BZE) instead of the municipal airport.
Drive to San Ignacio (1h45m) — If you have a private transfer, your guide can stop at a coffee shop or store for you. If you take an early morning flight, you can add an excursion to the Belize Zoo along the way.
San Ignacio Resort Hotel
This is the nicest hotel near the center of town. The other nice hotels are outside of town in the jungle (lovely! but you will need to taxi into town).
DAY 12: ATM Cave
ATM Cave
This is the #1 excursion in Belize, and it is amazing. However, it is definitely on the “extreme” side. See ATM Cave Details >>
Dinner at Guava Limb
Guava Limb is on the edge of town on a residential street. Lovely ambience, great drinks, and amazing food.
DAY 13: Tikal Maya Site
Tikal Maya Site
This is the largest Maya site in the area. It is actually located in Guatemala, so there is a border crossing with a $20/person departure tax. There are people at the border crossing that will exchange money for you. It is about a 2h30m drive one-way. You will stop for lunch on the way back.
Dinner at Vanilla Hills Resort
This is a lovely and reasonable priced resort not far from town in a beautiful jungle setting. The bar (with wine cellar) and restaurant are worth the visit!
DAY 14: San Ignacio Farmers Market, Cahal Pech, Iguana Project
San Ignacio Farmers Market
Saturday is the biggest day, but it is worth visiting any day. Be sure to look for the butterfly artist and the picture frame guy — both are worth buying!
Cahal Pech
This is right on the edge of San Ignacio. You can walk there from the San Ignacio Resort Hotel or take a taxi. You can explore on your own, or it is great to combine with a visit to Xunantunich.
Iguana Project
This is located at the San Ignacio Resort Hotel. Tours are offered daily every hour on the hour (9am-4pm) and takes about 45 minutes. It costs about $11/person.
Dinner at San Ignacio Resort Hotel
DAY 15: Transfer to Belize Airport, depart
Transfer to Belize Airport (1h45m)
Departing from the Belize Airport was easy, especially compared to the arrival hassle. When you check in for your flight, they will give you a small piece of paper. This has to be filled out before you go through immigration. There are some snack bars in the airport if you need food before flying out.
Ramon’s is one of the oldest resorts on the island. It had a beautiful and swimmable beach (arguably the nicest beach in the town area), and an extensive scuba, snorkeling, and fishing operation.
There are 61 rooms in the main area with tropical pool, beach restaurant, and easy access to beach. There are 10 cabanas across the street with a small pool that are cheaper. Rooms have A/C and ceiling fan, telephone, fridge with ice and water. There are no TV’s in the room but in the bar (for sports). In the main area, the rooms are
Beachfront
Seaside (no view)
Jungle
There are 2 family rooms with 1 king bed + 2 queen beds in 1 room. There are also interconnecting rooms.
Pineapples is the restaurant right on the beach. The resort offers free airport transfers. There are on-side golf cart rentals, including electric golf carts.
The dive shop is on the dock right at the resort with many boats for scuba diving, snorkeling, fishing, and other water tours.
2) Las Terrazas Resort
This is a luxury resort about 20 minutes north of town. It has a selection of rooms and condos, a beautiful swimmable beach, sophisticated pool, and restaurant with rooftop dining. Airport transfers can be done by boat or by road.
All rooms have a coffee maker, there are TV’s in all rooms except the smallest rooms with twin beds, and washer/dryer.
It has a full spa (no gym).
They have golf carts on site. There is no dive shop, but tours can be arranged, and there is dock where you can be picked up.
Meals are not included with the price of the room, but they can be added. The restaurant serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. There is a small village nearby that also has a breakfast restaurant, or you can buy groceries to cook in your condo. Secret Beach is great for lunch, and the Truck Stop is great for lunch or dinner. All are easily accessible by golf cart.
3) Isla Bonita Yacht Club
These are owner-owned condos that are rented out. This is a great option if you want a condo near town at a reasonable price with a dive/snorkel shop onsite. It is located south of the airport near Ramon’s.
Condos are all 1 bedroom units with bathroom, kitchen, dining area, and living room. All have patio or balcony. The upstairs units are smaller. There are 4 condos per building, so the units can be combined/interconnected. Condos have A/C and ceiling fans, TV, and full kitchen (no dishwasher).
Prices are based on Deluxe, Standard, or Garden View (some are remodeled) and season. Dec-Mar is high season, Apr-Nov is low season.
There is a nice, medium sized pool. There is no restaurant onsite, but there are many 1-3 blocks away.
Belize Diving Adventures is located on the dock at the resort. They offer scuba diving, snorkeling, fishing, and other water tours.
4) Sunbreeze Hotel
Sunbreeze is right across from the airport. It has a very nice pool area and one of the best restaurants in town.
There are 43 rooms. Premiere and Deluxe rooms have an ocean view. Premiere rooms are on the corners and have a king bed. Standard rooms have no view and 2 double beds. Rooms have big showers but no tub. All have a patio or balcony with 2 chairs and a table. There are 2 interconnecting rooms, and there are some handicap rooms. All rooms have a TV.
The swimming pool has a great vibe to it. It is medium sized with a fountain and a pool bar.
The restaurant is the Blue Water Grill, which is very popular, so make reservations for dinner. It has lots of specials and events. There is also a small snack shop.
The hotel has an ice machine, a coffee station every morning on the deck, and a dive shop on the dock. The beach is not for swimming. There are also massages on site.
Just north of town is the sister property Sunbreeze Suites if you prefer a condo.
The Zimbabwe side is bigger, and often Zambia has no water Sept-Dec.
This is about 1.5 miles of walking. It is mostly level except for one optional spot which has 38 steps down and buck up.
The area by the bridge to the right is extremely misty, and you will get wet. Wear Tennis shoes as it is rocky, uneven, mossy, slippery, wet (cameras will get wet if not covered). Bring a rain jacket if you don’t want to get wet and to protect your camera (additionally, an umbrella is also a good option for your camera).
At the entrance, there are toilets, restaurant, gift shop. In the parking area, there are lots of small vendors selling things.
2) Sunset Cruise on the Zambezi River
The sunset cruises run every evening at 4:30-6:30pm. It can also be done as a dinner cruise. This is a nice option because there are many boats on the river at sunset, but only a couple of boats operate into the evening, so at some point, you have the whole river to yourselves. If you are doing a safari in Botswana first, the sunset cruise may seem repetitive, but the dinner cruise is a nice option.
Palm River sunset cruise
The Ra-Ikane River Cruise starts from Palm River. It offers breakfast, birdwatching, lunch, and sunset cruise on the Zambezi River. They are cute wooden boats (replica of Livingstone’s). The boats seat 12 people (6 couples) with small tables with 2 chairs.
The evening starts with welcome ice tea, olives, peanuts, fried chips. Then there is an offering of cocktails, beer, wine, soda. Snacks included veggies with hummus, meatball, chicken skewer, vegetable tart, potato chips.
Bring a light jacket, but there are also blankets on boat.
You might see hippos, lots of birds, Egyptian geese, crocodiles, and more.
Budget $5/person tip for the crew.
3) Walk across Victoria Falls Bridge
From the entrance to the Victoria Falls National Park entrance, it is an easy walk to the bridge. You will have to go through immigration, but just tell them that you are going to the bridge, and they will give you a piece of paper — one for the group, and you do not need your passport. On your way back, you will hand in the paper to immigration coming back.
There are great views of the falls from the bridge. You can get your picture taken at the Zambia border. The bungee jumpers launch from here as well.
5) Lunch at Lookout Cafe (or High Tea at Victoria Falls Hotel)
Lunch at the Lookout Cafe is a must-do with great views of the gorge and maybe even see some adrenaline swingers. The Café is very close to Victoria Falls entrance. There are Great views of the gorge and bridge. They do the ropes swing right by the café.
Try the Crocodile skewers with rice, Thai curry sauce, carrot/beet/potato salad, or the Bream in caper sauce.
Another classic experience is the high tea at the Victoria Falls Hotel, starting at 3pm on the Stanley Terrace. This is a nice way to be allowed to explore this historic hotel.
The Palm River Hotel is also offering high tea 3:30-5:00pm daily on the banks of the Zambezi River for $25/person.
5) Dusty Road Restaurant (Lunch or Dinner)
Dusty Roadis an authentic Township dining experience. You need to make reservations for both lunch and dinner. Dinner is $40/person, cash only. Their popular cookbook is also $40.
6) Boma Dinner
The Boma Restaurant has a large buffet and live entertainment. It is a fun and lively evening!
7) Helicopter Flight
A great way to see the falls! Prices start at $100/person for 15 minutes.
8) Elephant Conservation Center
You will get juice on arrival, followed by a briefing.
It is a 10-minute drive to elephants with guide and armed ranger. You will get photos with the elephants, and you can pet the elephants. Then you walk through the bush to the river and feed elephants with pellets. Afterwards, you drive back to the lodge for drinks and snacks. There are other animals in the area, including giraffes.
There are 17 elephants, but only interact with 5-7 of them. They are all orphans.
There is also a breakfast and lunch option.
9) Lunar Moonbow over Falls (or full moon dinner at Lookout Cafe)
For 3 days around a full moon, there is a special guided tour to the falls to see the rainbow-like imagery.
Alternatively, plan on dinner at the Lookout Cafe for a great view of the moon rise.
10) Game Drive
Choose from 3 different options:
Stanley Livingstone Game Reserve – rhinos
Zambezi National Park – 2 entrances so 2 separate game drives
11) Chobe Day Trip
If you are not going to Botswana on your trip this is a great way to see the wildlife in one of the largest parks in Botswana in just one day. Note that you will have to go through immigration in both directions.
12) White Water Rafting
This is a great option mid-July to mid-April.
13) Bungee Jumping
For the real adrenaline seekers!
14) Village Tour
A great option if you are interested in local culture.
15) E-biking Tour
An easy touring option around town. Plan on 2 hours, and tours are offered morning, mid-day, and afternoon.
16) Train across the Zambezi River
The historic train runs every other day from the Zimbabwe side and other days from the Zambia side. It is a great way to take pictures of falls.
17) Devil’s Pool or Angel’s Pool (Zambia)
The Devil’s Pool and Angel’s Pool is on the Zambia side. The Devil’s Pool is typically open mid-Aug to mid-Jan. If it is not open, there is a chance that the Angel’s Pool is open.
18) Ultralight Flight (Zambia)
This is offered on the Zambia side. No cameras or cell phones are allowed.
19) Restaurants and Shopping in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
These are right in the center of town:
The River Brewing
Victoria Falls Distilling Company
Three Monkeys Restaurant & Bar
Marula Restaurant
Elephant Walk for shopping and cafes – Outdoor market and sculpture gardens nearby
The Victoria Falls Hotel for afternoon high tea. It also has fine dining in the Livingstone Room, but it has a dress code. It used to be jacket and tie for men, but now it is just a long-sleeve collared shirt and closed toe shoes. Closed on Sundays. Reservations are required, or they may not let you into the hotel.
MORE INFORMATION
1) Flying to VFA
Arrive at least 2 hours before your flight. There are lines to check bags, security, and immigration and your gate maybe way out. Computers out but not iPads and shoes on.
Shongololo Lounge with Priority Pass is nice, lots of food options, self serve wine and beer, comfortable seating not far from A20 gates.
FastJet uses a bus to airplane.
Insecticide sprayed in airplane before taxiing.
On arrival, fill out form. Guy checks form and sends you to counter pay $50 cash for univisa. Pieces are good for 30 days and you can go between Zimbabwe, Zambia, and a day trip to Botswana. Really a multi entry visa…
Collect luggage. Put checked luggage through X-ray. Go through exit and drivers are lined up.
No cell service and couldn’t get airport WiFi to work.
2) Border Crossing Kasane, Botswana
If you are coming from Botswana, you will cross the border near Kasane. You can prepay your visa fee online, but you still need to fill out a paper form. They also take your temperature.
If you are going from Zimbabwe to Kasane, you will need to walk across a wet mat with your shoes.
3) Border Crossing Zim/Zam
Drive 10 minutes to border crossing
20 minutes through immigration, depends on line
Crossing the border to Zambia.
Stop at immigration to exit Zimbabwe, fill out form and show visa. Drive to immigration in Zambia. Super long line but guide skipped the line so quick.
Show passport one more time at gate.
On way back, stop at immigration to exit Zambia, different place. Across bridge and go through immigration Zimbabwe side. Guides do most of the work, but you have to go with them.
