Looking for an exotic island getaway that's easy and affordable? This tiny country's offshore paradise is just a short hop over the gulf of Mexico, the vibe is easy-going, the official language is English, and even the currency conversion is easy to figure. Here's how to get there and make the most of your time on the beautiful cayes of Belize!
Planning a visit to the cayes starts with picking the right time. You'll want to avoid the rainy season which can last more than half of the year, from June to December. But also avoid the holiday tourist crunch--making sometime between mid-January and Easter the ideal time to visit.
In most cases, getting to the cayes is going to involve at least two or three flights. You can fly into Cancun and hop on a flight to Belize City, followed by another short flight to one of the two main cayes with tourist infrastructure--Caye Caulker or Ambergris Caye. If you have time, you can consider traveling by bus for a few days from Cancun, enjoying the numerous Mayan ruin sites along the way.
If you've got plenty of time, spend it on both Ambergris and Caye Caulker--if you need to choose just one for a base for your trip, keep in mind that Ambergris Caye is marketed to package or slightly more upscale travelers, with plenty of resorts, hotels and all the other amenities you'd expect from other getaway islands. Caye Caulker is smaller, with a more laid-back atmosphere-- many of the businesses there cater to more of a backpacker crowd.
Figure out a few of the activities you'd like to try while on the Cayes. These two little islands offer just about anything a vacationer could dream of from golf and scuba diving to simply cruising around the island on a rented bike and relaxing on the beach, listening to aquamarine waves lap up the shore. Not to be missed are the Blue Hole, a world-renowned SCUBA destination of Caye Caulker and the romantic sunset cruise (there's also a boozed-up party option.)
Whatever you do--don't stress. If you want to fit in on the Cayes, you'll need to relax and drift with the tide--and what's to worry about really? Everyone speaks English, currency conversion is a simple--two Belize dollars to one US dollar--and anything your heart desires is probably within your reach.
If you can, take the time to see a little more of what Belize has to offer: Take a river cruise to the Mayan ruins at Lamanai, do a little underground tubing through the caves of Cayo district or check out the eco-resorts of the jungle areas near the Guatemalan border.
For more information, a good starting point is the official Belize tourism site at travelbelize.org.
