Why you should book your Vacation to Belize through a Travel Operator like myself

Because there is no substitute to local knowlege for customizing your vacation in Belize.

The Ocean of Information on the Internet: The internet is covered with a vast amount of information on Belize. You'll find thousands of websites with information and products on the country. But how do you filter the credible and unbiased information from the rest? How do you put all that information into context if you've never been to Belize before? I've found that most people who are starting to plan a vacation to Belize with the internet as their only resource wind up frustrated with the endless flow of information. Too many options and not enough details or insight to make a choice. I know the feeling first hand, because I too plan vacations to other countries that I've never been to. This is where travel operators like DiscoveringBelize.com are invaluable. I was born and raised here. Since I was a child I've been exploring this country. My family and I would take weekend trips on my dad's boat to visit dozens of islands, both deserted and with cool little towns on them. He would often bring a friend of his, a local fisherman named Norman, and we'd go fishing or diving for conch. I had a horse on my dad's farm which I named Footloose. I remember day trips to have picnics on the river, or camp out in the jungle. I was touring Belize before I even knew what tourism was. Now that I'm in this business, I don't just sit behind a computer all day. I've continued exploring this country. I've stayed at resorts of every color and flavor throughout the country. I've been out on countless tours, constantly looking for the best guides. I've been there and done it, and all those experiences are perfectly organized and contextualized in my head. The internet is an ocean of information of variable quality that is hard to navigate. Contact me and I'll put it all into perspective for you.

Personalized Itineraries: As I emphasized in my letter above, traveling is ultimately a personal experience. I often say that there is no such list as the "best things to see and do". The only thing that matters is what you want to see and do. After you decide on a country, one of the first and biggest decisions you have to make is what destintions(s) you want to visit. Belize has about a dozen major destinations and even more if you count the off the beaten path places. Say for example you want to stay on an island. There are dozens of them, from deserted island to large ones with towns. Where should you stay? While you may find a lot of information online about each place there is often little to no information that helps you compare destinations. How do you know which is best for you? And the decision process becomes even harder if you want a complicated itinerary that includes 2 or more destinations. This is where my in depth knowledge of the country is invaluable. I've been to pretty much every destination you could possibly visit in Belize. I know first hand the atmosphere of each place that is often hard to describe in words. In the first few minutes of talking to you I get a good idea of what destination(s) is right for you. So you want to feel like a castaway on a secluded island and have a keen interest in marine biology, how about Southwater Caye or Frank's Caye both with marine research stations? So you want some of the best diving in Belize and are happy to dive all day, how about the Aggressor liveaborad or a dive resort on one of the atolls? So you're an avid fly fisherman and are hungry to catch the elusive permit, how about the saltwater flats off of Punta Gorda? So you want a remote and luxurious jungle lodge and have a keen interest in wildlife, how about the wild jungles of Orange Walk? So you have a taste for adventure, how about the caves, maya ruins and rivers of the Cayo district? And so on... I can guide you through ever decision you'll have to make and the end result will be a beautiful itinerary completely personalized to your tastes and interests.

Traveler and Guest Reviews: "I can find many reviews and testimonials from other travelers who have visited Belize, so why do I need a travel operator?" I think traveler and guest reviews apply particularly to resorts and hotels. I enjoy reading experiences from travelers online, however they are limited as a source for planning your trip. First of all all hotel guests do not rate the property with the same measureing stick. Some guests are very laid back and will complain about very little. Other guests are very picky, and will complain about the smallest thing. And the collective wisdom of all the reviews doesn't always apply to you! Check out this Trip Advisor review on a resort called Hamanasi, which is just south of Hopkins Village. Hamanasi has a a 5 star rating based on the average of 124 reviews (as it should, it's a great resort), but this woman rated it a low 2 stars! Not because, it's not a good resort overall, but because this was not a good resort for her tastes. She based her decision, as she states in her review, primarily on the great reviews from Trip Advisor. But none of those reviews could tell her what I could have told her in 5 minutes. "This destination is not right for you, it's secluded and remote. I think you'll be happier in a town where you have a choice of restaurants, bars and shops." Just a month ago I had a someone contact me with the idea of taking her family to Hopkins. In fact she was just about to book the resort before she called me. I immediatly realized that she was making the wrong decision and I completely redid her itinerary. After her trip she emailed me saying "Hi Alex... Just wanted to let you know that we had a fantastic holiday and will definitely be going back to Belize... Thank you for your help in putting together the holiday. We'll be in touch next year when we return... Laurie" If this was you, who's shoes would you prefer to be in: the poor woman who wrote that bad review on Trip Advisor or Laurie? This brings me to the second problem of reviews, there is no basis for comparison. These are guests sharing their isolated experiences of a hotel. But how do you compare one hotel to the other? As we've seen, it's not a simple matter of picking the one with the best reviews. The only way to truly compare is if the person has stayed at both hotels himself. I've stayed at so many resorts in Belize I've lost count, I can compare any of them to the most minute detail and recommend the one best suited for you.

Unbiased Recommendations: I'll admit that I'm biased in terms of Belize as a destination. So if you ask me, which is better Belize or Costa Rica? Of course I'll say Belize, it's my home. However when it comes to making recommendations about your itinerary in Belize I am completely unbiased. My only concern is for you to have a great experience in my country, no matter what destination in the country you choose or for that matter what resort. Try doing that by calling the hotel directly! If you call a hotel in Ambergris Caye for example, can you imagine them telling you "well sir, I regret to inform you that I don't think we are the right resort for you, why don't you try Acme Resort down the beach, I think they are better suited to your tastes." Never in a million years! Every resort will tell you that they are in the "best" destination in Belize, the "best" resort in the area and the "best" resort for you. They're also the "best" resort for advnture, relaxation, couples, families, eco tourism, diving, snorkeling, fishing as well as perfect for honeymoons and weddings! Yeah right! No resort is better than the other, they are just different. They represent the owner's individual idea of paradise. As a result, resorts in Belize come in all shapes and colors. They have distintive atmospheres that are hard to describe in words. Boiling down a resort to a 5 star average rating tells you very little about whether it's right for you. The same logic applies to picking a destination. Ambergris Caye for example receives the most visitors of all the destinations in Belize, and with good reason, it's a fun island. However does that make it the best destination in Belize? Not at all! Some prefer the more laid back and low key atmoshpere of Caye Caulker or the beaches in Placencia for example. I can't stress enough the difference a personalized itinerary will make on your experience. And to customize an itinerary you need unbiased recommendations from someone who's been there, period.

Prices & Ethics: Many people have the idea that booking your trip through a travel operator, costs more. Unfortunately, this does happen sometimes. It's often done with packaged itineraries where all you see is a final total and you don't know the itemized costs. An agent can hike up the total price and you are none the wiser. Cruise ships for example are notorious for hiking up the prices of shore excursions. Or a resort might hike up the price of a tour. However, this has more to do with the business ethics of the individual owner and company than with an inherent problem in the tourism industry itself. Fortunately, it doesn't happen often and most travel operators, travel agents and hotels are honest in their pricing. Speaking for myself and my company, I believe strongly in sound business ethics. The prices I quote are exactly what you would pay by booking directly. All my invoices have the costs itemized so you are welcome to test my word. Also, because of the leverage I have with hotels and tour guides, I can often get you better deals than you could on your own. The interests of businesses and customers are often not the same, but I belive that in the long run businesses that serve their customers well and are honest will do well.

If you have any comments, questions or general interest in Belize I'd love to hear from you. You can email me at info@DiscoveringBelize.com or call me at (713) 429-4384

The picture is of me relaxing at a beach resort, one of many resorts I've personally visited throughout the country.

cheers, Alex Gamero

Belize Lobster Festival 2008: beach, sun, music, drinks and all the lobster you can eat!

What a great idea. An entire festival lasting 3 days, in 3 different towns to celebrate one of the most delicious foods on earth - lobster! Dozens of food vendors set up tents along the beach and streets serving up secret family recipes of fresh lobster. You can find it grilled, fried, stewed, boiled and covered in a variety of spices and sauces. My mouth is watering just thinking about it. Imagine walking down the beach and every food stand is serving fresh lobster cooked in every conceivable form. Now add to the great food, live bands playing good music, the beach, great weather, tropical drinks and you have yourself one hell of a party. Or as we Belizeans call it, a "bash". Always present is the big Belikin Beer tent (the beer of Belize), serving up ice-cold beers all day. Quaint beach bars open up their doors serving rum and other tropical mixes. Music is blasting from every direction. During the day you’ll have live bands playing Calypso, Garifuna and Reggae. At night, there are different dances where you can move your hips to the rhythm of Punta, Soca and Dancehall. The summer months bring great weather so it’s hot and humid – perfect for a party.

MSNBC rates Belize’s Lobster Fest as one of the greatest food festivals in the world! "In June, kick off lobster season with Belize’s annual Lobster Festival, held first in Placencia, then on Caye Caulker. Each celebration lasts three days, and everyone from the villages comes out to celebrate. Whatever tourists who happen to be around reap the benefits of this spotlight on crustaceans. (Warning: napkins not included.)"

Every year, for the past decade, the towns of Placencia and Caye Caulker have organized these festivals to celebrate the opening of the lobster season, which is when local fishermen can begin catching lobster for the year. San Pedro joined the celebrations just last year throwing their first Lobster Fest, which was quite a success. These 3 places were traditional fishing towns before tourism became a significant industry in Belize. The locals have not forgotten their roots and still celebrate their fishing heritage. In fact the festival also commemorates Fisherman’s Day with a fishing tournament where local fishermen and visiting anglers test their skills on the sea. They leave at the crack of dawn in hunt of big fish. By the time they return just after noon the party is in full swing and crowds of onlookers gather around as the fishermen proudly display their prized catches. And for the fishermen who didn't win, there is no shortage of excuses as to why they missed the big one. Competition brings out the best and most colorful excuses.

Fishermen are not the only ones who get to compete in these festivals. Children also get to participate in a variety of games such as dance contests, balloon toss and sack race. And food and beer vendors are not the only ones lining the beach and streets either, you’ll find a variety of tents selling everything from souvenirs to Belizean products like Marie Sharp’s famed pepper sauces. You’ll also find tents representing different organizations including the local Village Council and various conservation groups like the Audubon Society and Friends of Nature. In fact, one of the main reasons for these festivities, aside from celebrating lobster, is fund raising for these non-profit organizations.

This celebration has something for everyone. Belizeans from all over the country flock to Lobster Fest for great food and a lot of fun. In the past, travelers were not a big part of them. Only visitors who had booked their trip for that particular week, without knowing about the festivities, were pleasantly surprised. But today Lobster Fest is being promoted more outside of Belize and more travelers with a taste for lobster and culture are planning their trip around this annual event. This is your chance to visit one of Belize’s most beautiful beach destinations and enjoy Belizean culture in all its glorious colors. Overall it’s a fun and care-free event for everyone to enjoy. Of course, you also get all the lobster you can eat!

Here are the dates for the 2008 Lobster Festivals:

Placencia Lobster Fest: June 27-29
Read Article with Pictures and Watch Video

Placencia - Barefoot Perfect
7 Days / 6 Nigths Package
From: $482/Person
Learn More >>>

Caye Caulker Lobster Fest: June 27-29
Read Article with Pictures

Caye Caulker - Go Slow
7 Days / 6 Nigths Package
From: $318/Person
Learn More >>>

San Pedro Lobster Fest: June 14-19
See Pictures

San Pedro - Isla Bonita
7 Days / 6 Nigths Package
From: $513/Person
Learn More >>>

Book your trip early. Hotel rooms get booked out fast, because nobody wants to miss the fun! If you would like a personalized itinerary Contact Us

Silk Cayes, two Deserted Islands on the Barrier Reef with beautiful Beaches

The Silk Cayes, also known as the Queen Cayes, are 2 deserted islands located right along the Barrier Reef. They are picturesque islands fringed by white beaches and dotted by dozens of coconut trees. A trip to these islands usually includes snorkeing along the reef as well as a beach barbeque. These islands are easily visited on day trips from Placencia. (Click on the headline link to watch this photograph collection)

The Case Family, Freezing in the Snow & Dreaming of Tropical Belize

By: Angie Case

Twenty three degrees Fahrenheit, with a "real feel" temperature of eighteen… Good Grief... It's been snowing on and off here for nearly a week, with no end in sight. Eight to twelve inches they said. Try more like three feet with snow drifts of five feet or so... What a mess. The driveway is frozen, the sidewalk is under a foot or more of fresh powder, hidden beneath that is a nice fat layer of ice to make sure you slide from the front door to your four wheel drive vehicle. What's that you say no four wheel drive vehicle? Well then forget it; you won't be going anywhere until it thaws.

It was always my husband's dream to live here in the shadow of beautiful Mount Shasta, California. We took what few trips we could afford in our early years together from our home in Sacramento, California up here in the warm summer months to camp and fish. His dream came true. We've been living here for close to six years now. Our family and his business are thriving.

We came from down in the valley below, where February may have called for long sleeves, but you could be guaranteed that gardeners everywhere were already turning the soil. Summer time temperatures peaked in the middle of July, sometimes soaring into the 113 degree range. I remember people boasting that it was so hot outside you could fry an egg on the sidewalk. It really was possible, although I could never figure out why you'd want to. As a youngster in that climate, with little to compare to, you just accepted it and wore as little as possible. Your skin would turn a lovely golden brown and your eyelashes would be tinted by the summer sun. I thrived in it. The weather was hot, lovely...

I'm freezing, it's that simple. Yes, our little home in the woods is perfect, you simply cannot beat having 29 acres for a house full of teenagers to run off their energy on but it's so cold! I can't help it; my old bones protest this weather so much! The view is spectacular. From nearly every window in the house you can see mountain ranges, Black Butte, The Eddys, and of course, majestic Mount Shasta, the lovely lady in white who watches over us all. It's a spiritual place I understand, a place where people flock to be closer to this powerful mountain.

The crime rate is low and for that I'm very thankful. We don't worry over the same kinds of things that parents in the big city do. Our children are doing very well here; my husband's business is really taking off.

Every winter though, the children and I battle with our inner demons, the voices inside our heads filled with a wanderlust. A need to move south where it’s warm. I am grateful for all we have, truly I am, but it's cold! I'm just not a snow kinda girl. We don't drive a suburban and we don't have ski racks on top of the car. I don't ski for a reason. I just have no desire to be that cold. That would involve the chance of falling down in the afore-mentioned white stuff!

Seriously, I'd trade evenly, a cup of sand flies per cup of snow... I'd be willing to show up with trash bags in hand and comb the streets and by-ways for all the trash I could find. I'd be happy to do whatever public service...whatever penance it would take to find myself living in a warmer climate. But not just any place.

Ah, Belize...

Desperate times call for desperate measures. My way of coping with all of this snow, is to research lovely places I wish I was rich enough to travel to. Thank goodness for the internet.

A couple of years ago, my daughters and I were huddled together in front of the wood stove, complaining about being cold, dreaming aloud. I told them about this wonderful place that I had been researching.

Just the sound of the name does funny things to my insides... Belize. It calls to me with its exotic sounding name... Tropical climate, crystal clear blue waters, the color of my youngest son's eyes. Almost perfect fishing conditions. Boy, that would do nicely for the older son... the one who talks fishing morning, noon and night. I can just see him now, lean and tan, happy and thriving with a fishing pole in hand. This boy's life long dream has been to own a fishing boat.

White sand beaches, quiet places, still left where one can sit quietly and soak up the warm sunlight. Yes, this sounds about as close to paradise as can be for a family with aching joints from the cold and vivid imaginations.

I watch my children grow and encourage their dreams. Belize fits nicely into their imaginations as it does mine.

Sipping coffee one morning about a month ago, I stumbled upon a website called discoveringbelize... Inside were beautiful pictures, some of which brought such a yearning to my heart that I actually found tears in my eyes. Raising teenagers is hard work, hard on the pocket book too. My husband and I celebrate our 20th wedding anniversary this year and I really wish I could take him far away to a place where the sun shines down on you, there's actually time for things like holding hands... a small escape from our ordinary snow bound, hard working, small business owner-existence where the kids never seem to stop and the phone rings all the time. My husband works so hard. How wonderful it would be to just take him away for a few days....

But where would the money to go come from? It's all we can do to feed everyone, pay the monthly bills and keep everyone in shoes and clothing.

This fast paced, American Dream isn't for everyone, just so you know. Some of us dream of a slower pace. Some of us dream of meeting new people and hearing their stories, learning about different cultures, finding the commonality of peoples from all over the globe. Some of us dream awfully big, sitting in our kitchens next to the fire, wishing and dreaming of warmer climates where the sun shines brightly and the beat of the ocean waves matches the pulse of those who live by her tides.

Alex Gamero, a kindly, unsuspecting Belizean man, answered an email one day, thinking that he was putting together an itinerary for a couple celebrating a wedding anniversary... what he found instead was a pen pal. We cannot afford to visit Belize at this time, but through Alex's photography and descriptive words about a country that he clearly loves, he has allowed me to visit at least in my mind. Over the course of the last month, Alex and I have exchanged at least a dozen emails. How or why he finds the time to answer my many questions like this, I'll never fully understand, but I am thankful. It's good to dream.

It's funny, Alex asked me to tell him what I'd like to do if I were to come to Belize for a visit and my mind just whirls with the possibilities. I think with as long as my family has been yearning for this and researching, and falling in love with a land we've yet to lay eyes on, perhaps the kids are right, perhaps one day we can just pack up and move there. Dreams do come true sometimes.

I think first, we'd have to spend some time on a quiet beach somewhere, just soaking in the healing warmth of the sun. Perhaps Alex and his lovely wife would like to sit with us, share a beer and discuss places to see things to explore!

I'm so excited about visiting the jungle, just hearing the sounds, the feel of that much flora surrounding you. I am a plant nut. I love them all. To me being surrounded in green like that would be a slice of heaven! My youngest daughter talked in her childhood years of a dream of visiting the jungle. Oh, how I ache to see her dream come to fruition.

The Mayan ruins. The idea of standing in a place rich with history like that sends my mind to reeling again. I wonder how many places on earth are left like this? Remote, overgrown, untouched by human hands for possibly hundreds of years? I can just imagine my children’s eyes as they take it all in.

Dangriga is another that tops my list of places I want to experience. From what I understand, the town is home to some of Belize's finest painters, musicians and drum makers. The history of the Garifuna people fascinates me. "Sweet water is close at hand" is the loose translation of the Garifuna word, Dangriga. Sounds lovely to me.

One day beautiful Belize...

Until then, I'm thankful for my Belizean pen-pal friend Alex, who encourages my family's dreaming and ends all of his emails in,

Cheers, Alex.

Every time we have a spare penny, nickel or dime, it goes into the Belize ginger jar.
One day beautiful Belize, one day!

Mayan Archeology & Maya Ruins, an Interview with Belize's Minister of Archeology, Jaime Awe

In this video we talked to Jaime Awe, Minister of Archeology for Belize, to get his views on the Mayan civilization. Belize has a rich Mayan heritage, boasting many ruins and artifacts. Today, these massive stone temples lay dormant, surrounded by overgrown forests. But to the keen observer, they tell a story of a great civilization. The Maya were a technologically advanced civilization. When Christopher Colombus landed on the New World, the calendar the Europeans were using was actually less accurate than the one the Maya had already developed! Their art, hieroglyphs, religion and culture have fascinated many curious minds. Visiting one of Belize’s Maya ruins and learning about their civilization is an experience that should not be missed! (Click on the headline link to watch this video)

Diving the Belize Barrier Reef, an Interview with PADI Course Director, John Searle

John Searle is a PADI certified Course Director, which is the highest certification offered by PADI for dive professionals. If anyone can describe the diving in Belize it's John. In this interview he summarizes the diving opportunities in Belize. After his interview, the video continues highlighting some underwater scenes from dive sites all over Belize. (Click on the headline link to watch this video)

Hopkins Village & Garifuna Culture - A Quaint Village with a Deep Cultural Tradition

This quaint fishing village is nestled on the southern coast. It is a Garifuna village, a cultural group with deep traditions who are descendants of escaped African slaves and Caribbean Indians. It's sandy beaches, swaying coconut trees and cool breezes provide an ideal backdro for relaxing. There are quaint shops, a few bars, great little restaurants and many interesting people to enjoy here. Of course, taking in a Garifuna drumming and dancing show is a must. (Click on the headline link to watch this photograph collection)