I'm planning to go to Belize for a week next March with my wife and my 2 yr. old, is it safe? activities?

Question

I'd like to know if there is anything interesting to do in Belize besides scuba diving. I'm going to explore some of the archeological sites myself but it's too much of an ordeal for a 2 yr. old. We really like a quiet beach away for all the tourist craziness if possible. I'm picking Belize because of the Maya sites but maybe it's not the best family pick. We went to Cancun and hated the whole all-inclusive tourist thing and we thought Belize would be different. What do you think, are Costa Rica or Honduras (any others?) better, safer family choices?

Answer 1

Belize is very safe. You can explore some rainforests, relax on the beach, explore some caves, go tubing, visit Guatemala, see some local Mayan sites. Some local Mayan sites are really easy to get to and shouldn't be an ordeal for a two year old. I went with my son who was older, he was 12, but he loved it. We stayed in a little town called San Ignacio near the Guatemalan border. A great day trip is Barton's Creek Cave. You can spend all day there. There is a very beautiful watering hole for swimming, a nice restaurant, and a cave to explore in a canoe. Even if you don't go into the cave, it's still a really nice day trip. It's really close to an Amish Village which was interesting. If you decide to go to Barton's Creek Cave from San Ignacio, ask for the guide, John, near the outdoor market. He has a little tour guide stall painted blue with a poster of Che Guevara on the front. He will take you there in his truck for a reasonable price and will be very patient and not rush you a single bit. We also stayed on a little caye called Caye Caulker. Too quiet for us, but you may really enjoy it. Great location for snorkeling, slow and quiet vibe, and way cheaper than Ambergris Caye. We also stayed in in Belize City. I wouldn't recommend staying in Belize City with such a young child. It can be intimidating. I have friends who went to Belize twice with their children, and at the time their youngest was only 3 or 4 the first time they went. They had such a nice time, they all went back again a few years later. My son and I also really enjoyed ourselves there and will go back. Have a nice time.

Answer 2

When it comes to activities it is safe.  My concern is your 2 year old.  It depends on the heat and if you are willing to take her everywhere you go.  I was there Last year for an entire year.  I had my baby with me and it was a lots of fun.  I just had to plan accordingly and pick private tours.  If you pick a tour with other people you have to keep up to everyone else paste.  Which can make things frustrating and uncomfortable.  I would try contacting gibsons tours and transfers.  

Another tour guide I used was vitalino reyes.  They are locals and wonderful.

Answer 3

I agree with Mo.  I would not stay in Belize city with a 2 year old, but if you are staying in the Cayes, your family will have a good relaxing time.

Answer 4

mo is right, not even i go to belize city becuase it is jam packed and intimating. belize is beautiful and there are some mayan sites that u can explore. make sure u get a tour guide they can help u to visit more than u think. im going to tell u some things:

in corozal district (belize) - it is the most quiet town, it is on the coast of the sea and not alot of people are there like in cancun. take a hammock, tie it between trees n have a nice picnic. if u go there on a saturday u will have no preblem becuase almost all north belizeans go shopping at the border and they dont even bother stopping. try the food there corozal is filled with mestizos which is a  culture there and try the empandadas, tamales,tamalitos,relleno,escabeche...ju... ask the waitress.

in orange walk- the speciality is the lamani tour it is famous. ask for the honeycamp lagoon. many people have go to honecamp and it is really nice. some parts of the lagoon are public which u can just go in and meet people and bathe. u will have a nice time. on the going to the lagoon u can see a restauaurant called "victor's inn." that is a great place to eat sure it is not airconsitioned but it is great. u can see the deers and ur daughter can feed them with grass or u can ask one of the owners for tortilla to feed the deer. u will have a nice time. i recommend u try the "salpicon" that is wat mostly i ask when i go. in orange walk--try the tacos which it is famous for. orange walk has alot of little stands that sell tacos. well i live in this town and im not promising that there will be no people becuase people love tacos and there is alot ordering and eating. if u have patience ask for tacos.

belize city- dont go there especially with lots of money and jewrlry because it is dangerous. too many people.

cayo district- it is adventure. u will love it. it has beautiful water and im sure the whole family is going to love it. take ur camera. cayo is big and beatuful sure u will need a tour guide to take u but make sure u tell him that u want some time with ur family so u can experience the beatiful atmosphere.

belmopan- this is the capital, this is mostly like a business district. very peaceful but does not have like beaches or things that other places offer. u can see everything there but things r quite expensive.

stann creek- try the food and the beach is marvalous! this is the home of garifunas. nice town.

punta gorda- nice beach---barely used. they have ruins way fiurther the town. not much activty but beautiful place. it is that punta giorda is poor and government need to make projects.

cayes:::::san pedro: if going for sprig break u will feel like cancun all over agin. many people go since it is beatiful but u said that u wanted quiet so im just warning ya.

:::::::::::::::caye calker- the same with this one



every other caye woyuld be occupied but if ur tour guide take u for one day then try it.