Hello Caribbean! White sand, turquoise water, open-air bars, stingrays that you can see swimming by from the pier… What more could one want? Welcome to Ambergris Caye in Belize. Sung to by Madonna, thoroughly enjoyed by me.
Never, ever, did I expect to be pelted with eggs on Madonna’s Isla Bonita. Yes, you read that right: in San Pedro, someone smashes an egg on my head… It’s Carnival!
THE backpacker paradise in Belize is Caye Caulker. It was already when I traveled through Central America in 2013 and 2018, and it still is today. The island has elevated the statement ‘Go Slow’ to an art form.
“It’s boring. There are only old people, and there is nothing to do”, a Dutch guy tells me on the road. So, to be safe, I only book one night in Placencia, Belize. And as soon as I get there, I immediately book an extra night.
A somewhat self-respecting Dutchie has been to Keukenhof at least once in their life. Right? But is it worth the trouble of heavy traffic jams?
The guidebooks describe Hopkins as one of Belize’s most touristic destinations. And that is true. But touristy Belize is an entirely different experience than touristic Mexico. No mass tourism, no Western chain stores, no cruise ships, and no rush. Love it!
At first, I think they are people. That some people somewhere in the distance make strange noises. But the sound lasts too long for a joke. It’s a continuous, deep, loud roar. It’s not people, I realize. I am surrounded by howler monkeys in the jungle of the Mayan city of Lamanai. So cool! Want to experience it too? I’ll explain what to expect and how to get there.
Only a few tourists have found their way to northern Belize. If you want to travel off the beaten track, you’re in the right place. I end up in the sleepy fishing village of Sarteneja and get to know it through the stories of the inhabitants.
I have trouble characterizing Orange Walk in Belize. There is no one word or phrase to describe the city’s character. It’s a place where things that don’t belong together come together. Traditional Mennonites, a marijuana penchant, and a rich Mayan past all have a home in this dry, dusty city.
