Goff's Caye Reliable Operator Needed

Our ship doesn't offer an excursion to Goff's Caye and I have been looking at the various vendors of the excursion. Does anyone have recent (last 6 months) experience with booking Goff's through any of these companies? Are they all just vendors using the same operator? I was initially ready to book with Shore Excursioneer, but they get incredibly mixed reviews. Any input would be great. Thank you!

Viator - $55

EcoTours Belize - $55

Shore Excursioneer - $45

Belize Cruise Excursions - $40

Not within the last six months, but did Goff's Caye through Island Marketing (Belize Cruise Excursions) in January 2015 and everything was great and well organized. I'm pretty sure everyone on the boat had booked through the same vendor (Island Marketing).

Our ship doesn't offer an excursion to Goff's Caye and I have been looking at the various vendors of the excursion. Does anyone have recent (last 6 months) experience with booking Goff's through any of these companies? Are they all just vendors using the same operator? I was initially ready to book with Shore Excursioneer, but they get incredibly mixed reviews. Any input would be great. Thank you!

 

Viator - $55

EcoTours Belize - $55

Shore Excursioneer - $45

Belize Cruise Excursions - $40

Book with EcoTours. They operate mainly at Goff's Caye, i have been with them before! Highly recommended

We've used Island Marketing several times with no problems.

Subscribed. Looking for a vendor as well. :)

We booked through belizeshoreexcursions.com. Our confirmation same from Island Marketing.

We had no issues. It was easy to find their rep once we ere on the pier and they escorted us to their desk to pay. Once it was time to leave they escorted us to the boat, which was clean and held about 40 people. the crew was great and Rojo, the guy who makes the rum punch, was a blast and his punch is good. Maybe too good :D

I used Exotic Eco Adventures this past December. I can not say enough good about them. Lots of fun and great snorkeling. Book online it saves a few bucks. I will be happy to answer any questions

I have sent a message to Exotic Eco for information on booking a private tour with them. Is it reasonable to try to get some Ziplining in for my nephews (11 & 12 yoa) and still have time to go to Goff's Caye for swimming, snorkeling beach time? Three adults two kids. We are supposed to be in port between 9am-6pm. We have early tender option, which may help getting to port. Thoughts? Thanks in advance. Kathleen

I have sent a message to Exotic Eco for information on booking a private tour with them. Is it reasonable to try to get some Ziplining in for my nephews (11 & 12 yoa) and still have time to go to Goff's Caye for swimming, snorkeling beach time? Three adults two kids. We are supposed to be in port between 9am-6pm. We have early tender option, which may help getting to port. Thoughts? Thanks in advance. Kathleen

I'd love to hear what you find out as my 12 yr old would also love to zipline.

I have sent a message to Exotic Eco for information on booking a private tour with them. Is it reasonable to try to get some Ziplining in for my nephews (11 & 12 yoa) and still have time to go to Goff's Caye for swimming, snorkeling beach time? Three adults two kids. We are supposed to be in port between 9am-6pm. We have early tender option, which may help getting to port. Thoughts? Thanks in advance. Kathleen

I wouldn't think you would have time, but ask The company what is the last trip time to Goffs. I am not sure about zip lining in Belize but if your cruise also stops in Roatan they have awesome ziplines for all ages at Victor Boddens

Hi Pam:

Regarding the Exotic Eco, they were outside my price range for the private Goff's Caye ($1,000) and they indicated due to the tendering and time constraints it would only be possible to do the Caye trip or the zip lines.

Every time I take a cruise that stops in Belize I try to figure out an excursion and end up not booking anything. Due to the time it takes to tender etc, I think the most secure choice would be the ship excursions, however, they may not be the best quality experience. Just haven't been thrilled when we have done them through the cruise line before. Also, the ship excursion for Ziplining in Belize specifies minimum weight for zipping is 95 lbs. My nephews aren't 95lbs yet. :)

So, I decided to book with Victor Bodden for Zip / Dip in Roatan. We have booked with him before and it was great. My nephews will enjoy the Ziplining and we will enjoy the West Bay Beach afterward.

We are really getting excited! I hope everyone has safe pleasant travels as they arrive in Tamoa for embarkation. Kathleen

**Someone mentioned they have a 12 year old they are bringing with them. My nephews are 10 and 12 and if anyone wants to get together with us / them, we are in room #12518, 11th Deck. I plan on registering the boys for some time at the Splash Camp too.

Hi Kathleen,

I'm just curious, what did you decide to do in Belize if not Goffs Caye? We are trying to make some excursion decisions, too.

Thanks from a fellow Kansan. :)

Hi Pam:

 

Regarding the Exotic Eco, they were outside my price range for the private Goff's Caye ($1,000) and they indicated due to the tendering and time constraints it would only be possible to do the Caye trip or the zip lines.

 

Every time I take a cruise that stops in Belize I try to figure out an excursion and end up not booking anything. Due to the time it takes to tender etc, I think the most secure choice would be the ship excursions, however, they may not be the best quality experience. Just haven't been thrilled when we have done them through the cruise line before. Also, the ship excursion for Ziplining in Belize specifies minimum weight for zipping is 95 lbs. My nephews aren't 95lbs yet. :)

 

So, I decided to book with Victor Bodden for Zip / Dip in Roatan. We have booked with him before and it was great. My nephews will enjoy the Ziplining and we will enjoy the West Bay Beach afterward.

 

We are really getting excited! I hope everyone has safe pleasant travels as they arrive in Tamoa for embarkation. Kathleen

Not sure why you wanted a private tour, when you get to the island it won't be private. You can book online for 45pp and on the boat over there are really only about 20 people, on the way back we also had some of the island workers on and it was nice getting to talk to them. I can not imagine what would cost 1000 dollars except private transfers. And then that even sounds very high. Belize is really beautiful if you get away from the port. This next trip we are taking a excursion to Ambergris Caye by plane to snorkel at Hol Chan and Shark Ray Alley and it is just 550$ for 4 people. Can you tell me what the private Goffes Caye excursion included?

Do they have food for sale on Goff's Cave? Cost?

Yes they have food. Bring cash. They also have souvenirs.

Do they have food for sale on Goff's Cave? Cost?

A plate of food was $8 and consisted of chicken, rice/beans, corn and a lime :confused: lol. It was good. :)

Subscribed. Looking for a vendor as well. :)

So which vendor did you end up going with? I'm headed there in April and will probably go to Goff's Caye again. We used Island Marketing on our previous trip there and didn't really care for our experience with them (not the island, just Island Marketing). They weren't sure if they were going to proceed with the excursion that day and said to keep checking back and there were a ton of people waiting in line every time we tried to check back. We eventually went but there was way too much disorganization for having booked it ahead! :D

So which vendor did you end up going with? I'm headed there in April and will probably go to Goff's Caye again. We used Island Marketing on our previous trip there and didn't really care for our experience with them (not the island, just Island Marketing). They weren't sure if they were going to proceed with the excursion that day and said to keep checking back and there were a ton of people waiting in line every time we tried to check back. We eventually went but there was way too much disorganization for having booked it ahead! :D

Well....LOL

We met a rep at the dock and they led us to their kiosk inside the building. The name on it was ecological tours or ecotoursbelize dot com. However, I just looked at where I actually booked it online and my confirmation and it was with Island Marketing. :confused: So, obviously they were a 3rd party vendor that I used to book it and the tour was actually with the eco tours vendor. We didn't have any problems. They did everything they said, gave us water for the ride, all the free punch or rum punch we wanted and were very nice. They didn't go out of their way for anything, but everything was good that they did do and I would be fine with using them again. They charged $40 per adult and $30 for a child. I found them to be the cheapest when I was looking. :)

Well....LOL

 

We met a rep at the dock and they led us to their kiosk inside the building. The name on it was ecological tours or ecotoursbelize dot com. However, I just looked at where I actually booked it online and my confirmation and it was with Island Marketing. :confused: So, obviously they were a 3rd party vendor that I used to book it and the tour was actually with the eco tours vendor. We didn't have any problems. They did everything they said, gave us water for the ride, all the free punch or rum punch we wanted and were very nice. They didn't go out of their way for anything, but everything was good that they did do and I would be fine with using them again. They charged $40 per adult and $30 for a child. I found them to be the cheapest when I was looking. :)

LOL!

Well maybe they were just having a bad day the last time we were there!!

Thanks!

I need to get over to the LFK thread and see what you have to say about your return visit there!

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LOL!

 

Well maybe they were just having a bad day the last time we were there!!

 

Thanks!

 

I need to get over to the LFK thread and see what you have to say about your return visit there!

 

 

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Well I'm not sure since Shore Ex. is just a 3rd party booking agent. I imagine they could probably stick you with any of the vendors that go there and we just happen to get put with Eco Tours. So, if you had problems during the time you went, it wouldn't have been with Shore Ex itself, but with the actual vendor you went with.

I did go online and look up Eco Tours to get a pricing and they were a lot more than what Shore Ex priced ours for. ($55 using Eco and $40 using SE). So there is an advantage to using SE.

I'm not sure what LFK thread you are referring to? :confused: I haven't posted anything about our recent trip yet and when I do, it will be located in my review on the NCL board. :)

Well I'm not sure since Shore Ex. is just a 3rd party booking agent. I imagine they could probably stick you with any of the vendors that go there and we just happen to get put with Eco Tours. So, if you had problems during the time you went, it wouldn't have been with Shore Ex itself, but with the actual vendor you went with.

 

I did go online and look up Eco Tours to get a pricing and they were a lot more than what Shore Ex priced ours for. ($55 using Eco and $40 using SE). So there is an advantage to using SE.

 

I'm not sure what LFK thread you are referring to? :confused: I haven't posted anything about our recent trip yet and when I do, it will be located in my review on the NCL board. :)

You're right, I misunderstood your post.

Re: LFK - I was just assuming you might have posted something about it already, I've seen several posts where people have asked you about your recent trip. Waiting for your review.

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Is Goff's Cay a nice place to just sit and relax on the beach or is it mainly a destination for snorkeling? From pics the island looks super small. I'd wondering if there are enough beach chairs and shady spots for everyone. Some in our group want to snorkel, but some just want to relax on the beach. Thx

Is Goff's Cay a nice place to just sit and relax on the beach or is it mainly a destination for snorkeling? From pics the island looks super small. I'd wondering if there are enough beach chairs and shady spots for everyone. Some in our group want to snorkel, but some just want to relax on the beach. Thx

In this case, the pics are not deceiving. It is small and does have limited sandy beach lounger spots. IMHO, if I were not going here to snorkel (which is very very good just off shore) and were just looking for a relaxing beach day I would look elsewhere. Just MHO from past experience, others may have a different view....

Is Goff's Cay a nice place to just sit and relax on the beach or is it mainly a destination for snorkeling? From pics the island looks super small. I'd wondering if there are enough beach chairs and shady spots for everyone. Some in our group want to snorkel, but some just want to relax on the beach. Thx

It depends on what you are looking for....regarding my experience- it is a beautiful, little, deserted island with a sandy beach that ends up with a bunch of people on it. It is one of the few sandy beaches you can go to when stopping in Belize City. Don't count on being able to get a lounger and don't count on being able to score any shade if those 2 criteria are important to you.

With that being said, we are planning to return in April.

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