Belize Careful

[gigivic]

Just got back from Belize and the town is surrounded by a tall cement block fence with wire on top for security. It was filthy and scary. We went on the Laminai River and Mayan Ruins tour. Long long ride on bus 1 1/2 hrs and about 35 miles on water to the ruins. Our boat had 2 200hp engines and one kept stopping. The captain kept trying to fix it but couldn't. When we got to the ruins he phoned back to ask for another boat. When the hot hot tour was over ( it was interesting though) we had the same boat. The exchange boat had just left the landing. We met in mid river (20ft across) and changed over. By the way there were crocodiles in the river also. We saw 2. We were 30 minutes late getting back to port but thankfully this was a ship tour and they waited just for us. Anchor was already pulled and we had a security guard from the ship to escort us. By the way we also had a policewoman on the boat with us. Scary yes. Will not go back to Belize. It was not at all what I had expected.

[RAIDERMOM]

I have a non Carnival excursion booked in Belize (Cave-Tubing) and am a little concerned after reading your review. Did you not feel safe in Belize?

 

Besides your boat not working properly, what else bothered you???

 

Please let me know because I am traveling with my son and don't want to make the wrong choice.

[chris2597]

I think in most case a ship excursion would be the safest method of touring Belize....I am sure there are legit tour guides available...Several posts have mentioned a coupld....Does Yhoni do the Belize tours....From the posts I have read everyone was very happy with him and felt safe....Any one else know if yhonni is in Belize.

[caribbean dreams]

I will be in Belize in July, i am planning on doing water sports so not to be on shore much, thank goodness.

[bellazoemom]

I used X-Stream and felt totally safe every second. Never once felt any concern for my safety.

[Eliot Ness]

....Any one else know if yhonni is in Belize.

Yes, Yhony is in Belize and I've yet to read a bad review about their cave tours (cave-tubing.com).

 

John

[chris2597]

Several CC members did the cave tubing with Yhoni and loved it....

[kftw]

Glad you found the tour interesting as we are thinking of taking the same tour. I was somewhat confused by your post. What made you afraid of Belize? The wall? The poverty? Was there an incident that you did not mention? It is hot there & mechanical problems can occur. I have heard other reports this tour is sometimes late in returning but all found the tour interesting & enjoyable.

[sportsterjohn]

I took the tour and loved it. I will agree though that I wouldn't wander arould Belize city on my own.

[Loucat]

Just got back from Belize and the town is surrounded by a tall cement block fence with wire on top for security. It was filthy and scary. We went on the Laminai River and Mayan Ruins tour. Long long ride on bus 1 1/2 hrs and about 35 miles on water to the ruins. Our boat had 2 200hp engines and one kept stopping. The captain kept trying to fix it but couldn't. When we got to the ruins he phoned back to ask for another boat. When the hot hot tour was over ( it was interesting though) we had the same boat. The exchange boat had just left the landing. We met in mid river (20ft across) and changed over. By the way there were crocodiles in the river also. We saw 2. We were 30 minutes late getting back to port but thankfully this was a ship tour and they waited just for us. Anchor was already pulled and we had a security guard from the ship to escort us. By the way we also had a policewoman on the boat with us. Scary yes. Will not go back to Belize. It was not at all what I had expected.

The first time that we went to Belize we were naive enough to walk out of the cruise terminal and into town. There were so many people pressing at us all along the way, wanting us to tour with them, needing money etc. I could not wait to get back to the terminal.

I know what you mean about the town, yet there is incredible beauty in other areas. Someone on CC posted information from the State Department describing crime etc in Belize and if you plan to go there, either find that thread or go to the State Department website and search on Belize. They recommend staying with group tours amnng other safety measures. :D

[LHP]

Glad you found the tour interesting as we are thinking of taking the same tour. I was somewhat confused by your post. What made you afraid of Belize? The wall? The poverty? Was there an incident that you did not mention? It is hot there & mechanical problems can occur. I have heard other reports this tour is sometimes late in returning but all found the tour interesting & enjoyable.

 

 

Changing boats midstream in waters that have crocs would be enough to make me "afraid"...forget the poverty or high walls!

[Zeno]

We also took the Lamanai Tour and never had any concerns for our safety -

so other than having to change boats mid-river - I am somewhat confused about what the safety issues were on the tour. The countryside of Belize is nice and the people very friendly and welcoming. I would not hesitate to take a tour here and there are many good ones available (ruins, cave tubing, heading out to one of the cayes for a beach day)

As for Belize City, personally it is not a place I would care to wonder about alone. However the port area is quite safe.

[Monthend]

We went to Belize the end of March. We walked to meet our tour and did not have any problem. Went on the Lost World Canapy Tour and it was great. Our tour guide talked most of the way out and back and was very informative. You will see poverty but not as bad as some countries I have been to.

[antcyd]

A group of us went cave tubing with Yhony from Cave-tubing.com a few months ago and there was never a time we felt afraid, we felt 100% safe at all time. We drove thru Belize for quite a while to get to the caves. If you dont go on this excursion you will be missing one of the best excursions ever. Yhony and his crew are the best tour operators out there and are only concerned with everyone's safety and well being and most importantly, having an awesome time and everyone being satisfied. I was so impressed and pleased with my experience that I am doing it again in October, it was that good and Yhony is the best!!!!

He is very aware of the time schedules to get everyone back in time, in fact he plans so that you get back in plenty of time to spare. After tubing we walked to a small touristy market to buy some soveniers, noone bothered us at all, I have been more harassed in Jamaica then in Belize. I personally never saw any police around, the local people we encountered seemed very nice and welcoming to us.

[LUCY55]

Did Carnival's Xunantunich mayan ruins tour in January. Thought it was very good and well worth the money. Did not feel unsafe. Did note that at the ruins were military types with "big guns". Maybe to keep us tourists safe. This ruins tour is a long bus trip to almost the border of Guatamala. Apparently there is still rebel activity in that country. The scenery was beautiful and the tour very interesting. Driving through the countryside was fascinating--saw Amish and their horse and buggys.

[tjwcs]

I understand the concern in Belize.

We did non-Carnival tour, Shark ray alley and Caye Caulker.

We were met at the cruise terminal with a boat and never felt unsafe at any time.

I would definately go back to Belize. We had a great time.

Teena

[silentbob007]

I never felt in danger while tubing, but our guide on the way was former military and ended way too many stories with "... and the guerillas wouldn't give up so we just shot them."

[Cruisin'Trooper]

Yes, Yhony is in Belize and I've yet to read a bad review about their cave tours (cave-tubing.com).

 

John

 

Just got back this morning from 7 days on the Carnival Miracle. Booked our cave tubing through cave-tubing.com with Yhony - the only way to go!

 

When you get off the tender, the locals swarm you - this is a POOR country and they are all over you. As soon as I mentioned "I am looking for Yhony", they back off quickly! Yhony meets you at the meeting spot and will have your name on a sign to show you that you got the right guy.

 

We did more for less money than booking through the cruise lines. In fact, we went through 2 caves vs. the cruise line's one and we were guided the entire way. Passed a lot of cruise ship folks (including some dining friends) who were all alone in the caves w/o cruise line's guides.

 

Afterwards, they take you to lunch at a local restaurant - great place!

 

You truely get the full Belize experience. The guides are funny, helpful, and cool to deal with. We paid $45.00 (lunch was additional $5.00) and had a blast. Friends went through Carnival and paid almost twice the price and did not have as much fun or see as much of the country as we did.

 

You pay at the end of the day in cash and they take you right back to the port in plenty of time before the last tender. The cruise lines will tell you not to book with anyone but them and will try to scare you into thinking you will miss the ship or that you can't get off the ship early when all of "their" excursions go. Nonsense - save you $$ and go with these guys.

[comdoc]

Did the Cave-tubing.com thing in Feb.,on election day, there were no security issues to be seen. While we waiting for some others to arrive, they gave us a bus tour of the city..no problems anywhere...Yhony and his crew are great...Bottom's Up!

[vermonter16]

DH and I were in Belize and took a local cab through the city to a tiny, tiny airport...flew to one of the islands and spent the day...took the cab back to the cruise terminal. The city looks almost like any other city and certain parts of DC...I'm sure it can be rough. At no point though did we ever feel afraid. Remember that these are very poor countries and you really can't compare them to the U.S. I have a coworker whose husband has been working in Belize for the past 2 years....he loves it! In February DH and I plan to do a ruins tour....

[Northender]

Hi everyone. I just watched the vid on the cave-tubing.com site. Boy that looks like a lot of work just to get to the caves. Is it up hill on the way back:eek:

[tennis gal]

Our whole family just went cave tubing with Yhoni and his two great associates, Tigre and Dutch, and we had a blast. We were on a family vacation with 20 family members of ages ranging from 9-51. It was the best excursion we have ever been on and this was our 5th cruise. The cost was half what Carnival was going to charge and we visted two caves (as opposed to Carnival's 1 cave) and were kept in very safe groups with our guides as we snaked our way thru the caves. On the drive over Yhoni talked to us about Belize. If you go to Belize and want to go tubing visit cave-tubing.com and you can call of email Yhoni and I you we feel very safe.

[akcruz]

We did the cave tubing with Yhonny last week and did not feel threatened at all while on the tour. Since we got off the ship early, Richard gave us a tour of the city while we waited for the others. It is a beautiful place and the tour was appreciated. :D

 

On the other hand, after we got back from tubing (I will do a more in depth review later), we attempted to go to some of the local vendors outside the port area instead of patronizing those within the wall (on the cruise ship payroll i'm sure). We made it one block and after being hassled at least 50 times, offered drugs, etc, we turned around and went inside the wall, and back to the ship. :eek:

 

It is ashame that such a wonderful city has to have people like this and so close to where you really are perfectly safe.

 

Bottom line, with a tour operator such as yhonny (or if you prefer through the cruise line) or within the walls of the port you are perfectly safe. On your own outside the wall I would be very very careful.