Abroad in Ambergris. Caye Caulker and Belize City, Belize

I have been trying to city Belize for over five years. I have a really good friend who has been telling me all about it, and I am finally able to see it with my own eyes. Booking my trip on United was easy. I booked this trip pretty far in advance after using a few Ecredits (issued for a few mishaps) I was able to book a first class trip and use two Global Upgrades to fly first class for my 5 hour flight from O’Hare. My day started pretty early. It was totally worth it to FINALLY get down to Belize.

We were having a pretty uneventful flight until I heard the flight attendant called for assistance of medical personnel. As a nurse, I hear this from time to time and always am willing to help. It’s in my nature as a nurse. The gentleman had a little trouble breathing but was ok. After he was deemed ok (by the doctor on board) we were not diverted to Mexico City but would continue on to Belize.

As soon as we landed it was a sense of relaxation. We were greeted with a cool drink and a quick breeze through immigration. I secured another stamp in my passport. Are you like me? Do you get a sense of excitement when you get a new stamp?? Since our flight was a bit delayed, I had a really tight connection to get to San Pedro. I was staying over in Ambergris Caye. It’s a 40 minute ferry ride or a 14 minute flight. I opted for the flight on a small cessna.

Arriving in San Pedro, the first thing I noticed is the enormous amount of golf carts. It’s the main source of travel. I was staying at Mahogany Bay Resort. As a traveler who depends on points, it is a Hilton and accepts points. Not to mention I am a Diamond member at Hilton. The resort cost me $180 for four days. It would have been free except this resort has a mandatory $45 per day in resort fees. The resort is still growing and building but it was very nice. They have a boat that takes you to the private island is a nice perk.  

The first day was spent hanging by the pool and drinking multiple drinks and simply laying out and relaxing.The next day I would be spending on the resorts private island. They have a boat that takes you to the island and it’s a really nice perk.  The weather was not the best on the island but I was away from double digit negative degree weather in Chicago so I was happy.

The next day I had a full day. I was going to see the Mayan Ruins. It was going to be a long day. My day started before sunrise. My trip would require a short car ride to the airport, a 15 minute flight, a one hour car ride from Belize City to Orange Walk to finally take a 45 boat ride before we FINALLY reached the ruins. It was truly an amazing site. Make sure you take a look at the pictures on my IG page to see pics from the boat ride.

The trip to Lamania were amazing. Our tour guide was very thorough and detailed. We learned so much and I have a greater appreciation for the Mayan people and their intellect.

On my birthday, I planned a flight to tour the Blue Hole. I was so excited. Then the weather would not cooperate and my flyover was pushed back. Then pushed back again. Then cancelled. They offered us flights the next day, but I had to fly back to the cold windy city. I guess I will have to come back. Not to waste a good day in paradise, I made the most of my birthday. I jumped on a ferry and headed over to Caye Caulker.

The Caye is small enough to walk all around and practically see water on both sides. My first stop was to eat. I found a local place that was owned by a native Belizean. The food was DELICIOUS. It was some of the best curry shrimp ever tasted. I took a stroll around for a little while, shopped a little bit and had a few drinks on the Caye. It was not as I planned for my birthday, but it turned out to be a really nice back up plan. I took the last ferry ride back to San Pedro and ended my birthday with a few drinks at the bar near the pool. The pool is where I started this trip so not a bad place to end the day. The next day I would wake up early, watch the sunrise at the private island and have my last breakfast on the island. At noon I would have to head back, make it back to the small airport and take my last 15 minute flight back to Belize City. My birthday trip to Belize was over and it was back to the WIndy City.