The attractions of a Caribbean vacation are many. The balmy weather, tropical breezes, miles of beaches, friendly natives, water sports … the list is a long one. The Caribbean is populated by numerous islands and vacation resorts, and many spots on the mainland also cater to the tourism industry.
One such mainland spot is Belize. Belize is bounded by Mexico on the north, Guatemala to the south and west, and the Caribbean Sea to the east. Belize is about a two-hour flight from either Houston or Miami, and can also be reached by road.
Like the islands of the Caribbean, Belize has all the attractions that the water can provide. In addition to the snorkeling, boating, etc., Belize has many land-based attractions that the islands can't offer.
All-inclusive Caribbean Vacations
After deciding to go on a Caribbean vacation in Belize, a couple options present themselves. One strategy is to get there, and then decide which of the local attractions to check out. Transportation can be arranged and guides hired, and the most attractive sights can be seen. Pay for what you want to see and what you want to do, and skip the rest.
Another option is to decide what to see and do before leaving home, pay for everything in advance, and not have the hassles of wasting vacation time making the arrangements when you get there. All-inclusive vacations allow the traveler to get the hard part out of the way: forking over the cash. With transportation, hotel accommodations and sightseeing arrangements already made, a Caribbean vacation can be much more enjoyable and care-free.
Caribbean Vacations in Belize
Several Belize resorts offer all-inclusive vacation packages. One such resort is Green Dragon Adventure Travel. The people at Green Dragon can make all the arrangements for almost any activity that Belize has to offer. Snorkeling, diving and other water sports appeal to many, but some people lack the skill or diving certification that these activities might require.
Happily, tourists in Belize just happen to have a jungle at their disposal, and the Green Dragon offers several tour options that can be secured in advance. Here are some of the activities available on a 5 night, Extreme Jungle package that takes visitors into, above and below the jungle.
- Caving – Drive into the Belize jungle, hike for 45 minutes and enter the "Cave of the Stone Sepulchur". The Maya people used this cave system for multiple purposes, including human sacrifice. The historical significance of the caves is obvious, so don't be surprised if you bump into Indiana Jones.
- Kayaking – Full or half-day kayaking trips are available on a couple different rivers. Paddlers of every skill level will find something to their liking, from rapids to slack water. Some stretches of the rivers include a jungle canopy that blots out the sky, and secluded waterfalls await.
- Rappelling – Take a trip to a 200-foot-deep Black Hole Drop. Don't be a wimp, just attach your harness to a cable and let gravity take care of the rest. There's a nice, soft cave at the bottom to land in, and you can even spend the night here, if so desired.
- Zip Line and Cave Tubing – This tour combines two cool activities in one day. First, take an inner-tube float through some caves that the Maya used a thousand years ago. Upon emerging from the cave, an 8-platform zip line adventure awaits. After unhooking from the last zip line, rappel 80 feet to the forest floor.
Other available tours include the Belize Zoo, horseback riding and biking tours, to name a few.
Belize Hotel Accommodations at the Jungle Dome
All this zip line zipping and jungle cave exploring is nice, but not too many of us want to spend the night in the wild. Fortunately, the Belize Jungle Dome is a part of the all-inclusive package at Green Dragon. Every vacation package booked with Green Dragon includes lodging, as well as meals, vehicle transfers, guides, fees and local taxes. All you have to do is show up and have fun.
A Caribbean vacation is a great way to enjoy some time off and explore an exotic location. When all the arrangements have been made and paid for in advance, it's much easier to relax and enjoy the surroundings. After all, that is why you go on vacation in the first place.
Dave Lovejoy - Dave is a graduate of the University of Nebraska. He is involved in farming and has a custom made furniture business that has customers ...
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