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HOTELS ON AMBERGRIS CAYE, BELIZE

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BY LAN SLUDER

Copyright 1993 by Lan Sluder  All Rights Reserved

Here╒s an update on some of the hotels on Ambergris Caye, Belize, based on
visits during a trip in June 1993:

WHERE I STAYED THIS TRIP:

Name and Address of Hotel:  VICTORIA HOUSE, Ambergris Caye.  U.S.
Address:  P.O. Box 20785, Houston, TX  77225  Tel:  [phone], 800-
247-5159,  fax:  [phone]

Location:   About two miles south of San Pedro Town on Ambergris Caye,
on the water;  Ambergris is a 1/2-mile by 15-mile island off the coast of
Belize, just south of Mexico, 175 miles from Cozumel

Rate:   Special summer (off-season) rate for my ╥deluxe air conditioned╙
room was US$90 single, plus 5% government tax (soon probably going to
8%) and 10% service.  Other summer rates from US$68 to $128 single, $80
to $176 double.  There are also deluxe, tastefully furnished two- and
three-bedroom villas for sleeping four to nine for $380 to $500 per night.
In-season rates are higher.  Dive and fishing packages also available.
Meals are US$20 for dinner, $10 for lunch or breakfast, and $5 for a
continental breakfast.  The hotel also rents electric golf carts to get
around the island, at a pricey US$50 per day, or $25 for a half-day.

Description of Hotel:  Victoria House is one of the most-attractive and
best-run resort hotels on Ambergris, and indeed in all of Belize.  The
beautiful Eli Pearly and her architect husband, Don, who have been
managing the hotel since November 1992 (the previous manager was there
nine years) appear to do an excellent job in giving guests a ╥casual luxury╙
experience on laid-back Ambergris.  Both the on-site management and the
owners (from Houston, Aspen and New Orleans) seem to be sincerely
interested in running a hotel that meets the needs of its guests.  One of
the owners, Mims Wright, is a former partner in a large ad agency and has
implemented ╥customer-driven╙ policies at the hotel.

The 26-room hotel on about 16 acres has accommodations in a variety of
buildings.  The original, 14-year-old structure now houses the dining room
and the least-expensive, non-air conditioned units.  More deluxe air-
conditioned units are in concrete four-plexes,  two up and two down.  I
stayed in one of these, on the second floor:  It was airy and bright, with
tile floors and a comfortable bed and a small balcony with a sea view.  A
mini-fridge was well stocked with Cokes (US$1) and Belikin (US$2). There
are also thatched casitas and deluxe beach-front villas (used by the
owners and directors of the property part of the year.)  Management says
that many of the units are due for an upgrade soon.

The hotel is on the Caribbean, with the barrier reef less than half a mile
out, with a pier, dive facilities (two-tank dive US$50) and ╥human-
assisted╙ beach dotted with hammocks and coconut palms.   Around the
hotel buildings are bougainvillea, croton and other tropical plants. As on
most of Ambergris, swimming is not all that good off the beach, due to the
sea grass, but the hotel has removed the sea grass from a small area at
the end of the pier.  A comfortable and well-stocked ╥Nelson╒s Bar╙ is at
hand, when you need it.  Drinks, especially local rum and beers, are
reasonably priced (US$1.50 for a rum and tonic.)

The restaurant is pretty good, although dinner often relies on Belizean-
style stewed dishes, served buffet-style.  Management says dinners soon
will be served restaurant-style.  Breakfasts are excellent,  at US$10 for a
full, made-to-order meal, $5 for fruit and fresh-made rolls.  Guests
staying for more than a few days will also want to try some of San
Pedro╒s good restaurants, such as Elvi╒s Kitchen.

The hotel has a small kitchen garden for some of its restaurant needs.
Across the road is a nature trail, currently in need of some upkeep.

A swimming pool would be a welcome addition here.

Summary of the Positives:  This is a beautiful property, well-run and with
a nice location.  Staff is extremely friendly and helpful.  I enjoyed sitting
on my balcony and enjoying the breeze and the turquoise-banded Caribbean.
As I ran into some acquaintances from New Orleans who also were at the
hotel, I got an update on restaurants and doings in the Crescent City.

A Few Negatives:  Mostly small things:  The window blinds in my room
didn╒t work properly, and the air conditioning struggled to cool the room
even slightly (though the strong breeze when I was there obviated the need
for air conditioning most of the time.)  I felt the restaurant and golf cart
rental prices were somewhat high.

* * *

OTHER ACCOMMODATIONS ON AMBERGRIS

Here are brief comments on some other hotels on Ambergris.  Note:  I
visited and toured these hotels but did not stay overnight.

CARIBBEAN VILLAS:  Built in 1991, these apartment-style units are very
attractive.  Management is friendly and efficient.  Located about 1 1/2
miles south of San Pedro town.  No pool but two outdoor hot tubs, pier,
small beach area,  ╥people perch╙ for bird watching.  Suites have fully
equipped kitchens, verandas and attractive furnishings.  No restaurant or
bar.  For families or those wanting a do-it-yourself, quiet vacation in a
lovely setting, this is ideal.  Rates are excellent values on Ambergris:
Summer rates are US$65 for a room to $145 for a deluxe suite for six
people;  winter rates $85 to $180.  Plus tax but no service charge.  Phone
501-26-2715, fax [phone].

BELIZE YACHT CLUB:   Extremely attractive suites in 11 four-plexes of
Mexican-style design, on landscaped grounds with beautiful swimming
pool, completely equipped health club,  and pier.  Located south of San
Pedro town, these units, built in 1991,  were sold as condominiums for
US$190,000 to $230,000 (for one-half of the four-plex) and are now
managed for owners, who get 40% of the revenue.  These suites are
probably the nicest accommodations on Ambergris.  Normal summer rate is
US$125, but specials are available for $99, or $198 for a double (up and
down) suite, plus tax.  No restaurant on premises, and management is
perhaps not as friendly as as some other hotels.   Phone [phone], fax
501-26-2768, or call the UTELL reservation service, at 800-44-UTELL

BARRIER REEF HOTEL.  Pleasant, island-style frame building in the heart of
downtown San Pedro.  Fairly basic but clean rooms.  One of the better in-
town values. Normally US$48 single, $65 double, but ask for the special
summer rate of as low as $30 single.  Pleasant restaurant.  Near Big
Daddy╒s  bar and Tarzan╒s disco, so don╒t expect quiet, peaceful nights.
Phone [phone], fax [phone].

SPINDRIFT HOTEL:  Attractive, friendly and popular (it was fully booked
when I was there) hotel of reinforced concrete on the water in San Pedro.
Basic economy rooms are US$47.50 double, with nicer beach-front rooms
$82.50 plus tax and 5% service.  Good Italian restaurant, Mary Ellen╒s, on
premises.  On Wednesdays, the Spindrift is home of the famous Chicken
Drop.  Phone [phone] or 800-327-1939,  fax [phone].

SUNBREEZE:  Lovely rooms with phones and TV and good A/C,  but hotel is
near airport, so there╒s some noise,  and things are a bit slow around the
desk.  Public areas are dead and not as spiffy as they could be.   Prices are
fairly high for an in-town property:  US$75 single to $110 double in
summer, $90 to $145 winter, plus tax and 5% service.   Tel. [phone],
fax [phone].

RUBY╒S:  My choice in a budget, Belizean-owned and managed hotel.  On the
waterfront in San Pedro.  Known as having excellent guides for fishing.
Very basic rooms sharing baths from US$12.50, nicer but still basic rooms
with a sea view, from $25.  Phone [phone], fax [phone].

RAMON╒S VILLAGE:  One of the best-known and most-popular hotels on
Ambergris, at the edge of San Pedro, often recommended by travel agents.
Ramon╒s has grown to about 60 thatched-roof units with a pool and
pleasant, small beach.  Newer, more-expensive units on the water are
attractive;  some of the older units with fans can be hot.  Attractive
restaurant and bar.    Full dive and fishing facilities.  Rates US$105 to
$225, a little higher than they should be.

HOTEL PLAYADOR:  Canadian-owned 20-unit hotel south of San Pedro has
potential, but at present the cabana units look run down and depressing,
and things just aren╒t coming together here.  Summer rates US$75 to $105,
single or double,  plus 15% for tax and service, winter rates of $95 to
$125 are too high for what you get.  Not recommended.  Phone 501-26-
2870, fax [phone].

This is just a selection of accommodations on Ambergris.  A number of
other hotels, condos and houses are available in three main areas:  south
of San Pedro, in San Pedro, and north of San Pedro (Captain Morgan╒s,
Journey╒s End and other properties here are accessible only by boat).  With
the exception of the one Canadian-owned property, one hotel recently
bought by Japanese, and a few Belizean-owned small hotels, all properties
are owned by people from the U.S.

Recent changes include the fact that The Belizean, a troubled luxury
property north, has been sold, for about US$1.2 million, and the Royal
Palms apartments are being converted to luxury villas.

* * *

Name of Hotel:  Holiday Hotel in San Pedro, Ambergris Caye, Belize, C.A.

Your Name: Anthony C. Jaspers 71521,2572

Dates of stay Feb 18-22 1993

General Location: Downtown San Pedro

What I paid for Room: $120/night

Description of hotel: 12 large rooms total. Each room with a kitchenette
with hot plate, microwave oven, refrigerator.  Air-conditioned bedroom.
TV in lounge (bar) with ESPN.  Beach front location.  Scuba and snorkeling
boats available at hotel's dock. Daily maid service. Pure, salt-free water
delivered daily.  Could sleep 4 with double bed, two sofas. No phones or
TV in room.

What I liked: Very clean. No odor. No cockroaches. Walking distance to
restaurants. Hotel has its own restaurant with good food, reasonable
breakfasts ($18 Belize for two) and dinners ($34 Belize for two), no lunch.

What I did not like: Nothing.

Safety:  No safety problems.

General comments: Helpful, courteous staff-provided free transportation
from airport (albeit only about 4 blocks away), confirmed my puddle-
jumper
and mainland flights.

My personal preference in Lodging: 3 star-not most expensive but not
cheapest either.


* * * BELIZE CITY


Name and Address of Hotel:  Four Fort Street Guesthouse, Belize City,
Belize, Central America, 501-02-45073

Your Name:  Lan Sluder

Dates of Stay:  August 1991, visited again February 1992;

General Location:  Fort George area of Belize City, about two blocks from
the water

What You Paid for Room:  BZ$100 (US$50) double, including full breakfast,
MC and Visa accepted

Description of Hotel (Size, Amenities, Decor, etc.):  A small, three-story
Victorian-era guest house, well-maintained but with a tropical feel,
shared baths only, fans but no A/C

What You Liked about Hotel:  Excellent restaurant (for Belize, that is),
friendly staff, not many hotels like this one left

What You Did NOT Like:  Only one bath for about six or seven rooms, ancient
fans don't quite do the job of cooling

Note Any Safety Problems:  Belize City is funky and generally not safe
after dark, though this hotel is in one of the better areas.  Guard patrols
grounds at night, and hotel dogs scare off intruders

General Comments:  If you're staying in Belize City, this would be my first
choice for value, good food and atmosphere

Personal Preferences in Lodging:  Usually small, value-priced inns and
B&Bs.


* * *

Name and Address of Hotel:  Belize Biltmore Hotel, Mile 3, Northern
Highway, Belize City, Belize, Central America, tel [phone], fax 501-
2-32301

Your Name:  Lan Sluder

Dates of Stay:  February 1992 and March 1993

General Location:  Between Belize City and the international airport.
You'll need a car to get around, or take taxis.  Nothing of interest
immediately nearby.

What You Paid for Room:  Rack rates US$70 to $110, all major credit cards

Description of Hotel (Size, Amenities, Decor, etc.):  Modern, new hotel of
about 90 rooms, fairly luxurious.  Targets business and other upscale
travelers.  A good hotel in a country not known for good hotels -- A/C,
cable TV, efficient multi-lingual staff

What You Liked about Hotel:  Nice if you want to be away from funky
downtown area; General Manager Paul Mills runs a good hotel

What You Did NOT Like:  Restaurant wasn't so great

Note Any Safety Problems:  This is one of the safest areas of Belize City,
much safer than downtown, but one should exercise caution

General Comments:  This isn't a resort hotel, and it's not quaint, but
it's a pleasant place to stay on business or if you're just passing
through for a night or two -- in the category, I'd vote for this hotel
over the Ft. George Radisson, Holiday Inn or Ramada Renaissance, all
downtown.

Your Personal Preferences in Lodging:  Usually small, value-priced inns
and B&Bs

* * *

Name and Address of Hotel:  Belize Guest House, 2 Hudson Street, Belize
City, Belize  Phone [phone]

Your Name:  Lan Sluder

Dates of Stay:  March 1992

General Location:  On the water in the Fort George area of Belize City

What You Paid for Room:  about BZ$90 (US$45) plus tax for two adults and
two children -- Amex, MC and VISA accepted; other rooms from about
US$30 double

Description of Hotel (Size, Amenities, Decor, etc.):  This is a two-story
frame guest house, which last saw a coat of paint in about 1948,
appealing to upmarket backpackers.  Fans, no A/C, shared baths.  If you're
expecting the Holiday Inn, this ain't it (it's down the street), but the
Belize Guest House is well run, clean and unless there's a fire or a
hurricane, safe enough. I brought my kids, 2 and 8, and had no qualms about
staying here.  The only really nice room is the front room facing the sea
on the second floor.  The other six rooms are definitely a step down -- ask
for this room, but it usually gets booked first.

What You Liked about Hotel:  Nice view of the sea (though in this area it
definitely is not clean or swimmable), wonderful breeze on the second-
story porch, except in summer when the trade winds fall off, pleasant
sitting area with small library.  Owner Charles Hope is helpful, friendly
and honest.  He rents cars on the side, at among the best rates in Belize
City.  I rented a Suzuki 4WD for $60 a day including insurance, after Avis
had failed to honor my reservation and other rental car companies were
sold out.  Good location in nicest area of Belize City, convenient to Fort
George, Chateau and Four Fort Street hotels and restaurants.

What You Did NOT Like:  Other than big front room with sea view, rooms
are small -- ours, on the second floor, was windowless.

Note Any Safety Problems:  Belize City can be dangerous, due to drugs and
high unemployment.  You occasionally run into anti-white feeling.  Take
great care if walking anywhere in Belize City at night.

General Comments:  Owner Charles Hope makes this place a decent option
in the price category, though Four Fort Street overall is better choice.

Your Personal Preferences in Lodging:  Usually small, value-priced inns
and B&Bs


* * * SAN IGNACIO AREA

Name and Address of Hotel:  Chaa Creek Cottages, San Ignacio, Cayo
District, Belize, Central America, tel. [phone], fax [phone]

Your Name:  Lan Sluder

Dates of Stay:  August 1991 and February 1992

General Location:  Western Belize, near the Guatemalan border

What You Paid for Room:  BZ $230 (US$115) double with all meals and
taxes (doubles available from US$50/Belize $100 with no meals)

Description of Hotel: 16 unique thatched roof cottages in the Maya style,
most in small Duplexes, but these are much more luxurious than Mayans
ever
had, with baths en suite (hot water via propane insta-water systems),
Guatemalan bed covers and attractive furnishings; no phones -- hooray! --
or electricity, with kerosene lamps providing light; hotel is near a small
river, the Macal, with swimming, near Mayan ruins and Mayan herbal
medicine farm; small honor gift shop with a decent selection of
Guatemalan
goods; Western Highway to San Ignacio and the Guatemala border is
excellent, but the 3 mile [5 km] road to Chaa Creek is extremely rough,
though 4-wheel drive is not needed.

What You Liked about Hotel:  No phones, friendly staff, in beautiful part of
Belize, the unusual Maya hut style

What You Did NOT Like:  Food is only okay and prices, like most hotels in
Belize, are fairly high

Note Any Safety Problems:  None -- except that finding your way back to
your Mayan cottage in the dark after a few Belikins can be difficult

General Comments:  Highly recommended; other recommended lodges in
the area are duPlooys (like Chaa Creek except accommodations are in more
modern cottages, friendly owner who hails from Rhodesia/Zimbabwe and
Charleston, S.C.) and Maya Mountain Lodge

Your Personal Preferences in Lodging:  Usually small, value-priced inns
and B&Bs


* * *

Name and Address of Hotel:  Nabitunich, Western Highway, San Ignacio,
Belize, tel [phone]

Your Name:  Lan Sluder  76357,147

Dates of Stay:  March 24-28, 1993

General Location:  In the Cayo District in Western Belize, a few miles
from the Guatemala border.

What You Paid for Room:  regular rate is US$75 double including breakfast
and dinner -- probably the best value in this part of Belize

Description of Hotel:  Nine cottages on San Lorenzo farm, a 400-acre
[160 ha] cattle ranch owned by Rudy and Margaret Juan.  Rudy is a Belizean
whose family came from Mexico and Guatemala to this farm three
generations
ago.  Margaret is a nurse from England who runs a nearby clinic.

This part of Belize is very beautiful, and the setting of Nabitunich is
exceptionally so.  In the near distance is El Castillo, the castle, of
Xuxantunich, a worth-visiting Mayan site which adjoins the Juan ranch.  El
Castillo is the second-tallest structure in Belize (a Mayan building at
Caracol is two meters taller).

The cottages are of varying styles, from thatched huts "duplexes" to a
frame single. None are fancy but all have private baths and (barely) hot
water.

During our stay, dinners were simple but good, with fruit, the same
delicious beef soup every night, bread, a meat (beef, chicken, fish stewed
with tomatoes, plus vegetables (cassava or potato or carrots) and
home-made dessert.  Rosa is a good cook.  Vegetarian meals are also
available.

Breakfasts were usually fruit, beans, eggs and bread.  Meals are served in
a lovely open-air dining room with thatched roof and arched open windows.

Guests can hike around the farm and swim in the beautiful Mopan river
just
a hundred yards [90 m] away.  Horseback riding is also available at an
extra
charge.  Flocks of wild parrots are everywhere.

About 15 archaeological students and faculty from UCLA spend about
January
to June or July excavating Mayan sites on the farm.  Four cabins where
they live are available at other times for guests, at reduced rates.

What You Liked about Hotel:  The view of Xuxantunich Mayan ruins to the
west is incredibly beautiful at sunset.  I could sit for hours and just
look at it.  I like Rudy Juan and his family, too.  This is a good place
for kids.

What You Did NOT Like:  The foam mattresses on the beds are
uncomfortable.
There is no bar and not even soft drinks are sold.  You can bring your
own booze, but ice is hard to come by.

Note Any Safety Problems:  None, except watch out for cow patties and
some
of the young Brahma bulls.  The jungle is close by, and it's real life out
there.

General Comments:  Relaxing, pleasant place.  Highly recommended if you
don't need a luxurious setting.

Your Personal Preferences in Lodging:  B&Bs and small inns.

* * *OTHER LODGING IN THE SAN IGNACIO AREA

I toured each of these but did not
stay at these places.  Note that most hotels add 5% Belize tax on the room
(not meals) and 10% service charge on everything.

Maya Mountain Lodge:  Highly recommended eco-lodge run by Bart and Suzie
Mickler.  Pleasant if simple thatched cottages, plus one dorm-style
building. Good, healthful food (vegetarian available) served homestyle.
Wonderful nature trails developed by Suzie.  Located near San Ignacio.  I
would stay here next trip.  Maya Mountain runs quite a few tours.  $40 to
$70 per night single or double, plus $21 per person MAP.  [phone]

Hotel San Ignacio:  Not a jungle lodge but a very pleasant, attractive and
apparently well-run hotel in San Ignacio.  Lovely pool, nice bar and
restaurant. If you didn't want a lodge setting, this would be a great
choice.  $45 to $75 double.  [phone]

Windy Hill Cottages:  Attractive cottages (not thatched but rustic) on a
hill on the Western Highway just outside San Ignacio.  The restaurant and
recreation areas look well done.  A real plus is an above-ground pool,
which looks inviting.  Windy Hill does a lot of tours -- you'll see their
vans at Tikal and elsewhere.

Mountain Equestrian Trails (M.E.T.):  About an hour and a half from San
Ignacio on a VERY BAD ROAD to the Pine Ridge Reserve.  Four nicely done
thatched roof cottages with fine wood details. Kerosene lamps used for
light.  The restaurant building burned in a gas delivery accident in
early 1993 and may be rebuilt later in the year.  M.E.T. does a lot of
horseback trips into the Pine Ridge.  Run by Jim and Marguerite Bevis.
Doubles are US$70, with MAP $18 per person extra.  [phone]

Hidden Valley Inn:  Twelve beautiful cottages on an 18 000-acre [7000 ha]
reserve in the Pine Ridge.  The marle daub cottages have tiled floors,
fireplaces (occasionally needed) and nice furnishings. A central lodge has
TV, a library, bar, dining room and sitting areas.  Hidden Valley makes a
good stop on a trip to Caracol, a huge Maya site under excavation now.
Double $105 including breakfast.  Quite a bit of turn-over in management
reported here, and my reception was less friendly than at most other
places.  [phone]

Pine Ridge Lodge:  Near the entrance to the Pine Ridge private reserve.
Thatched cottages, including several newly built ones.  Grounds not
landscaped.  Prices seem high for what you get here.  $45 to $85 double,
breakfast $5 to $10, dinners $7-$14. [phone]


* * * PLACENCIA PENINSULA

My Name:  Lan Sluder  76357,147

Dates of Stay/Visit:  March 1993

KITTY'S PLACE is my favorite.  It has a real island feel, and my 9-year-old
son gives the beach a 5 on a scale of 1 to 10.  He rates most of Placencia's
beaches a 1 or 2, as he is spoiled by Caribbean beaches.  The restaurant
and bar, on the second floor overlooking the sea, are just what you'd want
in Belize. Lunch around US$5, dinner around $15.  Best accommodations are
in the "Colonial" building, especially the apartment which is delightful.
Rooms in the "Belizean" building are not nearly as nice.  About half the
guests are divers.  Rates are $90 single or double EP in the Colonial, less
in other quarters.  Kitty and friend Randall also have Ran's Villas in
Placencia Village, for $225 a week. Tel. [phone], fax [phone].

RUM POINT INN is run with professionalism, if perhaps a touch of patrician
haughtiness,  by folks who know what they're doing.  The restaurant is
lovely, with tables and other furniture hand-made in Placencia. The food is
served family style.  The library has some 800 volumes, including over a
hundred on the Maya and many of special regional interest.  Lodging is in
unique free-form concrete cabanas which look a bit like white-washed
flying saucers with hats.  They're hard to describe, but most are large and
very pleasant.  This is an expensive spot (for Belize), around $200 a couple
including meals, but some believe it's one of the best inns in the country.
A few, however, have complained to me that food, service and attention
don't always live up to the high prices.  Children are discouraged.   Tel.
501-6-22017.

On my visit, Rum Point and Kitty's were both full and pretty much stay
that way in season, I'm told. In summer, there's plenty of room
everywhere.  Most of the other hotels on the peninsula had few guests in
late March, even though it was still high season, and a couple were totally
empty.

THE COVE looks like a Florida fishing camp, with cabanas that show a lot
of wear.  Its prices are higher than you might think ($150 double, including
all meals and tax but not tip)  though its beach location is perhaps the
best of all.  Tel. [phone]

SERENITY is a new spot, just opened in December 1992.  The concrete
cabanas with tile roofs are very nice, and more are a-building.  I was
turned off, however, by the policy of not allowing booze anywhere except
in the rooms.  You can't even have a beer on your porch here.  Maybe it's a
minor thing, but what next -- a dress code for guests?  The owners say
don't have any religious objection to alcohol. They're trying to develop a
family atmosphere, but I don't like the way they're going about it.

Skip White's TURTLE INN is so laid back it doesn't even have a sign out
front. It does have a resident parrot and some right-for-here thatched
cabanas with bamboo interiors.  All in all a charming, dive-oriented
atmosphere.  $128 double with all meals, $75 for bed and breakfast.   Tel.
501-6-23244. Skip is getting a fax soon, I'm told.

SINGING SANDS INN, open about a year,  has some nice features, including a
terrific pier.  You can sit under a thatched roof over the water and enjoy
the cool breeze.  However, the beach is fair at best, with a lot of seaweed.
Accommodations, in six thatched-roof cabanas jammed together in a row,
are pleasant enough but not plush. Due to their siting, the ones farthest
from the beach are going to be hot in the summer. The housekeeping needs
to be spiffed up a bit, too.  The owners, who have lived in Belize (north of
Belize City) for about 20 years, are amateurs in the hotel business, and in
a lot of ways it shows. Rates are US$125 a night for two, plus service and
tax, including three meals. The food -- uninspired but hearty -- is
unfortunately served in an austere concrete dining room well away from
the water.  Owners say rates are going to be reduced, because business has
been slow, which should make this a better value.  Tel. [phone].

The airstrip next to Rum Point Inn, if and when it reopens, should make it
easier for visitors to get to Placencia. Right now, either you drive the
Hummingbird and Southern Highway (5 hours from Belize City) or the
Coastal and Southern Highway (3 hours or less, but not always open), or
fly into Deep Creek and take a short boat ride to the peninsula.   RT flights
from the international airport in Belize are US$120, or US$84 from the
municipal airport, to Deep Creek.


                               -30-

This information has been provided by Lan Sluder - 76357,147 It comes
from
LIB 3 - Mexico/Central America, of the Travel Forum on  CompuServe.