By Angela Ash Photo: Lascelle Tillett
When you are planning a visit to Belize, your very first contact should be with S & L Tours and Travel!
I can not even begin to express how impressed I am with this company. Our professional guide, Lascelle, was waiting early for us to arrive, and already had a plan to ensure that we saw as much of beautiful Belize in our allotted port time as possible. This was just a small indication as to the level of personal, attentive attention that we would receive throughout the day. Today is the day that I have been patiently awaiting since the Carnival Dream set sail a few days prior. Today is the day that we visit Lamanai!
Lamanai, meaning "submerged crocodile", was once a major city of the Mayan civilization. It also outlasted several other sites, as that it was still occupied as late as the tenth century. However, a visit to Lamanai incorporates much more than traipsing about the various structures. FIRST you have to get there.
When someone once said that "it's all about the journey", they must have been referencing the trek to Lamanai. Driving through communities and areas of business, Lascelle often points out many highlights, providing expert descriptions, and even pasuing to answer questions along the way. And this is only the beginning, as we arrive at the boat dock to board the watercraft that will whisk us away to the city ruins.
This hour and a half ride is absolutely magnificent. Our boat driver and Lamanai guide joins Lascelle as they point out wildlife and flora, even pausing to move closer to a crocodile.
I almost wish the ride on New River would never end, but upon arrival at Lamanai, there's a feast of what must be the best rice and chicken in all of Belize.
And then it is relatively easy to sense. I think most visitors MUST "feel" Lamanai before any of the ruins are in actual view. With a short walk, visitors can explore around the High, Jaguar and Mask Temples, with plenty of information from both of our guides. Howler monkeys can be heard as they swing from the trees overhead, and they can be easily spotted, especially on a sunny day. Most guests climb to the top of the Jaguar Temple, where there is a wooden staircase around the side that assists with a portion of the climb. Be sure not to leave without seeing the ancient reamins of the ball court!
If you are interested in another excursion focusing on another Mayan site, you must visit Xunantunich.
After a pleasant drive through several villages that illustrated a typical life in Belize, guests arrive at Xunantunich, a true wonder to behold. Perched atop a hill and overlooking the Mopan River and the Cayo District, this site is literally surrounded by natural beauty. However, it is for its history that visitors flock to Belize to witness its majesty.
Xunantunich was a Mayan ceremonial site during the Classic Period, and hosts more than 25 temples and palatial dwellings. The largest structure is 130 feet tall and is called "El Castillo", or most fittingly, "the Castle". From the top, visitors can even see into neighboring Guatemala.
Visiting such a place fills one with absolute awe. It is amazing to think that the ancient Mayans built such magnificent offerings, with only their hands and a few crude instruments. Climbing them and looking in detail at each stone... each symbol... is truly breathtaking.
And getting there, as seems to be the way in Belize, is an adventure in itself. Vehicles and passengers on foot are carried across the river to Xunantunich by means of a hand-cranked ferry.
A visit is like stepping back in time to a place where even the ordinary is extraordinary.
If you are in Belize and hunger calls, then you have no choice but to visit Hode's Place, the absolute best food in Belize!
Hode's Place is conveniently located in San Ignacio, close to several attractions, as well as in proximity to the Market. The setting is beautiful, with a real "island flair". There is even a playground for the children!
But what sets this eatery apart is the food! With everything from steaks, seafood, fajitas, burritos, and burgers, the variety is fantastic, offering something for everyone. The dishes are all prepared with fresh ingredients, and come to the table begging to be devoured.
A daily special is also offered, and we just happened to be lucky enough to dine on glazed chicken day. The sauce was literally mouth-watering!
For a better peak into the sumptuous food offered, take a peek at the full MENU.
Still craving to see more of Belize? Then a trip to the Zoo is in order!
The Belize Zoo is the zoo that you always imagined, bust somehow just never managed to stumble across. This wonderful habitat was founded in 1983 as a place to house a group of animals used in documentary film making.
Today it houses over 150 animals over almost 30 acres, and the coolest part is that they are all native to Belize! And in staying with its origins, it keeps animals that have been abandoned, orphaned, injured and unable to be returned to the wild, or sent to the Belize Zoo.
This is not your average concrete and faux swimming pool establishment. Expect to see animals in their natural surroundings, often just feet away, and prepare to be amazed!
Belize is a beautiful, exotic location that could fill a thousand picture postcards, and S & L Travel and Tours knows exactly where to go, when to avoid the crowds, and how to experience Belize to the fullest with the time that is available. They have been operating for over 30 years, and it is easy to see why they have won award after award. They not only offer day tours for the cruise passenger or the day tripper, but extended vacations, airport transfers, and all types of travel. Whether you want to spend the afternoon cave tubing or exploring long-forgotten cities, S & L Travel and Tours has the itinerary to fit your needs!
