8
September
22
Last month, Absolute Belize and our sister company, Belize Sailing Vacations, sailed beyond the world’s largest living barrier reef to Guatemala’s Rio Dulce.
The journey began with an early morning drive from the country’s adventure hub, San Ignacio, to the Cucumber Beach Marina in the old capital, Belize City.
We were underway by 10 a.m., soaking up the sun as Endless Options – a 48 ft. Leopard catamaran and our home for the next four nights – danced over azure waters.
From bar-hopping to fishing to snorkeling, stops along the southern coast included: Tobacco Caye, which sits at the reef’s edge; King Lewey’s, a 1-acre pirate-themed island; Ray Caye, a private island on the outskirts of the Gladden Spit & Silk Cayes Marine Reserve; and Placencia, a highly sought-after peninsula, before venturing into Livingston, a remote village perched at the mouth of the Rio Dulce (Sweet River).
Vivid blue waters gave way to deep green as we meandered upstream for miles. Towering limestone cliffs loomed ahead and opened into a vast river surrounded by dense jungle as far as the eye could see.
Finally, we arrived at our destination: Nanajuana Marina, where freshwater meets the rainforest. More than a marina, Nanajuana is an experience and a Caribbean paradise sheltered from the elements, which offers our vessels safe mooring during the off-season every year.
Annual migration complete, time to explore and relax.
*If you would like to book a similar sailing experience, please contact our Travel Specialists.
Absolute Belize and our Director, Patricia, featured in The Wall Street Journal. Yes, THE Wall. Street. Journal: Only the most influential business-oriented newspaper published in the U.S. of A and one of the world’s leading financial publications!
The article focuses on the most difficult decision when planning a multigenerational family vacation: Where to go. Three travel advisors, including our very own Pat, were challenged to recommend a winter-break holiday for ten persons with an all-in budget of $40K.
You can read more about the destinations she suggested here.
23
June
22
Calling all Lobster Lovers!
As the highly anticipated lobster season approaches, we wanted to whet your appetites by sharing one of our top itineraries centered around the world’s favorite edible crustacean with you!
Lobster Lovers Package:
- Domestic Flight from the Belize International Airport (BZE) to the San Pedro Airport (SPR)
- Private Transfer from SPR to your accommodation of choice
- 6 Nights accommodation
- 24-Hour 4-Seater Golf Cart Rental
- Private Tours
- Catch & Cook Beach BBQ Day
- Caye Caulker Day Sail, including snorkeling at the Hol Chan Marine Reserve & Shark Ray Alley
- Eat Like A Local Food Hop at dinnertime on an evening of your choice
- Master Seafood Cooking Class on an evening of your choice
- Private Transfer to SPR
- Domestic Flight from SPR to BZE
Starting at:
- US$2,575.00 per person, based on quad occupancy, including all hotel service charges and taxes.
Belize’s waters are home to the spiny lobster, which many of our guests find sweeter than those in the US.
Believe it or not, almost all the lobster caught is done by hand using age-old spearing techniques. The season is strictly enforced to maintain healthy stocks and ensure an abundance for locals and tourists alike. Some visitors even plan their trip around the season’s opening on July 1st and coincide their vacation with one of the “Lobsterfest” celebrations in Ambergris Caye, Caye Caulker, and Placencia.
So why wait any longer? Jet set to Belize this summer and feast to your heart’s and palate’s content!
27
April
22
Family vacations are an exciting mix of dreaming and planning for many parents. However, planning autism-friendly vacations away from home can be daunting for families traveling with someone on the autism spectrum, especially when those vacation plans will dramatically alter everyone’s daily routines.
As we near the end of April, we would like to take a moment to speak not only on Autism Awareness but the shift to Autism Acceptance. As the mother of a child on the autism spectrum, I know first-hand how challenging it can be to choose destinations and experiences that are carefree, fun, and, dare I say, with the least glaring stares possible.
Having traveled extensively throughout Belize with my family, including my little ASD warrior, I am here to help parents traveling with adults or children with autism navigate the best options for the entire family.
Last year, I enjoyed working with Jeremy and Marci Silverman to plan a tailored experience for their 18-year-old son, who is on the spectrum, and their 14-year-old daughter over the holidays. Their Belize experience, as told by Jeremy, follows.
“We had one of our best ever family vacations in Belize in December 2021, traveling with our 18-year-old son (who is on the autism spectrum) and our 14-year-old daughter. We didn’t pick Belize as our vacation destination specifically because it was Autism-friendly. Still, we felt more comfortable during the planning stages, given Patricia’s guidance and shared experience, who also has a child on the autism spectrum.
We absolutely loved our time in Belize, and it exceeded our expectations on every level. The activities were amazing both inland at and around Chaa Creek and on Ambergris Caye, including the ATM Cave, Barton Creek, Xunantunich, and the amazing wildlife at Chaa Creek, as well as fishing, snorkeling, and just lounging at the beach on Ambergris ‐ especially Blue Bayou at Secret Beach!
Beyond the activities, what stood out most for us was the warmth and genuineness of the Belizean people, including the way everyone we met not only accepted our son but truly appreciated him and his quirkiness as positives. Every server at Chaa Creek and Las Terrazas knew him by name almost instantly and warmly greeted him every time they saw him. Our tour guides at Chaa Creek and outside the resorts embraced his differences. He had the time of his life ‐ he still talks about our guides at Amigos Del Mar on Ambergris, especially Burger and Soup, who nicknamed him El Matador! Our day with them made memories that will last a lifetime.
Having private tours for almost all of our activities made for a more comfortable experience, especially given the exceptional guides for everything we did.
Patricia did an amazing job curating our trip and experiences and laying a “foundation of understanding” at our destinations. She somehow struck the right balance between informing our hosts of our special needs without causing anyone to pre-judge our son and what he could do.
We still daydream about Belize and can’t wait for our next visit!”
I would like to highlight the properties that have provided stellar Belizean hospitality, not only to us but to our valued clients. Below are my Top 7 Autism-Friendly Accommodations, in no particular order.
- Belize Sailing Vacations – The options are endless aboard one of BSV’s luxury yachts: fishing, island-hopping, kayaking, scuba diving, snorkeling – the Caribbean Sea is your playground, and every detail is tailored to your preference.
- Chabil Mar Villas – Family-oriented and guest-exclusive, the resort balances pampering and privacy superbly and is perfect for a scenic stroll along the beach to the center of Placencia.
- Las Terrazas Resort – The team at Las Terrazas goes above and beyond to provide extra care and personal attention.
- Naia Resort & Spa – Perfect for families who enjoy their privacy and exploring independently but like the flexibility of interacting with others whenever they choose.
- Sirenian Bay Resort & Villas – A personable staff that is always smiling and willing to help, and there is no shortage of activities and beach games.
- The Lodge at Chaa Creek – Ideal for active families and wildlife enthusiasts, a stay at this 400-acre private reserve promises to be a thrilling experience.
- Turtle Inn – Francis Ford Coppola’s beach hideaway boasts some of the most attentive, detail-oriented, and friendly staff on the peninsula.
9
March
22
You’ve probably heard that traveling to Belize is as easy as 1, 2, 3. But, if you’re still not convinced, listen up because it gets easier with these relaxed entry requirements.
Firstly, all fully vaccinated travelers can now enter the country without testing!
What does this mean?
- If you are not vaccinated, you still need a negative test (testing is available on arrival).
- Belize Travel insurance is still mandatory, and you can purchase it here before arrival. The cost of this policy is US$18.00 per visitor.
- You still need to test before returning to Canada or the US as that is a requirement to re-enter your home country.
Other relaxed measures:
- Facemasks are no longer required outdoors! While this is great news, don’t leave your masks at home; they are still necessary indoors and in public spaces (e.g., grocery stores).
- The curfew has been removed.
We look forward to welcoming you to Belize and the great outdoors!
19
January
22
Looking back at last year, we saw a return to something we love… something that brought us immense relief: Travel.
As seen through the rose-colored glasses of our directors, here’s a look back to 2021 and a look ahead to 2022.
Honestly, it’s been challenging to find the appropriate words to recap 2021. Hope all pointed to it being the year of the “new” normal – with careful celebrations, reunions, movement, travel, and ultimately new discoveries. Whilst, to some extent, this was true, turbulence continues to be a dominant headline around the world as we venture into 2022, but we continue to hope that the path gets lighter.
As conscientious travel specialists, we are sensitive, empathetic, and understanding of everyone’s feelings towards travel and their specific needs. Whilst it may still not be a priority or in everyone’s comfort zone, it has proven to be the perfect therapy for those ready and even craving it.
Being the perfect place to be active – outdoors, in nature, exploring rainforests, mountains, jungle reserves, and in the water, gliding through some of the most mesmerising marine life in the world – Belize has been a huge hit.
2021 was, in fact, an unprecedented year for us as we welcomed guests to their private yacht charters, private islands, luxe beach villas, or hidden jungle retreats and delighted them with carefully curated activities and cultural immersions. Hearing guests tell us that this was their first trip since March 2020 and that it has changed their lives just warms our hearts, and inspires us to continue to craft transformational travel experiences.
Patricia will be sharing some of our favorite guest reviews and pictures, which leads me to my final note of thanks: To Patricia and Josue, aka “Josh” – for their unsurpassable dedication and tremendous hard work, delivering some of the most exceptional travel itineraries, experiences, and even weddings to our guests! Congratulations, Pat and Josh – the Dream Team!
WOW! What a year 2021 was! As we start 2022, COVID-19 continues to be a thorn in our side; however, we are so blessed to have welcomed a record number of travelers to Belize last year. Travelers that took a leap of faith were rewarded with the most authentic, private, and rejuvenating experiences! I could speak about how special Belize is for days, but there’s nothing like living vicariously through another traveler’s journey. Here’s what a few of our clients had to say:
“It is difficult to put into words how wonderful this vacation was. My daughter and I both teared up at various times, shaking our heads and looking at each other as we were just overwhelmed at how special the whole trip was for us. I feel like we got some insight into the Belize people and culture along the way, and both were enjoyed and admired.” ‐ Bryan Gorsira
“We can’t say enough good about our recent trip to Belize. The WOW moment that was planned for us was beyond our wildest dreams. We are truly appreciative of this wonderful introduction to Belize. We can’t imagine a more perfect pandemic getaway.” ‐ Kate Rader
“One of my main goals for our vacation was to scuba dive. This was our first experience of scuba diving with the whole family together. The underwater life in Belize is extraordinary! Every chance my kids had to jump in, swim, snorkel, spearfish, or dive, they were doing it. Our trip was spectacular. My family is convinced that we must go back.” ‐ Tamsen Toal
“Our trip was incredible! We had private transfers and activities to minimize exposure to others in close spaces. On our private jungle river pontoon day, we didn’t see another boat or person. But we climbed waterfalls, rope swung into the river and saw amazing wildlife (crocs and iguanas were our favorites). Pandemic travel or not, I always like feeling like we are the only ones there. I’m already trying to figure out when we can visit Belize again and let Patricia plan some more amazing places for us to visit there.” ‐ Precia Barrett
“We almost never return to the same country. In 2019, we took a fabulous family trip to Belize. Everything about that 2019 trip was superb and really easy. Given that we were traveling during Covid, we wanted easy again. The highlight of the itinerary was the unexpected “WOW Moment.” Knowing that we have a strong interest in learning about local culture, Patricia arranged with the Black & White Garifuna Restaurant to come to our hotel for a private, immersive evening focused on the Garifuna Afro-Caribbean culture.
The excellent itinerary was matched by superior management of all logistics. Everything went smoothly and just as planned. We were met on time at every spot by drivers with signs with our names, and all of the guides were first-rate. Importantly, Covid safety protocols received the attention they deserve.
All in all, the trip was an A+. We had quality time as a family, and interesting, memorable experiences in a beautiful, diverse country.” ‐ Robyn Smyers
We start the year humbled and grateful for each and every person who has chosen Belize as a vacation destination and has reached out to us to plan a tailor-made itinerary just for you. Whether you made it to Belize last year or are looking forward to coming this year, we appreciate you trusting us to curate memorable experiences for you and your loved ones.
In 2021, the team at Absolute Belize achieved monumental milestones, some of which include:
- being the only Trusted Travel Experts in Belize on Wendy Perrin’s WOW List for the third consecutive year
- being on the coveted Conde Nast Traveler Top Travel Specialist List, and
- being featured in Marie Claire Magazine
We also welcomed our newest member to the team, Josue “Josh” Diaz, who has been in Belize’s hospitality industry for over 10 years. Having worked at several prominent hotels and resorts, including the former prime minister’s boutique hotel on the golden shores of the highly sought-after Placencia Peninsula, Josh brings with him a wealth of knowledge in guest services, hotel management, and sales and marketing.
What’s next for Absolute Belize? Our major project is a brand new website with more of our favorite places and activities and an enhanced visitor experience. As for me, this year will include more family trips and explorations in and out of Belize.
