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!
11
August
21
Notes from the Directors
We are incredibly grateful to have welcomed so many guests to Belize as the country opened the international airport in late 2020. Guests have been able to access attractions with barely any other visitors in sight; spring and summer seeing the country build visitor numbers back substantially, which is why we are saying, “June is the new March!”
Most attractions and restaurants in Belize are outdoors, and accommodations are mostly distanced, including beach cabanas, jungle casitas, private villas and yachts, and remote islands, so guests can enjoy their holiday with as much isolation as they prefer.
Our Directors, Pat and Rach, have also been out and about enjoying “The Jewel.” Here are their recent experiences:
Rachael just returned from a quick sailing trip around the Central Cayes, including Tobacco Caye, South Water Caye, and Rendezvous Caye.
At Rendezvous (one of my absolute favorites!), we pulled into the dock at the tiny postcard-perfect island surrounded by azure waters and corals. Residents include the friendly caretaker, Pedro, the only person living on the island (except for a couple of passing fishermen who sold us some fresh lobster!), cormorants, ospreys, pelicans, sandpipers, and magnificent soaring frigates.
A snorkeling expedition around the island had us face to face with eagle rays, stingrays, and a green turtle, gliding through an endless school of blue tang and gazing at the technicolor of the rainbow parrotfish, spotted damselfish, and French angelfish. The formations at the island’s tip resemble an underwater “Grand Canyon,” with colossal corals including staghorn, pillar, elkhorn, and brain, dotted with colorful fans and massive drop-offs into the abyss.
A spearfishing mission was next on the agenda that yielded crab, lobster, lionfish, and a Spanish mackerel turned into a coconut seafood medley for dinner. We dined with Pedro aboard our very own yacht under a blanket of stars, feeling a million miles away from the rest of the world.
Next on the agenda? I’ll be heading inland to the Cayo District to scout a new collection of jungle villas, all with private plunge pools and spectacular views that we will be revealing soon!
Traveling fills us with so many emotions. And, if you’ve traveled in the past year, you know that traveling in a post-pandemic era is life-altering.
At Absolute Belize, we are grateful to be part of travelers’ journeys who have taken the leap, hopped on a flight, and landed in unfamiliar territory, willing to navigate through entry requirements, protocols, testing, and so many unknowns. Thank you to our valued clients who have entrusted us with making their travels safe and memorable.
Now more than ever, we know that our purpose is to help you fulfill your travel goals while taking the majority of the stress of planning away from you. Through our interactions with you, we know that travel is a feeling. Over the past few months, we have shared in
- the feeling of taking your first family trip after being apart for so long,
- the feeling of celebrating a honeymoon, birthday, or anniversary on a private island without another soul in sight, and
- the feeling of being surrounded by nature and embracing all the new experiences that travel brings.
I, too, have taken a few trips to rediscover the authenticity of travel in Belize: From visiting a local home-grown coffee plantation to making birthday wishes at Gaia Riverlodge, enveloped by the enchanting Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve, to indulging in beachfront luxury at Itz’ana Resort. In my eyes, Belize is still Mother Nature’s best-kept secret.
I am determined to grab life and make every memory count, and I’d love to help you rediscover your inner wanderlust.
Updated Entry Requirements
As of yesterday, August 9, 2021, all travelers entering Belize must present a negative COVID-19 test.
Visitors are required to present a negative COVID-19 PCR test taken within 96 hours of travel or a negative result from any approved Rapid Antigen Test taken within 48 hours of travel. Testing is available at the airport for a fee of US$50 per passenger. Children under the age of 5 can travel without a test.
10
February
21
We hope you are all continuing to stay safe and well as we watch 2021 unfold. With a population just short of 400,000 in tiny Belize, tourism is a major lifeline. More than half of the people have had their standard of living gravely impacted and since the resumption of international flights on October 1st, many have benefited in some way from the extremely welcome return of visitors.
Amidst the current dialogue surrounding ethics and travel, here in Belize, visitors who are comfortable traveling are firmly welcomed. With “Gold Standard” certified accommodations, tour operators and transfer services operating in accordance with stringent procedures, laws surrounding mask-wearing, social distancing and operating protocols for outdoor restaurants and bars, we are open for business, safely.
Traveling Safely
We know that health and safety are now at the forefront of the decision-making process regarding travel and where to go in 2021. We’ve traveled around Belize to experience firsthand the safety measures that hotels and businesses have put in place. The resorts we recommend—such as Matachica on Ambergris Caye, the Lodge at Chaa Creek in San Ignacio, and Turtle Inn in Placencia—have standalone casitas, cabanas, or villas and have obtained Belize’s Gold Standard certification.
On our yacht charters, the captain and first mate are tested prior to your arrival; while aboard the boat, they do daily temperature checks, wear masks, and sanitize regularly. Our private guides and drivers wear masks and have daily temperature checks, and vehicles are sanitized before and after use. Most restaurants are open-air and have been set up for easy social distancing. In light of the fluid situation with COVID-19, we have adapted our cancellation policies depending on the hotel a traveler chooses: The Lodge at Chaa Creek, for example, will give a full refund up to 15 days before arrival and a full credit if your trip is less than two weeks out.
We remain committed to ensuring your travels are safe and as flexible as possible based on these changing dynamics.
Optimism, Celebrating Our 10th at AB
Our 10th Anniversary at Absolute Belize wasn’t quite as expected, but we counted our blessings, put hope into the universe and delayed our celebrations until we can safely do so.
We will be sharing our top 10 things that we love the most about our ‘garden of Eden’ Belize. We’ll cover everything from remote atolls, cultural experiences, divine dishes, our most exhilarating escapades and some insider tips from our expert knowledge bank.
Keep an eye out for our Instagram stories as Rachael and Patricia take you along on-site visits, weekend getaways and personal travel trips with all the insider info on what’s happening in Belize. The first story is coming shortly!
