I know that some Dopers have been there. I’m traveling there soon - is there anything I should be sure not to miss?
San Pedro (Caulker Caye) is one our favorite vacation areas. The food is fantastic, and the people are very friendly. The only thing I don’t care for is that once you get out of the city, there’s a lot of trash just dumped around. If you’re going to be on that island, there’s a fantastic little taco place right across the street from the airport- really cheap, and very good.
Also, most places sell watermelon juice (assuming it’s in season). I wish it was so prevalent here in the US.
What little we’ve seen of Belize City, we didn’t really care for. Not really sure why, exactly.
If you dive, a lot of people recommend the Blue Hole. I passed on it, though- it would have been a three-hour boat ride just to get there, and it’s so deep that your divetime is really short. It’s more of an “I did it” than anything else.
I love the local rum- One Barrel. I wish it was more available in the US.
Have fun. I’d love to go back.
As noted, the diving and/or snorkeling is quite good. Another option is to check out the Mayan ruins in Belize and Guatemala. It has been a while since I was there butXunantunich was pretty easy to get to. If you want to see an entire Mayan city then visit Tikal which is just across the border. To get to Tikal, I took a bus to the city of San Ignacio and stayed at Chaa Creek Lodge. They offer several guided tours to Tikal and Caracol, as well as other sites like Thousand Foot Falls.
I went on a tour to Actun Tunichil Muknal (Cave of the Crystal Sepulcher), and it was one of the most awesome things I’ve ever done. You walk through the jungle for an hour, and then swim into the entrance of a cave, and wade for two miles or so through an underground river, until you get to an ancient Mayan archaeological site. Anyone who can walk in uneven terrain for a couple of hours can do it, but you will get wet.
I see that cameras are no longer allowed inside, because some idiot lost his camera and crushed a 1000 year old skull. There are tour companies going there from San Ignacio.
I also went on an overnight diving boat trip from Caye Caulker to the Blue Hole and the easternmost island in Belize, Half Moon Caye. We spent the night there in hammocks between the palm trees under the full moon. It was magical.