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The Island Life - Belize

Amy is marketing manager and storyteller for St. George's Caye Resort. She fell in love with Belize in 2012 on a trip with friends and now visits several times each year from her home base in Oregon. She also sits on the board for two nonprofits focused on helping in Belize. Amy likes to travel, write, read, run, hike, and laugh.

Lowest Airfares to Belize We've Seen - Plus New Summer Specials

Did you see the amazing deals? There are round-trip flights to Belize for less than $350!!

Airlines are getting very competitive for summer travel and we are seeing the lowest airfares to Belize in almost 20 years. If you've been waiting for the best time to visit, here it is! Summer 2018. 

In honor of these Belize travel deals, we're excited to bring back St. George's popular summer special, "Choose Your Summer Discount." Stay anytime now through September and you can choose from Free Airfare, 2-for-1 Scuba Certification, or your 5th & 7th Nights Free! It makes your trip to Belize all that more affordable. Can you see yourself in a thatch-roof Overwater Bungalow, relaxing in the hammock on your private porch? Thought so! (Find full details on our special offers page.)

 

Tips for Finding Cheap Flights

A member of our team recently purchased tickets for a summer vacation and she had this to share: "What I have found in the past week is that prices can change within the same day from morning to afternoon, and may go up again for two weeks, then suddenly drop again. My tip - set a reminder to check multiple times every day and be ready to BUY when you see a good deal!"

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This Week: Best Time to Find Summer Airfare Deals

Thinking about summer vacation? Good because THIS WEEK is the best time to find airfare deals for summer travel!

According to Travel Pulse and a recent report by Hipmunk, booking your summer holiday flights the week of April 23 can save up to 16% on Memorial Day and 14% on Fourth of July flights. Average booking price for a ticket purchased this week is $279. Saturday, August 25 is shaping up to be the least expensive day, with average prices hovering around $224. 

Combine a cheap flight with one of our summer specials and you have an affordable and amazing adventure in Belize. Call it your best summer ever. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to start planning your tropical escape!

Read the full article here: https://www.travelpulse.com/news/airlines/now-is-the-time-to-buy-your-summer-airline-tickets.html#.Wt84uqpZOmg.email

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Some Good News for the Belize Reef

Our secluded island resort is less than a mile from the Belize reef, so we were thrilled to see recent news that the health of the reef is improving. The Mesoamerican Reef, second in size only to the Great Barrier Reef in Australia, stretches over 600 miles through of the waters of four countries: Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, and Honduras.

The Healthy Reefs for Healthy People Initiative, or HRI, is a consortium of scientific, government, fishing, and conservation organizations that produces regular "report cards" on the health of the reef, pulling together data from more than 300 sites along the reef that measure the live coral, algae cover, and fish populations. 

HRI's January report card on the state of the Mesoamerican Reef says fish populations have grown, as have the coral that make up the reef. Despite some differences in how sections of the reef are doing, the general health as a whole has risen from "poor" in 2006 to "fair" today. Although HRI says more than one-fifth of the coral reef has been bleached, scientists did not observe any coral death in 2015 or 2016. And coral cover and populations of commercially important and herbivorous fish, such as parrotfish and surgeonfish, have grown. All good news for reef lovers like us! 

Learn more about what's working to "turn the tide" on the health of our reef here: https://news.mongabay.com/2018/01/mesoamerican-reef-gets-improving-bill-of-health/

MORE GOOD NEWS

The reef is a vital part of Belize life, from fishing to tourism, and we want to protect it for generations to come. In December 2017, Belize passed a moratorium on oil and gas exploration to protect its part of the Mesoamerican Reef.

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St. George's Named One of Best "Under-the-radar" Islands for Romantic Honeymoon

Travel+Leisure Magazine is encouraging couples to think beyond Hawaii or Bermuda for their tropical honeymoon, and of course, we couldn't agree more. They just published, "14 Under-the-radar Islands for the Ultimate Romantic Honeymoon" and St. George's Caye is the only island in Belize on the list. We're thrilled!

The article recommends beautiful off-the-beaten path resorts  and secluded honeymoon spots in the US Virgin Islands, Africa, Indonesia, Ecuador, Malaysia, America Samoa, and Greece. Their exact words in describing St. George's Caye Resort in Belize? "Textbook definition of paradise." We can't argue with that!

As they say in the article, "Some of the best honeymoon islands may be the less well-known spots that aren’t overrun with tourists. When you’re choosing a honeymoon spot, you don’t need to decide between absorbing history and culture or laying on a beach. You can do both, especially if you choose one of these 14 islands."

Read the full article here: http://www.travelandleisure.com/trip-ideas/honeymoon-destinations/unique-island-honeymoon-destinations

 

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How warm is the water in Belize?

We get this question often as guests plan their trip to Belize: how warm is the water?

Water temperatures in the ocean off St. George's Caye range from 78-84 degrees, depending on the time of year. Ideal for swimming and snorkeling in the Caribbean right off our docks! (Snorkel gear is free of charge. So are kayaks and Hobie Cat sailboats!)

 

Belize Water Temps by Month 

January, February, March, April -- water temp 78 to 79 degrees

May -- outside temps and water temps increasing

June, July, August, September, October -- water temp around 84 degrees

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Un-Belize-able Wedding Photos on Stand-up Paddle Boards at Sunset

Who doesn't love photos of tropical island weddings? Last year we shared A Few of Our Favorite Honeymoon & Wedding Photos on St. George's Caye.

But now we need to update our list! It's not every day we have an adventuresome couple, still in suit and dress, get on stand-up paddle boards (SUPs) at sunset for photos. A picture perfect moment! 

 

Looking for a secluded island for your destination wedding?

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and we'll help you plan the perfect day, whether it's just the two of you, or you want to invite a few friends and family -- or rent the whole resort for your group! Belize is easy to get to for most of the U.S. -- it's only 2 hours from Texas airports -- and the official language is English and U.S. dollars are accepted everywhere. You and your guests will be met at the airport and escorted to our private island paradise for incredible service, amazing food, authentic thatch cabanas, and endless ocean views. It's the perfect escape from an ordinary island wedding. 

 

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Fun New Photos of Our Belize Island Paradise

What is it like on our island in Belize?  You may have noticed some beautiful new images appearing on our Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram feeds, and on our website.  We recently had new photos taken of our secluded island resort and we're excited to share them with you!

 

THE BEACH

 

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New Fishing Packages for "Grand Slam" Season in Belize

When's the best time to fish in Belize? 

Fishing here is excellent year-round, but the best times to catch the "Big Three" of tarpon, bonefish, and permit is in June, July, and August. We call this Grand Slam Season. (This is also a time when you can find the lowest airfares to Belize!) 

To help you plan the perfect trip, we're excited to announce four new Fishing Packages -- from a short weekend trip with one day of fishing, to a full-week fishing extravaganza complete with unlimited beer in our Sand Bar Lounge. And fishing off our docks is always complimentary. 

Summer 2018 Special = $100 Credit Per Night!

This May through September, we're offering an extra incentive: get a $100 credit per night stayed when you book any fishing package for two people directly with the resort. How cool is that?

 

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Get to Know Belize: New Packages Focus on Culture & History

Not everyone comes to Belize just for the incredible scuba diving and fishing and drinking beer on the beach (although GREAT reasons to visit!). Many folks also yearn to explore the rich history and diverse cultures of our "little melting pot" - from the temples and ruins of the ancient Maya to the Garifuna communities in southern Belize. Are you one of those travelers?

We keep getting requests for more history and culture - and we love to show off our beautiful country - so we're excited to unveil the new Culture of Belize packages featuring our best cultural tours combined with your choice of room, meals, and transfers!

 

NEW CULTURE OF BELIZE PACKAGES

The Intro to Belize Culture package features an exploration of Belizean culture in and around Belize City with our friendly and knowledgeable tour guide Cornel (Meet Cornel :: Authentic Belizean Tours). Called the Belize Cultural Adventure, this full day tour is tailored to your interests and potential stops include several museums, old town, the zoo, a rum distillery, and more. It's a wonderfully personal way to learn about the many facets of Belize. This package also features a fun visit to the St. George's Caye Aquarium, a small family run operation on our island that helps rehabilitate sea animals. 

The Multi-Cultural Belize Experience package features even more fun with an amazing full day guided tour to the Lamanai ancient Maya temple and ruins with jungle boat ride and wildlife viewing. The customizable full day Belize Cultural Adventure is also included, along with a 10% discount on Belizean beverages and a 10% discount on all gift shop items made in Belize.  

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Video of the New Guest Dock at St. George's Caye Resort

We're so excited to show you the recently enhanced guest dock at our resort! Last month we shared that the New Swimming Dock is Nearly Complete.

Our hard-working team has now finished the upgrades and the guest dock features spots to lay in the sun, tile roof for shade, and a hexagonal swimming platform. It's an ideal place to relax and take in the incredible views or go for a dip in the warm Caribbean. Grab some free snorkel gear and get to know the rays and fish that hang out in the calm shallow waters (about 4-6 feet deep).

Here's a 1-minute video where you can take a walk with us, from under the almond tree and across the beach and out onto the dock:

It was a calm and sunny morning about 6:15AM when this video was taken. Listen carefully and you can hear some of our resident birds greeting the sun-filled day. 

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Belize in the News: Hot Travel Destination for 2018

Did you see Belize in the news? Our little country is making headlines as a "hot" travel destination in 2018 - and a great place to live, too. 

BELIZE: BEST PLACES TO TRAVEL IN 2018

MSN Lifestyle included Belize in their list of the hottest destinations to visit in 2018. The article explains that Belize’s raw beauty and stunning barrier reef make it one of the best travel destinations to visit this year. “Belize is undoubtedly one of the ‘hottest’ coolest destinations to visit this year,” the article states.

And it's easy to see why - with the variety of activities from cave tubing and climbing ruins, to diving the barrier reef and relaxing on one of the many islands dotting the coast - Belize has a lot to offer for such a small country. Not to mention friendly, welcoming locals and amazing food, all in a Central American country that accepts US currency and speaks English as the official language. Sounds good, doesn't it? What are you waiting for? The flight is less than three hours from several US airports like Houston, Dallas, and Miami. 

 

BELIZE: A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE, TOO

According to an article from the popular website, Live and Invest Overseas, Belize is one of the best places to live in 2018. They identified San Pedro on Ambergris Caye as number 4 on their list; “They compete with the best the Caribbean has to offer.”

The article ends by encouraging readers to include Belize in their list of places to visit in 2018. We couldn't agree more! And our close location to the mainland makes St. George's a great home base for exploring Belize as a possible place to live, from Placencia and Hopkins on the southern coast to the famous Ambergris Caye in the north and many wonderful little communities in between. 

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New Swimming Dock Nearly Complete!

Just in time for a busy winter season in Belize, the new dock on the reef-side of our island is nearly complete. Guests of St. George's will soon have even more space for lounging in the sun and shade over the sea, and several platforms for easy swimming and snorkeling in the warm waters right off the dock. 

(Picture above is a guest jumping off of our old dock, unfortunately lost to the storm last year. The replacement is bigger and better!)

Here are a few images of the new dock in process:

 

 

 

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Private Suites in the Villa – A New Oceanfront Experience at St. George’s!

Located between the swimming pool and the Oceanfront Cabanas, The Villa features three private suites adjoining a large living room and veranda with expansive views of the Caribbean. Until now this space was used by the owner, and for occasional overflow and groups needing more than our 12 thatch cabanas.

But we can no longer keep this beautiful space and impressive view to ourselves…so we’re excited to announce the newly remodeled oceanfront villa and suites at St. George’s Caye Resort!

RENT A PRIVATE SUITE – OR THE ENTIRE VILLA

Starting this winter, each of the three air-conditioned suites – the Coral Suite, Dolphin Suite, and Captain’s Suite – is available to rent as a private room, or you can rent the entire Villa. With gorgeous Belizean hardwood floors, bright tropical accents, and sweeping ocean views from the living room and veranda, The Villa is the perfect space for a group of friends, two or three couples, or family to enjoy our island paradise together.

Just like the private cabanas, your private villa suite comes with coffee & fresh juice delivered each morning, your first rum punch on the house every day, unlimited use of kayaks, SUPs, sailboats, windsurf gear, and saline swimming pool, and all other resort amenities.
 

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A Few of Our Favorite Honeymoon & Wedding Photos on St. George's Caye

We love looking at gorgeous wedding and honeymoon photos. Don't you?

Here we've rounded up our team's favorite photos of destination weddings and honeymoons at St. George's Caye Resort in Belize, our little island paradise. If you're looking for inspiration for a dream tropical wedding or honeymoon, you've come to the right place!

The jaw-dropping photo at the top of this post was taken at a wedding earlier this year by Conch Creative, a local Belize photography company that does amazing work. The clouds created a dramatic backdrop that looks like a movie set. Wow! 

3 of Our Favorite Honeymoon Photos:

 

 

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Shop for Holiday Gifts -- in Belize!

Between the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays in the US there tends to be a lull in travel which means you can often snag an affordable flight to Belize. And who doesn't want a break from the hustle and bustle of holiday season?!

Treat yourself to a relaxing beach vacation AND get some of your holiday shopping done. Sounds pretty ideal, doesn't it?

Easy Holiday Shopping in our Gift Shop

We have wifi here at St. George's Caye Resort if you must do some online shopping - but might we recommend some handmade crafts from Belize? Our gift shop is full of wonderful items supporting local artists and craftsmen from around the country. Bring home hammocks, baskets, woodcarvings, jewelry, Marie Sharp’s hot sauce, and more for your friends and family. We also offer day trips to Belize City and San Pedro so you can hit art galleries, tourist shops, and even beach vendors selling beautiful handmade crafts. 

Special Offer for Stays Nov 25-Dec 22

Cap'n Ron is offering a special deal for stays between November 25th and December 22nd of this year: get $200 in Holiday Gifts on us! Book any 5 night or longer stay and you receive a $200 credit in our gift shop. And even better, if you reserve your stay by October 15th, we'll also upgrade your room at no charge! Pay for a Tropical Garden Cabana, stay in one of our popular Sunset Over-the-Water Cabanas. View Offer Details.

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St. George’s Featured in Cool Video on Spending a Week in Belize

Ever wondered what it’s like to jump off a waterfall in the jungle?

Dive the beautiful Belize Barrier Reef?

Swim with sharks?

 

Watch this fun video to see all this and more in beautiful Belize!

 

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How Low Can They Go? Roundup of the Lowest Airfares to Belize

As a resort in Belize, we keep our eye on flight prices because we know how much this affects whether someone can travel to our beautiful island in the Caribbean. There are several airlines that serve Belize: American, Avianca, Copa, Delta, Southwest, and United. Airfares are getting more and more competitive thanks to the arrival of Southwest Airlines in 2015, especially during May through November.

Guests who recently booked with us mentioned getting airfares as low as $200 and $300 round-trip through Southwest Airlines. This is an incredible deal! Especially compared to the more standard fares to Belize in the $500-$800 range.

SHOW ME THE LOW AIRFARES

We had to see it for ourselves so we searched on the Southwest site for dates that overlap with our “Choose Your Discount Summer Special” (good through Sept 30th) and found:

  • Roundtrip from Houston = $368.06
  • Roundtrip from Denver = $370.66
  • Roundtrip from Ft. Lauderdale = $188.06

Yes, you read that correctly. Round-trip from Florida to Belize for less than $200!  

Talk about an affordable summer escape…what are you waiting for?!

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We're Blushing! 2017 Experts' Choice Award and Best of Belize

First things first, a huge congratulations to our amazing team who makes this all possible. Without our staff, our resort would just be another resort. But with them - St. George's Caye is magic! And we love it when others agree.

Our little island resort in Belize was just recognized by the travel website TripExpert with a 2017 Experts' Choice Award and distinction as one of the Best of Belize. As their press release states, "Travelers can be confident that it is an outstanding choice for lodging in Belize."

We couldn't agree more!

 

 

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Smaller is Better: Benefits of Private Tours in Belize

When people visit our island resort in Belize, some folks just want to lay on the beach or by the pool all day. And that is fine with us! On our island, "doing nothing" is an activity. 

For the more active and adventuresome guests, St. George's offers amazing off-island tours and activities to explore other parts of Belize. These tours are guided and private for our guests only (small groups of 2-10 usually), giving you a personalized experience as you uncover the wonders of this beautiful and friendly country. When driving is required, you'll be in a small passenger van rather than a large bus and you'll always be able to hear your guide and ask questions.

 

Best Tours in Belize

Some of the most popular tours we offer include:

  • Lamanai Maya temple and ruins with jungle boat ride and wildlife viewing
  • San Pedro Slam - go snorkeling or diving at Hol Chan Marine Reserve and visit the restaurants, shops, and beach bars on "La Isla Bonita"
  • Cave Tubing & Zip-line - float down a jungle river and through caves, equipped with a headlamp; then whiz through the jungle canopy on a zip-line 

To provide our guests with a premier experience, we proudly have a licensed professional tour guide on staff, Cornel Staine. Knowledgeable, personable, and a great story teller, Cornel leads most of our small tours (for resort guests only!). When Cornel is not available, he schedules our guests' tours with a few select guides whom we know and trust. Cornel also meets most of our guests when they arrive at the airport and is a wealth of information as he drives you to the marina for your short boat ride to the resort. You can learn more about Cornel here.

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Watch Stars & Meteor Showers from a Secluded Caribbean Island

A favorite nighttime activity on our little island in the Caribbean is stargazing.

Since we’re more than 7 miles from the mainland of Belize and there are no towns or other island resorts nearby, there is very little "light pollution" to get in the way of your star show. Identify the constellations, find a planet, gaze at shooting stars. The show is especially engaging on evenings with a new moon or very little moonlight. 

 

 

 

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Staff Scholarship Fund Grows to Support 12 Students in Belize

As we move towards completion of our 4th year of providing student scholarships in Belize, we are pleased to provide you, our friends, with this update. As you may know, education is not free to students and their families in Belize as it is in the U.S., Canada and many other nations. Many children living in poverty are not able to get even a basic education. 

In 2013 the staff of St. George's Caye Resort came together to start a scholarship fund to help children in their home villages attend school. In August 2014 we proudly shared about the Successful First Year for St. George’s Scholarship Winner, and then a year later shared that the program had expanded to help 6 students for the 2015-2016 school year!  Read more: Scholarships for Higher Education in Belize  

 

MEET THE STUDENTS WE SUPPORT

We are thrilled to share that we now support 11 high school students and one elementary age student through our program, which is fully operated by our incredible staff.  All candidates were vetted for ability, motivation and need – and they are now very thankful for their educational opportunity. 

Here is a little bit about the twelve students we currently support:

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What's New for 2017 at St. George's Caye Resort

Our secluded island paradise is pretty much perfect for relaxing and adventuring -- located only 7 miles off the coast of Belize and less than a mile from the reef, St. George's Caye offers great access to both ocean and jungle adventures. There are only 12 thatch cabanas and a limited number of guests at one time (and no TVs or cars!), so you can truly get away from it all. And our staff is one of the finest in the country, providing top-notch friendly service without being intrusive. 

But we're always looking for ways to improve the guest experience and make your time in Belize even better. We listen to guest feedback at the resort, via TripAdvisor reviews, and through post-stay guest surveys -- and we’ve made a few fun updates so that you have an even more incredible time at our island resort in Belize. 

Better Beach Area, New Bar Menu & More

This past fall our team rehabbed our beach to prevent further erosion and make it even better for our guests. We've added a ramp and stairs to make it easier to launch the Hobie Cat sailboats, and the sand is dotted with pink chairs and colorful hammocks for reading, napping, and sunbathing. The four Oceanfront Cabanas face this beautiful stretch of beach and offer front-row seats for the sunrise each morning. 

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Happy Hour just got...

HAPPY HOUR JUST GOT HAPPIER -- AND MORE AFFORDABLE!

We enjoy providing a piece of paradise where guests and friends can unplug, unwind, and restore themselves. Whether you choose to lay in a hammock all day, or stay active with SCUBA diving, snorkeling, kayaking, and hiking the jungle, everyone ends up in our Sand Bar lounge for refreshments.

Located in the lodge with amazing views of the Caribbean, the Sand Bar Lounge at St. George's Caye features complimentary Wi-Fi internet, fun games, and friendly bartenders. This is where much of the socializing and meeting new friends happens – a very happy place! (We like to call it all-day happy hour.)

WE'RE LISTENING...

Over the past few months some guests have mentioned that our drink prices in the lounge seem high. We're always listening to guest feedback and are committed to providing a great experience and very good value, so we dug into the pricing, our costs, and what options we had. We don't want guests worrying about the price of drinks in the bar -- we want you enjoying your time in Belize!

A few weeks ago Cap’n Ron got personally involved with our resort manager and the incredible service staff to review beverage inventory and pricing in the bar -- and they uncovered a variety of ways to increase the value and in many cases reduce the drink prices.

NEW BAR MENU 

We just unveiled the new drink menu and are pleased to report that we now offer a majority of drinks in the $4 to $10 price range, with a 30% reduction on our average drink price! We have maintained very good brands, but reduced our costs through selective inventory reduction.

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Lionfish Dive Tournament a Success!

The team at St. George's cares deeply about protecting the reef and the underwater world. Our Belize island resort is owned and managed by scuba divers and located less than a mile from the amazing Belize Barrier Reef, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the largest barrier reef in the Western Hemisphere.

One of its biggest threats to the reef right now is the invasive species lion fish. These fast-breeding fish do not have any natural predators. To help keep the population under control, divers all over Belize and the Caribbean use spear guns to hunt these spiny, venomous fish. It takes skill, especially when removing the lionfish from the spear so that you don't get stung by one of their spines! But it's worth it because not only are you removing an invasive predator from the reef, but the delicate white fish is delicious to eat as well.

Over 1,000 Lionfish Removed from Reef during Dive Tournament! 

Last week at St. George's Caye Resort we hosted our first "Save The Reef" Lionfish Dive Tournament with several teams of divers competing for biggest caught and most caught in one dive. It was a lot of fun and we hope to have even more divers involved next time. (Read more: Divers Keeping the Barrier Reef Healthy: Lionfish Tournament in October)

Most importantly, we are thrilled to report that combined the teams removed 1,016 lionfish from the reef! This is a huge impact in less than a week. Thanks to everyone who participated and helped make this possible. The coral reef thanks you too!

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Seeking adventure in 2017? The experts say: Travel to Belize!

We love seeing Belize in the travel news because that means more people will discover this awesome country and want to visit! So we were pleased to see that Belize was selected as a "top adventure tour destination" to visit in 2017 by Stride Travel, a large search and review site for tours and adventure experiences. 

You can read the press release here on Belize Breaking News.

EXPERIENCE THE BEST BELIZE ADVENTURES WITH A "REEF TO RAINFOREST" PACKAGE

Many travelers considering Belize want to spend time both in the jungle and on the beach and have a hard time deciding. We can help!

At St. George's Caye we offer four jungle/beach all-inclusive packages to choose from, so you can spend time on the mainland and on our island and have all of your meals and transportation included. Easy! We work with two different jungle lodges, each offering a different experience in a different part of the country, depending on your interests. 

Packages with Mariposa Jungle Lodge & Tours

Located in the heart of Maya country in the Cayo district on the West side of Belize (near Guatemala), Mariposa Jungle Lodge offers a luxury jungle experience with 6 beautiful cabanas and a main lodge for meals. They have a swimming pool, jungle birdwatching tower, and hiking trails onsite. Plus a large variety of adventure, nature, and cultural tours led by their professional in-house tour guides of Mayan descent. 

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Divers Keeping the Barrier Reef Healthy: Lionfish Tournament in October

Lionfish are an invasive species in the Caribbean and they are voracious eaters, potentially devastating to the health of coral reefs. The dive team at St. George's Caye Resort is doing our part to rid the reef of these fast-breeding fish – and many guests who are experienced divers join our dive masters and "spear hunt" underwater! It's exciting and a fun way to control the lionfish population and a unique diving experience you can't find just anywhere. Learn more about Lionfish Dive Safari. 

 

SIGN UP NOW FOR "SAVE THE REEF" LIONFISH TOURNAMENT 

To step up our efforts to control the lionfish population, we are hosting a one-week Lionfish Tournament on October 8-15, 2016. To encourage participation, all tournament dives are half-price!

Divers can bring their own team, or join a team when they arrive. There will be fun prizes for the largest lionfish, smallest lionfish, and the most caught in one day. Come join the fun, help the reef, and maybe win a prize!

 

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Flying to Belize Keeps Getting Easier (and Cheaper!)

Two more direct flights to Belize City (BZE) from North America have been announced, making it even easier to get to our beautiful Central American country!

The world-class snorkeling and diving on the barrier reef, the Mayan ruins and jungle adventures, and the really friendly native people have all made Belize a popular travel destination over the past few years. Belizeans love showing off their country and the natural beauty, history, culture, food, and adventures.

But for a long time one of the barriers for people getting to Belize was the high cost of airfare. We are thrilled that is less and less of an issue as more airlines add routes to Belize such as Southwest Airlines and West Jet out of Canada!

We are finally seeing affordable airfare to Belize which means it's time for you to come and visit. Right?

 

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Is there a difference between an overwater cabana and an over-the-water bungalow?

You’re dreaming about a tropical vacation and you soon find yourself spending hours searching the internet for the perfect little room on the beach. As you explore exotic destinations near and far (Bali! Belize! Hawaii!), drooling over the tropical rooms, some of them over the water, you will no doubt come across a wide array of descriptions, features, and amenities. You will notice that rooms may be called bungalows, cabanas, casitas, huts, etc. – with descriptions such as “private thatch cabana,” “thatch casita,” “romantic beach bungalow,” “over water casita,” “overwater bungalow,” “private cabana over the water,” “rustic beachfront cabana,” and more.

If you are like us, you start wondering, “What is the difference between a cabana and a bungalow? Why all these different terms?”  I just want a quiet, peaceful, relaxing setting on the beach, with a clean room by the water where I can sip my drink, get five-star service, and enjoy some SCUBA diving and snorkeling...

CABANA vs. BUNGALOW vs. CASITA

Of course you can go to your dictionary, or ask Siri – and you'll get the basic definition for “bungalow” and “cabana” and “casita.” But the fact is there is no one definition for these rooms and no one enforcing rules on what resorts call their rooms! Even identically appointed rooms at two different resorts can be called a cabana by one place, and called bungalow by another.

But the good news is: you don’t need to worry about it!

It’s not what the room is called that matters, but whether the features and the amenities fit what you want:

  • Do you want to stay in a regular hotel room, or something exotic and different?
  • Do you need air conditioning? TV? Room service? What other amenities are important?
  • Do you want to be on the beach, or are you looking for the “over the water” experience?
  • Do you want to be on a private island, or in a touristy area with beach bars?

As you explore your options (here is a great site: http://www.overwaterbungalows.net), look at the pictures, read room descriptions thoroughly, and it can even a good idea to contact the resort and ask them to confirm that the pictures on their website are current and accurately portray the condition of the rooms now, especially if you will be visiting a remote location that is less regulated.

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Some of the Best Activities in Belize are Free (for our Guests!)

When planning a trip to Belize, guests often ask about the best available activities, both in the ocean exploring the Belize Barrier Reef and on the mainland exploring the jungles.

"I’ve got only 7 days, how much can I fit in?"

The answers is: a lot! Especially with our island's convenient location only 7 miles from Belize City and less than a mile from the Belize Barrier Reef - making both ocean and jungle adventures very easily accessible.

"What can I do that I’ve never done before? Can I learn to do something new, like sailing, snorkeling, or kayaking?" 

Belize offers a variety of adventures from zip-lining through the jungle canopy and cave-tubing down a river, to ocean activities like diving, snorkeling, and sailing. At our resort there are many opportunities to learn a new hobby or try something new - our local guides and friendly staff are here to help!

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Six Years in a Row! Your Reviews Earned Us Another Certificate of Excellence from TripAdvisor

We're blushing!

Thanks to the reviews from our wonderful guests, St. George's Caye Resort has earned the 2016 Certificate of Excellence from TripAdvisor. This is the sixth year in a row (wow!) and we are honored to be recognized as one of the best island resorts in Belize. 

Huge thanks to all of the guests who took the time to share their experience and help other travelers discover our secluded island retreat for divers, honeymooners, and adventure seekers. We think our slice of paradise is pretty special and we're glad you agree! Your reviews are the best thanks we can receive. 

Most of the credit goes to the incredible staff of St. George's for providing our guests with unparalleled experiences and the ultimate in Belizean hospitality. We are especially thrilled by how many times guests specifically name the members of our staff who made their trip special. We strive to make you feel like a part of our island family when you are here. Thank you for recognizing the people who added something extra to your time in Belize.  

As anyone who has stayed with us can agree, the staff goes above and beyond to ensure you have a memorable and relaxing Belize vacation.

Here to scuba dive the Belize Barrier Reef? Let our friendly dive masters with decades of experience on the nearby reef show you their favorite spots where you'll see lots of sea life and no other divers.

Visiting Belize for a romantic island honeymoon in an overwater bungalow? Let us pamper you with coffee and juice delivered to your room each morning, a private romantic dinner outdoors, and tropical flower petals on your bed.

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Making It Easier for Canadians to Visit Belize in 2016

As a fellow commonwealth nation, we see a lot of Canadians in Belize, both as tourists and as ex-pats who've made Belize their new home. Especially in the winter months, known as "high season" in Belize, we tend to have many Canadian visitors seeking sunshine, warm waters, and world-class scuba diving, snorkeling, and fishing on the Belize Barrier Reef.

But ever since the decline of the Canadian dollar, we've had fewer and fewer Canadian guests. And this makes us sad. We love friendly Canadians!

So, to help more Canadians afford a 2016 trip to Belize, Cap'n Ron has rolled out a new special offer for Canadians only!

For trips now through December 17th you get full value for your Canadian dollar. That means your room rate is in Canadian dollars instead of US dollars, saving you 20%, 30%, or more on a private thatch cabana in paradise! You can choose from Overwater bungalows on the sunset side, beachfront cabanas on the sunrise side, or a garden cabana nestled in the center of the resort. 

Interested in an all-inclusive resort package? You can get the special room rate in Canadian dollars combined with any of the Adventure, Dive, Romance, or Relaxation Packages we offer.

Combine this great room rate with the incredibly affordable airfares to Belize City from many North American cities, and your dream trip to Belize in 2016 could become a reality!

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WHY AND HOW WE SUPPORT EDUCATION AND TEACHERS

Recently we've had guests ask, "Why do you offer a Teacher Bonus?"

So here is Cap'n Ron to elaborate on why education is so important to him and St. George's Caye Resort.

The value of a good education is universally acknowledged in the western world – opportunity for better jobs, ability to make better life decisions, more awareness of the world, more understanding of and compassion for others, etc. Sometimes, however, people who are fortunate enough to have access to quality education take it for granted. We sometimes don’t see, or we forget that a significant number of people don’t have this advantage.

I ask myself, “What if the next Jonas Salk, Martin Luther King, Albert Einstein or Nelson Mandela never has the chance to achieve anything because she or he did not have the opportunity for education?” Our world is so much the poorer for not having met the great achievers, the great potential contributors who do not get to blossom due to a lack of educational opportunity.

Students Must Pay to Attend High School in Belize

In the United States, Canada and Western Europe, education is considered a right and governments take responsibility for making education available. In Belize, education is provided for everyone through the elementary level only. Beyond elementary, there is a cost – for tuition, books, uniforms, as well as transportation and meals – that is beyond the reach of a significant percentage of the population. The result is that thousands of young people never get the chance to attend middle school, high school and beyond. Statisticians will tell us that there are great achievers in that group of uneducated people who just didn’t have the opportunity.

Scholarship Program at St. George's Caye Resort

As a successful private island resort, St. George’s is dedicated to helping identify the achievers and supporting their education – hoping to see more young people achieve their potential. Our staff not only takes pride in showing guests the Blue Hole, Mayan ruins and other jungle adventures, the Hol Chan Marine Reserve and other Belize landmarks, but they also fund and operate a scholarship program, currently putting six students through school in Belize.

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The Ultimate Gift for Graduation: an ADVENTURE-FILLED TRIP TO BELIZE!

Is someone special in your life graduating from high school or college?

Reward your hard-working scholar with a trip abroad to experience adventure, culture, and post-school relaxation. We know we’re a little biased, but we think a Belize vacation with jungle and ocean adventures is a fantastic way to celebrate a notable accomplishment!

GIVE THE GIFT OF ADVENTURE

Cap’n Ron and the team at St. George’s Caye Resort are big supporters of education because education brings opportunity (read about the scholarship program funded by our staff). We want to help you spoil your graduate, so get in touch and we'll help craft the perfect graduation trip to Belize, complete with private thatch cabana, friendly service, and endless ocean views. 




FOR THE DIVER IN YOUR LIFE

Is your graduate certified to dive? Then they will love diving the pristine, crowd-free sites just a few minutes way from St. George’s Caye on the amazing Belize Barrier Reef. Dive with sharks, rays, turtles, grouper, barracuda, and more. Divers can even spear-hunt the invasive lionfish and our kitchen will cook up their catch that night. We can also arrange bucket-list dive trips to the world-famous Great Blue Hole and Lighthouse Reef. It’s certain to be a dive trip they will never forget! 

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Blues 'n Belize: How It Got Started on Our Little Island

Cap’n Ron, owner of St. George’s Caye Resort, is a music lover and has hosted musicians for house concerts on a number of occasions at his home in Portland, Oregon.  Resort manager Barry is a huge fan of Blues music and spent part of his career (before moving to Belize to manage St. George’s!) working with Grammy-award-winning Blues pianist Pinetop Perkins.

Both Cap'n Ron and Barry felt our private island resort offered a unique and intimate atmosphere for live acoustic music, so after reaching out to some industry connections, we hosted our first Blues 'n Belize with Doug MacLeod and Phil Wiggins in November 2015.  (Read more about the inaugural event: Blues in Belize :: A Private Island Blues Experience)

“My heart was full the entire week, full with the wonderful music of Phil and Doug and their generous teacher spirit, full with the beauty of St. George's Caye, full with the welcoming spirit of the staff and guests, with the other-world beauty of the reef. I must add that my stomach was full with the delicious meals prepared by Ernesto. I believe that we all felt the magic at some point during that special week.”
– Marc P., guest at Blues ‘n Belize 2015

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How to Get an Extra Day of Vacation in Belize

If you're like me, when you travel, you want to get in as much FUN time as you can. The actual travel part -- the planes, trains, and automobiles -- can be fun but it's not FUN fun. Especially when you're heading to a secluded island paradise and you want to get on the beach as soon as possible! 

When planning how to get the most beach time on your Belize vacation, you need to take into account the location of the island and the transfer times required after you arrive in Belize.

  • How many hours will it take you to get there and back?

  • Do you need to take a plane and then a boat?

  • How much will it cost?

  • Does the resort offer transportation?

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Exciting News: Adventure Tours Now More Affordable!

Popular excursions like Cave Tubing, Zip Lining and exploring the ancient Mayan temples are thoroughly enjoyed by our guests, and to many visitors are a “must-do” while in Belize. And we can't blame them -- they're a lot of fun! Many of our packages include one or more of these popular Belize Adventures

Excursions to these popular jungle sites are provided in a number of ways by tour operators: 1) Some operators function only on the mainland and provide services at bare-minimum standards; 2) Some tour operators use busses and take 20, 30 or more people at a time; 3) And then there is the St. George’s Caye Experience -- We not only provide boat transfers as part of our tours; we take only small groups from the resort and our top-notch professional guides give personalized tours during which everyone can hear the information. 

Our premium service costs a bit more and that has been mentioned several times in online reviews. Although we will not diminish the quality of our tour experience in order to offer the cheapest prices, we are sensitive to how much a vacation can cost, and so we are always seeking ways to reduce costs and pass the savings on to our guests. 

GOOD NEWS!

Cap'n Ron has just reduced the prices for our most popular tours -- by over 20% when we have 4 or more guests participating! 

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