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    & be inspired by beauty everywhere! "

Ambergris Caye Travel Guide 

Table of Contents

1. Itinerary

2. Fun facts

3. Movies Shot

4.. Iconic Photo Spots

5. Places To Stay

6. Personal Blog

Itinerary

Day 1: Explore the Island by Golf Cart – Must-Visit Stops

  1. Truck Stop – While you’re there, enjoy a variety of different food options and enjoy backyard games like foosball, ping pong, cornhole, and Jenga.

  2. The Dive Bar – Next, head to The Dive Bar for a relaxed bar experience. With its laid-back vibe and stunning Caribbean sea views, it’s an ideal place to unwind and soak in the island atmosphere.

  3. Palapa Bar & Grill – End your day at Palapa Bar & Grill, where you can grab a refreshing drink, float in a water donut, and enjoy the breathtaking views of the Caribbean Sea. It’s the perfect spot to relax and take in the beauty of Aruba’s coastline.

Day 2: Take a short boat ride from Ambergris Caye and spend the day discovering Belize’s vibrant marine life on the Hol Chan Marine & Shark Ray Alley Snorkel Tour with Viator.

  1. The first stop will be the Hol Chan Marine Reserve, where you’ll dive into the crystal-clear Caribbean waters equipped with fins and a snorkel mask. Prepare to be amazed by over 150 species of colorful fish, including angelfish, parrotfish, groupers, snappers, sergeant majors, and damselfish. You may also encounter green moray eels, stingrays, and, if you’re lucky, manatees and sea turtles.

  2. The adventure continues at Shark Ray Alley, where you’ll swim among harmless nursery sharks, a thrilling yet safe encounter that adds an exciting twist to your snorkeling experience.

  3. After your underwater adventure, unwind at Rojo Beach Bar, a perfect spot to end the day. Sip a cocktail as you enjoy stunning sunsets and the serene Caribbean Sea.

For a more extensive experience, consider the All Inclusive Snorkeling at Hol Chan Reserve tour which is available through Viator. This tour takes you to six different locations within the marine reserve.

Day 3: Start your day with an exhilarating flyover of the world-famous Great Blue Hole! Tropic Air and Maya Air both offer amazing aerial tours of this natural wonder. It’s about 350 feet deep and famous for its stunning, circular deep blue color. The Blue Hole is known as one of the top scuba diving destinations in the world, because of its abundant marine life and remarkable biodiversity.

After your aerial adventure, head to Secret Beach, where you can soak in the beautiful shades of blue and green waters. This hidden gem has a lively atmosphere with a variety of bars and restaurants, making it an ideal place to unwind and watch the sunset. If you’re looking for some excitement, you can try activities such as kayaking, paddleboarding, jet skiing, or even parasailing, to ensure a fun-filled day at the beach!

Day 4: Enjoy a day trip to Caye Caulker!

  1. Explore the Island: Start your adventure by exploring the island on a bike or golf cart. Enjoy the laid-back atmosphere and beautiful scenery along the way.

  2. Manatee Watching Tour: Take a boat tour to Swallow Caye with a local dive shop or tour operator, where you can enjoy a thrilling manatee-watching experience.

  3. Feed the Tarpons: Head to the Tarpon Feeding Dock for an unforgettable experience as you feed these fascinating fish up close.

  4. Visit the Seahorse Sanctuary: Stop by the Seahorse Sanctuary located just outside the Iguana Reef Inn to learn more about these interesting creatures.

  5. Yoga Session: Unwind with a rejuvenating yoga session at Namaste Yoga, perfect for relaxing your mind and body.

  6. Get a Massage: Treat yourself to a soothing massage at one of the local spas, such as Ix’Chel Day Spa or Healing Touch Day Spa.

  7. Fun at The Split:  Experience the lively atmosphere at The Split, a channel carved out by a hurricane that split the Caye in two during the 1960s. It’s a fantastic spot for snorkeling, swimming, paddleboarding, and kayaking. The area also hosts live music events and beach parties, making it perfect for dancing the night away!

  8. The Lazy Lizard: Relax at this beach bar with panoramic views of the Caribbean Sea. Here, you can sunbathe on a floating platform, sip on the famous Green Lizard juice, and enjoy the stunning turquoise waters. The swim-up bar is an excellent place to socialize and share travel stories with fellow adventurers!

Day 5

  1. Visit the Belize Chocolate Company: Discover the delightful world of chocolate at the Belize Chocolate Company, where you can learn about the chocolate-making process and indulge in delicious samples.

  2. Explore San Pedro Town: Take some time to explore the charming San Pedro Town. You can wander through local art galleries showcasing vibrant works by talented artists. Don’t forget to relax in the shade of the trees at Central Park. It’s a lovely spot that often hosts live events and performances, adding to the town’s vibrant atmosphere.

Table of Contents

1. Itinerary

2. Do it for the Gram

3. Fun facts

4. Movie Shot

5. Place To Stay

6. Personal Blog

7. Pictures and Puns

fun facts

  1. Among the 350+ cayes in Belize, Ambergris Caye is the largest, offering stunning landscapes and vibrant ecosystems.
  2. Known for its world-class snorkeling and picturesque beaches, Ambergris Caye is the most visited tourist destination in Belize.
  3. The island was once inhabited by the Mayans, who utilized it as a trading post, adding to its rich historical significance.
  4. While English is the official language of Belize, other commonly spoken languages include Creole and Spanish, reflecting the country’s diverse cultural heritage.
  5. Known as “The Jewel,” Belize earns this nickname for its breathtaking beaches and abundant marine life.
  6. A popular folklore character is Tata Duende, also known as El Dueño De Monte. Described as a three-foot-tall man with missing thumbs and backward-pointing feet, he is believed to protect animals and nature while luring mischievous children into the jungle.
  7. Some Belizeans consider it bad luck to swim in the ocean on Good Friday, due to cultural superstitions.
  8. The Baird’s Tapir, referred to as the Mountain Cow, is recognized as Belize’s national animal, symbolizing the country’s unique wildlife.
  9. The Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary serves as a jaguar preserve, attracting nature lovers and visitors from around the globe to experience its rich biodiversity.
A boat with words written on it

Movies Shot

  1. The Mosquito Coast (1996)
  2. Alien Origin (2002)
  3. After the Sunset (2004)
  4. In the Blood (2014)
Hut by the beach

Iconic Photo Spots

  1. Colorful Buildings and Street Art in San Pedro Town: Capture the vibrant essence of San Pedro Town against a backdrop of its colorful buildings and stunning street art.
  2. Water Deck at Secret Beach Belize: Take in the scenic beauty from the water deck at Secret Beach, a perfect spot for memorable photos.
  3. Ambergris Caye Sign Near San Pedro Town: Snap a picture with the iconic Ambergris Caye sign, a must-visit landmark near San Pedro Town.
  4. “The Split” and “Caye Caulker” Sign in Caye Caulker: Don’t miss the chance to pose with “The Split” and “Caye Caulker” signs, a popular photo spot on Caye Caulker.
  5. View of the Island at Blue Water Grill Rooftop Bar: Enjoy panoramic views of the island from the rooftop bar at Blue Water Grill, a great place to relax and take in the scenery.
  6. Island Views at Island Time Beach Bar: Unwind with a drink at Island Time Beach Bar and capture the stunning island views.
  7. On a Water Tube at Palapa Bar & Grill: Snap a photo while on a water tube at Palapa Bar & Grill

Personal Blog

This trip will always hold a special place in my heart, as my husband planned it as a surprise for our second anniversary. Belize it or not, I discovered our destination just a few hours before takeoff! We were closing on our first home, which made an international trip less than ideal, but somehow my husband pulled it off. As soon as I learned we were headed to Belize, I dove into research during our layover at Tocumen International Airport in Panama, with less than two hours to plan.

Upon arriving at CocoBeach Resort, I was captivated by its beauty and amenities, particularly the life-size chess board available for us to enjoy each evening. I was eager to hop on a golf cart and explore the island. On our first day, we stopped at Palapa Bar and Grill for lunch, then grabbed a water tube to relax in the ocean waves. Next, we visited the Dive Bar for drinks while soaking in the views. We spent the evening at Truck Stop, where we enjoyed pizza, noodles, and nachos while playing cornhole, Jenga, and other games. The experience of hopping between various bars and restaurants on a golf cart was unique to the island and unlike any of our previous trips. It made me wonder what life would be like on a small island like this—where we were so independent and didn’t need a car to explore. 

The next day, we went snorkeling, and I was thankful I had brought a float and flippers—I didn’t realize how much swimming would be involved. The array of colorful fishes gave me an epiphany: I realized that I wanted to travel the world to experience wonders like these! After that, we visited Shark Ray Alley, where we fed and swam with nursery sharks—yet another incredible experience. 

We also took a day trip to Caye Caulker, where we rode bikes across the island. We enjoyed the famous lizard juice and spent time socializing and dancing at the Lazy Lizard. It was the perfect spot to enjoy live music, delicious food, and connect with both locals and fellow tourists while soaking up the sun by the pool.

Collage of Belize travel pics
3 images in a collage

5-Day Palm Springs Travel Guide

Table of Contents

1. Itinerary
2. Fun Facts
3. Do It for the Gram
4. Places to Stay
5. Personal Blog
6. Puns and Pictures

Itinerary

Day 1: Visit the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway, it is the world’s largest rotating aerial tramway! Tickets are available through viator and the tram ride takes only a little over ten minutes, giving you panoramic views of both the desert valley below and snow-capped mountains above.

  • It reaches over an 8000 ft elevation and then gives you views of the Chino Canyon and Mt. San Jacinto State Park.
  • When you reach the top there is a restaurant (Peak’s Restaurant) and a Café (Pine’s Café) where you can grab sandwiches, burgers, mac & cheese, salads, coffee, fountain sodas, and cocktails!
  • Next, enjoy hiking, camping, skiing, sledding, snowshoeing, and much more!
  • Lastly don’t forget to immerse yourself in the views.

Day 2: Spend a day to enjoy either one or both of Palm Spring’s greatest adventures.

Get an unforgettable ATV experience at Off Road Rentals. The location is only 5 miles away from Palm Springs and has been open for over 4 decades now. All safety equipment, tutorial/instructional videos are provided with awesome staff to help guide you.

Take a Red Jeep Tour. It is an experience that truly allows you to immerse yourself in the California desert. You can select from the Indians Canyon, Joshua Tree, San Andreas Fault tour. A San Andreas Fault Jeep Tour is also available through tripadvisor.

Day 3: Spend a day to enjoy two of the popular museums in Palm Springs

Day 4: Spend a day to enjoy the Zoo and botanical gardens in Palm Springs

  • Visit the Living Desert Zoo & Gardens to see the desert animals, feed the giraffes, and maybe some special animal encounters! Be sure to enjoy the WildLights which light themed animal displays and all sorts of cool exhibits during selected times of the year
  • Visit the Moorten Botanical Garden to witness unique desert plants, trees, cacti, crystal, & rocks from all over the world.

Day 5: Start the day with a hike & end the day with spa time. 

  • For nature lovers, hike the Tahquitz Canyon and discover a 60 foot waterfall, hike the Murray Canyon in the Indian Canyons for the Seven Sisters Waterfall, and/or hike about 400 ft from Palm Canyon in the Indian Canyons to see the West Fork Falls.
  • Spend some time to relax at one of the many famous Hot Springs.

Day 6: Spend the day with two popular tours that are important to Palm Springs and available on tripadvisor.

  • Take a Windmill Tour to learn more about the windmills & its history in Palm Springs.
  • Take the famous Celebrity Tour where you can visit homes of celebrities and learn more about the history and modern Palm Springs. If you are lucky you may get to stop the market and grab the famous date shake!

Fun Facts

  • Home to the world’s largest aerial tramway.
  • The name Palm Springs comes from Spanish explorers who called it “La Palma de la Mano de Dios” which translates to The Palm of God’s Hand.
  • Over 50 golf courses and 50,000 pools.
  • Most of the country’s date production is found here.
  • Population triples in the winter months
  • Popular celebrity getaway spot- Elvis Presley and Marilyn Monroe even owned homes here.
  • Parts of the movies, Ocean’s Eleven, Mission Impossible 3, The Player, Into the Wild, A Star is Born were shot here.

Do It for the Gram

Places to Stay

Palm Springs Sign

Personal Blog

Growing up in Southern California meant taking yearly trips to Palm Springs. Palm Springs has always been a great mini getaway and the perfect choice for some R&R. One of the most important landmarks on our way is the San Gorgonio Wind Park, which has over two thousand wind turbines to help generate energy for power for Palm Springs and the Coachella Valley. I have always loved to stop and admire the windmills. My weekends there were spent enjoying the swimming pool and wanderlust in the desert dust! Over the years, I have seen the city develop into having more restaurants, bars, and boutique hotels with exquisite pools. Every time I go, I like to stay at a new resort, enjoy the mountain views from the balcony, try some new restaurants, and have plenty of spa time. I love going to Palm Springs during the last week of January because, some years, I’ve gotten lucky to be enjoying a sunny day in the pool with a view of snow-capped mountains!

When my husband and I got married, our first mini getaway was in Palm Springs. We started our trip ATVing at Off Road Rentals. It was so windy that our sunglasses flew right off! We had to ATV our way uphill first, and my husband zoomed his way up while I was struggling. I eventually learned all the gears & got the hang of it. There was one incident where I was so scared at how fast I was going downhill that I jumped off my ATV and I let it slide downhill. Luckily the ATV didn’t slide too far downhill and I managed to grab it so that I didn’t have to pay Off Road Rentals for a new ATV! It was our first adventure post marriage and I was looking forward to many more.

The first time we took the Aerial Tramway we were so amazed at how warm it was on the floors of Coachella Valley before we took the tramway, yet 8000 ft above at the peak of St. Jacinto mountains it was almost 40 degrees cooler. We always enjoy having a drink at the bar while enjoying views of the snow-capped mountains.

After having a daughter, my husband and I have continued our yearly tradition of having one Palm Springs trip per year since it is such a kid-friendly destination. I always plan at least one excursion outside our resort per trip and will continue to discover new hidden gems in this city.

Puns and Pictures

I'm a big fan of windmills!

Puja Parekh With Her Husband And Their Child In Palm SpringsPuja Parekh With Her Husband And Child In Palm Springs