Looking For Some Help

I am planning a quick 10 day trip to Central America for my semester break. I would love to learn how to SCUBA dive and pretty much relax. I an thinking about San Pedro, Belize. It seems nice but is it? It seems really touristy and I am a little worried about it. If it is worth it does anyone know of a good place to stay, preferably on the beach. And is there a good dive shop/ instructor that anyone has used. I am also thinking about going to Antiqua for a couple days at the end. What is the best way to get there from San Pedro, should I fly the whole way or try to get a bus from Belize City. Is it worth the trip? Anyone know of any good places to stay, eat, or anything else? Thank you so much for reading this over, I am worried about going with such a limited time, but I think it still will be a nice introduction to the area.

For 10 days learning to scuba dive and relax, Roatán or Utila, Honduras, are both approximately 467 times better bets than San Pedro. I enjoy Belize in general, just much less than any of the surrounding countries. Belize is relatively expensive, the reef in Honduras the same but cheaper to dive, and the food in Mexico better. You can get your PADI dive certification on Utila for $200, and accommodation is a few dollars a night. Roatán is a wee bit more expensive, but still much cheaper than Belize.

For what it´s worth, San Pedro is easily the most touristed spot in Belize. If your mind is set on Belize, Caye Caulker is a much better bet for relaxing.

If you decide on Honduras, Continental flies into Roatán from Houston. Otherwise, you can fly into San Pedro Sula, take a bus to La Ceiba, and then a ferry to one of the islands. Or you can fly TACA into La Ceiba, and catch a ferry.

Antigua is a long day from the Bay Islands; easily just as far from Belize. For a 10-day trip, it´s not really a good option, unless you want to spend a fortune on international flights. It´s at least 16 hours from Belize City overland. Coming from La Ceiba, it´s a few hours less time in buses. The dive course will take three to four days. You could tack on a day or two at the Maya ruins at Copán, and a visit to Garífuna villages around Tela or Trujillo or La Ceiba, if you decide on Honduras.

I agree with Felix. Antigua should be left for a trip to Guatemala. You will lose too much time to go to Antigua from either Belize or Honduras, if you only have 10 days. You could do it, but you said you wanted to relax.

Copan Ruinas is very nce for a few days, indeed, though you probably will arrive at Utila or Roatan and decide to dive on your own once you get your Padi certificate, as long as you're there. It a nice laid back place.

10 days? Best to go to La ceibe, get to your diving, then maybe take two days out of that to see Copan.

Well, there's one big advantage in Belize, the people speak English. And I find the mix of cultures intriguing. I agree that Caye Caulker is a better bet than San Pedro, not so much in the way of tourist shops and altogether easier to negotiate. But still some good guides and divers.

Oh, BTW, I find the food in Belize excellent, especially if you like fresh fish. But it IS a lot of chicken and beans and rice and fresh fruit. Not a bad diet for 10 days.

quote:

Originally posted by Paget:
Well, there's one big advantage in Belize, the people speak English.

English is the language spoken in Honduras` Bay Islands too. The population is much the same as it is in Belize - Anglo settlers and Garífunas.

Thanks for all the help, whicj is a better option Utila or Roatan?

I was at Utila. Its got a nice downbeat hippy feel to it, combined with the diving bums that are present in every diving location.

It has a carribean feel to it, they speak english, and in fact pretty much despise the mainland hondurans for a good reason. The only mainland hondurans they see, as a rule, are the people that deliver the supplies and criminals that come to prey on their customers, the people there to dive and have fun.

The beaches at Utila are not much to write home about, but the diving is great, and so is the climate when its not hot hot hot.

I was a bit of a hobo there, due to lack of accomodation. I found a porch swing to sleep on, and combined with mosquito banning burning coils, I was pretty comfortable. This was at a time when there was a very steady wind, and so the insect level was low, and malaria was not known at the time. i enjoyed it so thoroughly I stayed for a month without diving.