Words & Tricks

Travel to the Yucatan, Belize or Costa Rica

If you’ve been debating a trip to the tropics this Winter, I can offer some advice about countries that I’ve visited. Mexico (specifically the Yucatan Peninsula), Belize, and Costa Rica.

I hope these articles are helpful to you in choosing your destination. It’s by no means an exhaustive list of what I learned during my trips. So, please, ask questions in the comments section, or send me an email at chris [at] chrispommier.com, and I’ll answer your questions as quickly and thoroughly as I can.

Where to?
How to choose a tropical destination

• Three Things I learned in Belize, plus One
• 4 differences between Belize and Costa Rica

What to visit while you’re there.
Example Itineraries

• You Better Belize It!
• Belize Itinerary, with Pictures
• Our Costa Rica itinerary and some highlights from our trip

Nearby Belize: Cancun, and Cozumel
Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico

• Cancun International Airport to Playa del Carmen
• Playa del Carmen and Cozumel

A view from the tropics:
Pictures and photos!

Costa Rica, 2008
585 photos

Rainforest
277 photos

Reef
39 photos

Ruins
97 photos

Further Reading on Words & Tricks

• Belize Itinerary, with Pictures (6)
• You Better Belize It! (1)
• 4 differences between Belize and Costa Rica (4)
• Playa del Carmen and Cozumel (3)
• Cancun International Airport to Playa del Carmen (1)

Tags: Belize, belize pictures, Cancun, cancun airport, cancun international, Carmen, Costa Rica, Cozumel, international, Itineraries, itinerary, Mexico, photos, pics, reef, trip, tropical, tropics, yucatan peninsula mexico cancun

Belize Itinerary, with Pictures

So, if you’ve been to any of these places and have suggestions on what to see or do, please leave a comment! The more, the merrier.

Day 1: January 2, 2007
Depart Minneapolis 6:30 AM
Arrive Cancun, MX 11:45 AM
Shuttle to Playa del Carmen
Fairy to Cozumel
Hotel: Meson San Miguel
Hotel Cost: $70 USD

Day 2, Jan. 3
Travel day

• Fairy to Playa del Carmen
• Bus from Playa del Carmen to Chetumal on the border of Mexico & Belize
• Bus from Chetumal to Belize City
• Bus from Belize City to San Ignacio

Arrive in the evening at Kumquat Cottage in San Ignacio, Belize
Cost for 1 week stay at Kumquat Cottage: $300 USD (recently raised to $360)

Day 3 - 8, Jan 4-9

San Ignacio, Belize
Exploring the Cayo District
Daytrip to Tikal, Guatamala
Base of operations:
Kumquat Cottage, San Ignacio, Belize

Cayo District Area:

• Cahal Pech
• Xunantunich
• Butterfly Farms
• Tanah Art Museum
• Hiking National Parks

Daytrip: Tikal, Guatemala

Day 8, Jan 9
Travel to Caye Caulker

Hotel: Jaguar Morningstar
Cost: $51 USD per night

Day 8-10, Jan 9-11
Snorkeling, lounging and eating.

Night of Jan 11
Treat ourselves to one night at Barefoot Beach Hotel
Cost: $69 USD

Day 11, Jan 12
Travel Day
Back up to Puerto Morelos, Mexico
Just outside of Cancun
Hotel: Posado El Moro
Cost: $60 USD

Day 12, Jan 13
Flight back to Minneapolis
Leaves 11:30 am
Arrives: 4 pm

Further Reading on Words & Tricks

• Travel to the Yucatan, Belize or Costa Rica (0)
• You Better Belize It! (1)
• Playa del Carmen and Cozumel (3)
• Cancun International Airport to Playa del Carmen (1)
• Back from Belize! (1)

Tags: Belize, Cancun, Cozumel, images, itinerary, Kumquat, map, Mexico, photos, pics, vacation