IN BELIZE

Placencia

 

By far the most popular weekend trip for clinic visitors, the village of Placencia is located on a peninsula about 60 miles north of Punta Gorda.  Unlike Punta Gorda, Placencia has the classic white sandy beaches seen in Belizean tourist brochures, and also offers a more-developed tourist infrastructure: although the village retains its local flavor, there is an extensive selection of restaurants, bars, shops, and tour operators.  As in Punta Gorda, a number of marine excursions are also available.  Bungalows on the beach for 2-4 people vary from US$40-$75 a night, depending on the season.

 

San Ignacio

 

San Ignacio, located inland in western Belize, is a town set among rolling hills and a jungle landscape.  There are wide a range of activities possible in the region, including canoeing, tubing, and swimming in the Belize and Macal Rivers; exploring caves; visiting the Mayan ruins of Caracol and Xunantunich; and jungle hiking and bird-watching.  San Ignacio itself, like Placencia, offers a selection of restaurants, bars, and shops; several luxury resorts are also located in the area.  Of special interest to clinic visitors is the self guided Medicine Trail of medicinal rainforest plants.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Northern Cayes

 

Belize is home to the longest coral reef system in the Western Hemisphere.  It is also home of several coral atolls.  Belize is considered to be one of the world’s best places for SCUBA diving and snorkeling.  Some students arrange with PADI SCUBA shops in their home towns to do their book and pool studies there and then get certified once they arrive in Belize. There are certified dive shops on all of the Cayes and in Placentia that can be referenced on the internet.

 

Ambergris Caye is the northernmost Caye and caters to tourists of all financial levels.  There is much to do in San Pedro town as well as along the coral sand beach.  There are rentals for windsurfing, sailing, snorkeling, as well as plenty of tourist shops.

 

Caye Caulker has many of the same attractions as its neighbor to the north but runs at a much more Caribbean pace and a much lower cost of living.