The island of Ambergris Caye is the largest island of Belize located off the eastern coast. Is it easily accessible by a short 15 minute plane ride from the airport in Belize City., or a 1-2 hour ferry boat ride.
Rob has visited the island for a scuba diving trip in 2019, and both Rob and I vacationed on the island in 2020. It is a beautiful tropical destination that offers visitors both a chance to just relax or to participate in several activities such as scuba diving, snorkeling, boating, fishing.
Everyone on the island speaks English. There is no need to worry about any type of language barrier.
Everywhere on the island accepts US dollars and most all places accept credit cards. The exchange rate is 1 USD = 2 BZD (belize dollars) and if you pay for something in USD, you may be given BZD back as change which you can then spend anywhere on the island. Please let your credit card company know the dates of your travel so they are informed- usually you can do this on your card's website under "travel alert."
Yes. Also, always keep a copy of your passport with you as your travel in case you lose the real thing. If you do not have a passport or need to renew, allow a minimum of 4 months for USPS to get your passport to you!
Sunny and warm everyday. Temps are generally 70-80 degrees during the day and slightly cooler at night. February is considered dry season on the island and chance of rain is rare.
Rob and I will be staying at the site of the wedding- Ramon's Village Resort from 2/5/2022 through 2/15/2022 with the wedding on Friday 2/11/2022. Since this is their busiest time of the year, they currently require guests to make a 7 day Saturday to Saturday reservation if you wish to stay there. There are many other options available within walking distance of the resort to accommodate different lengths and dates of stay. As of right now (August 2021) you need proof of a reservation at a Gold Standard Hotel to get into the country- there are plenty on the island and a list can be found at https://caribbeanlifestyle.com/belize-gold-standard-hotel-list/ Also, if searching on AirBnB many places are GOLD STANDARD with more affordable pricing! Contact Cara if you need help with finding an AirBnB.
As of Jan 2022 all travelers both vaccinated and unvaccinated will be required to present a negative PCR COVID test taken within 96 hours or a negative result from a rapid antigen test within 48 hours of travel. If it has been more than 96 or 48 hours, travelers are able to take a rapid test at the airport. The cost for this is is USD $50 CASH ONLY per passenger. A negative test will fast track arrival processing. However, depending on the health screening results, the traveler may be randomly selected for secondary testing. An official email or other correspondence from the facility of your COVID test with your name clearly indicated your negative result will suffice. If you chose to test at the airport and you test positive, you will be placed in a mandatory quarantine for 14 days at your own expense. You will need a PCR or rapid antigen test taken within 72 hours of returning to the US in paper or electronic format.
As of Jan 2022, in order to travel to Belize, you must also show proof of a reservation at a Gold Standard Hotel. (This means that they are top of the line in health and safety). The resort we are staying at (Ramon's) is Gold Standard. Many AirBnB's are now also gold standard. You can find a list of hotels https://www.travelbelize.org/health-safety to obtain further information. I will be checking the Belize travel restrictions and updating this page every month to keep everyone informed of any changes. If you are curious, a simple google search "traveling to Belize" will answer any of your questions. Face masks are REQUIRED in public spaces. Please print EVERYTHING to bring with you while traveling- do not rely on your cell phone in case it does not work. Also, it will make it easier to get through customs. If you are vaccinated, bring your card and also keep a photo of it on your phone!
There are no rental cars on the island, but instead you can rent a golf cart to get around! Ramon's resort is a 5 minute walk from the airport, and if you are staying in town you should be just fine walking! If you know you will not be venturing outside of town, you will not need a golf cart. If you are planning on venturing further outside of town, staying outside of town, taking a trip to Secret Beach (highly recommend) or dining or catching a movie or participating in trivia night at the Truck Stop (also recommend!) you can always rent a golf cart for a day or two, instead of for your entire visit, but it is up to you. Also, check with the place you are staying if whether or not they can pick you up from the airport if you do not want to walk- I know the Isla Bonita Yacht Club offers pickup from the airport. I found this blog post to be helpful: https://www.sanpedroscoop.com/2017/02/rent-golf-cart-ambergris-caye-belize.html
As of Jan 2022 you need proof of a reservation at a Gold Standard Hotel in order to travel to Belize. Since Ramon's Resort requires a 7 night Saturday to Saturday reservation, I have gathered the other Gold Standard Hotels within walking distance from Ramon's: The Palms Oceanfront Suites (next door to Ramon's, a one minute walk) Isla Bonita Yacht Club (6 minute walk) The Phoenix Resort (10 minute walk) Mayan Princess Hotel, 2 Barrier Reef Dr, San Pedro, Belize (10 minute walk on the beach from Ramon's) Hummingbird Suites- San Pedro (10-15 minute walk from Ramon's) San Pedro Holiday Hotel, San Pedro, Belize (5 minute walk on the beach from Ramon's) Ambergris Sunset Hotel (10 minute walk) Tradewinds Paradise Villas (12 minute walk) Banyan Bay Suites (15-20 minute walk) There are also plenty of more places to stay, but they will require a golf cart rental since they are a 30 minute + walking distances.
To search for options go to this website https://caribbeanlifestyle.com/belize-gold-standard-hotel-list/ and then in the search bar type in "Ambergris Caye" to immediately narrow down the options on the island. You can then use Google directions between looking at hotels and "Ramon's Resort" to check the travel distance.
If you have Verizon, you will want to check to see if you have an international plan. If you do, once you land in Belize you will get a message on your phone asking if you would like to enact a Travel Pass in order to use your phone data, this will cost you 10 dollars per day. It begins on a 24 hour cycle once you use any data in the country and you are only billed on the days in which you use data on your phone. My advice is to keep your phone on airplane mode and wifi at the same time. Most all places to stay and restaurants on the island have wifi, so using your phone should not be a problem, but you always have the option to turn wifi off and use data for 10 dollars for 24 hours if you would like to. Google maps also always works whether or not you are using data on your phone. If you do not have Verizon, contact your provider and ask how their international travel plans work or search their website!
Beach casual! The ceremony and reception will be on the beach. Shorts or pants, button up shirts or polos, summer dresses and sandals are all ok!
Everything is in one place at Ramon's! Accessing Ramon's is easy by walking along the beach. The ceremony will be outside and will last about 15-20 minutes. Cocktail hour to follow. Dinner will be at 6. Everything is outside and on the beach- so wear comfortable beach shoes!
There will be a cocktail hour followed by a buffet for dinner. There will be an OPEN BAR consisting of beer, wine, and liquor with mixers.
Ceremony 4pm. Cocktail hour 4:30-5:30. Dinner 6pm. Reception will be over by 10pm. Don't worry, plenty of places are open past 10pm for all you party animals.
Check the "Schedule" page and feel free to join us on any adventures!