We set out in the early evening from Missoula, Montana. The temperature was a balmy 20 degrees and white sand beaches seemed like a distant dream. By 12 a.m. we'd reached LAX and were minutes away from our overnight flight to Belize. As the test pilots for the new Delta direct route to Belize from Los Angeles, we were overjoyed when a member of our group handed us drink passes and we kicked up our feet, sipped on a night cap and fell asleep 13,000 feet in the air. Around 5am I awoke to nothing but blue ocean beneath me, Belize was now becoming a reality. I took off the cold weather layers and readied my feet in Chackos eager for the touch of humidity and sun. After making the way through customs in Belize City, a 14 person chariot met us and swept us away to Ambergris Caye. A 15 minutes flight over the iconic waters of Belize seemed like the perfect way to start this 10 day adventure.
Fast forward two hours we're on board a yacht, cruising to Hol Chan Marine Reserve. I first had my doubs about the location, wondering if we'd truly see any memorable marine life as Hol Chan is the largest and most visited reserve in Belize. After diving into the water, I was soon swept away into my very own marine world and every doubt seemed like a distant memory. Sting rays, sharks, mulitcolored fish, eels, and even a green turtle danced around in the waters, oblivous or simplly uncaring of the two legged creatures swimming around them.
Disembarking felt like floating on cloud nine. My traveling partner handed me a Pina Colada and we sat on our beachfront deck until our group snagged some golf carts and toured the town of San Pedro. The best part about Ambergris is the fusion between local culture and tourism. You'll find no towering resorts or fake cultural gift shops and you never really know who is a tourist, who is a townie and who just decided to up and move to Belize for good.
Further North...at least I think it was North though my proclivity for directions is quite non-existent...there is a bar situated on a dock almost floating in the water. Here you'll find Ambergris regular vacationers who either own a vacation home on the water or are lucky enough to know a friend who does and a large shot-ski. Typically, I shy away from large processions and the cheering of onlookers as shots are taken, but hey- when in Belize. I highly recommend the Chocolate Cake Shot taken out of a wooden plank with three other people.
To close our first and last day in Ambergris, we had cocktails and appetizers at the Phoenix and retired to bed much too soon in order to prepare for the trials and tribulations of jungle life, Belize style.
The agent had great response to questions and coordinated well to create an itinerary that met our expectations.
Bob Sunshine
1 day ago
Very responsive to all questions
Teresa Cardoso
2 days ago
Kelly and Rhenee were excellent to work with on planning our trip. The logistics all worked smoothly and everyone was friendly and on time. Our accommodations were very good, particularly the incredible Patagonia Camp in Torres del Paine! Our guides on every excursion were outstanding and made the hikes memorable! Overall we had a wonderful trip with incredible memories!
Scott Gibson
2 days ago
Adventure Life is definitely a first-class safari tour company, and our representative was Franny Friesz. First of all, she responded immediately after we contacted Adventure Life. We told Franny that we had never been on a safari, and she was more than eager to offer a mountain of information about the trip. She informed us fully about all the ups, downs, and all arounds! She even prepared a number of packages for us to review -- even after we made changes to the areas we wanted to explore. Friendly, helpful, professional, and extremely knowledgeable -- these words describe Franny, and what a wonderful trip she prepared! We couldn't have asked for better service than Franny of Adventure Life. We HIGHLY recommend her and her outstanding company! Bon Voyage!
Prima Burke
3 days ago
The staff at Adventure Life made planning my family's trip to the Galapagos Islands as easy as possible. They listened to what we were hoping to experience and made thoughtful suggestions about how to accomplish our vacation goals while meeting the needs of travelers ages 17-76! They patiently answered questions and follow up questions in the months leading up to the trip. They helped us trouble shoot and customize the trip in every way possible. The logistics involved in traveling from Boston to the Galapagos are innumerable. The Adventure Life staff helped us arrange every detail and the team they assembled in the Galapagos was tremendous. I have never done a trip this big before and after working with Adventure Life this time--would not hesitate one second in working with them again.