"Journey from Belize" Playa del Carmen Travelogue by paradisedreamer

We left our hotel near Miami airport very early because we knew security would take forever. As it turned out we had three hours to wait at the airport.

Once we arrived in Belize we changed some money even though USD can be used everywhere. We got a taxi (standard rate is 20USD to the centre). It was so fantastic to be in a third world country again, I just find it everything so much easier and more organised. My first impression of Belize on the drive from the aiport was that it was just like Fiji in many ways. We went to the Belcove hotel and luckily they had a vacancy, it is just over the swing bridge on the river. We got a very nice room with a double and a single bed AND it was within budget and air conditioned. The people at the hotel are very friendly and helpful. The owner told us how to get to Mexico and would check the timetable and organise us a taxi to the bus terminal for tomorrow.

We sat out on the balcony overlooking the river and had something to drink. Belize City is very rundown and tatty and couldnt be more perfect (excuse the lack of punctuation but I cant find the keys on this keyboard!).

We had not had breakfast or lunch so we had an early dinner at the restaurant next door (Marlins) which was owned by the same person as our hotel. The food was very simple, you had a choice of pork, chicken, beans or fish with rice and salad. It was nice to finally have a homemade meal that did not include french fries as the vegetable! We all had a good meal for US$12 drinks included. Back at the hotel we read the lonely planet to plan our next move but Marc passed out and Sam was glued to the TV so I also fell asleep. We will just get a bus to Chetumal, just over the border in Mexico and take it from there.

The taxi got us to the bus terminal in time for the 9am bus to Chetumal. Novelos has a monopoly over the buses in Belize and there is one main bus terminal. It is very basic, there are no departure boards just a simple ticket office and then a waiting area with a mud patch where all the buses are parked. We got on our express bus and actually set off on time! (BZ$14 each). We had a pit stop at Orange Walk and then changed buses at Corozal just south of the border.

Exiting Belize you have to pay US$30 per person plus BZ$7.50. We only paid $15 each (nothing for kids) as we had been in Belize for less than 72 hours. On the Mexican side you have to carry your luggage across and then pay US$20 per person including Sam at any bank before you leave Mexico (if you fly it is included in the price of your ticket). Not a cheap border crossing!

We got to Chetumal just before 1pm. There was a 1.30 bus to Playa del Carmen so we decided to go the whole hog (another 6 hour bus journey) instead of staying overnight in Chetumal and having two travel days. The Mexican buses (ADO) are very comfortable, it was MX$150 each and MX$100 for Sam which we could pay in USD, lucky for us since we only had a few Pesos on us.

We got to Playa after dark and got a taxi to one of the hotels in the LP. No vacancies we tried about 4 more places, getting alittle more worried as each place was full. The fifth place had a vacancy and it turned out to be really nice. Hotel de la Flores is just off Calle 4 about three blocks from the beach. It is a beautiful hacienda style hotel around a very pretty tropical garden and a nice swimming pool. Luckily they also took USD!

We walked down towards the beach and had a nice dinner on the sidewalk of a pedestrianised road. It was good to be in a laid back holiday place. Things have been a bit hectic so far so we are looking forward to some time out. The margaritas sure got Marc chilled out!
We walked around the beach area (Quinta Av) and then came back to the hotel.