Sarteneja, Corozal: Backpacker’s Paradise – After a needlessly long border crossing and an even longer drive over the worst road we’ve been on yet, watching the sun set behind us, we were super excited to arrive at this beautiful hostel/campground (dry camping) – PROS: restaurant on site (we didn’t eat there), short walk into town, screened in common room with camp kitchen, hot showers, fast free wifi in restaurant and common area (was a bit slow in our rig), plenty of outlets in common area to charge your electronics – CONS: very buggy, the road out to Sarteneja is a disaster (you know it’s bad when the border agent advises you against driving on it), bathrooms are pretty grimy – 6USD/person/night – GPS: 18.3445 N, 88.15285 W
Belize City, Belize: Old Belize Marina – We left our camper here when we went to Caye Caulker as well as camped here. The restaurant has good food, way better than the name TGI Crazy Gringo would suggest. – PROS: safe and friendly, hot showers, laundry on site (buy tokens in the office), restaurant on site, electric and water available, free (slow) wifi, swimming area (with giant water slide!) – CONS: quite a long walk to the bathroom, nothing within walking distance, it’s a 15USD taxi ride back into Belize City to get the water taxi out to the cayes plus another 25BZD return to the marina when you get back – 15BZD/night – GPS: 17.472981 N, -88.248818 W
Caye Caulker: Hummingbird Hideaway Cabin – After a short panic about not having anywhere to stay (see the note below), Brenda had a last minute cancellation which meant we could have the Hummingbird for two nights! Dog friendly spots are almost non-existent on Caye Caulker so if you plan to go, book way ahead of time. We would highly recommend this place whether or not you are traveling with a dog. – PROS: Cute lilac cabin on stilts in quiet residential area, dedicated modem means free fast internet (as long as it isn’t raining), hot showers, pool, complimentary bikes, full kitchen and eating area, A/C in the bedroom, detached living room, hammock – CONS: A fair distance from the bars and restaurants (although only really a problem when you can’t use the bikes) – 79USD/night + 9% Hotel Tax + 35USD Cleaning Fee – We used Caye Caulker Water Taxi at a price of 30BZD R/T per person
- NOTE: Where we did NOT stay on Caye Caulker: Ignacio’s Cabins. Long story short, they told us they took dogs, we gave them our credit card to hold the room, when we showed up the owner let us stand in his doorway for 15 minutes while he hung out with his buddy and then said “Oh, did I neglect to tell you we don’t allow dogs?” Awesome. We tried to argue our case before realizing that we didn’t want to give this creep any of our money, even if he would change his mind so off we went in a mild panic, found a place for lunch and rum punch with wifi and an hour or so later were happily settled at the Hummingbird.
San Ignacio, Cayo: The Trek Stop – A good place to place to stay before crossing the border into Guatemala – PROS: Camp Kitchen, fast free wifi (near restaurant), warm (solar) showers, restaurant on site – CONS: Composting toilets (stinky), one of the two camp dogs will not leave other dogs alone, not cool – 5USD/person/night – GPS: 17.090928 N, 89.122338 W
