Belize
Traveling with kids in Belize is an adventure - ancient Maya ruins and caves to explore, tropical rain forests filled with colorful toucans, howler monkeys, bright green iguanas, and the barrier reef (second longest in the world) for snorkeling.
Regions
Birds, birds, birds - In Belize, when kids go to sleep at night and wake up in the morning, there's a bird orchestra, the sounds of birds calling to each other.
One morning we took a walk with an experienced Belizean guide to learn about birds in the rain forest. Not only could our guide spot birds in the dense jungle vegetation, but he could identify birds by bird sounds, and do a perfect imitation.
The best time to see birds is early in the morning, bring your binoculars (some of the birds are high in the trees).
Zip line canopy tours - Kids love the sensation of flying through the trees, high above the rain forest below. Put on a hard hat and gloves, strap on a harness, the harness is clipped to a pulley, step off the platform and there you are, zipping along on a cable. Ask at your hotel or lodge to arrange a zip line canopy tour, or try Caves Branch Adventures.
Fun food
In the warm weather, kids will want to try refreshing fresh-fruit drinks - coconut, pineapple, orange and watermelon.
Fun snacks are Salbutes and Garnaches, delicious little mini-tostadas, piled with chicken, beef, cheese, refried beans, cabbage salsa. The traditional dish of Belize is rice and beans, often made with coconut milk. Fry jacks, airy deep-fried dough triangles, are typical at breakfast.
