Ed Blank's Adventures Main Page
Frequently Asked Questions
Where do we fly to? You fly to Belize City, Belize. It is serviced out of Miami and Houston by Continental and American Airlines. The trip prices will include the flight from Belize City to Placencia
Do I need a passport? Yes, no visa is needed in advance, but you do need a passport.
What language to they speak in Belize? This is the former British Honduras and everyone speaks English as well as a second language, in the north it is spanish Spanish, and the south Creole or Garufina.
Is the food and water safe? When asked this question I am speaking the destinations on this website, not the rest of Belize. If you travel to other parts of Belize the answer is quite different. Purified water is served without question and is usually fresh rain water stored in cisterns. If you go outside of the resorts in Placencia and Belize City you always need to drink bottled water and be concerned about the food you select and where you eat.
What about money in Belize? One US dollar is worth 2 Belizean dollars . All stores accept US dollars or Belizean dollars. The prices everywhere on the island will be in Belizean dollars. If you are unsure if it is Belize or US it is fine to ask. Credit cards are not accepted for your bar tabs or tips at the lodge, we can process them for you here in the US before you leave. ( you can even prepay the bar tab if you want by charging it before you go).
How is the Fishing? I like Belize because it has a good mix of fish. There are bonefish galore, but having tarpon year round ( on flats no less), and permit year round makes this place fun. A good bonefish day with an experienced fly fisher is 15 fish. A poor day that same person can expect 3 fish. It also depends on the type of fishing you do. I like stalking individual fish in very shallow water so a daily total for me might only be 7 fish. In other situations the guide may stake you off near a school of a thousand fish where you may catch 10 in an hour, but it is virtually blind casting. Tarpon landings are few and far between. That's why the term "jumped a fish" is used. Hook them, watch them jump 5 feet in the air, and throw the hook. Even though there are more permit here than any place in the world 2 or 3 in a week is incredible! Seeing hundreds and catching zero is also a common experience.
Will my non-fishing family like it here? No probably not. This is a lodge for serious fly fishing enthusiasts. Beginners are welcome and the guides are great teachers there is just not many other things to do here. You would be better off on Ambergris Caye if this is a mixed interest group trip.
Are there any unexpected charges? The price for the trip includes the air and water transfers from Belize city to the resort, all taxes, fishing license, lodging, and 3 meals a day. The only other charges not included are: a $20 departure tax at Belize City when you leave the country, a tip for your fishing guide ($20-25/day/person) , tips for your waitstaff ( $5/day/person) and the bar tab. This one can add up so be careful!! Since you are relatively remote it costs a great deal to ship the food and beverages here. At the end of the trip when you check out you will settle your bar tab. Only bring cash for tips and tabs. If you need to prepay a bar tab on your charge card we can do that from the states - before you leave and refund any unspent money on your return.
What shots do I need? The CDC recommends lots of vaccines for Belize because they are speaking about the entire country. Some areas have no sanitation at all and no waste disposal at all. You will be at risk in those areas. Most all of the diseases on the CDC list such as Typhoid are completely eliminated by normal sanitation and waste treatment. Therefore the only legitimate risk on their list for visiting the resorts listed here in Belize is Malaria which is carried by certain mosquitoes. Since we do have some mosquitoes it is possible that Malaria could be contracted while visiting us. The risk is indeed small but there. Please consult your doctor if you have any concerns at all.
Ed Blank's Adventures Main Page
PO BOX 180446 BOSTON MA 02118
Phone: 888-857-6700
Fax: 617-427-7890
ed@flyfishingheaven.com