New Yorker Vacation Slideshow - Daniel Levey on Vacation in Belize - December 2007

Daniel Levey booked the 5 Night Belize Extreme Jungle Package at the Belize Jungle Dome.

View Dans personal slideshow : Click here

Belize Best Travel Book Reviews - Fodors Belize 2007/2008 (Paperback)

Amazon Editorial Review - Though it's a mere sliver on the Caribbean, Belize is one of the fastest growing destinations in Central America, and it's easy to see why. Belize enchants over 230,000 visitors a year—including honeymooners, celebrities, and diving and deep-sea fishing enthusiasts—with its surreal landscape. This brand-new guide gives a thorough overview of the entire country, from inland Maya ruin expeditions to coastal adventures.

Belize is fast establishing itself on the tourist map. It offers idyllic beaches, surreal landscapes, Mayan ruins, colourful highland markets and creole food. Kayak out to remote reefs, encounter jaguars on a morning hike, wander among ruins still tangled in jungle, explore underground burial chambers, even snorkel with whales - "Fodor's Belize 2007" offers all these experiences and more! Our local writers have travelled through the country from Belize City to St George's Caye, from Big Creek to Belmopan, to find the best hotels, restaurants, attractions and activities to prepare you for a journey of stunning variety. Before you leave for Belize be sure to pack your "Fodor's" guide to make sure you don't miss a thing.

• 8-page color insert
• Full coverage of outdoor activities from hiking in the Cayo district to boating around the atolls
• Feature chapter on Maya Ruins, including tips on visiting a ruin and a specialized itinerary

Trip Review Cincinatti, Ohio, USA - Jeri and Chris Kuck visited Belize - November 2007

To Everyone at the Jungle Dome

Thank you so much for the amazing jungle experience. Everything was so well organized and the staff so helpful the only thing we had to do was enjoy everything. And that we did! Every excursion was incredible (especially Tikal & ATM Caves) the food excellent and the hospitality can not be beat! Four days are not enough.

Jen & Chris Kuck
Cincinnati, Ohio, USA

November 23, 2007

Jeri and Chris stayed for 4 Nights at the Belize Jungle Dome in the Cayo District of Belize.

Pater Family - Yellowknife, Canada - Belize Dolphin Encounter

Pater family stayed at the Belize Jungle Dome in December 2007 and enjoyed the 8 Night Belize Jungle Safari Package.

HAPPY CHRISTMAS FROM THE BELIZE JUNGLE DOME TEAM

From our Management, Gardening, Housekeeping, Kitchen, Driving and Maintenance team - Mynor, Marina, Karen, Tella, Wani, David, David and Miquel

To all our Past, present and future guests.

Click for more information about the Belize Jungle Dome.

Belize Trip Review from Littlehampton, England - Attrill Family - December 2007

[We are] Totally gutted that this is our last night here at the Jungle Dome – the Cayes are going to have a lot to live up to!

We have had an amazing time here from cave tubing, zip lining, visiting ATM & Xunantunich, horse riding, massages, eating great food, gong to the butterfly farm, doing the Black Hole Drop to just spending a relaxing day by the pool .

We would recommend the Jungle Dome to anyone ~ quite simply great!

Julie, Lloyd & Mila Attrill

Littlehampton, UK

The Attrill family stayed at the Belize Jungle Dome in December 2007

Belize Trip Review - Toronto, Canada - Jennie and Chris Record - November 2007

Love the Jungle Dome! Beautiful spot – not enough time. The ruins were great as was Luis, the guide. We will be recommending this place to our friends seeking adventure!

Cheers
Jennie & Chris
Toronto, Canada

Stayed at the Belize Jungle Dome - November 2007

Belize Trip Review - Peter and Cassy Karlsson, Dallas, Texas, USA - October 2007

Thanks to everyone for a memorable and unique experience. The Che Chem Ha Cave was fantastic and William really knew his stuff. The jungle horseback ride was exhilarating both for an experienced rider and my dad. The Black Hole Drop was unforgettable.

The WHOLE staff were incredibly kind and helpful

We ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT!!!

Cassy and Peter Karlsson
Dallas, TX

October 2007

Booked the 4 Night Mayan Adventure Belize Package at the Belize Jungle Dome.

Group Belize Travel Review - Al Romao, Adam and Crew from New Jersey, New York, USA - December 2007

This is our second time staying at the Belize Jungle Dome. Our first stay was so incredible that we decided to come back, but this time we brought seven friends and family along with us!

The Jungle Dome is the kind of place that you feel immediately welcomed into their beautiful sanctuary. You become a part of their family for you stay. The staff are incredible, the food will put any five star restaurant to shame and the ambiance and rooms are wonderful.

The excursions that are available through the Jungle Dome are incredible, adventurous and a once in a lifetime trip. I highly suggest visiting the ancient Mayan Ruin City of Caracol, the deep Mayan caves of Actun Tunicial Mucknal (ATM), The Black Hole Drop (Not for the faint of heart) and the many other wonderful day trips that they offer. Each trip has lunches included and transportation which makes the day trips stress free and easy to relax.

I Highly recommend the Belize Jungle Dome if you are looking for a great adventure in a wonderful and friendly country and looking for a resort to stay at that has the feel of the jungle but with the comforts of home.

Thank you Karen, Luiz, David, Tella, Wani, Andy, Simone & Max for our wonderful stay and accomodations for our large group!

We all had the time of our lives and will never forget our stay with you.

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts,

Al, Adam and our crew from New Jersey, New York, USA - December 2007

The Banaue Rice Terraces: "Eight Wonder of the World"

In Luzon Province of northern Philippines, through mountains and rice terraces the road ends at a church, in a small town called Banaue. About 4,000 feet above sea-level in Banaue sits a small market in Ifugao Province located north from Manila- the Philippines' capital. What is most distinct about Banaue is its century old gigantic man-made structure rice terraces that were carved into mountains of Ifugao by ancestors of Batad indigenous people. The Rice Terraces are commonly referred to as the “Eight Wonder of the World”. Estimated 2,000 to 6,000 years old years the terraces were built with minimal equipment, largely by hand that no doubt, a tourist destination in the Philippines. The terraces are located approximately 1500 meters (5000 feet) above sea level and cover 10,360 square kilometers (about 4000 square miles) of mountainside.

To reach Banaue, one find it more easier to set from Manila rather than to Baguio, and many prefer the former as the gateway for trips to Bontoc and Sagada.

From Manila, the most convenient way is to take the 10pm bus from either Dangwa Bus or Auto Bus (During peak seasons or holy week, you have to at least reserve ticket on week or 3 days before trip whenever possible). Ticket will cost around PHP 290 (approx. 6 to 7 USD). Trips are usually daily. The trip will usually take you around 8 to 9 hours. The trip will pass by Neighboring Provinces of Nueva Vizcaya, Bayombong, Solano, Bambang. You will arrive around 5 to 6 am the next day.

More on Philippines' best tourist vacation destination.

Morton Belize Family Vacation - from New York, USA, November 2007

Morton Family Vacation Photos from their Belize Trip in November 2007. Elijah, Gos, Keith, Sami and Josh from New York, USA.

Belize Vacation Photos - Andy Belk and his family from San Francisco, USA - Nov 2007

Searching for Tarantulas in Belize - and finding them!!!

The Belk family from San Francisco, USA, found more than they were expecting on a Cave Tubing trip in Belize. November 2007.

Two Belize Zip Liners

Facebook for Travellers to Belize, Central America

Click here to upload Belize pictures and photos from your trips. Add comments and start discussions about Belize Travel.

If you are already a facebook member and want an invite, email us at info@greendragonbelize.com

Honeymooners and Couples in Belize, Central America

Belize Island Fun on the Cayes (photo slideshow)

Boracay: White Sand Island

When you want to relax in a tropical white sand beach in the Philippines, Boracay is just one of the hottest travel destinations in attracting thousands of foreign travelers in the country every season.

Boracay Island, the world famous island is located in Aklan province off the northwest corner of the island of Panay 345 kms. South of Manila and belongs to the Western Visayas island-group, or Region VI, of the Philippines. The island is approximately seven kilometers long, dog-bone shaped with the narrowest spot being less than one kilometer wide, and has a total land area of 10.32 square kilometers.

This beautiful island is surrounded by coral reefs wherein its best part is a "White Sand Beach", also known as the Long Beach by its residents. It is located at the West Coast between the villages of Balabag and Angol, and some experienced travelers claim it to be the "Finest Beach of all Asia". The water is shallow, sand is finer and more brighter than any most beaches in the archipelago. There are about 350 beach hotel resorts with more than 2000 rooms to suit virtually everyone's taste.

The white sand beach is blindingly white and powdery sand, is the main tourism beach. It is a bit over four kilometers long and is lined with resorts, hotels, lodging houses, restaurants, and other tourism-related businesses. In the central portion, for about two kilometers, there is a footpath known as the Beachfront Path separating the beach itself from the establishments located along it. North and south of the Beachfront Path, beachfront establishments do literally front along the beach itself. Several roads and paths connect the Beachfront Path with Boracay's Main Road, a vehicular road which runs the length of the island. At the extreme northern end of White Beach, a footpath runs around the headland there and connects White Beach with Diniwid Beach.

Across the island from White Beach is Bulabog Beach, a secondary tourism beach and Boracay's main windsurfing and kiteboarding area.

Either from Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila or Mactan-Cebu International Airport in Cebu, take flights to Boracay either via Kalibo (45 minutes away) or via Caticlan (30-40 minutes away). From Kalibo airport, air-conditioned vans and buses take passengers to the Caticlan Jetty Port, where boats provide transport to the island. Motorized tricycles will take passengers from Caticlan airport to the jetty port, 3 minutes away. From Caticlan jetty port, boat ride takes 15-20 minutes to get to Boracay.

If you want to take more views on reaching the island you can also take a travel by land. Buses and cars run from Manila to the southern provinces by means of the Strong Republic Nautical Highway. A nautical system conceptualized under the term of Pres. Arroyo. Buses leave from the Philtranco terminal in Cubao and Pasay City throughout the day. The journey by bus takes approximately 12 hours. Caticlan is the fourth seaport encountered along the SRNH while traveling south from Manila.

When you reach the island the two main modes of transport are via motor-tricycles along the main road or by walking along the beaches. Pedicabs are also available for transport along the Beachfront Path. Other means of transportation include mountain bikes quadbikes and motorbikes, all of which can be rented.

To explore around the island's coast, motorized bancas and sailing paraws are available for rent. These are outrigger canoes and are common sight in waters around the island. The sailing paraw is a narrow hulled boat with outriggers either side and with passengers sometimes seated on a trampoline platform between the outriggers supports. These are extremely fast off the wind, but can be unwieldy for inexperienced sailors.

Boracay has been known by Filipinos as the "Number One Tourist Spot In The Philippines". While a British publication known as TV Quick, awarded Boracay as the Number One Tropical Beach In The World!

More on Philippines' best tourist vacation destination.

Activity and Adventure Vacations in Belize (Photo Slideshow)

Vacation Images and Photos from our Belize Guestbook

Click Here for more Photos and Pictures of our Belize Vacations and Holidays.

The Philippine Tarsier

“The world's smallest monkey" is an often heard slogan. However, it is not a monkey. In truth, its classification is somewhat problematic. Some scienties consider tarsiers to be a taxonomic suborder among the primates. While, because they are closely related to lemurs, lorises and bushbabies, others classify them with the prosimians to which these animals belong.

The Philippine Tarsier (Tarsius syrichta), known locally as the Mawmag in Cebuano/Visayan is a tiny animal measuring about 4 to 6 inches (15 cm) in height. The small size makes it difficult to discover. The average mass for males is around 134 grams, and for females, around 117 grams. The average adult is about the size of a human fist and will fit very comfortably in the human hand.

Like all tarsiers, the Philippine Tarsier has a round head that can be rotated 180 degrees. It has a special adaptation in the neck to do this, its eyes being fixed and not being able to move. The large membranous ears are mobile, appearing to be almost constantly moving, causing any movement to be heard. It has uniquely large goggling eyes (disproportionate to its head and body), listed in the Guiness Book of Records as the largest eyes on a mammal. Being nocturnal, having these huge eyes are perfect for night vision.

Today in the Philippines it is more popular of its existence in area of Bohol that somehow aside from the province’s beautiful white sand beaches and the Chocolate Hills boasts the tourism of the province. But sad to say that this tiny and lovely creature is an endangered species in the Philippines.

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Magellan’s Cross

Magellan’s cross is a large Christian cross planted by the Portugese and Spanish explorers upon arriving in Cebu, Philippines, as ordered by Ferdinand Magellan. This historical cross signifies the important event about the propagation of the Roman Catholic faith in the Philippines. The original cross is reputedly encased in another wooden cross.This is to protect the original cross from people who chipped away parts of the cross for souvenir purposes or in the belief that the cross possesses miraculous powers. Some people, however, believe that the original cross had been destroyed or had disappeared after Magellan's death, and the cross is a replica that was planted there by the Spaniards after they successfully colonized the Philippines.

Today as a historical landmark one’s trip wouldn’t be completed if this this will not be visited, which rest next to Basilica Minore del santo Niño, just in front of the city hall of Cebu City, Philippines.

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Contact

Help promote Philippine Ecotourism.

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Email to ggyphilippines (at) gmail (dot) com

New Belize Villa at the Jungle Dome

The Belize Jungle Dome is pleased to announce the completion of the newest accommodations on the intimate resorts stunning Jungle surroundings in the heart of the countries adventure district.

This luxury Villa features :

• 3 Bedrooms
• 3 Bathrooms
• Full Kitchen
• Outside Terraces
• Satellite T/V
• Lounge
• Breakfast Bar
• Stunning surroundings including views of the Belize River and Landscaped Gardens

The Villa has been built utilizing modern techniques such as Solar Hot Water Heating, Rainwater collection and environmentally friendly Waste disposal. Yet none of this detracts from the luxury this Villa provides for its guests.

For more information on renting this Villa for your small group or family contact us at info@belizejungledome.com

About Philippines

Philippines (Pilipinas), officially the Republic of the Philippines (Republika ng Pilipinas; RP), is an island nation located in Southeast Asia, with Manila as its capital city. The Philippine Archipelago comprises 7,107 islands in the western Pacific Ocean and primarily divided into three major islands as Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.

As a former colony of Spain and the United States, the Philippines has many affinities with the Western world including Spain and Latin America due to three centuries of Spanish colonial rule. Roman Catholicism is the most predominant religion consisting of more than 80% of the population, making it the 4th largest Catholic nation in the world. Muslims, on the other hand, are major non-Hispanicized population, concentrated in the Sulu archipelago and in central and western Mindanao, and the mountain groups of northern Luzon.

With more than 180 native languages and dialects are spoken, all belonging to the Malay-Polynesian linguistic family, Tagalog is considered as national language and Cebuano is the second predominant. However, only Tagalog and English are used as the official media of instruction within the whole archipelago.

As a democratic country its government body is composed of president who mainly governs as the head of the state, elected by popular vote to a six-year term, during which they appoint and preside over the cabinet. The bicameral Congress is composed of a Senate, serving as the upper house, whose members are elected nationally to a six-year term, and a House of Representatives serving as the lower house whose members are elected to a three-year term and are elected from legislative districts and through sectoral representation. The judicial power is vested in the Supreme Court, composed of a Chief Justice as its presiding officer and fourteen associate justices, all appointed by the President from nominations submitted by the Judicial Bar and Council.

With its land area 40% of its comprised to agricultural and forestry which produce food crops for domestic consumption and cash crops for export and with its 7,107 islands it is expected that it has a very wide range for fishing activities.

Industrial production is centered on the processing and assembly operations of the following: food, beverages, tobacco, rubber products, textiles, clothing and footwear, pharmaceuticals, paints, plywood and veneer, paper and paper products, small appliances, and electronics. Heavier industries are dominated by the production of cement, glass, industrial chemicals, fertilizers, iron and steel, and refined petroleum products.

The Philippines also has significant deposits of mineral wealth such as gold, clay, limestone, marble, silica, and phosphate. The discovery of natural gas reserves off Palawan has been brought on-line to generate electricity.

Talking about foreign tie ups, the government also engage on import-export activities which also give a big contribution to the country’s economic income which the U.S. traditionally has been the Philippines' largest foreign investor.

View Philippines' best tourist vacation destination.

Belize Dolphin Encounter

Before you go into the water with the dolphins, the trainers teach you a thing or two about the animals. About their physiology, their behavior and about ways that we can all protect their habitat. You are then taught how to behave in the water with the animals. The 4 dolphins at Spanish Lookout Caye are bottlenose dolphins, bred in captivity & they are all relatively young, about 4 to 6 years old, so they are still learning a lot and don’t always behave perfectly.

For more information email us at info@greendragonbelize.com

Belize Trip Review - Wilkerson Family from Texas, USA

We booked the "Reef and Ruins" package and had no idea what we were getting into. Turns out that this was the best vacation ever. From the moment we arrived in Belize we felt so welcome. David greeted us at the airport with a big smile and took us on our first adventure, the Belize Zoo.

Our seven year old was already having the time of his life. After the zoo David drove us to the Jungle Dome. As we arrived at the Jungle Dome we were greeted by the sounds of howler monkeys and parrots. At that moment we knew that this was going to be some adventure. Karen ,the manager, greeted us at the front gate like we were old friends returning home. Her warmth and friendliness was so comforting. She showed us around the property and brought us to our room. The room was spacious and very clean and it looked out to the pool. There were warm chocolate chip cookies waiting for us. We were ready to see what was next for us.

During our stay we visited CheChem Ha and Xunantunich with our English speaking guide Luis. He was very knowledgeable about the Mayan Ruins and surrounding plants. We enjoyed his company and were lucky enough to have him as our guide on two other tours, cave tubing and Tikal. Our son's favorite outing was the zip lining. He enjoyed climbing through the jungle and climbing up to the first platform. If you could see his face coming across the zip line it was worth a millon dollars! The views from Xunantunich and Tikal were spectacular although the ride to Guatamala was a bit bumpy, but worth it. The horse back riding with Kim in the cocoa fields was great, the horses were friendly and easy to ride and the lunch served afterwards was the best.

After each day's exciting adventure we went back to the Jungle Dome and took a cool swim in their pool and settled down to a home cooked meal with the other families staying at the Dome. Over dinner we each shared our day's expedition in the wild and talked about how wonderful Belize is. We relaxed in the hammocks after the tasty treats the girls in the kitchen prepared and watched our son play with the local children.

Before we know it our "Ruins" part of the trip was over and we were on a small plane heading to San Pedro to experience the "Reef". We first did the snorkeling/manatee watching trip. The water was clear and the snorkeling was good, many interesting fish and coral to see. The BBQ lunch on the beach was delicious and the local tour guides were funny. On day two we went to shark alley and swam with the sharks and sting rays. Then back to the beach for a relaxing afternoon at the hotel. The hotel, Banana Beach, was older, but well kept. The two pools were nice and refreshing and the restaurant served good hot meals in a timely manner.

We decided to extend our vacation an extra day on San Pedro so we had an opportunity to drive a golf cart around the town to do some shopping. Unfortunately our trip was about to come to an end. We packed up our belongings, and souvenirs and headed back to the states. It is now 3 months later and we are still talking about this trip. We show our pictures to anyone willing to look at them.

It truly was the most amazing experience we have had as a family and the best vacation anyone could ask for. We feel very lucky to have had the chance to do this and look forward to being able to return someday.

To everyone who made this trip so great, Karen, David, Luis, kitchen girls, Kim, Miguel, William, and we can't forget Phoebe and Max, a HUGE thank you from the Wilkersons.

Wilkerson Family, Texas, USA

May 2007