How To Have A Not-so-typical Family Vacation in Belize

by Gisselle Hernandez

Now that Covid-19 is behind us, many may take this chance to book that family vacation they’ve been waiting on for years. This potential travel surge will be hot on the heels of an already on-the-rise multigenerational travel trend. Large travel groups will now look to go even bigger, taking a not-so-typical vacation involving new experiences and out-of-this-world stays. In Belize, San Pedro’s Grand Caribe Resort knows exactly how to pull off a family vacation with adventures and lodging that are anything but typical. 

If your family’s eyes are set on the wild…

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Grand Caribe may be sitting on Belize’s most famous island, but that doesn’t mean it can’t show you a good time inland. The award-winning hotel can arrange a two or three-tour jungle adventure for guests craving some thrill-seeking. 

Book a cave tubing & zip-lining excursion. 

Most popular among families of all sizes, cave tubing and zip lining are everyone’s pace; these excursions are the perfect balance of high-action and slow-paced momentum. Your adventure begins with a hike through Belize’s dense rainforest and across the frigid waters of the Sibun River. Once you arrive at the entrance of the caves, don your headlamp and hop onto one of the inner tubes. You and your family will be strung together by your guide who will lead you to the depths of the underworld — according to ancient Maya legends, at least.

Once you’ve made it through “hell” and back, it’s time to appreciate the rainforest canopy. This time, from hundreds of feet in the air with zip lining. After, you and your family head back on vacation time to your home base: Grand Caribe. 

Leap back in time with ancient ruins. 

Maya sites are peppered throughout Belize and Grand Caribe offers tours to some of the most popular ones in the country. According to the resort, a trip to Belize without visiting ancient Maya ruins is like “visiting Paris without seeing the Eiffel Tower.” And we couldn’t agree more. You can take your pick of the cruise-favorite Altun Ha in the Belize District or the Lamanai Maya site in Northern Belize. If you prefer the classics, the Xunantunich Maya site never fails to amaze. Your family photos will turn out outstanding at either site since they are rarely crowded unlike Maya sites in Mexico or Guatemala. 

If you’re a fan of all things sea with your family…

You’re staying at Grand Caribe which must mean your family’s hearts have an insatiable craving for the sun, sand, and sea in Belize. Luckily, the San Pedro resort does its very best to satisfy that need with its various water-based tours. 

Go sunset sailing. 

Sail the Belize Barrier Reef from Ambergris Caye. Image by Marlena Gomez

Mere steps away from Grand Caribe’s exquisite lodgings are the second-largest barrier reef in the world. But a not-so-typical way of enjoying it? Aboard a giant catamaran that allows you to see the crystalline waters from above with your family. All you and your loved ones need to do is sit back, relax and sip on delicious rum punch as the coral-hued sunset bookends breathtaking views. Ideal for intimate gatherings and celebrating special occasions, Grand Caribe’s sunset cruises can also be paired with snorkeling at Hol Chan or Mexico Rocks. 

See what snorkeling is all about. 

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Snorkeling the Belize Barrier Reef. Photo by Duarte Dellarole

Speaking of snorkeling, this is another unmissable activity with Grand Caribe when in Ambergris Caye — and Belize as a whole. Belize’s reef is rife with impressive biodiversity so it would be a shame not to see it for yourself. Multitudes of coral and tropical fish await to be greeted and fawned upon. Expect to come across blue tangs, horse-eyed jacks, rainbow parrotfish, and more. Don’t forget to bring along your underwater camera to capture your companions swimming alongside an elusive manatee or friendly nurse shark. 

A bonus not-so-typical adventure 

Flying over the Great Blue Hole. Image via Astrum Helicopters

For something truly out of the ordinary, Grand Caribe offers an adventure that ties off your Belize vacation with a not-so-typical bow. Finish off your extraordinary trip with an actual flyover helicopter tour. Get a bird’s eye view of all the major attractions that make Belize unique with Astrum Helicopters. See the Great Blue Hole from above, or take a tour of the island by air. Regardless of what you choose on this next family vacation, Grand Caribe will take on the challenge of taking your multi-gen trip to the next level in Belize.

All images, including header and those not captioned, courtesy Grand Caribe/Duarte Dellarole.

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