Ambergris Caye – Super Similar to Bora Bora, only closer and less expensive

While taking a rather scarce “sofa surf” session today, i happened upon the Travel Channel.  I wasnt much of a travel channeller, until i moved to Belize.  Now, the travel channel is like the New York Times, or  the Yahoo.com home page. (i’ll come back to this).  We all watch it to see if “BELIZE” will be mentioned.  Ambergris Caye is a tourist island, so any mention helps boost our economy, support our resources, and serves a very real, very important resource for the us.

Anyway, Bora Bora was featured on the tv show.  And what they were describing was so similar to Ambergris Caye that I felt vindicated.  Yes, vindicated.  I’m so proud of my little island, and my lovely Belize, and I have been working hard to correct one very big misconception- We are not, nor do we want to be, Cancun, Jamaica or Cuba.  We are Belize.  I ‘harumph’ this for one main reason: Air Fare.

The number one obstacle to tourism, its been argued, is that its too expensive to get here.   I have traveled to many islands in the Caribbean, and all over Central America.  Belize is unlike the Central America in ALL regards, except georgraphy.  We are English speaking, and have a Parliamentary Democracy.  There is a British Army Base here.  We are unlike the Caribbean in that we have a ‘mainland’, and are not just an island.  We have the Largest Barrier Reef in the Western Hemisphere.  I’ve been saying for years, “We are more like a small island in Hawaii or Tahiti than we are to Jamaica”.  And then I saw this show on Bora Bora.

I ‘googled’ Bora Bora, just like i did when i heard of Belize, and needed to find a map.  I said to myself “Bora Bora, Where is that?”.  We have T-Shirts here in Belize that say the same thing, and that is exactly what i said to myself the first time someone mentioned i could, in fact, retire on a tiny tropical island if i went to Belize.  Two weeks later, I bought my house.  But thats another story.

As a former a Former “DINK” (duel income no kids) from the Philadelphia area, I thought I’d see what it would cost my friends to come see me versus going to Bora Bora.  The following are my findings:

Population

Bora Bora – 8,000 according to the show

Ambergris Caye – 12,000 according to the “San Pedro Sun” this week

Primary Industry

Bora Bora – Tourism

Ambergris Caye – Tourism

Official Language

Bora Bora – French

Ambergris Caye – English

Reef

Bora Bora – Island is surrounded by a reef system, creating a lagoon effect. Great Snorkeling

Ambergris Caye – Worlds Second Largest barrier reef runs the length of the island, creating a lagoon effect.  Sublime Snorkeling

Land Size

Bora Bora – 6 miles by 18 miles

Ambergris Caye – less than 1 mile by 28 miles

Ridiculously gorgeous Mountains

Bora Bora – Yes, on their island

Ambergris Caye – No, but the mainland of Belize does, just a boat or plane ride away.

Airfare From New York City (as an easy east coast USA example, random date of Oct 20 – 30)

Bora Bora (Tahiti) – $1814

Ambergris Caye (Belize City) -$490

Travel Time Round Trip

Bora Bora – 4 days (2 there, 2 back)

Ambergris Caye – 2 days (1 there, 1 back)

Hotel Room Price Per Night (based on whatever came up on the top of tripadvisor)

Bora Bora – $252

Ambergris Caye – $128

Here’s my conclusion….   Humans have a tendency to perceive the things that are closest to us are the least precious.  We tend, for whatever reason, to think that just because something is close by, or within our reach, its not “special” enough.  Why is it we fail to marvel at our fortune at having something that others would perceive as “special” if it weren’t so easily had?

Ambergris Caye really is a jewel within your reach.  It is the exotic tropical island, undiscovered, still so pristine, yet outfitted with luxury.  This tiny paradise is a direct flight from Houston, Dallas, Atlanta and Miami.  “Mother Natures Best Kept Secret” is Ambergris Caye.  It is for this reason that we are glued to the Travel Channel…we are that undiscovered jewel, hoping to be discovered, appreciated, and flourishing successfully.

So, take that super sexy, exotic trip you’ve always dreamed of…just come here and save a few duckets 😉
[spoiler title=”Request More Information” open=”0″ style=”2″]

[/spoiler]