The Blue Crab Resort in Belize is a small and very private hotel. Accommodations include two cabanas on the sandy beach and three air conditioned hotel rooms nestled in the palms. http://www.caribbeanmag.com/search/hotels/Belize/bluecrabbeach/hotel/365/3/ en-us Copyright 1998 e-TravelMedia.com/CaribbeanMag.com Tue, 14 Feb 2012 15:17:45 EST The Blue Crab Resort is located in Seine Bight Village on the Placencia peninsula in southern Belize. We are located near the middle of Belize's best and longest beach. This is a very small, private resort, set on five acres spanning across from the Caribbean Sea to the lagoon. Off shore a short boat ride is the barrier reef. The diving and snorkeling here must be what the first divers saw. This sparsely populated area has hardly even been fished and the underwater wildlife is abundant and varied. We are a family adventure hotel and offer exotic jungle , Mayan ruin,and Jaguar Reserve tours. Holiday accommodations available at the Inn include air conditioned rooms, beachfront cabanas and an air conditioned house for rent. RESTAURANT Our cozy restaurant is located right on the beach providing a spectacular view. A full bar is also available. My wife, Linn, was born in Taiwan, her asian cuisine is the best in the area and she prepares many European and American dishes as well. The menu changes as different foods come into season local fruits and vegetables are always featured as is fresh seafood, steaks and chops. Several local shrimp farms provide a regular supply of some of the freshest shrimp anywhere. WHAT TO BRING Placencia now has a bank. You can cash checks and get cash advances on your VISA or Mastercard. Most of the tour operators, restaurants and hotels take credit cards or travelers checks. US cash is accepted as readily as Belizean cash. The Blue Crab accepts VISA, Mastercard, travelers checks, US cash and Belizean cash. - Comfortable casual cotton shirts - Shorts and long pants are recommended - Of course your bathing suit and sun-screen - Sandals and comfortable walking shoes for sight seeing - You may want to bring insect repellent for jungle trips - Don't forget your camera and film!! AMENITIES: THE AIR CONDITIONED ROOMS have a double and a single bed. They have hardwood floors and are trimed in local mahogony. Private bath with hot water and tub as well as shower. The hotel rooms are near the Carribean, have a shady porch over looking the sea and are surrounded by palm trees. THE CABANAS have two double beds, private bath with hot and cold water, two fans in each cabana, thatch roofs, hardwood floors, private porches with a sea view, screened windows and they are located within 50 feet of the Caribbean Sea. ACTIVITIES: We provide a wide range of activities to make your visit a memorable one. Our private beach on the Caribbean provides safe bathing, snorkeling, fishing and sunbathing. Boat trips to the Barrier Reef for snorkeling , scuba, fishing or sightseeing can easily be arranged. Day trips to the Jaguar Reserve and Mayan ruins are also available. Local businesses rent canoes, scooters, dune buggys and kayaks. There are three local dive shops renting equipment and most of the dive operators rent snorkeling and dive equipment. Bicycles are available. Even if you have never scuba dived you can take the one day resort dive, train in the morning and dive that afternoon with a dive instructor accompanying you. Or take the regular four day course of instruction and practice dives to become a certified diver. Snorkeling and SCUBA This is probably the most popular activity for guests here and with good reason. The Barrier reef provides shelter and food to thousands of species and this sparsely populated area of the world has not been over fished or ecologically degraded. The diving is spectacular and the protection of the reef allows for diving almost any day of the year. We send our guests with local dive operators and try to match the diver to the divemaster. Certifying dives can be made in the morning and diving at the reef the same afternoon. Some dive operators carry only divers , some only snorkelers , some both. We offer a full day of snorkeling and a full day of SCUBA at this time. Sail boat snorkeling trips are available full and half day. Even if you have never scuba dived you can take the one day resort dive, train in the morning and dive that afternoon with a dive instructor accompanying you. Or take the regular four day course of instruction and practice dives to become a certified diver. The Cockscomb Jaguar Reserve The Blue Crab Resort is about 25 miles from The Cockscomb Jaguar Reserve and takes about an hour by car (roads are rough). This is the worlds only reserve with free ranging jaguars. Since the jaguar is a protected species throughout Belize they have a healthy population here that is not in danger of extinction, as they are throughout the rest of the world. These big cats are reclusive and seeing one in the wild requires some luck or persistence but a visit to the reserve will not be a disappointment if you don't see a Jaguar. The rainforest itself is spectacular. Paths have been created and there is a waterfall with swimming. Even closer is the Sapodilla reserve. they may have more Jaguars than the Cockscomb and they have swimming in heated springs. There are regular tours going to the cockscomb reserve but you may have to arrange private transport to Sapodilla or take the bus. Mayan Ruins While the larger Mayan cities that have been discovered so far are all in the northern part or the country there are a few significant sites in our area including Nim Li Punit and spectacular Lubaantun where the famous crystal skull was discovered. We can send you on a tour to the two sites in one trip or you can arrange a trip to either or both by private taxi. These sites are located south of Placencia on the Southern Highway. Plan to spend a whole day to visit both sites. Some walking over uneven terrain will be involved and if you want to reach the higher places some climbing is involved. But these abandoned cities are a wonder you may want to see. Monkey River Trip Probably the best way to experience the ecology of Belize is the Monkey River trip. This very popular excursion begins with a boat trip to the mouth of Monkey River which is about 12 miles south of Placencia. Most of this part of the trip is through Red Mangrove forest. You will see mangrove bird species here including heron, cormorant, woodstorks, ibis, egret, kingfisher, mangrove warblers and mangrove swallows. Of course what you see will depend on the season and to some extent on luck . Other animals to watch for include the manatee or sea cow and the crocodile. Passing the town of Monkey river you will proceed slowly up the river by boat. Both sides of the river belong to the Monkey River Preservation area and you will see mostly mature second growth forest. The river has only one habitation on it after you pass Monkey River town and you will have the opportunity to see many types of wildlife. You are guaranteed to see Black Howler Monkeys or the management will take you back for free. Not really much of a risk for them. Over 80 species of birds have been spotted on a single trip . You could see Harpy eagle, Jabiru, many different species of toucan, kingfishers and many types of hummingbird. From the boat and later when you take one of the trails for a one to one and a half mile hike, you could see crocodiles, iguana, turtle, kinkajou, agouti, gibnut, paca, butterflies of all types and almost any other animal in the rainforest. After the trail walk you travel back down the river to the town of Monkey River. One of the oldest towns in Belize, it was once the largest settlement south of Belize city. The tour stops here to eat lunch in an excellent creole style restaurant and view local artists and craftsman's work before returning to Placencia. Manatee Watch This is a more casual approach to wildlife watching. Your pontoon boat leaves the dock around 3:00PM and you slowly travel around the lagoon watching for manatee and other animals while eating complimentary snacks and having cocktails as the sun goes down. You are back home in time for dinner. Manatee watch - appetizers included. River - Cave expedition Inner tubing, hiking and climbing to explore this incredible river cave system. You can still see Mayan ceremonial centres, pottery , artifacts, altars, and footprints of the shamen and priests dated to 400 AD. Spectacular crystal formations over 5,000,000 years old. A living Museum. trip lasts all day and is physically demanding. Hiking boots, or well treaded sneakers, shorts, t-shirt and a dry change of clothes are necessary. SPORT FISHING Fly Fishing Fly fishing is on flat water inside the reef or in the lagoon and rivers, lakes and mangrove ponds. Placencia has skilled guides who can take you to the fish and help you find the right fly. Bonefish and permit go for little crab lures and streamers, tie your own and see what they like. You fish for them inside the reef so it is calm most of the time but you never really have to miss a day of fishing because of the weather. There are snook in the lagoon and the rivers among the mangrove so if the sea is too rough you can look there. Tarpon are in both places. Most of the guides will be using 28 or 25 foot Mexican type skiffs with outboards. These are very practical in these waters and are easy to fish from. Bring your regular fly gear "lighter line, better fun". Bottom Fishing Bottom fishing is the surest way to get fish around here, you always get something. There are jacks (all kinds), mutton snapper, red snapper, dog bite snapper and black snapper, yellowtail and silk snapper. We have grouper and kingfish, rockfish and porgy, 15 types of grunts, how about triggerfish; the guide told me "he pull hard, you get that on your line, you happy" don't forget the snook and tarpon and many others. You fish inside the reef and the guide cooks up one of your fish on one of the keys for lunch. Bring regular spinning tackle 10 to 30 lb test and get new line, you never know what you are going hook. Inside the reef in a 28 foot skiff, you can do this in most weather because of the protection offered by the reef. Marlin Fishing Marlin fishing is available in placencia but there are a limited number of boats. Troll for Blue and Whites as well as sail, tuna, kingfish, queenfish and dolphin. Trolling Outside The Reef Look for Kingfish and Wahoo, Barracuda and the rest. Spend the whole day out in the deep water trolling with spoons, repalla, russle lure and local bait, plus bait you think might attract them. You will see snapper and grouper. Bring 20 to 80 lb test line "depending". If the weather is rough you can troll the inner channels. Many times you don't even make it to the deep water because kingfish are biting in the channels almost any day. Deep Water Drift Fishing Blue water is where the monsters live. If you aren't afraid being pulled in by a big one try this. You catch a little yellow tail on your small line and put him on your big line, then drift in the deep water and see what happens. Kingfish, Barracuda Wahoo and ocean jack. Use a little trolling rod, a 500 or 350 that can hold a lot of line. Sometimes you might get one that you never see and he takes rod and all. Use 60 lb test anything smaller will just break. DINING/RESTARUANTS: Type: Hotel Beach Location: Beach Front (Directly on Beach/Water Front) http://www.caribbeanmag.com/search/hotels/Belize/bluecrabbeach/hotel/365/3/ Tue, 14 Feb 2012 15:17:45 EST