10
May
Top 5 Thursday: Belize
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Not one, but two Francis Ford Coppola properties: Turtle Inn, an intimate resort fronting the Caribbean on the narrow peninsula of Placencia; and Blancaneaux Lodge, set in the Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve. See it through the eyes of Austyntatious…
Dish. The ride from the airport to Blancaneaux Lodge can get a little lengthy so stop at Amigos for a traditional Belizean meal. Order up some arroz con pollo, chicken wings with Belizean hot sauce (Marie Sharpe’s is my personal favorite) and one of ten local beers.
Ride. The stables at Blancaneaux are located right at the front of the property, making it easy to explore the surrounding area on horseback. Take a ride through the jungle and the rainforest, all in one breathtaking trail, or head to Hidden Falls for a swim.
Dine. While in Blancaneaux, take advantage of all of the organic produce grown on the property. The poolside restaurant, Guatemaltecqua, specializes in mildly spiced cuisine that fuses traditional Guatemalan cuisine with Mexican, Caribbean and Mayan influences. Open up a bottle of Francis Ford Coppola’s delicious red wine to wash down the hand grown cornmeal, homemade hot sauce and rellenitos, a delicious dessert consisting of plantains filled with sweetened black beans.
Trip. To get a true sense of Belizian culture, take a trip to San Ignacio for the Saturday market. Listen to English, Spanish and Creole as locals trade and sell fresh produce, Mayan handcrafts and souvenirs.
Explore. Situated high on the Vaca Plateau deep in the Chiquibul Forest Reserve, Caracol is the most extensive Mayan site in Belize and was only re-discovered in 1936. Situated 1600 feet above sea level with no natural body of water nearby, it remains a mystery how such a huge population was able to survive there. Take a deep breath at the top and look out over the fores-clad mountains.
