My wife and I went to Belize in April 2002. I reviewed several books of Belize, of which there were few. This one seemed to be the book to buy. I wasn't disappointed. It had very good restuarant recommendations for Ambergris Caye as well as hotel info. Some information was not updated (internet cafe in Cayo had moved, [an inexpensive] great internet connection place was not mentioned also, a series of cabins that were listed as in business in Crooked Tree were *completely* run-down and *nowhere* near being in business) but this didn't hamper our vacation very much. It had good info on stuff to do in and near Cayo. Bottomline: buy this guide if you're going to Belize.

(Planeta.com Journal) - This 300-page book is a superb second edition that details the best of ways of exploring Belize (and nearby Tikal and the Bay Islands). What Belize First calls "a tour de force" is a must-read for travelers heading to this country. Author Eltringham's first visit was during his tour of duty by the UK's Royal Air Force. He's returned numerous times and covers community tourism issues with the same clear-spoken authority of trekking and diving. Independent travelers will relish the detailed information, practical advice and helpful maps.

We had Lonely Planet "Central America" and Fodor's "Guatemala and Belize", but it was Rough Guide we kept coming back too. In our trip to Guatemala and Belize we spent 4 days in Belize, but only out on the Cayes. Most of the time was spent on Caye Caulker (a very laid back and relaxing escape) staying at Mara's Place which was listed in the guide without much fanfare, but hit the spot.

If you need low budget (~25US per room - no tax!) stay with Mara. She is right near the swimming spit and has lovely cabins (no A/C, but ceiling fans) that are simple, but clean. You'll always notice Mara driving around town in her sporty ATV.

For the size of the Caye the restaurants are plentiful with most listed in the guide.

The one short coming was scuba info. Belize barrier reefs are known for their great scuba and snorkeling and the island has plenty of shops - but only 1 is listed. They will refer you elsewhere if they can't accomodate you, but I am surprised that Rough Guide didn't dedicate more space to this popular sport. I assume the writer either a) didn't spend much time on the Cayes or b) didn't care much for water sports. Might have been both, but this is a huge oversight given that the Cayes are one of the most popular destinations in Belize.

Despite this shortcoming - you won't be disappointed.

Journalist Lan Sluder is a long time Belize enthusiast. He is the publisher of Belize First, an outstanding magazine about travel to and in small but fascinating nation, and this book is a supplement to the publication. This is a good place to start planning your trip to Belize.

Harry S. Pariser Author, Explore Belize

This is a simple but excellent source of information for travel in Belize. The lists in this book cover not only where to stay and eat, but also what to expect and things to do. This book made nine days on Ambergris Caye much more enjoyable.

This book gives a solid overview of interesting aspects of life and travel in Belize. It lists the best few in any given area, which is handy if you're travelling there.

I found the book very handy during my visit to Belize. Even when it was not 100% accurate it was not wrong.Furthermore it conveyed more of the spirit of the place than any other guide I red. In fact it makes a pleasant reading, even if you are visiting another country! Useful index at the back.

I used this book throughout my travels in Belize and found it indispensable. It is aimed for the traveler who doesn't plan to spend a fortune on the trip, but wants to enjoy every aspect of the country. Alex Bradbury offers great insights on the people and the sights of Belize, and makes some great recommendations.

You can tell that Alex Bradbury loves Belize. Most tour books give you the facts about places to go and places to stay. Bradbury covers all that too, but he also tells you of the history and the culture of the country. Don't miss the story of the founding of the Belize Zoo and the way the people of Belize honor it. (Belize has the world's only jaguar preserve.

My boyfriend had read "Beyond the Last Villiage" (also by Rabinowitz) and really enjoyed it so when we saw this one I figured I would see if I liked it. I am into nature and wildlife and this book is filled with all the goodies. I couldn't put down the book, I read it in 2 days! I wanted to see what happened to the jaguar that he caught and find out what happened to it.
I highly reccommend this book to anyone that is interested in our environment and wildlife. Now from reading this book I am planning my next vacation to Belize. I am in Thailand now and plan on visiting the National Park that he studied tigers and jaguars at...SO...my reccommendation is buy this book you won't regret it!

I never would have chosen this book, but it showed up in my mail and, well, what else is there to do but read it? I'm so glad I did.

This is a fascinating story of a zoologist who, in 1983, went into the rain forest of Central America to study the jaguar in its native habitat.

"On Dec. 2, 1984, the Cockscomb Basin was declared a National Forest Reserve, with a no hunting provision for the protection of the jaguar. This made Belize the first country in the world to protect jaguars."

This book tells an utterly fantastic tale -- sometimes terrifying -- of how that came to be. It portrays a world most safely enjoyed from the comfort of an armchair; a very personal story that is a combination of natural history and hair-raising adventure in the Stanley Livingston tradition.

This book will appeal to readers who have a specific interest in jaguars and those with more overall conservation leanings. Dr. Rabinowitz is a pioneer in research on this elusive animal and his groundbreaking work shows just how vital the jaguar is to rainforest ecologist, and the devestating impact man has had on this magnificent species. The book is also a remarkable story about the animals and people of the rainforest, who we get to know through Dr. Rabinowitz's exciting narrative. I found myself laughing and crying all at once and was not able to put this book down!

Rose Arvigo and Don Elijio Panti are carrying on a very valuable tradition of herbal healing, and while I don't accept all that the old man has to say about his cures (the concept that some illnesses are caused by evil spirits and black magic strikes me as downright silly, and a return to medieval attitudes towards disease, for one thing) nonetheless, it is apparent that his cures frequently work, regardless of whether his understanding of their cause is correct. I'm glad that there are people willing to live and work in the rainforest to learn these herbal cures and preserve them, because I know I wouldn't be. I'm a city boy at heart; as far as I'm concerned, the entire purpose of thousands of years of developing civilization is to learn how to keep "the great outdoors" OUTDOORS. Still, I appreciate the value of herbal medicine.

The book is well-written and interesting, and I wish all concerned with the attempts to preserve the rainforest and its herbs the best of luck and much success.

Rosita Arvigo and Dr. Balick have written a very good book about the her experiences with a Mayan shaman in Belize. It gives great insights about the vanishing breed of "bush" doctors. Good for anyone who wants to study the ethnobotany of Mayas or alternative medicines in general especially those made with tropical plants and herbs.

Rosita Arvigo narrates a moving and captivating journey through the rainforest to a higher plain. Her record of Elijio Panti is priceless, and the science behind the ethnobotany is fascinating. I finally understand the reason for the success of the plants my wife has given me and my children during illness.

I look forward to visiting Ix Chel one day.

Like her other book on the Yucatan, this one focuses on many smaller sites. I was surprised that it didn't mention El Puente as a site, however, and it was written before the Copan Museum opened, which is too bad. Unfortunately it is already sadly outdated. I hope she does another book soon.

This book, while somewhat outdated, provides accurate and detailed information about the ruins in Guatemala in particular. The guides I traveled with all wanted to purchase it to enhance their information. The descriptions help you make decisions about where to go and having it with you enhances viewing. Places are generally easier to get to now.

This book was terrific! I read it immediately. It gave me that extra information to finish planning my trip. With little extra's that I haven't seen in other books, I would reccommend this book in planning a trip to Belize, even researching the country. It has so much to offer!

I was interested in the Ambergris Caye part of the country and this book had extensive info on the island as well and other "hidden" islands and treasures to see.

The info for the overall country was so interesting and well written, I just kept on reading straight through.

There are honest reviews/comments about the hotels and restaurants. And out of all the Belize guidebooks I purchased, this one had the most info. on the outer islands and atolls. A definite must!!! :)

We'll be using this book, I'm sure, on our first trip to Belize in May of 1999. Belize isn't a country that most people have been to --- I would imagine --- so I think that pictures would have helped this book out tremendously.

Having done TONS of research on the web about our impending trip, I plan to use this book more as a hard copy of things I would have hand written had I not been too LAZY! Almost everything I have gathered in my quest on the web seems to be included. And, from what I gather, the information seems to be in line with what I've learned from people who have actually been to Belize.

I very much like this book with all the beautiful pictures included. I am trying to get in touch with the editors, if you have contact to them, please send it to me.

The new edition of Harry Pariser's Belize guide (formerly called Adventure Guide to Belize) is a considerable improvement over past editions. The design, incorporating a two-column format, cleaner typography, and more boxes and breakouts, is vastly improved; it's far more readable than previous editions.

Harry Pariser is a seasoned travel writer, author of guidebooks to Costa Rica, Barbados, Jamaica and other destinations. He's done a professional job in updating his very detailed material in the Belize guide, although I'm hoping the next edition will have more on-the-ground revisions, especially on the remote cayes, Caye Caulker, and Placencia. Still, this edition is packed with information, with details not available in other guides.

--Lan Sluder

Editor & Publisher

Belize First Magazine

Explore Belize is packed full of helpful tips on planning a trip to and touring Belize and the outlying cayes. Extremely useful for finding off the beaten track spots.

This excellent guide got us there and back in one piece, with all the travel and cultural information we needed to have a rewarding trip. It is easy to read, adequately covers the region, and includes various budget options. More importantly, it guided us off the beaten track for diving, birdwatching, caving, and jungle-trekking (as well as for a ruins romp). While some of the prices and accomodations may now be dated, the book is still a gem for its coverage of the national parks and Belize's wide variety of natural treasures.

While being a good general guide it is not, as others seem to believe, for those of you interested in getting "off the beaten path". You will end up visiting the same sites as the rest of the thousands that have purchased this book and others like it. Also, keep in mind that this book has not been updated in three years and is not to be relied upon heavily. I do believe the Lonely Planet series is quite helpful, but remember that you are the true judge of what you see and experience.

This guide is packed with a ton of great info. This book is indespensible for those traveling off the beaten path in the Yucatan, from the colonial cities to Mayan pyramids hidden in the jungle. With out this book I would have missed what became some of the highlights of my trip!

I also recommend: "A Tourist in the Yucatan" a thriller/adventure set in the Yucatan. This is a must read for anyone who has been to the Yucatan or is planning a trip there.

My husband and I used this book on both of our trips to Mexico and found it fabulous. Detailed maps of the major cities. It helped us get through Cancun, Chetumal and Merida which are difficult on your own - driving or walking. This book gave hotels and restaurants for all travel budgets and if ever in Merida, I recommend the Hotel Trinidad Galleria. Quite a sight! Also detailed the ruins and gave some background. This book gave good tips for traveling to other countries too. Highly recommended for Mexico traveling.