WORLD: Medical Tourism Is Now Very Popular

Medical tourism is a term used to describe when people travel outside of their country to another country in order to receive medical treatment in some form or other. This is a booming industry that is only becoming more popular over the years.

One of the biggest reasons for the increased popularity and growth of the medical tourism industry is the high cost of healthcare in countries such as the United States and the United Kingdom.

This is a trend seen in countries like the United States where healthcare costs have been rising over the years despite people signing up for private health insurance.

There are many disadvantages to private medical insurance in the United States. For one thing, health insurance monthly premiums can be as high as $1000 a month (or even higher) for a family plan.

The other problem is that often the insurance company limits which providers you can see and which services or treatments you qualify for.

This means that often, pre-authorization is needed for procedures, which takes time and you may even be denied coverage.

Most private health insurance companies in the past were HMO or PPO systems, and although the PPO was slightly better in terms of how many doctors you could visit, there were still limitations.

You generally are only allowed to visit in-network physicians and clinics in both HMO and PPO systems. This can mean long waiting times to get procedures done.

The other problem, of course, is that many medical procedures may be deemed by your health insurance provider to be not medically necessary. Even though you can appeal such decisions, odds are you will not gain coverage and so any cosmetic procedure will be unlikely to be covered.

The shocking reality is that many people in the United States become bankrupt due to medical costs with insurance companies also placing lifetime limits on how much they pay out.

This means if you have a chronic illness that is expensive, you are at risk of serious financial problems. The odds of this happening are quite high especially as a person ages and is more likely to get cancer and need expensive treatments.

Although the United States does have some social support services in the form of social security, medicare and medicaid, these systems are also limited in how much money they release and how much support they give you over your lifetime.

The government may also decide where and when you can get treatment and from who. This becomes a problem and can result in a delay which further jeopardizes your healthcare.

The cost of medical care in the United States is often significantly higher than in other countries, which has spurred the growth of medical tourism by Americans.

Many Americans travel to Canada, Mexico or Brazil for cosmetic procedures such as liposuction or breast augmentation. The quality of care can vary tremendously though, and even though everything may work out okay, there are horror stories of people with botched procedures.

It is a case of buyer beware, because a very cheap clinic may have a bad record and may not even have qualified staff performing a procedure. On the other hand, there may be excellent clinics and physicians performing affordable work in these same countries.

The United Kingdom has a different type of health coverage compared to the United States, which is provided by the government and is called the National Health Service.

The advantage of this system is that it is paid for by taxation and everybody in the country receives coverage. The disadvantage of this system is that there may be long waiting times and once again, cosmetic procedures are unlikely to be covered.

Cosmetic work includes hair transplant surgery; dental work such as crowns, implants, and dental veneers; various body sculpturing procedures such as liposuction, breast augmentation and reduction, nose jobs and butt lifts.

The costs of cosmetic procedures such as those just mentioned are very high in the United Kingdom because it is almost always the case that you have to pay out of pocket costs.

This high cost is the number one reason that UK residents look into medical tourism as a viable option for getting medical procedures done.

One of the most popular places to go for cosmetic work is Turkey, which has many first rate medical clinics and internationally accredited professionals ready to help you.

You can find out more about the pros and cons of the UK when it comes to cosmetic procedures such as hair transplant procedures by visiting the Vera Clinic.

Turkey is in a good location for many medical tourists and has the experience in dealing with foreign customers.

Regardless of where you go to have your work done you should be very careful to choose an accredited clinic with qualified specialists.

Belize has once again pioneered another gateway to attracting more visitors and investors to our country, which is, through the emergence of Medical Tourism.

Under BELTRAIDE’s Compete Caribbean Project, component two (2) entails the identification of two priority sectors for investment. One of the identified priority sectors is Medical Tourism.

There is certainly great potential for this industry to boom and create employment for Belize, whilst increasing its Foreign Direct Investment (FDI).
In early August 2012, a workshop on Medical Tourism was coordinated, with the objective to create awareness of the new industry and to determine the receptiveness of Belize’s stakeholders.

The workshop was held at the George Price Center in the City of Belmopan and stakeholders from both the medical and tourism industries participated in the event.

It was considered an information sharing session which allowed stakeholders the opportunity to voice their opinion on the idea of Medical Tourism.

Molly McKenna was in agonizing pain last January when her fiancé rushed her to a Baylor Scott & White clinic in Austin, Texas.

"The doctor came in and said, 'Your ovary is a big hemorrhaging mess right now. We have to take that out,'" McKenna said.

One of her ovaries was twisting inward, cutting off the blood supply.

"It just got to the point where I could barely breathe," McKenna said.

She was transferred by ambulance to a larger Baylor Scott & White hospital for surgery. At each stop, the staff took her private insurance card. Yet a few weeks later, she was told much of her treatment was out-of-network. She owed more than $40,000.

"I remember crying. I was very upset," McKenna said.

Insurance broker Lora Everist, who sold McKenna her insurance policy, said paying cash would have been cheaper.

"Nobody gave her the option to pay cash or self-pay," Everist said.

Everist said McKenna's insurance paid over $6,000 for the surgery. McKenna negotiated a few bills down, but Baylor Scott & White still wants $27,000 more.

Because there is no guideline. There is no transparency. They can charge whatever they want, Everist said.

Baylor Scott & White responded, saying its facility charges are lower than other acute care hospitals in the region.

But this case shows what they call an opportunity for improvement, and they now say they'll be contacting McKenna to work toward solving her problem.

There are a few things patients can do when faced with a medical emergency. First, find out now which hospitals are close to you that are in your network. Next, if it's not a life-threatening emergency, consider a cheaper walk-in or urgent care center.

If you wind up in the emergency room, ask, or have someone with you ask, if the doctors treating you are in your network.

No one really knows what anything costs in health care — and too many people are getting surprise medical bills for thousands of dollars. In a new series, Medical Price Roulette.

The recent Mexico’s assertion as North America’s medical tourism powerhouse has been possible due to several centers of excellence that offer patients ease of access to main medical tourism destinations and provide special attention from highly trained staff at lower costs.

Medical tourism industry has continued to experience a steady growth, especially in Mexico.

This influx of travelers seeking medical care has to do with world class medical attention, highly trained surgeons, specialized practitioners and top tier certified hospitals keen to treat foreigners.

Millions of post bariatric surgery patients around the world have successfully improved their overall health, turned their life around and kept the weight off. As far as bariatric procedures continue to prove successful overtime, their adoption and popularity will also rise.

Nevertheless, for many bariatric candidates in the United States, Canada and many countries in Europe, surgery comes at such a high price tag that traveling to Mexico for bariatric surgery has become a high quality, price conscious, accessible alternative.

Mexico offers patients abroad an unrivaled global strategic location, reachable by plenty of direct flights from the United States, Canada and some European countries.

Dr. Alejandro Lopez, chief bariatric surgeon at ALO Bariatrics started operations in 2008 in three convenient locations: Tijuana, Guadalajara and Puerto Vallarta; his approach to the industry is creative yet simple.

Provide bariatric candidates, comprehensive and seamless access to world class health care in certified hospitals; at a fraction of the price than in the United States and Canada.

For ALO Bariatrics, choosing its locations was only a matter of providing their patients the ease and comfort they’re accustomed to:

Tijuana can be easily reached by land from the neighboring southern states of California, Arizona and Nevada; Guadalajara services countless direct flights from up and down the East Coast of the United States; and Puerto Vallarta offers numerous connections to most of Canada’s major cities.

ALO Bariatrics’ highly-skilled, internationally-trained and board certified surgeons are handpicked and rigorously screened for their outstanding technical prowess; reason why, they hold an impressive record of more than 6,000 successful bariatric surgeries performed, and the praise of patients for the unrivaled level of care, warmth and professionalism experienced.

Health travellers who visit Malaysia save 65% to 80% on health cost compared to the cost in the US.

Malaysia offers excellent patient comfort with five-star rooms that look more like hotel suites than hospital rooms.

Medical Tourism Malaysia has provided award-winning healthcare facilities to over 4.9 million medical travellers from all over the world.

Reigning as the ‘Destination of the Year’ by the International Medical Tourism journal for 3 consecutive years, we are committed to create and ensure an exceptional healthcare destination experience with limitless possibilities and exceptional quality catered to your needs.

Malaysia has over 70 private healthcare institutions dedicated to give quality cross-border experience.

We all know people love to visit Malaysia for its food, cultural diversity, and heritage spots.

But did you know that Malaysia is one of the top spots for medical travel?

Malaysia was listed as the “Best Country for Healthcare” from 2015 to 2017 by International Living and listed as “Top Asian Country for Retirement” in 2018.

This means people prefer seeking treatment in Malaysia instead of their home countries or other places around the world. Last year alone, Malaysia received over one million medical travelers, with that number on the rise every year.

In the latest Medical Travel Awards 2018, Malaysia won 9 out of 15 awards, more than any other country in the world

These awards were given out by the International Medical Travel Journal (IMTJ), the world’s leading journal for the medical travel sector.

According to Patients Beyond Borders, medical travelers could save up to 80% on medical expenses, if they opt to do their treatment in Malaysia, which may amount to thousands of ringgit.

Malaysia's location and infrastructure also make it easy for medical travelers to gain access into Malaysia.

What’s more, they would be receiving world-class quality treatment from top hospitals accredited by gold-standard organizations such as the Joint Commission International (JCI).

Tourism Observer

BELIZE: Visit San Ignacio Explore Stunning Views, Ruins,Caves And Rivers

San Ignacio is a small town in the Cayo region of Belize. San Ignacio, or Cayo as it is often called locally, is on the Macal river, and makes a good and affordable base for exploration of the stunning regions around it, with plenty of day trips to be taken and several decent tour guides willing to take you.

It's also an important transit town en route to or from Guatemala. Cayo is known for having a multitude of ruins, caves, and rivers, all of which can be explored by travellers.

San Ignacio and Santa Elena are towns in western Belize. San Ignacio serves as the cultural-economic hub of Cayo District. It got its start from mahogany and chicle production during British colonialism.

Over time it attracted people from the surrounding areas, which led to the diverse population of the town today. San Ignacio is the largest settlement in Cayo District and the second largest in the country, after Belize City.

San Ignacio is situated on the banks of the Macal River, about 63 miles (101 km) west of Belize City and 22 miles (35 km) west of the country's capital: Belmopan. The town has an area of approximately 2.5 square miles (6.5 km2).

The population is largely Mestizo and Kriol, with some Lebanese and Mopan. San Ignacio also boasts a fairly large Chinese population, most of whom emigrated from Guangzhou in waves in the mid-20th century.

The Mennonite community of Spanish Lookout is situated a few miles outside San Ignacio. The 2010 census counted 17,878 inhabitants in San Ignacio and Santa Elena, of whom 8,751 are males and 9,127 are females. The total number of households is 4,351 and the average household size is 4.1.

In recent years San Ignacio has absorbed the formerly separate village of Santa Elena. San Ignacio and its sister town Santa Elena make up Belize's second largest urban area. The two towns are connected by Belize's only suspension bridge, the one lane Hawkesworth Bridge across the Macal river, built in 1949.

The two are collectively referred to as the Twin Towns although San Ignacio has a larger population. As of 2010, Santa Elena has a population of 7,389 compared with San Ignacio's population of 10,489.

Hardly a beach town, San Ignacio is more of a jungle, inland town that is a relatively short drive away from the beautiful beaches of Belize. The town is renowned for its close proximity to Belize's famous Mayan ruins, as well as a hub for outdoor activities including caving, hiking, kayaking, horseback riding, and more.

It is also one of the last towns in Belize before entering Guatemala, where many visitors go to visit the Tikal Mayan ruins. Stay in San Ignacio for many nights, or make it a day trip from the beach or en route to Tikal either way, the special quality of San Ignacio will leave you enchanted.

San Ignacio is accessible by airplane - Tropic Air, bus, or car. Popular transportation hubs include Belize City, San Pedro, and Guatemala. It is recommended that you arrange transportation in to San Ignacio in advance for the best price and most reliability.

Depending on where you are staying, many accommodations and tours will include transportation to San Ignacio, so be sure to ask your host.

San Ignacio is easily reachable by car. The Western Highway is the best road in the country and is fully paved and free of pot-holes. There are several gas stations along the route so you have no worries there.

Once you reach the sister city of San Ignacio, Santa Elena be aware that there are two bridges and each is a one way bridge. You will need to make a right turn, if you are heading west, and run downhill to cross the bridge into San Ignacio.

Locals apparently know tourists will miss this turn and are quite aware to signal you that you have made a mistake if you try and go the wrong way.

To leave San Ignacio, cross the Hawksworth Bridge which is the only suspension bridge in Belize. This is also a one-way bridge to leave town, unless the low lying bridge is closed.

Second class buses with no air conditioning or enclosed separate storage for suitcases run frequently from Belize City; the trip is usually less then 2.5h, in spite of numerous stops. There are some express buses if you can get a hand on the schedule.

All buses run through Belmopan so you can transfer to Dangriga on the coast in about 3h. In the other direction, buses run to Benque at the Guatemalan border quite close by, with connections to Flores and Tikal.

If you are coming from Flores in Guatemala, take a tuk-tuk to the Nueva bus station in Santa Elena. Collectivo mini-vans depart to the border each hour, on the hour; fare: GTQ30. The walk across the border is short so ignore the taxi drivers offering to take you.

Officially there is no exit fee from Guatemala however there have been reports of a Q20 charge on this border. If this happens, ask to see the legislation in writing or ask for a receipt.

Taxis run from the border to San Ignacio for USD15/BZD30, or to the local bus station for USD7.50/BZD15 where you can easily hop on any eastbound bus to San Ignacio (BZD1.50).

Shuttles can pick you up at the airport, or most any other spot, and transfer you much quicker and with much more ease since they are door to door:

Godoy Transfers offers daily Belize transportation and shuttle service around the country of Belize and to surrounding areas. All transportation is private.

Teddy Bear Shuttle San Ignacio Teddy Bear shuttle and taxi service is safe and reliable, you can find him just behind the Belize Bank in the center of San Ignacio Town.

Belize Private Shuttle Service Offers private shuttle transfers from San Ignacio, Belize western border to Flores or Tikal in Peten, Guatemala. The company even have the ability to transfer you to just about any where from San Ignacio Town.

BZ Belize Shuttle has an outstanding record of transporting you to and from your destination on-time. Your Belize Shuttle Driver is Denfield Gomez, known locally as Denny, maintain an impeccable driving recorder when it comes to shuttling you to or from your destination.

San Ignacio Shuttle Service Operated by Sergio Paiz, runs to all major shuttle destination in Belize, Located on Burns Ave, San Ignacio Town.

Valdez Shuttle Belize delivers spectacular shared/private shuttle and taxi service to San Ignacio from any other destination within Belize. The company most popular route is Belize International Airport to San Ignacio town and hotels near the town.

The roads in town are quite walkable, and traffic is light. Most tourist necessities such as accommodation, restaurants, and markets are a few minutes' walk from downtown. To reach the Mayan ruins and travel outside of San Ignacio, you can join a tour group, ride a bus, or drive a car.

Buses run frequently from San Ignacio and are cheap, yet not the quickest. Many locals catch the buses, so it is a perfect way to get an authentic Belizean experience.

To get around by car, you have two options: rent a car and drive yourself around, or hire a cab driver. Both are decently priced and offer more flexibility in terms of transportation.

Flames Auto Rental has the best reputation, and the best prices. Matus Car Rental is also an option.

San Ignacio is home to a number of tourist attractions, all of which can be reached and toured either by ones' self or by tour company.

Actun Tunichil Muknal usually abbreviated to ATM is a Mayan sacrificial burial site near San Ignacio. The site is contained entirely within a cave system, and access to the relics is gained via some 500 metres of climbing over rocks, wading and swimming through water that is at times over 1.5 metres deep.

The cave was a sacred site for the Mayans and it contains many examples of pottery, ceramics and stoneware, as well as several sets of human sacrificial remains, one of which is known as the Crystal Maiden has been almost entirely covered in limestone crystals by the water in the cave.

The site is about 45 minutes drive from San Ignacio, and, due to the caving aspect, it may only be visited when accompanied by an official guide who will provide appropriate safety equipment. Most tour companies in San Ignacio are able to offer officially guided tours.

Jungle Pontoon Waterfall Adventure begins as you undertake an hour drive away from San Ignacio town, off the beaten path and deep into the Vaca plateau forest reserve.

Board the Jungle Pontoon and let her be your guide as you are given the rare opportunity to become part of mother-natures environment without hurting her or the wildlife that makes this beautiful lush forest their home.

Three beautiful Waterfalls in Belize, each one different and more unique. In the past, many have enjoyed showering under the majestic waterfalls and in the crystal pools of mystery shortly after a delicious picnic at the water's edge.

Barton Creek Cave Barton Creek Outpost: Take the road in Georgeville to Mountain Pine Ridge, drive 20-30 minutes and turn at the large brown sign on the left to Barton Creek Archaeological Reserve. Its about 4 miles from there.

Barton Creek offers free camping if you have gear or rent gear for only USD10 a night. Lonely Planet called the Outpost one of the top 5 highlights of Belize.

Cahal Pech is one of the main Mayan attractions in the town. The name means literally "Place of the ticks" and Cahal Pech is a smallish set of Mayan ruins that were abandoned around 800-900 AD. There is an indoor museum displaying artifacts, a site plan, and putting the ruins in a regional context.

The site is open 7 days a week during daylight hours. Admission is USD2.50 but may change. There are, allegedly, guided tours but these are most unneeded as the site is easy to traverse.

The entire site should take 1-2 hours at most for a thorough exploration. Once at the ruins the site is fairly flat, but Cahal Pech is at the top of the hill overlooking San Ignacio. The walk up hill to it from the main town is quite exhausting and is difficult even from the San Ignacio Resort Hotel on the hill. If you have any disability or are in poor physical condition you will want to drive.

Caracol Biggest ruin in Belize, yet mostly unexcavated, so you really feel like you are in a national park on a ruin. Ca'ana, place of the sky, is one of the biggest and most massive temples in the Mayan world. Definitely a must see ruin, and it comes with stops at Rio On Pools and Rio Frio Cave too.

Xunantunich (Maya Ruins) Admission: BZD10. Wear good shoes, bring water and plan to spend about 3-4 hours. There is a free water taxi in Succutz over the Mopan River from there you can easily walk the 45 minutes to the site. Get here by walking, driving, or horseback.

Iguana Conservation Project and the interpretive Medicinal Jungle Trail at the San Ignacio Hotel. Ranked as one of the best family excursions in San Ignacio. Iguana Hatchery

Tropical Wings Nature Center Located On The Outskirts of San Jose Succotz, 10 Minute bus ride from San Ignacio going towards Benque. Butterfly Farm & Small Educational Museum, 9 Hole Disc Golf Course the First in Belize & Central America, Restaurant Located On Site As Well.

Actions and Activities to try:

- Mayan sacrifice at Actun Tunichil Muknal

- Go for a horseback ride

- Rent bicycles

- Hike the jungles

- Kayak, canoe, or swim in the river

- Native birdwatching and insect study

- Visit the Saturday Farmer's Market in downtown San Ignacio

- Explore returning on a long term stay as a volunteer with Medical Electives Belize

There are many tour companies in San Ignacio. Many of these conduct day trips, leaving early in the morning and returning the same afternoon. Note that not all tours are available on any given day. Most tour companies require a certain minimum number of registrations before they run.

Checking in the night before for which tours are available the next day is often the best option. For a quick list, check out the Best of Cayo tour page.

Most hotels in San Ignacio will also book tours for you, with their preferred tour company. You can also book directly with the tour operators.

The more popular tours, such as Tikal, ATM Cave, and Xunantunich, run daily, so you may only need to provide a day's notice. However, it is best to contact and reserve your dates in advance to ensure you have a spot.

Belize Caving Expeditions: Tour Operator specializing in spelunking tours. They also offer a list of popular tours in Belize, including zipline, maya ruins, mountain biking, hiking, and other popular activities.

Pacz Tours - Adventures in Belize is one of the best tours to visit a wide variety of interesting caves, ruins, rivers, and jungle trails.

Sergio Paiz - Explore Inland Tours specialize in Cave Exploration, Mayan archaeological Site visits and history, Zip-lining, spectacular scenery and sinkholes and many more. Explore Inland Tours such as Destiny Tours believe there is no better way to see Belize than on a small group tour that allows for better interaction with each guest to experience.

Lions Adventure Tours - San Ignacio Belize Tours known for awesome scarlet macaw tour, he is a brilliant guide for Tikal.

K'in Winik Jungle Tours - K'in Winik is known for providing amazing tours and overnight jungle camping throughout Mountain Pine Ridge, including Caracol.

Carlos the Caveman Tours - caveman Tours is well known for providing a mind-blowing experience of the ATM Cave.

KaWiil Tours - Belize Adventure Tours One of their many reviews points out their ATM Cave experience.

Jungle Splash Eco-Tours - Jungle Pontoon Waterfall Adventure Signature tours: Belize Waterfalls Adventure and the Forgotten City Equestrian Expedition. Other Tours offered are Cave Tubing, Che Chem Ha Cave, Xunantunich Mayan Ruins, Caracol Mayan Temples and Barton Creek.

A lifetime experience off the beaten path and secretly tucked away in the Majestic Mayan mountains awaits.

Hanna Stables Horseback Riding Tours - Hanna Stables offers horseback riding, adventure tourism and eco-farm stay for travelers of all ages and abilities in the San Ignacio, Belize area. One of the country's oldest horseback riding establishments, Hanna Stables has been family-owned for generations and is currently operated by Santiago Juan.

Horseback riding tours are available for riders of all experience levels, and popular destinations include the Mayan ruins of Xunantunich, unexcavated Mayan ruins of Actun Kan, and the surrounding San Lorenzo Farm. Located not far from Hanna Stables is Nabitunich (The Stone Cottages) which has 20 rooms available for accommodations for travelers.

All-inclusive vacation packages are available. The stables and farm are only an hour and half ride away from Belize City, and a 10-minute drive away from the Guatemala border.

Edwin's Belize Adventure Tours - Edwin Gonzalez offers private tours of the most popular attractions in the region. As a Belize native and with a background in studying tourism, Edwin immerses tourists in the history of the Maya culture and Belize.

Some attractions he offers include ATM, Mayan Ruins, Cave Tubing, Belize Zoo, Cave Canoeing, Mt. Pine Ridge, and much more. Prices vary by group and tour.

BAT - Belize Archaeological Sites Tour Danny and his family run Tour Company has selected just a handful of Archaeological Sites as their tour option, making them a master in guiding these site.

Belizeing Adventures - Belizeing Adventure & Nature Travel specializes in Birding in Belize, Archaeological sites, Cultural Tours, Cave Tubing, and Nature & Wildlife. Belizeing adventure owned and operated by Mr. Fidelio Montes Jr. Who's been in the Tourism industry for over 15 years as a tour guide, now operating his own tour company.

IAN Tours - Indulge in Amazing Nature Tours, better known as IAN Belize Tours, specializes in San Ignacio's best caving adventure, the Actun Tunichil Muknal (ATM) Cave tour. However, the tour operator also overture other tours in San Ignacio such as the Xunantunich, Cahal Pech, and Caracol archaeological sites.

Furthermore, when it comes to caving tours in San Ignacio IAN Belize Tours delivers adventurous cave tours to Nohoch Che'en Cave (Cave Tubing) and Barton Creek Cave. Owner Ian Burns and company have been guiding these Nature Reserves for over 15 years.

Go To Tikal - Visiting Tikal from San Ignacio is what tour operator Go To Tikal specializes themselves in. Getting from anywhere in Belize to Tikal got much easier with this company dedicated service to visit tikal from Belize.

Buying Souvenirs:

- Mayan Slate Art: Carved by Mayan artists at the foothills of the Mayan ruins, this unique slate art can be found at local markets, near the Xunantunich ferry.

- Belize Gifts: Located in the JNC mall. They have a huge selection of great gifts and souvenirs.

- Back to My Roots: Located on Burns Avenue across from the JNC mall.

- Indita Maya: Located in the Venus Hotel bottom floor.

- Tropicool Gift Shop: Located on Burns Avenue next to Pacz Tours. Tropicool giftshop

San Ignacio is one of the more tourist-friendly towns in Belize, with a variety of restaurants keeping longer hours than in many other towns. There are a wide variety of restaurants, and many have both vegetarian and non-vegetarian options.

The Guava Limb Cafe: The Guava Limb Cafe is San Ignacio's most recent addition to the Restaurant & Cafe chain. Offering a fresh, colonial yet modern option for dining.

Ko Ox Han-Nah: From the lamb quesodillas to the lamb curry to the omlettes, Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner are all covered here. They raise almost all of their own animals at their farm. Located at 5 Burns avenue, one block from downtown.

Hodes Place: Great for kids of all ages. Everything under the sun can be found here. Video games, air hockey, pool tables, playground in a small orchard, jukebox, and a small casino too. Try the burritos, they are big and cheap. Located next to Macaw park, one block from the market.

South Indian Restaurant: Try their ginger lime juice, it'll have you wanting a pitcher of it. This little hidden treasure is well worth seeking out for very tasty dishes including fish or chicken curries and several vegetarian options, their simosas are what they are known for, and must be tried. Located in the Plaza Del Rio mall, which is a 5 minute walk from downtown.

Mr Greedy's Pizzeria: Best pizza in town, and a great burger too. Greedy's has been completely redesigned; they've added a great bar, giving the place a much more open look and feel.

They have an excellent menu, with plenty of great appetizers try the onion rings; they are the best in the country. They offer free highspeed wi-fi for customers, Located on Burns Ave.

Maxim's: Maxim's Chinese Restaurant, one of the best chinese restaurants in San Ignacio, located about 2 blocks from downtown on Bullet Tree road, Menu including: Delicious Fried Chicken ranging from BZD5 and above, fried rice, chao-mein, chop-suey, kun-pao, and etc.

Vivian's: Vivian's Coffee and Ice Cream shop is great. Their coffee smoothies are always great to cool one off. Good ice cream too. All the local students go there, which is a good sign. Located on Joseph Andrews Drive, 3 blocks from downtown, next to Sacred Heart College, and across the street from Mom's Place.

Mincho's: Mincho's is the fast food place of San Ignacio. They are only open for breakfast and lunch. They have all the Belizean fast food: tacos, burritos, salbutes, panades, and garnaches. They have the best fresh juice in San Ignacio, and it's only BZD1 per glass. Located on Burns Ave, downtown.

Club Rehab: Great club to start off at or end up at since they are usually open from 4PM until after 2AM. They usually play great music, and you can request songs most of the time too. Great happy hour from 4 to 7 when they offer half priced drinks. Thirsty Thursdays at Rehab is happy hour all day. They are located across the street from the casino.

Mr. Greedy's Pizzeria and Bar: Greedy's has been completely redesigned; they've added a great bar, giving the place a much more open look and feel. Their happy hour runs from 3 to 6. They have an excellent menu, with plenty of great appetizers - try the onion rings; they are the best in the country. They offer free highspeed wi-fi for customers, Located on Burns Ave.

Remo's Roadhouse: Many of the ex-pats start at Remo's because of the great conversation and stories provided by the owner - he can tell you stories that even locals don't know. The Roadhouse Grill is top notch too: try the hot dogs or buffalo wings there while watching a game! Located in Bullet Tree Falls, just 3 miles from downtown - the first building on the right as you enter Bullet Tree Falls.

Since San Ignacio is the biggest town close to Guatemala, from where many tourists enter and exit Belize, the city has quite a lot of accommodation relative to its size and attractions. Travellers are sure to find a wide range of hotels, lodges, and resorts.

Bella's Backpacker's Hostel is a great budget-friendly place located only two minutes from downtown. A funky multi-levelled edifice with a tree growing right through it, Bella's features a roof-top terrace and a hammock-room tree house overlooking the town and picturesque surrounding jungle.

With plenty of couches, comfy chairs and hammocks to relax in, Bella's is the right choice for people who want a place to chill; whilst with a homey feel and knowledgable staff, it offers plenty of opportunity to meet new people and an engaging social scene.

Great French press coffee and laundry service for BZD15. Dorms are BZD25 or BZD30 for semi-private, while private rooms are BZD65 for walk-ins.

Hi Et: Many backpackers will stay here. Located a block from downtown, it has many rooms upstairs. BZD30 for private room with shared bath or BZD50 for a private with bathroom. Offers Wi-Fi with the accommodation.

J&R Guesthouse is a couple of blocks away from the city centre and a small place with four rooms. Single with shared bath ran BZD20. Also have doubles and room with private bath. Owners are friendly and will help getting to numerous destinations.

Old House Hostel is a quaint little hostel that's conveniently located a block from downtown, right above the Soul Project. Davina and her crew take good care of their guests.

The Trek Stop: Mile 71 1/2 Western Highway, right on the outskirts of San Jose Succotz next to the highway but with its approximately 22 acres of land, you won't feel so close to civilization. This is for people looking for adventure and also budget travellers, spots for camping as well.

Shared and Private Cabins available, Composting Toilets. Restaurant on site, Disc Golf course, butterfly farm, trails to walk. Lots of birds and different wildlife on site.

Nabitunich Organic Farm Cottages: is a cozy base of private accommodations suited for single, family, and group travelers seeking an affordable organic farm stay in San Ignacio, Belize.

Each room is private and can sleep up to 4 adults. Run by a local Belizean family, they offer a wide variety of outdoor pursuits to visitors and family alike. Stay for a night, or elect for a multi-day all-inclusive vacation package. USD60 per room.

Tropicool Hotel: is located at 30 Burns avenue; they are just one block from downtown. They have nice little cabins encapsulated on their property.

Nefry's Retreat Homestays offer guests a unique opportunity to spend their vacation in an authentic Belizean retreat. Mix and mingle with the family, relax privately in your own secluded oasis, or explore Belize on an adventure tour.

The retreat is located just a few blocks away from downtown and the rooms here are among the largest. They offer hot water, electricity, private bathrooms, spacious bedrooms, and free on-site Wi-Fi. USD60 per room.

Tia Maria Guesthouse is located at 38 West Street, a few minutes' walk from downtown. As a family owned and operated hotel, they offer 7 private rooms. Each comes with its own bathroom, wifi, cable tv, and access to a communal kitchen for approximately USD50 per night.

Marthas Boutique Guesthouse is 100% Belizean owned, boasting 16 charming and tranquil rooms, decorated by Ms. Martha. The Guesthouse offers a true Belizean feel, and is located in the heart of San Ignacio Town.

Mahogany Hall Luxury Boutique Resort is a small luxury boutique resort is a unique 20 room colonial style mansion featuring romance, elegance and spacious comfort only a stone’s throw from the pristine jade water and nestled on the fertile banks of the Mopan River, Jewel of the Jungle.

Cahal Pech Cahal Pech Village Resort is on the most predominant Mayan hillside in San Ignacio, and next to the Cahal Pech ruins. This resort offers a offers guests an amazing view of San Ignacio and surrounding local sites. The hotel has three pools and a jacuzzi, when it is working.
Great for families. USD90.

San Ignacio Resort Hotel A lovely place on beautiful grounds, impeccably clean rooms with air-conditioning, a pool, and very helpful staff. Cute little extras like fresh sprigs of herbs on bathroom towels. Quite pricey by Belizean standards, at USD114 for two queen beds.

The occasional wall of cinder block or slightly frayed rug shows this hotel is not quite up to the standards the price would imply, but they're close. Worth it if you want the creature comforts.

San Lorenzo Farm at Nabitunich: San Lorenzo Farm is part of Hanna Stables, one of the oldest horseback riding establishments in Belize. Spanning over 400 acres, San Lorenzo is a working farm with cattle and organic produce grown on the grounds.

Guests are welcome to sleep in any of the 10 private guesthouses located in Nabitunich, and horseback riding tours to nearby Mayan ruins and surrounding areas are offered by the nearby Hanna Stables. Prices for rooms are a flat BZD45 per room, and vacation packages are available.

Parrot Nest Lodge: Parrot Nest is a truly unique experience. Each guest has individual cabins. The lodge is surrounded on three sides by the Mopan River since it's on a peninsula. Parrots, iguanas, agouti and otters are all able to be seen on the grounds.

The cabanas are in a huge garden, which, though lush and exotic. The Parrot's Nest is in Bullet Tree Falls, which is just a couple of miles from downtown San Ignacio, so you don't have to endure the city noise and lights while enjoying a great night's rest. They've been in business for over a decade, yet their prices are less than USD50 a night.

Bullet Tree Riverside Cabanas Is another great place to stay just 10 minutes from down to San Ignacio, on the banks of the Mopan River. The cozy Thatched cabanas are tucked among lush palm trees, has a remote jungle feel to it, even though the community is just a couple minutes away! Enjoy freshly prepare local Belizean dishes.

Some Tours and Activities included Trip to Tikal, Horseback Riding, and Explore nearby Mayan Ruins, Cave or River tubing. Pick-up or drop off at Belize International Airport can all be arrange.

Windy Hill Resort is just a few kilometres outside of town on a hill. Ask any taxi driver. Beautiful landscaped grounds and spacious cottages. Peaceful surroundings. Nice open air restaurant. The owners offer canoe and other tours. Local experts give herb walk and bird viewing. Price is around USD100 but the taxi driver gave a promotion coupon for USD30

Chaa Creek is the best resort in Central America, bar none. Totally eco-friendly, and they have 100's of acres. They are on the Macal river and do canoe rides, biking, and horseback riding. Located 30 minutes from downtown.

You can choose to stay at an expensive and luxurious cabin, or at the Macal River Camp, which has casitas and is geared towards those who prefer the outdoors. The Macal Camp is USD65/person/night and includes breakfast, dinner, hot showers, toilets, and excellent service.

Ka’ana Resort is out of the town of San Ignacio, in a valley nestled among the Maya Mountains of Belize’s Cayo District and surrounded by lush tropical gardens. They have a nice infinity pool, and a great restaurant. A definite treat for the high end traveler.

Benque Guest House: Benque Guest House is situated in the mountainous Benque Viejo Del Carmen, on the way from San Ignacio to the Guatemalan border is this wonderful guest house.

Built in 2008 and situated along the jade-green Mopan River, the clean, eco-friendly, guest house offers all the creature comforts of home and business, character-rich conversation, Wi-Fi, music, beautifully decorated rooms, huge verandah, great food and a sense of community.

Away from the bustling San Ignacio, listen to the Succotz Marching Band practice while you sit on your deck overlooking the river and quiet jungle.


Tourism Observer

BELIZE: Southwest Airlines To Fly From Denver International Airport To Belize City

Southwest Airlines along with the Belize Tourism Board (BTB) inaugurated the new non-stop flight from Denver International Airport to Belize City, Belize.

As part of the inauguration, customers heard remarks in the gate area at the Denver International Airport from Southwest and BTB officials and Belize’s Minister of Tourism, Manuel Heredia.

A band and samba dancers also performed at the event.

Southwest is the only carrier to serve this nonstop route and operates Saturday-only however it will move to Saturday/Sunday service on the June 4 schedule which operates through August 14, 2017.

Canadian regulators have approved a request by Air Canada to operate flights between Canada and Belize.

Flightglobal.com says that documents obtained from the Canadian Transportation Agency did not specify routes or a start date and that Air Canada did not immediately respond to a request for comments.

Air Canada has not served Belize since 2005, the earliest available year of FlightGlobal schedules data.

In October 2016, Canadian airline, WestJet launched its first Belize flight between Toronto and Belize and now operates the route during Belize’s high tourism season which runs from November to April.

This news comes after GOB recently announced that departure taxes are set to increase for fiscal year 2017/2018 from US $39.25 to US $59.25 (BZ $118.50).

Tropic Air inaugurated their non-stop service between Belize City International Airport (BZE) and Chetumal, Quintana Roo, Mexico (CTM).

According to a Tropic Air press release, Chetumal becomes Tropic’s third destination in Mexico and its sixth international route overall.

“Tropic will fly to Chetumal three times weekly (Monday, Wednesday and Friday), with a schedule that is convenient for business and tourism travel to the city.

In addition, the early arrival into Chetumal will allow for fast, convenient connections to/from InterJet flights to Mexico City and beyond. In April, the frequency is planned to increase to five times a week,” the release further stated.

“In Belize City, Tropic Air will offer easy connections to/from 10 domestic destinations, such as San Pedro, Caye Caulker, Dangriga, and Placencia, plus Tropic’s own international cities, like Roatan, San Pedro Sula and Peten, Guatemala.

The schedule also allows for connections in Belize City to 23 international destinations on other carriers like Southwest, Westjet, American, Delta, COPA, United and Avianca.”

“We have been working closely with our partners in Chetumal for a few years in order to finally make this service a reality. We are excited to be the first international airline serving Chetumal and to becoming part of the community!” said John Greif III, President of Tropic Air.

“Not only will Belizeans be able to fly directly to Chetumal, but this route connects to the rest of the world, especially Asia, through Mexico City’s hub,” said Steve Schulte, CEO.

BELIZE: San Pedro Police Officer Dean Perez Charged For Theft

Police Constable (PC) Dean Perez

A police officer attached to the San Pedro Police Formation has been criminally charged and is expected to face a police tribunal for the crime of “theft.” 26-year-old Police Constable (PC) Dean Perez, originally from Belize City, has been accused of stealing cash and a cell phone from a San Pedro Town resident while carrying out an investigation.

According to the Deputy Officer in Charge of the San Pedro Police Formation Inspector Henry Jemott, the charge on Perez stems from an incident that occurred on October 5th. According to San Pedro Police, Perez visited the residence of San Pedro Town resident Jose Hernandez, who was investigating and inquiring about his identity.

Inspector Jemott said that when Hernandez was in the process of providing his documents, Perez allegedly took his identification cards which had $600 between them. In addition, Hernandez also claims that PC Perez also took away his cell phone valued at $400.

According to San Pedro Police, following an intensive investigation, an Identification Parade was conducted where PC Perez was positively identified. On Tuesday October 28th, Perez was formally arrested and charged for the crime of “theft”

Perez has since been arranged before the San Pedro Magistrate Court where he was offered and met bail in the sum of $2000. He has been ordered to keep away from the complainant and is scheduled to reappear in court on December 5th.

Inspector Jemott said beside the criminal investigation, PC Perez will also face an internal investigation and will be taken before a police tribunal on similar charges.

PC Perez, who has recently been transferred to San Pedro Town, has been placed on interdiction on half salary.