And Now It's Your Turn

WomenInc. Magazine Presents: Travel With Jules

8 Day Belizean -Style Leisure and Adventure Package Hosted by Travel and Adventure Writer Jules Nolan

If you’ve ever read my column you understand that I have an almost pathological love of travel, of moving on, of finding the next place. I have visited more than 23 countries and schlepped my family across 5 continents. Last October, after 180 consecutive days on the road, my weary family landed at the Minneapolis airport. As we were blearily shuffling our way to baggage claim, my son was talking about how good it was to be going home. “Can you imagine how great it will be to sleep in our own beds tonight?” Eldest son remarked.

“Yea, and to stay home awhile. I don’t think I will leave the house for a month” Middle son replied.

“I want to see my friends tomorrow – but I’ll invite them to come and see me at MY house.” Youngest daughter said.

I however, was completely distracted by the airline departure signs, announcing the destinations for which these lucky crowds were bound. “Oh wow” I thought. “Those people are going to Hawaii. That might be a fun….”

“JULES!” My husband shouted as I started to wander off in the direction of the departure gate. “Where are you going?”

So you get the picture. I like to keep moving.

However, there is one place in the world that keeps pulling me back, despite my wanderlust, despite the fact that I am always off in a new direction, in search of a new destination. That place is the island of Ambergis Caye, Belize. In January I am inviting you to come with me and love it as much as I do.

Belize is just 4 flight hours from Minneapolis. You leave at 6 in the morning from the frigid temperatures, the ice covered vehicles, the drift covered driveways of Minnesota. By 3pm that afternoon you have your bare feet in the sand and a rum punch in your hand. You watch the setting sun with bare shoulders, the moist, salty air kissing your face and curling your hair. The scent of Belizean spice wafts up from the beach front barbecues as you stroll the beach in search of dinner. Will it be casual, barefoot dining or elegant waterfront views this evening? The choice is yours.

You wake up the first morning as the bright Central American sun peeks into your hotel window, as if to say “C’mon, lets go, it’s time to fall in love with Belize.” The small, locally owned hotel looks like a plantation house nestled into the palm trees right on the beach.. It is quaint and charming with a lovely pool, a fun little tiki bar and a welcoming staff. It is not the Four Seasons or some behemoth all-inclusive. It is close to the culture, close to ocean, and close to town.

Breakfast of succulent fruit, is served along with warm cinnamon bread from the local bakery. Or maybe today it will be homemade Johnny Cake or Belizean-style fry bread with your coffee and juice. While finishing your Belizean coffee you stroll the 100 yards to the waters edge and think about the beautiful view of the living reef that you witnessed from above when you arrived yesterday. You think about the small plane that brought you here from the mainland and the hundreds of miles of barrier reef that stretched out before you. You saw these same turquoise waters fading into cobalt blue, the mint green shallows that broke into waves of foamy white as the ocean met the reef. 15 minutes of flying above the second largest barrier reef in the world was a thrill, but not nearly as great a thrill as it will be to see it up close later that day.

The gentle, welcoming, local people interrupt your thoughts with a greeting, “g’mahrning” or “Buenos dias” and a warm smile as they pass by on their way to work. The young girls in their blinding white shirts and navy blue pinafores travel in giggling clumps along the beach on their way to school. And the boys follow slightly behind in their freshly pressed white shirts and navy pants jostling each other with shoulders and elbows and calling to the girls ahead.

Back at the hotel and it’s time to decide. What will you do today? Are you up for a visit to the jungles of Belize to see the leaf-cutter ants, listen to the howler monkeys and catch a glimpse of the coatimundi, a toucan or a macaw? Will you take photos of yourself in front of the Mayan Temples of Altun Ha? Perhaps on your visit to Maruba Jungle Spa you will have a mood mud massage with the purifying muds of the region.

Or maybe today is the day that you sail the aqua blue waters of Belize. Maybe you will snorkel along the living coral reef and catch a glimpse of electric blue tangs, lemon yellow snapper, and pale green moray eels. Will you be brave enough to jump in the water with the swarming nurse sharks and stingrays at “Shark-Ray Alley’? Will you pet a shark? Feed a ray? Or will you stay in the sun and watch all the fun from topside?

And later, back at the hotel will you laze in a hammock and dive into that book that you’ve been dying to read? Or will you hop on a bike or golf cart and explore this tiny island on your own?

After a scrumptious dinner of fresh seafood that night, will you drift off to sleep in your oceanfront room or are you up for a night of music and dancing? You will see the provocative local dance called the “punta”, are you willing to join in and learn it for yourself?

Eight days of adventure, relaxation, or a mixture of both is what awaits you on this trip. You will be my guest, meet my local friends and explore the magic that has drawn me back more than 2 dozen times over the past 7 years. You will fall in love with this place and you will return.

Belizean Style Leisure and Adventure Package with Host Jules Nolan Includes:

Pre-departure Informational Happy Hour at the new Red Sky Lounge, Mankato

7 nights at Tides Beachfront Hotel

Welcome Rum Punch or Fruit Drink

Sail and Snorkel on the Reef and Shark-Ray Alley

Altun Ha Mayan Ruins with Maruba Jungle Spa Trip

Beach Barbeque with my friend local fishing guide and Chef Tony

Coral Reef education with my friend and local ecologist, Billy Leslie

Air transfer from Belize City to San Pedro and Return

Taxi transfers and excursion transfers

Continental Breakfast Daily

Taxes

US $930 per person double for WomenInc. subscribers

US $980 per person double for nonsubscribers

*Trip does not include international airfare

Call me at (507) 382-5404 or email jules@julesnolan.com for more information or to secure your reservation today. Availability is limited. Don’t miss this adventure!