Beneath the thickly layered Belizean jungle full of molting iguanas, giant hawks and invisible biting insects lies a shallow cave. Caves are inexplicably enticing. Maybe in a primal way, because not all that long ago in the evolutionary chain, caves were our homes, providing nature’s best shelter. Or maybe it’s that they’re dark and mysterious and capable of creating awe in our minds. Whatever it is, I paddle into the limestone orifice created by the Macal River in Central Belize. As I near the walls, rocks crumble off the wall and flutter near my face. I shift my balance so as not to fall off my standup board. The rocks are actually bats, lots of small, bouncy-ball sized bats, with extremely good camouflage, flicking above my head. Yet another surprise from a country full of them.

  Traveling to standup paddle is a must. If you want to get into paddling for the first time or go deeper on your standup journey, take a trip. We recommend Belize. You’ll paddle until you’re blistered and your toes cramp while fighting the wind off an island 55 miles from the mainland, you’ll do things you never imagined (paddling on an underground river past a human skull embedded in limestone) and feel things you’ve never felt (the flutter of the wind off bat wings) and eat things you’d never eat (conch shell fritters) and experience different cultures (like the excellent ethnic drumming of the Garifuna people). Then you’ll go home with fantastic stories and strange memories. That’s the beauty of travel: the contrasts of a place you visit make day-to-day life at home seem beautiful again, and not as monotonous.

Belize, a tiny speck of a country nestled between Mexico and Guatemala on the Caribbean Sea, is easy to get to and easy to get around once you’re there. They also take American dollars (at a rate twice as much as Belizean currency); English is the national language and people are generally very friendly and want to promote tourism. These things all add up to an easy trip.

And there is water everywhere, prime for paddling. There are rivers of it. These rivers go into caves, meander around in flat marshlands, pour forth from the soaking green rainforest and encase the Belize Barrier Reef—at 185 miles in length, the second largest in the world—in the sublime Caribbean Sea. Best of all, the water is warm and welcoming.

All of these ingredients lead to one conclusion: Belize is the perfect beginner’s paddling trip, providing both friendly standup paddling opportunities and unique travel experiences. And for more seasoned paddlers, there’s plenty of ways to challenge yourself. Here, we tell you what to bring, where to go and how to do it in style.

Finding a board is the only thing that isn’t easy about paddling in Belize. Since the sport is new, you’ll only find boards in select locations so bringing your own board is a must. Luckily, companies like Starboard, Boardworks, ULI and Naish (we took Naish’s 12’6” One model) are making killer inflatable standups great for plane travel and moving around to various locations. Plus, if you get a three-piece traveling paddle (we took one by C4 Waterman) you can stick it in your board bag for easy carrying. This combination of gear is perfect for traveling on small planes, on buses and in crowded vans. Plus, you’ll be able to paddle where you want, when you want to. We don’t usually go, all because we had our own SUP gear.

Bugs are a factor in Belize. They have serious mosquitoes and most horrendously, bot flies, which burrow under the skin of mammals, including humans, and hatch a number of days later and dig their way out. It’s rare but it happens. Bring bug spray.

You’ll be spending a lot of time in and around the water and don’t want to hang out in a wet bathing suit the whole time. Solution: pack multiple suits. Keep one dry for wearing around on land and one for the water.

The sun and the bugs can get to you and sometimes you don’t want to lather yourself in creams or sprays. Lightweight and breathable long-sleeve pants and shirts are a must to give your skin a break from the forces of nature. Other Necessary Items: sunglasses, sturdy shoes/sandals (Chacos, Keens, etc.), non-cotton paddle shirts (rash-guards), waterproof camera, towel, hat, headlamp, wet wipes, paperback, snorkel/mask, flippers, ear plugs, hat.

The food in Belize is fresh and unique. From lobster snatched from their rocky crevices on the reefs to the sharp sweetness of locally made chocolate to the superbly well-balanced Belikin beer (their stout was our favorite and packed more of a punch), your taste buds will not be left wanting.

But seriously, the lobster is amazing. It’s much cheaper than what you’d find in the U.S. and extremely fresh. You can literally catch them yourself (wear gloves), using your standup board as a diving platform, if you get your technique down. If you’d rather be served you’ll find it in almost every restaurant.

You’ll also want to learn the difference between beans and rice (the two served side-by-side) and rice and beans (the two cooked together, usually in coconut milk). We recommend the latter for refueling after long days on the water.

In Belize, Marie Sharp’s hot sauce is maybe the only thing as ubiquitous as beans and rice. These habanero-based sauces are found in every restaurant in an array of spice levels from mild to “Beware” and in flavors from grapefruit habanero to sweet habanero. In our experience, they’re all good, just make sure to work your way up cautiously through the spice levels.

Other Mandatory Foods: conch fritters, fresh coconuts, barracuda, the array of local soups, fry jacks, meat pies, rum and, surprisingly, thanks to immigration, Chinese food.

Most importantly, enjoy your time paddling and traveling. It won’t be hard in Belize.



This feature originally ran in our 2014 Beginner's Guide as "Paddling Paradise."

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