My husband and I were recently in Belize on our Honeymoon and wanted to share some Kosher food tips:

- It’s true that there is zero kosher food or Jewish life found in Belize. We were in touch with the next closest thing- the Chabad in Guatemala. The Rabbi was very nice and helpful (put us in touch with some Chabad guys who had just traveled through Belize and offered advice). There wasn’t much he could help us with, but if you have the time, and it fits into your schedule, you can easily get to Guatemala to spend Shabbos by them.

-We pretty much brought a suitcase of food (we were there for 9 days) of the usual dry goods/tuna packets/instant soups etc, as well as some of the La Briute heat up meals (which were definitely better then we expected!).

-We also had gone on a fishing trip one morning, where we caught 20 fish (there is an abundance of fish in Belize and they’re found not too far from the shore, so fishing is surprisingly easy)-all of the fish were Kosher fish and we were able to speak to and work with the chef at our hotel, who triple wrapped all the fish in tin foil, sprinkled some salt & pepper and put it on the grill (he allowed my husband to act as the ‘mashgiach’, so he watched over the entire process)- this was a huge highlight of the trip and the fish was extremely delicious!

-We spent half the trip at the jungle and half at the islands/beach area. When we landed in Belize we asked our cab to pull into a supermarket that was literally right outside the airport (you can get a lot of American OU dry goods, cereals, snacks, etc). When we transfered from the Jungle to the Beach, we stopped in Belize City to catch a ferry. Belize City has a big supermarket called “Brodies” which had tons of OU products! All kinds of dry good groceries and then in their freezer section, they have a great selection of frozen OU brand bagels, cream-cheeses, breads and other cheeses…so we happily stocked up there.

The trip was absolutely incredible and while food was definitely a major concern before leaving, in the end, it all worked out amazingly and it wasn’t as difficult as it could’ve been in a country with zero Jewish life.

We highly recommend traveling to and exploring all that Belize has to offer and hope that some of these ideas help in planning your trip!

Contributed by: Karen Kest | Last Date of Visit: January 2008

Kosher Info: Almost all the supermarkets have kosher American products, except for meats and cheeses. You can find almost anything including yogurts, cereal, crackers, bread, pickles, and tons of snacks to munch on.

Tourist Info: If you are looking for a gorgeous seaside vacation, the Cayes of Belize are the place to go. Ambergris Caye is an island in the Belizean keys in the Caribbean Sea. It is the largest of the islands, thus there are more resorts, and it is easier to get to. Rest assured, however, that this is not an overbuilt resort city like Miami. Any resort not directly in town will offer solitude and beauty. The other islands are even more quiet and isolated, but there may not be as much to do (i.e. daily diving excursions, etc.) The Ambergris Caye is a picture post card setting with white sandy beaches, a clear turquoise sea, and palm trees with coconuts.

The best relaxation of your life can take place on this island but if you’re worried you may be too relaxed there are many fun activities that one can do. I highly recommend going snorkeling or scuba diving at the barrier reef (the largest reef in the Western Hemisphere and the second largest in the world after Australia). You will see exotic sea creatures including sharks. Yes, sharks swimming right below you! DO NOT FORGET YOUR WATER CAMERA. If diving the ocean floor isn’t for you, there are many different water sports which can keep you busy, or, you can rent a bike or golf cart (the principle mode of transportation on the island) and check out the island.

I recommend staying in a hotel that has private cabana thatched huts on the sand, it is a unique and enjoyable experience.

If you’re wondering how to get to San Pedro from New York one must make a stop over at Miami International and then fly to Belize City (about a 1-1/2 flight from Miami). Once in Belize you will have the option to take a 2 hour boat ride or a 10 minute plane ride to the island. I did the boat ride one way and the plane the other. I recommend taking the plane, but just to warn you it’s a tiny plane with approximately 6-7 seats including the pilot.

One last recommendation…go to Guatemala while you’re already in Belize, it’s only a 2 hour drive from Belize City.

Jewish Info: Nothing at all…