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Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Yahoo
Everything You Need To Know About Traveling To San Pedro, Belize
When I started traveling, my first destinations abroad (aside from the annual road trips to Canada) were Vietnam and China for school, followed by an intense backpacking experience through Europe. I am a late bloomer when it comes to exploring Central America and the Caribbean, and I regret not exploring the regions sooner. Recently, I had the opportunity to spend time in San Pedro, Belize, located on the southern part of the island of Ambergris Caye (pronounced 'key'). I found it to be a laid-back destination that takes pride in its easy-going energy and creativity within the food space. Ambergris Caye is a roughly 1.5 to 2-hour ferry ride from Belize City. Belize City is the starting point for exploring the country, which is home to over 400 cayes. While Belize City is worth visiting, the cayes offer an incredible blend of adventure, natural beauty, fantastic food, and relaxation, including Ambergris, where San Pedro is located. Here's everything you need to know about traveling to San Pedro, Belize. Modes of Transportation: There are only two ways to travel from Belize City to San Pedro: by ferry or by airplane. Once on the island, most people get around on a golf cart. High Season/Low Season: The high season is December through April. The low season is from June to November, during the Atlantic Hurricane Season. Shoulder season is typically considered to be May through June and November. Essential Tips: Best Times to Visit: Although more expensive, the best time to visit is after the hurricane season, when travel delays and cancellations are minimized. A sweet spot is the shoulder season. Dress Code & Packing Tips: Sun protection is key, especially while snorkeling or diving. The water is salty, and it's easy to burn (from personal experience). Bring items such as hats, UV shirts, and light clothing. Cash/Credit Considerations: Cards are generally accepted, as are USD. $1 USD is equivalent to BZ$ 2. Pro Tips for a Smooth Visit: John Greif II Airport in San Pedro is a small airport that welcomes hundreds of people each day. Book your ride to and from the airport in advance. While San Pedro is only about 35 miles away from Belize City, driving is not an option. The two options are a roughly 2-hour ferry or a 15-minute plane ride. The ferry ride on the San Pedro Belize Express Water Taxi, for example, costs on average about $58 per person round-trip. Tropic Air and Maya Island Air are the two local airline carriers that transport people to and from the small yet otherwise busy John Greif II Airport in San Pedro. Round-trip fares range between $218 and $250. Noteworthy Highlights: Keep your phone or camera ready. The ride in is stunning. There is some debate on whether to stay in a hotel or use a home-sharing platform such as Airbnb or Vrbo. Home-sharing platforms, of course, offer more space, privacy, and in some cases, are cheaper than hotels. However, if you don't know what you're doing or where to go, then it can be a challenge getting around. In San Pedro, for example, most people get around on golf carts. That said, hotels in San Pedro can also give you space and privacy, along with curated events and experiences that will help you diversify your options. Noteworthy Highlights: For me, the perfect accommodation is Alaia Belize. It's a favorite among my friend group and on TikTok. Not only is the property stunning, but it features two pools to choose from, including a rooftop pool. I especially appreciate how the hotel makes getting around the town easier by offering guests access to golf carts. One evening, while having dinner on the rooftop, I spotted a double rainbow, which is another perk of staying on an oceanside property with a gorgeous (and adults-only) rooftop. Amid the swim-up bars, spas, luxury gyms, and paradisal rooms, the most underrated amenity for me was the concierge. If you're new to San Pedro, the team has compiled a list of the best options for short stays and undiscovered spots for more extended stays or returning visitors. The team will also go a step further and book your interests, taking the stress out of planning. You can't visit the home of the second-largest and most alive reef system in the world without visiting it. At the top of your itinerary should be exploring the Belize Barrier Reef, where you can snorkel at Hol Chan and Shark Ray Alley. My tour was with Reel Escape by Reel Belize. It's a group I highly recommend for people worried about their safety or, quite frankly, for people who can't swim at all. Safety is a priority for this team, and they have contingency plans in place regardless of the expertise level. Noteworthy Highlights: On the way to The Split, we had the chance to feed Tarpon that are as big as a toddler. Caye Caulker is the closest caye to San Pedro. Most people visit what's known as The Split — another destination that's perfect for relaxing, eating local cuisine, and shopping for locally crafted goods such as handmade jewelry and artwork. It's called The Split because of the narrow waterway that divides Caye Caulker into two parts. Locals say it was formed during Hurricane Hattie in 1961. It has become a daytime swimming and hangout place for tourists. The iconic cocktail here is the Green Lazy Lizard, made with vodka, citrusy juices, and a hint of mint. It's the kind of drink that hits you fast, so pace yourself. Other things to note about The Split are that it's popular among cruise travelers, so be prepared for an influx of people at any moment. They usually stay for about an hour. Local vendors may approach you as you exit the ferry or while you're having lunch. They're not aggressive, but rather passionate, so kindly let them know you're not interested. Travel Tip: You can use cash or a credit card at The Split. Once back on Ambergris Caye, another highlight of the trip is Secret Beach. It takes about an hour to travel to the scenic and less touristy parts of the island via a golf cart. Some people call Secret Beach a tourist trap, but there is great bar food, a fun obstacle course on the water, and outdoor seating along the beach. On the way back in town, take a moment to visit Truck Stop — Belize's first shipping container food truck park. It's filled with local vendors who provide fresh options and desserts such as ice cream. Travel Tip: The birds here are a nightmare. Watch your food. If you turn for even a second, your lunch will quite literally be for the birds. Also, get to Secret Beach early. The good chairs along the beach (the ones with umbrellas and shade) fill up quickly. Seating is first-come, first-served. A memorable experience (for me) usually involves food. The Chef Table Experience with Alaia Belize Executive Chef, Alex Aleantara, was one of the best experiences I had in San Pedro. I joined nine other people for an intimate dinner experience with Chef Aleantara at The Cellar at Sea Salt, where we enjoyed a seven-course meal paired with wines. Chef Aleantara went above and beyond to educate a small group of people about spices, flavors, and the science behind what we taste, as well as how smells impact our palate. Bitter. Sour. Sweet. Umami. Salt. We explored flavors and participated in an interactive 'sauce and spice making' lesson that activated our tongue map. People on San Pedro take pride in growing and using local ingredients to make items that are relatively challenging due to the island's geographical location, and being no less than a 1.5-hour boat ride from the main city. That pride and joy come out with the mixology experience at Arlie's. Arlie Petters is a celebrated scientist and futurist in the wine and spirits industry. His cocktails embody creativity, precision, and a sense of wonder. This interactive molecular mixology class will defy what you knew could be possible with drinks (such as putting cooked slices of bacon in your spirit, then freezing it at home for an infused savory spirit). It's creative, exciting, and mocktail-friendly. People often mistake Central America as a monolithic region, but Belize disproves this theory. What I found throughout San Pedro is that it has a unique blend of both Mayan and Caribbean cultures, which is reflected in its culinary landscape. Mayan influences can be found in dishes where corn takes center stage, such as tamales. The Caribbean and Garifuna (descendants of West Africans and indigenous Arawaks) influences can be found in the rice and beans, fried plantains, and cassava-based dishes like hudut, a hearty soup usually made with coconut milk, stewed fish, and mashed plantains that's formed into a post Everything You Need To Know About Traveling To San Pedro, Belize appeared first on Travel Noire.
Metro
01-06-2025
- Metro
I fell hard for 'The Jewel' — a Caribbean gem off the main tourist trail
Leaving London, the weather couldn't decide between drizzle and all-out downpour. I wasn't just after sunshine. I wanted a place where 'productivity' meant remembering to reapply sunscreen before noon. Belize was exactly that. Not the Caribbean of infinity pools and stiff cocktails, but somewhere refreshingly real. Beaches with more driftwood than Instagrammers, bartenders who double as turtle-spotting experts, and a vibe so laid-back that a major public announcement is 'The snorkel boat leaves at 9… or maybe 10.' It might be known as 'The Jewel', a nickname that reflects its rich cultural heritage and natural beauty, but Belize is not on the main Caribbean tourist trail just yet. Fuel your wanderlust with our curated newsletter of travel deals, guides and inspiration. Sign up here. That path is currently populated by Barbados, St Lucia and Anguilla, but the Central American country has seen an increase in tourists in recent years. In 2024, it clocked a record-breaking 562,405 overnight visitors. In January, prestigious travel association ABTA named Belize as a destination to watch for 2025, citing its lush rainforests, pristine beaches, and ancient Mayan ruins as major drawcards for responsible adventurers. Landing on Belizean soil, I made my way to the Tropic Air Dangriga flight, which would take me on a breathtaking journey from Belize City to Dangriga in 20 minutes. Through scratched plexiglass windows, the reef emerges below like a jagged turquoise line against deeper blue, the coastline veined with mangrove channels. The 12-seat Cessna Caravan is not for the faint-hearted — it's a tiny capsule in which you can hear every word of the pilot, without a Tannoy system. A one-way ticket costs about £83. At the tiny airstrip – a concrete slab flanked by palm trees – I arrive alive, and a short drive takes me to The Lodge at Jaguar Reef. This hotel is essentially a collection of beachfront suites, complete with private plunge pools and a deck just steps from the ocean. The vibe is barefoot luxury: local wood, open-plan design, and a sea breeze drifting through windows. Rooms here range from approximately £189 to £334 per night, depending on the season and room type. Hopkins village moves at the pace of bicycle traffic and the occasional golf cart. I am guided by Get to Know Belize Adventures and as we drive around in our golf buggy, I'm struck by how peaceful this place is. More surprising is pulling up to the community square and seeing police officers repainting benches for the community. 'It needs a sprucing up,' one tells me. 'So here we are.' Nearby, I find a small bakery where I try fried jack, a buttery, fluffy pastry that's a Belizean staple, served by the smiling owner, her hands dusted in flour. The Garifuna people, descendants of West African, Carib, and Arawak ancestors, are central to Hopkins' culture. Exiled from St. Vincent in the 18th century, they settled along Belize's coast, maintaining their unique language, music, and traditions. My immersion begins with cooking hudut , a traditional fish and coconut stew, in an outdoor kitchen. My guide's wife shows me how to grate fresh coconut for the rich broth, then demonstrates the art of cracking one open with a machete. We pound plantains in a giant wooden mortar as the fish simmers away with coconut milk, garlic, onions, and habanero peppers. Eating it together at a long, rough-hewn table, the hudut's creamy broth balances the earthy mashed plantains perfectly. After lunch, a drumming lesson shifts to the beach. Local musicians teach me the basic rhythms of the primero and segunda drums. At first, I struggle to find the beat, but soon the sound of the waves and the music blur together. By sunset, I'm dancing barefoot in the sand, badly but blissfully. Later, we head out for a bioluminescence tour of Anderson Lagoon, and I'm told to expect magic. A mixture of excited and cynical, we sail through a tiny cut to get to the lagoon and find ourselves surrounded by giant mangroves. It's pitch black, the guide's flashlight beam cutting across the lagoon is the only light — then he turns it off. The boat picks up speed and the wake glows. Blue streams of light surrounds us from the water. As the boat pick upspeed, the tiny algae, which settle in the lagoon during the dry season, get agitated and glow, which for a bioluminescent newbie like me is mind-blowing. After a short boat ride through narrow mangrove channels, the captain kills the engine. In the dark stillness, every movement in the water sparks blue light — tiny bursts of, yes, living magic. Swimming through it feels like gliding through liquid stars, my arms trailing glowing comet tails. Tours cost approximately £56 per person. The next day's adventure feels a bit like driving through a film set. Winding along roads lined with orange groves and passing through the dreamlike Bamboo Cathedral – a natural tunnel of towering bamboo – is an experience in itself. As if the ride isn't dreamy enough, the road to the waterfall winds along the side of the mountain, with tall trees reaching above you and creating much-needed shade. We reach Maya King Waterfall, (entry £8 per person) in the Maya Mountains of the South East Coast. The two cascading falls are at their most dramatic during rainy season, crashing down into clear pools below. I could have spent hours here, soaking up the vibe, the only sound the rushing water echoing around us. In the charming village of Placencia, the footpath winds between brightly painted shops and beach bars. The Creole beach town is proud of its spot in the Guinness Book of World Records, where it's recognised for having the narrowest main street in the world. It's actually a 4,000-foot long footpath that is just four feet wide. A stroll along the pedestrian 'street' takes you past quaint rows of local artists' stalls, eclectic shops and cheekily-named beach bars. The village has managed to retain its boho vibe, despite a recent influx of wealthy American and Canadian retirees. Film director Francis Ford Coppola even opened a hotel here, the eco-friendly Turtle Inn. It's hard not to fall for the pace: no rush, no pressure, just friendly locals, lilting music, and the salty scent of the sea. My favourite perch is Tutti Frutti ice cream parlour, which serves delicious flavours like sour sop, a creamy local fruit beloved across the Caribbean that's usually made into a refreshing drink. After indulging in Placencia, a short Tropic Air hop (£75 one-way) takes me to San Pedro on Ambergris Caye. San Pedro is giving Wes Anderson: pastel-coloured wooden buildings, narrow sandy streets, and golf carts buzzing around as the main form of transport. In fact, my 'taxi' from the mini-airport to Ramon's Village Resort is a golf buggy (golf cart rentals cost about £7 per hour), although you could easily walk it if you wanted. Ramon's Village feels like stepping back in time, in the best way. Thatched-roof cabanas, lush tropical gardens, hammocks swinging in the breeze. Everything here is designed to help you unplug. Room rates vary by season and type, ranging from £135 to £360. Reggae music floats from bars and beach shacks all over town, a nod to Belize's cultural ties to Jamaica (both were once British colonies). It shows up in the food too: comforting dishes like stew chicken, rice and kidney beans, fried jacks (similar to Jamaican fried dumplings), and sweet plantain accompany almost every meal. Familiar, yet quintessentially Belizean. That evening, I join the Belize Food Tour, which turns out to be one of the best ways to experience San Pedro's spirit. Walking between stops with a chatty group of fellow travellers and locals, we try everything from fresh conch ceviche to grilled lobster, tamales wrapped in banana leaves, and rich coconut pies. Along the way, we get snippets of history, gossip, and restaurant secrets—it's less like a formal tour and more like wandering town with new friends who know all the best bites. Approximately £57 per person. The next morning, it's time for the ultimate snorkelling trip to Hol Chan marine reserve and Shark Ray Alley. Also known as 'Little Channel', it has impossibly clear waters and coral gardens teeming with life. Swimming alongside rays and nurse sharks is thrilling for some, but full disclosure, it's not for me. While hanging on to the side of the boat, I do manage to capture a semblance of magic as I duck my head in. A kaleidoscope of fish glide past me; if you're into that sort of thing, this place is a veritable underwater theme park. Before leaving Belize, there's one final bucket-list moment: a scenic flyover of the iconic Great Blue Hole. More Trending From the air, the vast circular sinkhole looks surreal: deep, endless blue surrounded by the lighter turquoise of the reef. You might even spot dolphins or manatees swimming below if you're lucky. It's humbling and breathtaking all at once. Scenic flights cost £200 per person, or, if you prefer to get up close and personal, sea tours typically cost around £100, including snorkel gear and guide. It sounds trite, but each new day in Belize brings new adventure and fresh perspective. It's the kind of place that reminds you to slow down… and eat everything. I've fallen for Belize and the love feels reciprocated. What more could you want? There are no direct flights from the UK to Belize. Travelling in the first week of June, the cheapest option is flying with United Airlines from London Heathrow, with stops in New York and Houston. Return fares start from £651, and the journey takes just over 24 hours. British Airways also flies from London Heathrow, with one stop in Miami. Prices start from £837 for the same week. Do I need a visa? UK passport holders do not need a visa for a tourist visit to Belize. You can stay for up to 30 days without a visa. MORE: I swapped my sun holiday for a train trip to Europe's rainiest city — with highs of 8°C MORE: I searched for grizzly bears in a Canadian region tourists often miss MORE: I thought British holidays were boring, but this underrated island changed my mind
Metro
25-05-2025
- Metro
Chasing waterfalls and a Great Blue Hole, I fell hard for 'The Jewel'
Leaving London, the weather couldn't decide between drizzle and all-out downpour. I wasn't just after sunshine. I wanted a place where 'productivity' meant remembering to reapply sunscreen before noon. Belize was exactly that. Not the Caribbean of infinity pools and stiff cocktails, but somewhere refreshingly real. Beaches with more driftwood than Instagrammers, bartenders who double as turtle-spotting experts, and a vibe so laid-back that a major public announcement is 'The snorkel boat leaves at 9… or maybe 10.' It might be known as 'The Jewel', a nickname that reflects its rich cultural heritage and natural beauty, but Belize is not on the main Caribbean tourist trail just yet. Fuel your wanderlust with our curated newsletter of travel deals, guides and inspiration. Sign up here. That path is currently populated by Barbados, St Lucia and Anguilla, but the Central American country has seen an increase in tourists in recent years. In 2024, it clocked a record-breaking 562,405 overnight visitors. In January, prestigious travel association ABTA named Belize as a destination to watch for 2025, citing its lush rainforests, pristine beaches, and ancient Mayan ruins as major drawcards for responsible adventurers. Landing on Belizean soil, I made my way to the Tropic Air Dangriga flight, which would take me on a breathtaking journey from Belize City to Dangriga in 20 minutes. Through scratched plexiglass windows, the reef emerges below like a jagged turquoise line against deeper blue, the coastline veined with mangrove channels. The 12-seat Cessna Caravan is not for the faint-hearted — it's a tiny capsule in which you can hear every word of the pilot, without a Tannoy system. A one-way ticket costs about £83. At the tiny airstrip – a concrete slab flanked by palm trees – I arrive alive, and a short drive takes me to The Lodge at Jaguar Reef. This hotel is essentially a collection of beachfront suites, complete with private plunge pools and a deck just steps from the ocean. The vibe is barefoot luxury: local wood, open-plan design, and a sea breeze drifting through windows. Rooms here range from approximately £189 to £334 per night, depending on the season and room type. Hopkins village moves at the pace of bicycle traffic and the occasional golf cart. I am guided by Get to Know Belize Adventures and as we drive around in our golf buggy, I'm struck by how peaceful this place is. More surprising is pulling up to the community square and seeing police officers repainting benches for the community. 'It needs a sprucing up,' one tells me. 'So here we are.' Nearby, I find a small bakery where I try fried jack, a buttery, fluffy pastry that's a Belizean staple, served by the smiling owner, her hands dusted in flour. The Garifuna people, descendants of West African, Carib, and Arawak ancestors, are central to Hopkins' culture. Exiled from St. Vincent in the 18th century, they settled along Belize's coast, maintaining their unique language, music, and traditions. My immersion begins with cooking hudut , a traditional fish and coconut stew, in an outdoor kitchen. My guide's wife shows me how to grate fresh coconut for the rich broth, then demonstrates the art of cracking one open with a machete. We pound plantains in a giant wooden mortar as the fish simmers away with coconut milk, garlic, onions, and habanero peppers. Eating it together at a long, rough-hewn table, the hudut's creamy broth balances the earthy mashed plantains perfectly. After lunch, a drumming lesson shifts to the beach. Local musicians teach me the basic rhythms of the primero and segunda drums. At first, I struggle to find the beat, but soon the sound of the waves and the music blur together. By sunset, I'm dancing barefoot in the sand, badly but blissfully. Later, we head out for a bioluminescence tour of Anderson Lagoon, and I'm told to expect magic. A mixture of excited and cynical, we sail through a tiny cut to get to the lagoon and find ourselves surrounded by giant mangroves. It's pitch black, the guide's flashlight beam cutting across the lagoon is the only light — then he turns it off. The boat picks up speed and the wake glows. Blue streams of light surrounds us from the water. As the boat pick upspeed, the tiny algae, which settle in the lagoon during the dry season, get agitated and glow, which for a bioluminescent newbie like me is mind-blowing. After a short boat ride through narrow mangrove channels, the captain kills the engine. In the dark stillness, every movement in the water sparks blue light — tiny bursts of, yes, living magic. Swimming through it feels like gliding through liquid stars, my arms trailing glowing comet tails. Tours cost approximately £56 per person. The next day's adventure feels a bit like driving through a film set. Winding along roads lined with orange groves and passing through the dreamlike Bamboo Cathedral – a natural tunnel of towering bamboo – is an experience in itself. As if the ride isn't dreamy enough, the road to the waterfall winds along the side of the mountain, with tall trees reaching above you and creating much-needed shade. We reach Maya King Waterfall, (entry £8 per person) in the Maya Mountains of the South East Coast. The two cascading falls are at their most dramatic during rainy season, crashing down into clear pools below. I could have spent hours here, soaking up the vibe, the only sound the rushing water echoing around us. In the charming village of Placencia, the footpath winds between brightly painted shops and beach bars. The Creole beach town is proud of its spot in the Guinness Book of World Records, where it's recognised for having the narrowest main street in the world. It's actually a 4,000-foot long footpath that is just four feet wide. A stroll along the pedestrian 'street' takes you past quaint rows of local artists' stalls, eclectic shops and cheekily-named beach bars. The village has managed to retain its boho vibe, despite a recent influx of wealthy American and Canadian retirees. Film director Francis Ford Coppola even opened a hotel here, the eco-friendly Turtle Inn. It's hard not to fall for the pace: no rush, no pressure, just friendly locals, lilting music, and the salty scent of the sea. My favourite perch is Tutti Frutti ice cream parlour, which serves delicious flavours like sour sop, a creamy local fruit beloved across the Caribbean that's usually made into a refreshing drink. After indulging in Placencia, a short Tropic Air hop (£75 one-way) takes me to San Pedro on Ambergris Caye. San Pedro is giving Wes Anderson: pastel-coloured wooden buildings, narrow sandy streets, and golf carts buzzing around as the main form of transport. In fact, my 'taxi' from the mini-airport to Ramon's Village Resort is a golf buggy (golf cart rentals cost about £7 per hour), although you could easily walk it if you wanted. Ramon's Village feels like stepping back in time, in the best way. Thatched-roof cabanas, lush tropical gardens, hammocks swinging in the breeze. Everything here is designed to help you unplug. Room rates vary by season and type, ranging from £135 to £360. Reggae music floats from bars and beach shacks all over town, a nod to Belize's cultural ties to Jamaica (both were once British colonies). It shows up in the food too: comforting dishes like stew chicken, rice and kidney beans, fried jacks (similar to Jamaican fried dumplings), and sweet plantain accompany almost every meal. Familiar, yet quintessentially Belizean. That evening, I join the Belize Food Tour, which turns out to be one of the best ways to experience San Pedro's spirit. Walking between stops with a chatty group of fellow travellers and locals, we try everything from fresh conch ceviche to grilled lobster, tamales wrapped in banana leaves, and rich coconut pies. Along the way, we get snippets of history, gossip, and restaurant secrets—it's less like a formal tour and more like wandering town with new friends who know all the best bites. Approximately £57 per person. The next morning, it's time for the ultimate snorkelling trip to Hol Chan marine reserve and Shark Ray Alley. Also known as 'Little Channel', it has impossibly clear waters and coral gardens teeming with life. Swimming alongside rays and nurse sharks is thrilling for some, but full disclosure, it's not for me. While hanging on to the side of the boat, I do manage to capture a semblance of magic as I duck my head in. A kaleidoscope of fish glide past me; if you're into that sort of thing, this place is a veritable underwater theme park. Before leaving Belize, there's one final bucket-list moment: a scenic flyover of the iconic Great Blue Hole. More Trending From the air, the vast circular sinkhole looks surreal: deep, endless blue surrounded by the lighter turquoise of the reef. You might even spot dolphins or manatees swimming below if you're lucky. It's humbling and breathtaking all at once. Scenic flights cost £200 per person, or, if you prefer to get up close and personal, sea tours typically cost around £100, including snorkel gear and guide. It sounds trite, but each new day in Belize brings new adventure and fresh perspective. It's the kind of place that reminds you to slow down… and eat everything. I've fallen for Belize and the love feels reciprocated. What more could you want? There are no direct flights from the UK to Belize. Travelling in the first week of June, the cheapest option is flying with United Airlines from London Heathrow, with stops in New York and Houston. Return fares start from £651, and the journey takes just over 24 hours. British Airways also flies from London Heathrow, with one stop in Miami. Prices start from £837 for the same week. Do I need a visa? UK passport holders do not need a visa for a tourist visit to Belize. You can stay for up to 30 days without a visa. MORE: Forget the Med — I swapped the sun for a spectacular Scandinavian train ride MORE: A weekend in Brighton through the eyes of a child MORE: Move over Dubai – the Middle East's 'Pearl of the Gulf' is more interesting
Daily Mail
22-04-2025
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Passenger recalls watching hero pilot land Belizean plane as he was being stabbed by hijacker Akinyela Taylor
A shaken expat has told how US veteran Akinyela Taylor launched a deranged stabbing spree on board a packed Caribbean passenger flight – after the pilot refused to fly him to Texas. Doug Maxwell told how he watched in disbelief as Taylor sank a five-inch dagger into another passenger's neck moments after taking off from Corozal Municipal Airport in Belize on Thursday last week. The 14-seater Cessna Grand Caravan was configured for a 20-minute hop to the island of Ambergris Caye but the madman wanted to detour to Texas – a journey of 900-plus miles. Doug and his wife Kim cowered at the back of the plane as Tropic Air pilot Howell Grange circled erratically for nearly two hours before deciding to land in Belize City. Taylor slashed at Grange with the knife and grabbed at the controls until businessman Fitzgerald Brown suddenly pulled a handgun - and 'neutralized' Taylor, 49, with a blast to the chest. 'The pilot was focused on the landing while the hijacker was stabbing him and fighting for control of the plane,' Doug, 66, told 'Fitz had been stabbed. He was almost bleeding to death. But he had the patience to wait until the plane was almost on the ground before pulling his weapon. 'He used it at just the right moment. It was the most improbable, crazy thing. Both of those guys are real heroes.' Cops found Taylor bleeding out as they surrounded the Cessna on the tarmac of the Philip Goldson International Airport. The St. Louis native – previously a joint interface control officer in the Air National Guard – was transported to the hospital but was dead on arrival. Grange and Brown were badly injured in the midair melee, along with a Tropic Air manager who was on board the 8am commuter service. Doug, a retired real estate investor from Nashville, Tennessee had flown that same route more than 100 times to get to his home on Ambergris Caye. 'There are no baggage checks or X-ray machines in Corozal,' he told 'The small airports in Belize have minimal security. It's like hopping on a bus. Everyone knows one another for the most part.' There was at least one new face among the 14 passengers, however. Taylor had slipped across the porous Mexico-Belize border over the weekend having earlier been refused entry at a border crossing. He was sat next to Brown, the owner of a barbecue restaurant, and was across the aisle from Doug's wife Kim, 61. 'My wife noticed this guy was sweating profusely. Literally right after takeoff he pulled a knife and stabbed Fitz. There was blood pouring from his head,' said Doug. 'The knife was about five inches long. A little dagger basically.' As Kim scrambled to the back of the 52-foot plane, Air Tropic manager Franchesco Castaneda tried to intervene but was stabbed in the chest, head and arms. A young boy was sitting next to the pilot but he fled and Taylor chillingly took his place. 'At that point we realized this wasn't an altercation or a dispute, this was a hijacking,' Doug explained. 'There was blood everywhere. The young man was visibly in shock and crying. The rest of us were terrified. 'The hijacker had no real plan other than he wanted to be taken to Texas but that little plane can't fly across Mexico to Texas. 'I think once he became aware of that, he probably just wanted headlines and international news coverage.' As Kim, Doug, and their fellow passengers did their best to bandage up the wounded men, Grange concentrated on keeping the plane in the air. Flight V3-HIG circled Belizean airspace for the next hour and 40 minutes before it ran low on fuel. 'My assumption was the pilot was hoping the guy was high on drugs and that he would eventually come down,' added Doug, a grandad and dad of three. 'When that didn't happen, I wondered if the pilot was just running down the fuel so we didn't turn into a fireball when we hit the ground. 'It seems that he was trying to run down the fuel so he could insist on landing.' Taylor was unmoved by the pilot's pleas, however, and vowed to crash the turboprop into the ground as it descended towards Philip Goldson International. 'That's when he began wrestling the pilot for control of the plane,' said Doug. 'The guy was saying, you're not landing this plane. If you try to land we're taking this whole thing down and everyone is going to die.' As the Cessna hovered above the runway, the passengers unlatched the emergency exits, fearing they might have a split second to jump clear before it soared back into the air. 'As soon as the landing gear touched down we pulled the doors open. The first guy fell out while the plane was still at a fairly high speed,' Doug said. 'That's when we heard the shots in the front of the plane. It seemed like there were at least four or five. 'My wife and I were probably the third and fourth off the plane. She sprained her leg but she's ok. We ran as fast as we could towards the emergency vehicles.' Belize Police Commissioner Chester Williams said 60-year-old Brown – a former security guard – was licensed to carry a gun and was a 'hero' for using it. But the Central American nation nonetheless faces serious questions about the safety of its airports and the ease with which weapons were taken on board. The Government of Belize said the hijacking was 'unexpected and deeply troubling' but defended its airspace as 'typically very secure'. 'Upon landing, the assailant sustained a fatal shot. Belizean security forces responded swiftly and professionally. A formal investigation has been launched and is actively underway,' a statement read. 'We commend the pilot for his exceptional professionalism and composure in the face of a highly stressful situation. 'His actions undoubtedly safeguarded the lives of all on board. All passengers demonstrated remarkable bravery, and their efforts contributed to the positive outcome.'
Daily Mirror
22-04-2025
- Daily Mirror
Strange history of teacher who hijacked plane and stabbed three in rampage
Akinyela Sawa Taylor, who stabbed three people on a Belize flight, is rumoured to be a US veteran and teacher, and less than two years ago published a book with a troubling message about a 'vision' Many people hate flying, harbouring fears of crashes, turbulence, or terrorism. And one of those fears came true for 14 unlucky passengers and two crew members who found themselves hijacked at knifepoint soon after takeoff. The plane started circling as the incident unravelled, and was even followed by a helicopter towards the end of its journey as police communicated with a passenger via text. Pilot Howell Grange was one of the three people stabbed during the horrifying flight, but miraculously managed to land the plane despite deep wounds on his right arm, back, and even his face. While there was no loss of life on the plane bar the knifeman himself, many people remain unsettled as authorities try to figure out many mysteries behind the hijacking. A US citizen has now been identified as the man who hijacked a Tropic Air flight in Belize on April 17. In the terrifying incident, Akinyela Sawa Taylor, 49, revealed and brandished a knife, going on to stab pilot Howell Grange and two passengers, named as Fitzgerald Brown and Jair Castañeda. There's an ongoing investigation in place in both America and Belize, with many questions still unanswered. Police state that just days prior to his attack, Taylor had been denied entry into Belize - so how did he get himself into the country? It's also said that Taylor pulled the knife in an attempt to get the domestic flight to refuel and leave Belize, but unknown where he wanted to go and why. Most obviously, authorities are still trying to figure out his motivations and how he got the knife onto the plane. Taylor is now dead, having been shot in the chest by a fellow passenger who was legally carrying a firearm - preventing what could have been a mass disaster with 14 passengers on the small Cessna Caravan V3HIG utility aircraft. Despite police not being able to question the hijacker, some details of his past have emerged. Police Commissioner Chester Williams spoke at a conference after the horror flight, and said it seemed that Taylor was a US veteran, who, in photos of his passport, was born in California on February 19, 1976. Meanwhile, the US Embassy, who are helping Belize in their investigation into Taylor, said that it had no details on Taylor's background or motivation, according to Reuters. The outlet reports that Philip SW Goldson International Airport, which declared a state of emergency at the time, had shed more light on his past. The airport claimed that Taylor worked as a teacher, having previously coached football at the McCluer North High School in Florissant, Missouri. The Ferguson-Florissant School District has released a statement on Taylor's employment, clarifying that he was an assistant football coach at the high school from June 2018 to February 2019, but is 'no longer affiliated with the District in any capacity,' according to Channel 5 Belize. Taylor's family has also now spoken out, expressing shock at the news and claiming he seemed in good mental health just a couple of weeks before carrying out the hijacking. His nephew, from St. Louis, Missouri - an area where Taylor is known to have many connections - said: "I don't think he would do something like this. He was okay when I last saw him two weeks ago. He wasn't on any medication. No signs of PTSD. This is a big shock to me and the rest of our family." In a strange twist, Taylor also recently appeared to have published a book about redemption partly based on his own experiences. Journey of the Mire: The Calling was released on August 14, 2023 under the pen name Tommie Taylor III, and features a main character called Akinyela alongside including a photo of Taylor on the back. In one section of the novel as available on Amazon, Tommie Taylor III wrote: 'The vision had etched itself in Akinyela's soul, a beacon of purpose that burned brighter than any star in the sky. It beckoned him to embark on a perilous journey through the Mire, a treacherous landscape of swamps, murky waters, and ever-shifting paths.'
