Any visit to Belize would not be complete without going to a tropically remote white sand beach. For the January 2004 BELIZEmagazine.com 'Life's a Beach' pick, we would like to recommend the sandy shores of the Snake Cayes. The Snakes are an archipelago of four islands located about thirty-five minutes offshore from Punta Gorda. East Caye, West Caye, South Caye and Middle Caye are somewhat off the beaten path, i.e. it's too far from Placencia for the guides to make the trip pay, and almost too far from Punta Gorda for the same reason. That said, the Snake Cayes are easily accessible by chartered guide and boat service from the village of Punta Gorda. We suggest starting with the further island, East Snake Caye, and then working your way back through the group of cayes towards port in PG. Always remember the waters tend to get a little rougher in the afternoons, so that smooth ride out in the morning might be a bit bouncy on the way back to town in the afternoon. Safety first dictates always watch the waterline and listen to your guide.