Absolutely beautiful Belize

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Blogger Bec

Well here we are in the wonderful Caye Caulker, an island off Belize (Check out our map if you don't know where we are!!).

We are now travelling with our tour group, having come from Cancun in Mexico down into Belize. We caught the sea taxi out to Caye Caulker yesterday afternoon and have spent today snorkelling in the reef about ten minutes boat ride out from our hotel on the beach. First stop was Ray Alley where up to 15 sting rays were swimming around us in maybe 6 feet of water.

The colour was immaculate. The guide was great but I wasn't too keen on how they feed the rays in order for them to stay around. He was also touching them and I just find that contradictorary to the whole "conservation" vibe of Belize.
From there we went to Coral Cove where there was lots of coral starting to grow back - it has only been a reserve for 2 years. There was a variety of life, but like the coral, it will take time to replenish stocks.
Our last stop on the snorkelling trail was swash - a long strip of coral hard up against the reef drop off. Magnificent coral regenerating and many schools of fish who seem to seek you out as you hover carefully over their coral homes.
My mask was giving me grief so I swam back to the boat and just floated around for about 20 minutes on the GLORIOUS crystal clear, warm water with the odd fish darting in and around my body. It was so magnificent that I lost track of time and forgot to reapply my sunscreen - what was virgin white skin is now raw and smarting. There goes my Nicole Kidman lookalike features (ha!). I'm not looking forward to the 6 hour bus ride tomorrow with this burnt butt of mine...

We were pretty tired when we got back so we had a rest - oh the joys of island life - and then headed out on an ocean kayak about 4:30pm.
Now, Dougo and I have had a fair whack of rowing and boating experience but we COULD NOT make the damn thing go straight!! We ended up having a hissy fit at the kayak and went back into shore after only an hour.

I just love the vibe of Caye caulker - totally relaxed, everyone just going about their business, touts not too pushy, tourists not too ignorant. Everything is imported from the mainland so it's not cheap but it's just such a great place to chill out that noone really minds I think.

It's also the island of dogs - dogs everywhere!! Of course, I am in heaven, snapping pics of them left right and centre!

We're off to cross the border into Guatamala tomorrow morning, another early start 7am. We going to Flores for two days to see the Mayan ruins of Tikal.

You may notice that we did not mention much about our 4 days in Cancun. That is because it is RUBBISH. Avoid it at all costs.

Till next time,
Bec and Dougo

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