Costa Maya and Belize


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North America » Mexico » Yucatán
February 14th 2013
Published: February 15th 2013
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New Orleans, Costa Maya Mexico, Belize City, Roaton Honduras


Additional maps: Belize City to Lamanai Mayan Ruins

Costa Maya jetty Costa Maya jetty Costa Maya jetty

Mahahaul Beach to the left
Monday 11thFebruary: at sea en route from New Orleans to Costa Maya, Mexico

Heading due south in quite rough sea and strong winds. Nothing to do except eat, drink, read, eat, sunbathe, eat etc……although I did mange an hour in the gym in the morning.

Tuesday 12 February Costa Maya Mexico

As the blister that I’d acquired in the hotel on the second day was still very sore I decided to visit the on-board doctor prior to going ashore at Cost Maya. When I got to the medical centre I saw a sign outside saying that a consultation with the physician involved a minimum charge of $145. Suddenly the pain was gone. Hallelujah! The message had provided the miracle cure and I returned to our cabin with a spring in my step: or at least not limping so much.

Later we strolled ashore along a very long jetty and caught a bus into the nearby village of Mahahual with no clear idea of how we would spend the day. Fortunately a fellow passenger on the bus recommended that we try one of the many beach front restaurants which offer changing facilities, sun loungers and sun shades. After making our way along the beachfront we came across Nohoch Kay which had been highly recommended in TripAdvisor so we settled in there. It turned out to be a good choice as it was owned by a really nice Brit from Southampton who had been running this restaurant/bar in Mahahual for 11 years. We spent a very pleasant day by the sea, snacking and then lunching on civiche: a local dish consisting of shrimps and fish, marinated then cooked in lemon juice. We returned to the ship in the early evening after what had been the best day so far.

Wednesday 13th February: Belize

After a smooth transit from Costa Maya we anchored off Belize City at 6.30am and got to shore by 9.40am after an unannounced delay. We’d booked a trip to visit some Mayan ruins in the jungle some 2 hours from Belize City but missed joining the first group of visitors. However, the tour company arranged a second bus for us and for some passengers from another cruise ship and we made up most of the lost time. We were taken to a place called Orange Walk and then took a one hour river trip through the jungle to reach the Mayan temple complex at Lamanai. The temples were most impressive and we enjoyed the tour although it was very hot and tiring; mainly because we were allowed to climb the highest of the pyramids which was very steep and involved hard climbing up the widely spaced steps. Then back down the New River to Orange Walk and a bumpy one hour bus journey back to Belize City in time to catch the tender back to our ship.


Additional photos below
Photos: 15, Displayed: 15


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Mahahaul BeachMahahaul Beach
Mahahaul Beach

Segway tour passing the Nohoch Restaurant
BelizeBelize
Belize

New River start point for trip to Lamanai Mayan ruins
New River cruiseNew River cruise
New River cruise

We had the slowest boat on the river
Belize Belize
Belize

Heading up the New River to Lamanai
Lamani Lamani
Lamani

Jaguar Pyramid
LamanaiLamanai
Lamanai

High Temple
Lamanai High Temple ClimbLamanai High Temple Climb
Lamanai High Temple Climb

Extremely steep. Fortunately a strong rope "handrail" helped make the descent safer
LamanaiLamanai
Lamanai

The top of the High Temple
High Temple High Temple
High Temple

New River lagoon in background
Mask TempleMask Temple
Mask Temple

The masks have been coated in glass fiber to preserve the crumbling stone


15th February 2013

Travel Keeps You Young!
and with lovely mate you must also call yourself lucky. I plan to begin travels myself in a couple of years, with whatever luck I can latch onto. Thanks for sharing your lively adventures. Holding the fort in Arizona, I am your friend just north of Sonora.

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