Belize

The smallest ever plane( Cessna Caravan ) for an International Flight (max 14) and then a similar size plane to the Ambergris Caye (1 other passenger on leg 1 to Caye Caulker and then only us) – felt like a private jet. The plane from Belize to Ambergris Caye is a whole 13 minutes (including a stop at another island) – long flight….

Both flights went over some amazing looking reef, particularly Turneffe Atoll – not that we will get there. There are only 4 resorts in this area with prices starting at $700 USD per person per night – a bit out of our budget. Day trips to the area are also only geared up for divers and also very expensive.

The island has almost no cars but masses of golf carts, interesting driving around in one (especially when complete steering wheel and shaft got knocked out over bump ) , no indicators, not many rules. Not sure if the gravel or paved roads are worse for bumps and holes.

Our hotel luckily has a pool – needed as it is a heatwave here. We are also around 20 mins bumpy ride to town so a little isolated but good.

A lot more tourists here than we are used to seeing although where we are staying is pretty quiet (thankfully).

Snorkelling off the beach here does not yield much more than the odd fish so it is down to short boat rides to various parts of the reef.

What can I say – amazing. Each spot was different and had excellent things to see. We got talking to the first guide about cruise ships and much to our surprise and also very impressed when he told us that the people on the island had got together and banned the cruise ship people from coming to Ambergris Caye. Brilliant. He said they ruin the reef and don’t spend any money with the local business’s.

On the first trip we went to Hol Chan Marine Park – so many Spotted Eagle Rays – although deep so not great for photos. Plenty of fish, eels and other stuff too.

Another spot was called Shark Alley – they do feed the sharks but it is still pretty cool to swim with so many so close.

Another spot is called Coral Gardens – this area has lots of fish and some pretty special coral formations – I was so lucky to find a Yellow Whiptail Stingray here.

We go to try and find Manatee – apparently a 50/50 chance, just as our boat rocked up the guide spotted a manatee, we jumped in but could not find it. We then went to another spot he knew and as soon as we rocked up he said to go in and swim towards 3 other people. Low and behold there is a manatee – far bigger than I expected. It had no care for us at all and I had to keep backing up when it came close, it seemed curious. Just as we got out of the water another one turned up and they were kissing / nose rubbing. An incredible experience.

At the end of this trip we went to a mangrove area to look for Sea Horses – there can be up to 5 species but we only found 2, always wanted to see a wild seahorse.

Our last trip was to Mexico Rocks, large bommie coral formations. Our first lion fish of the trip (not native, they kill them ( and eat them) as they are invasive).

Massive green Moray eel and some enormous groupers were among the many fish in this area. On the way back we stopped at another spot where fisherman clean their catch.

This in turn attracts other things, we could not believe the number of rays (2 species) and sharks swimming within inches of us. A bit scary – thinking about Steve Irwin and worrying about the barbs being so close – but the rays had no fear of us so not really an issue.

The 15 minute flight back to the mainland flew so low I could see the Eagle Rays swimming below.

A night in Dangriga was interesting, a real local kind of town not geared up for tourist at all but a good stop before heading to Tobacco Caye on the community ferry (a small boat).

As it was calm the 30 min journey only took 15 – the driver sped along at the speed of light (well fast anyway). Too fast to take any Photographs.

Very basic island with basic accommodation but very pretty – you can walk around the island in about 10 mins. Our cabin juts over the water and we could see Caribbean Whiptail Stingrays and Spotted Eagle Rays up and down past us all day in very shallow water. Wonderful to see.

The snorkelling on the first day was a bit disappointing – till we discovered that the couple that told us where to go (and that where they took us was the best bit) had no idea what they were talking about. Lots of rays, another species of flounder, squid and some common fish were easily seen.

Unfortunately we never got to the best coral and reef as by the time we found out where to go the weather and current had turned. We tried but it was just too hard to swim against. Great relaxing time and met some lovely young girls who we had a few bevvies with.

Last stop in Belize is Black Rock for some birds and Mayan Ruins. The scenery here is fantastic and the area has really good forests.

Birding is good – but very steep walks.

The resort is on a river and you could do free tubing down the river and fall, we had planned for the last day but it rained all day so missed out – it did look fun, pity.

We did a couple of hours birding with a staff member, pity about the rain but made for interesting photos of bedraggled birds.

The Mayan ruins were very impressive luckily not too many people at first site to start, then got busier.

The first was Cahal Pech a small site in town with some current excavation still ongoing.

Trip to second site Xunantunich involved crossing a river by hand cranked ferry which was fun. The ruins were really great and surprisingly large, pity it was so hot, too hot for us to climb to the top for an overall view, but still great from the bottom.