Placencia Penninsula & Caye Caulker, Belize, January 2017

I've been slacking on the blogging lately, but here's a post written by the taxidermist himself, Garry, about our trip to Belize in January, 2017.

My wife, Jeri Jackson, and I went back to Belize in late January, 2017. On our first trip a few year's earlier, we traveled north to the Crooked Tree area. This year we drove south along the Hummingbird Highway and the Southern Coastal Highway to the Placencia Penninsula. 

Hummingbird Highway is narrow in many places! 

After an adventurous drive from Belize City to Maya Beach in the dark, we found our room at the beautiful Swan Villas in Maya Beach. There are only 4 units in the complex so far and the studio unit we had was plenty of space and had a great balcony. There are quite a few local restaurants nearby serving delicious seafood. 

Pool at Swan Villas, Maya Beach,BZ

Balcony View from Swan Villas, Maya Beach, BZ

Tipsy Tuna Restaurant, Placencia, BZ

We also took a boat trip out of Placencia to snorkel at Laughing Bird Caye and also drove to the Cockscomb Basin Jaguar Reserve near Victoria Peak. 

South Stann Creek, Cockscomb Basin 

Cockscomb Basin Jaguar Reserve

Keel-billed Toucan

We didn't see a jaguar (it's very rare to see one), but we saw many tropical birds while hiking along a jungle river. We emerged covered in bites from tiny "no-seeums" (sand fleas). Jeri deleted the photo of her red, itchy legs, but can tell you about her search for something to relieve the pain, which resulted in our finding a the local remedy made from hemp seed oil. 

Laughing Bird Caye

After a few days in the south, we drove back to Belize City and took a water taxi out to Caye Caulker. We had such a great time on the small island on our first trip that we had to go back. Caye Caulker is much smaller and has fewer tourists than the more popular Ambergis Caye. There are no cars allowed, just bikes and golf carts. If you're thinking about traveling there, this a good Caye Caulker web site.

Sitting on our patio at the Barefoot Beach resort looking out at the Barrier Reef and watching the sea birds was so relaxing. 

Rooms at the Barefoot Beach Resort include bikes, since that is the best way to get around the island.

The snorkeling at Hol Chan Reserve is unbelievable; swimming with the sea turtles, fish, sharks and rays. We made six different stops on the reef and I took over 300 photos with my new $39 digital camera that is waterproof to 10 feet deep! What a great buy! 

Snorkeling trips include lunch and rum punch! 

Jeri hand-feeding bait fish to tarpon.

Tarpon will jump to get the bait fish!

We also went fishing another day, catching a lot of different reef fish and keeping enough snappers for a meal. 

Feeding small fish to Frigate Bird

Frigate Birds eating fish scraps while we're cleaning our fish. 

Even though the island has become busier in the past few years, with construction of new hotels, bars, and restaurants and there are more tourists, it is still a peaceful and friendly place. Winter weather is sunny with temps in the low 80's. We like Belize because it is easy to get to with reasonable airfare & accommodations, is English-speaking and the 2:1 dollar exchange is simple. It was another great trip, and we're already talking about trying to go again to explore more of the country. 

Belize, January, 2013

Crooked Tree, Belize and Caye Caulker, Belize

In January, 2013 we traveled to Belize for our delayed honeymoon after our November 2012 wedding. We decided to wait until the horrible cold Wisconsin winter and get away to someplace warm. I love doing travel research and Garry likes using Google Earth to look at places we are thinking about visiting. We decided to spend a few days inland and a few days on Caye Caulker, one of the smaller islands. We were so happy there we never ventured over to the more popular (and busy and expensive) Ambergris Caye. We hope to return again someday soon to explore areas further down the coast of Belize. Garry takes a LOT of photos wherever we go. Here are a few.

After landing in Belize City, we rented a car and drove less than an hour to the town of Crooked Tree. We had a reservation for a cabin at the Crooked Tree Lodge. The property is run by Mick & Angie, and they were great hosts, served fabulous meals and arranged a couple of side trips for us.

Our bungalow at Crooked Tree Lodge

This Basilisk Lizard (AKA Jesus Christ Lizard), 
was well camouflaged on the door to our cabin.

Our hosts arranged a day trip on a small boat with other guests from the lodge, up the New River to Mayan Ruins at Lamanai. The trip included lunch.

The Mask Temple at Lamanai

Along the river we saw many birds, as well as crocodiles and spider monkeys.

Garry wanted to learn more about the birds in the area, so our hosts set us up with a guide early one morning, and we went out in a boat onto the lagoon and saw many birds that I had never heard of, including the jacana.

Common Egret

Jacana

After a few days at Crooked Tree, we returned our rental car and took a cab to the water taxi which would take us over to Caye Caulker. The boat was filled with people and their gear and everyone tried to get a spot away from the water spray. At least it was warm!

Water taxi

The water taxi dropped us at the dock on Caye Caulker, and a bicycle cab took us to  cabana #5 at Costa Maya Beach Cabanas which had a small kitchen area, bed, bath and balcony. Here's the view from our balcony. Our room came with use of bikes, kayaks, and a grill. We were very happy with our choice via the internet.

We rode bikes from one end of the island to the other - about 5 miles one way. The island is about 1 mile wide. No motorized vehicles are allowed on Caye Caulker, except for delivery trucks, etc. If you'd like more information, try this website: Go Caye Caulker.

Caye Caulker street scene - nice and quiet with no cars allowed!

We saw this Coati alongside the main road on Caye Caulker

Garry likes to get up early with his camera and check out the sunrise with the birds.

Immature Frigatebirds

Frigatebirds and Brown Pelicans

Garry hired a fishing guide for part of a day. I went along for the ride. You need to be an experienced fisherman for "sight fishing"; casting your line as the guide spots fish. I enjoyed the boat ride in the sun.

Garry's catch  - a Jack Cravelle

A popular restaurant called Wish Willy's. Seafood was cheap and plentiful on Caye Caulker. With a complete grilled lobster dinner for less than $10, Garry ate it every day! Restaurants ranged from casual rustic to very rustic - grills and picnic tables in back yards.

Our hotel was also the office for Tsunami Adventures, and we booked a snorkeling trip with them, to Hol Chan Marine Reserve, and swam with nurse sharks, sea turtles, sting rays and fish. I had never snorkeled before, and Garry gave me some lessons in the shallow water first.

We met people from all over the world who were living, working or visiting Belize. We didn't meet the owner of this boat but I'm sure he was an interesting character.