Category Archives: International Travel

International Travel Destinations

Jaguar Creek, Cayo District, Belize

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My stay at the Jaguar Creek Resort along the Hummingbird Highway.

After leaving San Ignacio, I headed for Jaguar Creek in central Belize, just off the Hummingbird Highway. Of all the major highways in Belize, the Hummingbird Highway is by far the prettiest and most exciting. To get to this highway from San Ignacio, you travel east on the Western Highway to Roaring Creek, just before reaching Belmopan. That is where the hummingbird highway starts on the north end. Go south on this highway towards the southern coast of Belize. What makes this highway so special is that is cuts right through the mountains that run through Belize.

About 24 km south via the Hummingbird highway and before you get to the Blue Hole National Park, you will see a sign for Jaguar Creek and Ian Andersons Caves Branch Jungle Lodge on the left. Take this dirt road and bear to the right at the fork in the road (~650 meters), and you will arrive at the Jaguar Creek Resort (~350 meters). You will see the entrance to the Blue Hole National Park on the right (about 200 meters) if you miss the turn off the Hummingbird Highway for Jaguar Creek (turn around and go back to the turn-off).

 

Stayed at Jaguar Creek on my way from San Ignacio to Hopkins, and wanted to stop and enjoy a cave raft trip (St. Herman’s cave) and see and experience the Blue Hole. Both of these things are part of the Blue Hole National Park, located on the Hummingbird Highway. I arrived on a Sunday early afternoon and was greeted by very nice staff that checked me into one of the Cabanas. The complex consists of a number of 1 bedroom cabanas, along with a couple of dorm type buildings for large groups. I believe they even have some multi-bedroom cabanas, but not sure.

   

The single bedroom or one room cabanas are located in a line that extends down an elevated walkway above the forest floor, with each unit separated by about 75 feet. There is also a dining area, office, gift shop, and a training building located on the property. The property uses these elevated walkways to reach all the buildings and also leads down to a small creek that you can get wet in or just enjoy the jungle.

   

It ended up that I was the only person checked in for that night after some large school group had left the same day. The staff asked me what kinds of food I would like for dinner and breakfast the next morning. They also told me what time both would be served. It ended up that they cooked both dinner and breakfast the next morning just for me, and it was delicious. I felt so special.

The staff set me up with the cave raft trip and told me where and what time to meet the guides for the trip.

After the raft trip, I went down the street (2 minutes’ drive) and visited the Blue Hole and took a refreshing dip in the water. More on both the cave raft trip and the blue hole in the next blog.

The cabana itself is very nice and totally screened in, with curtains for privacy. The unit’s bathroom has hot/cold water sink, toilet, and a shower. My unit (last one located furthest from the office) was surrounded by jungle on three sides. Each unit has lights and a single wall plug, which is used to plug a fan into for cooling at night while sleeping. The Queen Size bed has a full mosquito net around it. The unit also has a safe and a hammock located inside so that you can relax and enjoy the jungle without being outside and bothered by bugs.

    

Electricity is provided by solar panels and supplemented by a diesel generator if required. The pathway from the dining/office area to the cabanas is lighted, but you are advised to bring along a flashlight just in case the electricity goes out.

After dinner, I retired to the cabana and enjoyed a very restful and comfortable night. During the night, I was awakened by the sounds of howler monkeys in the forest and lots of bird songs in the morning.

Again, the next morning, breakfast, including coffee was waiting for me and was great.

I can’t say enough about the great staff and relaxing atmosphere of this place. It is truly a unique experience and something that everyone must do while in Belize. Even though this is not a 5 star Hotel, it is a 5-star experience.

Next up, my Cave Rafting Adventure in St. Herman’s Cave & Dip in the Blue Hole at the National Park.

 

San Ignacio’s Farmers’ Market

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San Ignacio’s Farmers’ Market

If one of your concerns in moving or visiting a foreign country is where can I get good organic food (vegetables, fruits, meats & fish), then you will want to check out the local farmer’s markets like me.

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One of the best and most well-known farmers’ markets in all of Belize is the one located in San Ignacio, which is held every Saturday morning and closes at 2-3pm. It is more than a farmers’ market, it also includes a flea market, and prepared food for sale. It is located right downtown, alongside the river and across from Broaster Stadium, which is the soccer stadium / field / park.

This market has all kinds of fresh foods, lots of clothing, and plenty of food to eat, plan to come early, bring cash and be hungry.

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There are a few permanent stalls, stands that you can shop every day of the week, but the main event with lots of different vendors and selections is held on Saturdays.

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Besides lots of fresh vegetables, meats, fish, clothing, andfarmers-market-10 prepared food to eat, you will find handmade items, appliances, spices, and even puppies for sale. This is more than a farmers’ market, it is an outside grocery store, 5/10 cent store, and local garage sale all rolled into one.

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There are quite a few Mennonite farmers present, that sellfarmers-market-19 their fresh fruits and vegetables from their farms located here in Belize. They are easy to recognize with their traditional clothing and hats.

Note: Not all the food sold here is organic, even some of the Mennonite farmers have now gone over to the dark side (Monsanto’s seeds, pesticides, and feed for their livestock – GMO) for believed higher production / profits. Make sure you ask before you buy.

Plan on spending a few hours roaming this market, and samplingfarmers-market-27 some of the fresh foods available for purchase. Buy your food, and take it down towards the river to enjoy a picnic. Take note of all the Iguanas located in the trees.

 

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On my next blog, I will be moving on from San Ignacio to Jaguar Creek in Belize.

Xunantunich – A Mayan Site in Belize

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Another day in San Ignacio, another day exploring Mayan Ruins. xunantunich-29-of-30Today I visit Xunantunich (pronounced /ʃunantunit͡ʃ/), which is located south of San Ignacio about 12.5km on the Western Highway before you get to the border of Guatemala. Xunantunich is located atop a ridge above the Mopan River, well within sight of the Guatemala border – which is a mere 1 kilometer (0.62 mi) to the west. One of the unique things about this site is that to get to it, youxunantunich-2-of-30 must cross the Mopan River on foot or in your car via a ferry that is hand cranked across the river via cables. Once across the river, it is a 1.2km uphill road, that is not well maintained. Be careful of all the people walking this route.

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Xunantunich’s name means “Stone Woman” in the Maya language. The core of the city Xunantunich occupies about one square mile (2.6 km²), consisting of a series of six plazas surrounded by more than 26 temples and palaces. The site is much smaller than Tikal in Guatemala but still is impressive. Xunantunich was recently found in the 1890’s.

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One of Xunantunich’s better-known structures is the pyramid known asxunantunich-4-of-30 “El Castillo”. It is the second tallest structure in Belize, at some 130 feet (40 m) tall. This is the structure that the legend of the “Stone Women”, a ghost of a woman claimed by several people to inhabit the site, is seen ascending the stone stairs and disappearing into a stone wall. She is dressed completely in white and has fire-red glowing eyes.

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Before you cross the river, you should hire one of the many guides that will be available at the ferry. They are all licensed by the Government and have badges hanging around their necks. The price is negotiable and depends on how many hours you will spend onsite with them. They are well worth the money and will be able to assist you in exploring the site.

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Even though this is not a large site compared to Tikal, it is very xunantunich-13-of-30impressive, and very well maintained by the Belize government. There is a lot more destruction of the structures that make up this site. This is due to the way the early excavation was performed here at Xunantunich in which they used dynamite to expose the various structures, and also due to Earthquake damage.xunantunich-10-of-30 Currently, they are doing lots of restoration work to fix the damaged structures here on the site. I also noticed lots of “blue” tarps over some of the structures, this is to minimize the erosion of the stone due to the elements.

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The parking area has a very nice gift shop and information centerxunantunich-8-of-30 located by it. Inside the information center, you will find lots of great information and  pictures of the various precious artifacts found on the site. This is the first Mayan Ruins that showed a picture description of the “Tree of Life” that plays a key role in the religion and beliefs of the Mayan people. There is a lot to see within the Visitor Center, so plan on spending an hour or so doing this.

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The fine stucco or “friezes” can be seen as part of the Temple of “El Castillo”. The frieze depicts the birth of a god associated with the royal family, gods of creation, as well as the tree of life (which extends from the underworld, the earth, and the heavens).

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The view from on top of El Castillo is spectacular, and should not be missed. It is not easy to ascend this monument and takes some time to do. Once on top, you can oversee the whole complex of Xunantunich and the surrounding countryside.

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One thing I noticed at this site is the relatively small amount of people visiting. According to my guide, this is because most visitors decide to go to either Tikal or one of the other many sites nearby, and miss this one completely. I highly recommend that anyone visiting San Ignacio spend the extra day and come to this site.

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Next up will be the San Ignacio Farmers Market.

Tikal National Park – Mayan City located in Guatemala

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The trip to Tikal National Park located in Guatemala.

It has been over 18 years since I last visited the Tikal National Park in Guatemala, and today’s the day. What I remember of Tikal was the sheer size of the City and the amount of buildings and pyramids that made it up. I also remember being able to climb most of the pyramids and buildings and observe the spectacular views from the top of them.

Since Tikal is located in Guatemala, you really need to hire a tour group to assist you in crossing the border to / from Belize and Guatemala. Also because of the size of Tikal, you will need a guide to assist you in navigating this National Monument. As it was 18 years ago, there is still a lot of friction between the governments of Belize and Guatemala over ownership of the borders for each Country. As a foreigner to both countries, you do not want to make this crossing into Guatemala by yourself, or without a reputable tour company. Don’t forget to bring your passport!

Whatever tour group you book with, you will end up getting out, getting your passport stamped, paying an exit fee, and changing vans and drivers at the border. Apparently, only Guatemalan  vehicles and drivers are allowed to drive in the Country due to insurance and licensing regulations.

The tour company I signed up with picked me up at my Hotel around 8 am. and we were on our way to Tikal. The trip takes about 2.5 hours from San Ignacio, Belize to the Tikal National Park in Guatemala, including the stop at the border. The group I was with consisted of US, British, and Canadians for a total of 7 people in a van. The roads are paved and the ride is comfortable, considering that you are out in the middle of nowhere.tikal-2-of-51

Along the way, we passed a few lakes, one of which there were many Guatemalans down at the waters edge washing clothing. We stopped to stretch, which gave me a chance to take a few pictures. According to our guide, thistikal-1-of-51 particular lake (Laguna Salpeten Macenche) contains a lot of mineral content and therefore has been found to really help in cleaning soil from clothing. Apparently, there are no gators in the water either.

Our next stop right before the Route 3 split from CA13 highway, we stopped at a gift shop / restaurant to order lunch for later when we return from our day at Tikal. The gift shop had lots of fine wood carvings and tourist stuff for visitors to / from the Mayan ruins. Note the intricate carvings and grain of the wood on the Mayan face mask shown below.

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A few miles further and we came to yet another, a larger lake called Lago Peten Itza, which is the second largest lake in Guatemala.

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We finally reached the entrance to the Tikal National Ptikal-16-of-51ark, the first thing I noticed different from 18 years ago is that the parking and information center are now very close to where the monuments begin. In the past, you had to walk about a half a mile from the parking / information center to where the Mayan site began. This is great news since you will be walking and covering a lot of the territory while visiting the site. After unloading from the van, most of our passengers opted to go on their own to visit the Mayan city. Having been here before, I knew I wanted to go with the guide since he would know the best route and buildings to view while here. There are lots of informational boards posted around each of the structures that will give you good information on what the structure is and what it was used for by the Mayans.

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It is just amazing that the Mayan civilization could build so tikal-9-of-51many impressive structures and create such a complex city with over 3,000 structures, where estimates are that around 75,000 to 90,000 people lived at its height. The city is built on  limestone ridges that are surrounded by swamplands, and the only water they had was from a tikal-11-of-51collection of rainwater into 10 reservoirs. They used a sophisticated ditch system to collect the rainwater and direct it into these reservoirs. All of the structures built here were made from the local limestone, and wood from the trees here. There are still wood beams that were used when these buildings were constructed that are still intact and have not been replaced or refurbished.

There is lots of fauna and wildlife roaming or flying around, so keep your eyes open and you might catch a glimpse of white-nosed coatis (see picture),

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spider and howler monkeys (see picture),  harpy eagles, falcons, turkeys, guans, toucans, green parrots and leafcutter ants (everywhere). This whole city remained hidden under the rain forest for over 1,000 years before being re-discovered in the 1840’s.

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The views from atop of some of these structures are impressive.tikal-42-of-51 Another thing I noticed different from my previous visit was that some of the structures have been closed to climbing, but they have now constructed stairways on some of the higher monuments so that it is much easier to get to the top, along with safer and less damage to the structure by those that choose to make the climb. My guide explained that recently a climber slipped and fell to their death while climbing on one of the pyramids that did not have wooden stairways built to assist in climbing. The original stone stairs / steps were very high and steep. This was because it was expected that whoever wanted to ascend these structures would have to use their knees to do so, which meant they would never be standing while ascending or descending the structures out of respect for the gods. I can tell you first hand that back in 1998 when I was first here, it was very difficult to climb any of these monuments, and hard on the knees to do.

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You can spend days or weeks here exploring the site, but you will be exhausted after just a few hours of walking. So much to see and do while here at Tikal. Don’t forget to stop at the visitor center to get lots of great information on the Mayan civilization and the city. Of course there is also a souvenir shop at the parking area, but as usual, it is full of overpriced touristy stuff.

What a great day at Tikal, and now it was time for my return triptikal-45-of-51 to the hotel back in San Ignacio, Belize. But first, we need to make a stop for lunch back at that shop we stopped at on the way to Tikal. Our lunch / dinner was good, and we had more time to watch a wood carver creating a new mask for sale in the shop out front. I also noticed and took some pictures of a cacao or cocoa tree with some ripe fruit on it. I had never seen one up close before.

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After our stop for a late lunch / early dinner, we headed back to Belize and again stopped at the border to get our entrance visas and change vans and drivers again.

By the time I arrived back at my Hotel in San Ignacio, it was getting dark and I was exhausted. Tomorrow is another big day for the Turtle.

Coming up next will be my blog on a trip to Xunantunich, another Mayan Site located in Belize.

 

San Ignacio, Cayo District, Belize – Day 2

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San Ignacio, Belize – Iguana & Nature Walk – Day 2

After a good nights rest in the Hotel (Midas Hotel), it was time to get started on seeing the many sights in and around San Ignacio and Western Belize. The Hotel offered a complimentary breakfast in its dining area, where the first thing that catches your eye are the many Iguanas that are either on the ground or in the trees around the Hotel.

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One of the first things I want to do was go see the San san-ignacio-2-3-of-27Ignacio Hotel & Resort, which I was unable to get a booking in, but was rated as one of the top Hotels / Resorts in the area. The San Ignacio Hotel / Resort is located on the south side of the town, the opposite of where I was staying and is home to the Green Iguana Conservation Project and a highly rated Nature Walk – Herbal Medicine tour , both of san-ignacio-2-2-of-27which I was interested in seeing while here in town. The Hotel is located at the top of a large hill from downtown San Ignacio and offers great views of the surrounding countryside. You immediately know that you are in an upscale hotel, once you enter the lobby area. The marble floors, and beautiful flower arrangments, and paintings or photographs on the walls. Once I walked through the san-ignacio-2-14-of-27lobby and to the back of the hotel and looked out on the vista and the pool area, I knew I wanted to stay here. This was probably the best Hotel and Resort I have seen since leaving the States. Unfortunately, they still had no vacancies and I would have to stay where I was at the Midas Hotel.

At the Hotel / Resort, they have the Green Iguana Conservation Project and Nature Walk – Herbal Medicine tours, that I read about and wanted to do while here. The first tour that was available was the Iguana tour, which I only had to wait about 30 minutes before it would start.

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The Green Iguana Conservation Project was created in san-ignacio-2-8-of-271996 by Mrs. Mariam Roberson and Daniel Velasquez due to the decreasing survival rate of Green Iguanas in Belize caused by overhunting. It’s a continuous effort that aims to conserve and look after the endangered Green Iguana species in Belize. The Project uses interactive exhibits and programs to help educate visitors and create awareness san-ignacio-2-6-of-27among the general public. The tour takes about 1 to 1.5 hours, and will get you up close and personal with lots of Iguanas. Our guide, Abdon, was great and very knowledgeable about the project and Iguanas. There are three separate caged areas, one for the juveniles (about 1 – 2.5 years old, one for the babies, and one area for the incubation of eggs. They let you feed the juveniles with san-ignacio-2-9-of-27fresh vegetables that the guide will give to you. Just make sure you don’t hold on to the food too long because the Iguanas will climb right up your pants to get to the food (See pictures and video below). You can even pick up and hold some of the Iguanas. Once the Iguanas reach about 2.5 years of age, the project lets them loose into the forest. There are hundreds of Iguanas located all around the hotel / resort, and surrounding area. Everywhere you go in Western Belize, you see Iguanas in the trees or on the ground.

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Below is a quick video showing how the iguanas will climb right up your pants leg if you are holding any food for them.

Later in the afternoon, I was able to book the Nature / Herbal Medicine Tour, which is also located on the Hotel property. This tour lasted about 2+ hours and I was lucky enough to get the same guide (Abdon) as I had for the Iguana Conservation Project tour. This tour follows a path through the jungle located behind the Hotel and down the side of the valley towards the river. All along the path is located these information boards that identify the name of the tree or shrub behind it along with information about the item and their medical use. If you are lucky, you will also see some very interesting wildlife, including birds, butterflies and even monkeys.

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After the tour, I headed back to my Hotel where I ended up walking towards town to get some dinner and was able to capture a few pictures of the moonrise.

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What a great way to spend a day in San Ignacio, Belize.

Up next will be the trip to Tikal, a large and famous Mayan Ruin City located in Guatemala.

 

 

 

San Ignacio, Cayo District, Belize – Day 1

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San Ignacio, Belize – Day 1 (Travel from The Belize Zoo)

After spending hours of fun at The Belize Zoo, it was time to start making my way to San Ignacio to spend a few days. I kept traveling west on the Western Highway for about 68 km from the Zoo.

Before I got too far, thought I might stop and get san-ignacio-1-3-of-7something to eat along the way. Not far from the Zoo and right before you get to the Hummingbird Highway turn-off, I found this great little restaurant called Cheers. This place was great, and believe it or not, I had been here before back in 1998. I immediately recognized the place from all the shirts hanging from the ceiling. The last time I was here, was with a group of scuba divers from Sports Chalet (now closed and out of business) in Southern CA. We were there to dive on asan-ignacio-1-2-of-7 live-a-board boat (Belize Aggressor) for a week but first wanted to visit some of the Mayan Ruins found throughout Belize. We donated one of our tour group shirts (Sports Tours) to the restaurant after stopping for lunch on our way to San Ignacio to visit some ruins. As you can see from the pictures, this has become the custom for most people stopping to eat at this place. I looked for our old shirt but could not find it. I asked the owner about our shirt, san-ignacio-1-1-of-7and she stated that they only have room for about the last 5 years worth of visitors, so it must have been taken down and trashed. Oh well, this time, I donated one of my shirts from the gym where I work out most evenings back home in Southern CA. (Proactive Sports).

Afer a great meal, it was time to head out and make my way to San Ignacio. I wanted to arrive before sunset, so I wouldn’t have to worry about the wildlife walking on to the road at night.

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I arrived and checked into my Hotel (Midas Hotel) before dark, and was able to get off a few shots of the sunset from the hotel balcony. The Midas Hotel is located within walking distance of downtown San Ignacio, yet in a quite part of town. It is located along the Belize River, which runs along the back of the property.

Next up, Touring San Ignacio, Belize – Day 2

The Belize Zoo – Belize

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The Belize Zoo – Belize

This is probably the best little zoo on earth! belize-zoo-32-of-32

I was at the Belize Zoo one time before back in 1998 and thought it was a great little zoo then. Now, 18 years later, I know it is one of my favorite zoos.

The Belize Zoo and belize-zoo-29-of-32belize-zoo-27-of-32Education Center is located some 29 miles (47 km) west of Belize City on the Western Highway. It’s only about 29 acres in size, but set in a tropical forest, so it seems much larger, and it is easy to get turned around in.  It is home to more than 170 animals of about 48 species, all native to Belize. It uses gravel paths to travel through the vegetation and trees to view the various animal inclosures.

The Zoo focuses on educating visitors about the belize-zoo-28-of-32belize-zoo-30-of-32wildlife of Belize through encountering the animals in their natural habitat. It also gets upwards of over 15,000 school children a year visiting the zoo. The Zoo and Education Center provides video, sound clips, photos and key facts for the over 170 animals native to Belize.

Because the animals are mostly kept in large natural habitats native to their wildlife homes, it is sometimes hard to see or find the animals on display at the Zoo. But, because there are so many animals here, you will be able to get great views and photographs of many of them.

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Each inclosure has a sign and educational information about each animal that is within.

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Plan on spending 4 or more hours to wander this great little zoo and Education center.

Next blog will be on the trip to San Ignacio, Belize – Day 1.

Altun Ha, Belize District, Belize

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After a fantastic morning a the Baboon Sanctuary in Bermudian Landing (see my previous post), I decided I needed to find some lunch and drove North on the Northern Highway towards Sand Hill.

Found a small roadside shack that was offering some local Belizean (chicken, rice, beans, and yucca). Not bad, but very messy to eat. After lunch, I continued north to just past Sand Hill, where the highway splits. I decided to take the Old Northern Highway since it was headed towards the coast, and being the Turtle that I am, I wanted to see the Ocean.

A few miles up the highway, I spotted a sign for a Mayan Ruin called Altun Ha. I have been to Belize before and visited many of the Mayan Ruins, and always found them interesting and worth viewing if you have the time. I have never been to or heard of this site before, so I decided to go visit it.

Once you reach Lucky Strike, you leave the Old Northern Highway and drive west for about 4km and you arrive at the entrance to Altun Ha.

altun-ha-1-of-23 altun-ha-21-of-23At the entrance, there are some shops and information center that will give you the history of this site and what the layout for it is. Of course, there are plenty of guides for hire, and I recommend that you hire one. The guides are all licensed and knowledgeable about the site and the current theories on what happened at this site and where and why the Mayans left here. They also know where to go, and what to see based on how much information or time you have to explore the ruins.

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I negotiated a good price ($20 US) for one of the guides and told him I had the rest of the afternoon to spend here, and I was interested in getting some good photos and information on the ruins.

Turtle with Guide

Turtle with Guide

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I was really impressed with the size and scope of these ruins. Some of these structures seemed to be as high and big as the ones I remembered from my last visit to the Tikal ruins in Guatemala. The nice thing about these ruins is that they are off the beaten tourist path, so not many visitors and you can still climb many of the structures. I am always amazed at how an old civilization like the Mayans was able to plan, construct and build such large, ornate, and geometrically accurate structures without the modern tools of today.

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As with all the Mayan sites found in Central America, only about 10-20% of the site has been excavated, many of the structures are still buried under the earth and trees of the forest. This is to preserve these structures for future generations, since once exposed to the elements, most of these ruins will fade away to nothing.

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One of the exciting objects found at this site is the jade head at Altun Ha, which is considered a national treasure of Belize.

Turtle at Altun Ha (I am not a national Treasure of Belize)

Turtle at Altun Ha (I am not a national Treasure of Belize)

Coming up next will be the Belize Zoo.

Baboon Sanctuary, Bermudian Landing, Belize

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Baboon Sanctuary, Bermudian Landing, Belize – April 18, 2016

First full day in Belize, it’s time to go visit some of the sights in and around Burrel Boom, Belize. My first stop is the Baboon Sanctuary, which is located about 13.5 km due west, on the same road as the Black Orchid Resort where I am staying. I started out early since I was told that the monkeys are most active early in the mornings, or late in the afternoons. The visitor center is just a small barn-looking structure located on the left-hand side of the road, after re-crossing the Belize River and located in Bermudian Landing. It’s not a big place and you could drive right by it if you did not know where and what it is all about.

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Baboon Sanctuary-18Inside the visitor center, you will find great information on both the sanctuary, its guides, history of the area, and of course the Howler Monkeys. Apparently, the guides are local women who have been trained and educated on the howler monkeys located within the sanctuary and receive extra money for their services when needed. This goes a long way in providing monies for both the sanctuary and the guides that work there. Baboon Sanctuary-17

Since I was part of a small group of visitors to the center this day (only 2 other people), we got a very personal tour and our guide was very well versed in the howler monkeys, flora and fauna found here. She knew where to go to find the monkeys, and once found, they recognized her and even came down out of the treetops to greet her. The troop we found consisted of an alpha male and his mate, along with a number of juveniles, and one baby. In total, there were about seven monkeys.

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I was able to get a short video of the monkeys, while the alpha male started to howl as prompted by our guide. You just can’t believe the amount of noise and how deep a tone the howler monkey makes.

The howler monkeys are getting endangered by the expansion of humans, and the deforestation of the rain forests.

This tour lasted about 3 hours and was well worth the time and money to experience. I highly recommend that if you get the chance to visit Belize, make this one of your stops while in Country.

My next blog will be about Altun Ha, one of the many Mayan Ruins found throughout Belize, Guatemala, Mexico, and Honduras.

 

The Belize Adventure Begins

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Travel to Belize Begins – April 17, 2016

Well after a month-in-a-half rest after my trip to Panama in Southern California, it’s time to go check out Belize. If you have been following this blog, I (Turtle), am still not convinced that Panama should be my new home, and want to go check out some other Central American Countries to see if they might be the right candidates for me to retire in.

In my past travels to Belize many years ago (first in 1998), I found that the Belizians were very friendly, and the money system was based on the US dollar (2BZ to $1US), along with English as the official language. Belize also has a great barrier reef (2nd largest in the world) all along its coast. This makes for great diving, which this turtle is looking for. Along with the coast and hundreds of islands, there are mountains, rivers, rainforests, jungles and lots of Mayan Ruins throughout the Country.

Belize is not a big country, and there are only 4 or 5 main roads in the Country, so it is easy to get from one end to the other in just a few hours. There are less than 332,000 people that call Belize home. Belize is bordered on the north by Mexico, on the south and west by Guatemala, and on the east by the Caribbean Sea.

With my previous travels to Belize and all the research I was able to get done prior to leaving for Belize, I decided I really wanted to spend the first three weeks on the mainland, exploring Mayan Ruins, the Belize Zoo and checking out towns like San Ignacio, Hopkins and Placencia, prior to spending almost two weeks on Ambergris Caye where I really expect that this turtle might decide to settle down.

Getting to Belize from the US is easy and only takes on average about two-and-a-half to three hours from Houston or Miami. From Los Angeles, where this Turtle flies out of, it takes more time. Most every flight entering into Belize goes into Belize City (largest city in Belize) through its international airport called Philip S.W. Goldson International Airport (BZE). This airport is located just outside (15 km) of Belize City proper along the northern highway. Because of ongoing trouble with gangs in Belize city, most people avoid staying overnight in the city and chose hotels or resorts outside of the city. Although there are some nice Hotels / resorts located within the City, and since I was going to visit locations within the mainland of Belize, I chose to make my first stop in Burrel Boom. So upon arrival at the airport, I rented a car (AQ Rental Car) and bought a SIM card for my phone right in the airport parking lot and drove the northern highway (17 km) to the Black Orchid Resort in Burrel Boom.

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I chose the Black Orchid Resort because of the good reviews, the location close to the airport, and some other great tourist destinations that I wanted to go see. The Black Orchid Resort is located right on the Belize River, and offered a pool, restaurant, nice rooms, and had breakfast included. (See my reviews in Tripadvisor). The property is well maintained, with lots of trees, shrubs, flowers, birds and lizards / Iguanas on the grounds.

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My room at the Black Orchid Resort was located right along the river with the front entrance and patio looking out over the river. The Belize River at this point is about 150 yards wide and is quite deep. There is a mild current, but people do swim in the river along the shore. I am sure that in the wet season May through November, this river will be a lot wider and the current much stronger. This part of the river has few properties along the banks so there is a lot of trees and growth along the shores. Apparently, Burrel Boom was once the site where huge logging chains were strung across the river to snag the tree logs (Logwood & Mahogany) that were cut upstream in the rain forests of Belize and Guatemala. They used the river to float the trees down to this point and then removed the logs and transported them to the saw mills.

Up next on this blog will be my trip to the Baboon Sanctuary.