Save the Manatees!!!

Today was another hot and sunny day out at sea. This was our last boat/snorkel tour here in Caye Caulker that almost didn't happen for me (Harold). I had a bit of an upset stomach and didn't think traveling in a boat with no toilet would be too smart. Thank goodness for Pepto Bismol! I was fine by the time the boat was leaving and at the last minute said I'd go. I couldn't leave Sara alone with noisy, non-stop talking Canadians! That's another story.

The first part of our boat trip today was out to the Caye Chapel reef site one which was very close to the barrier reef. This reef was definitely not as diverse as Turneffe or even Hol Chan. It was nice and I did get to see a small school of squid. Next was to another spot on Caye Chapel but with a bit more diversity. After snokeling we headed off to St. George's Caye for a lunch stop. I thought lunch would be included but we had to buy lunch at this remote restaurant on an island that for all intents and purposes is deserted! Didn't get to see any of the island as we were waiting for our food order that took well over an hour! Just in time to leave.

Last stop (second last) was Swallow Caye to see the Manatees. The most we got to see were the snouts and heads as they came up for air but it was still pretty cool! We made a short stop at shark ray alley just off Caye Caulker.

Tonight's our last night in Caye Caulker. We leave at 8:30 am by Maya Air for Belize City. Then we visit the Zoo and then to Caves Branch Lodge. we may or may not have internet access at Caves Branch so this may be our last post until Placencia in about a week!!

Almost done our stay at Caye Caulker

Yesterday we did The Turneffe Atoll Tour with Red Mangrove Eco Tours. Harold wore a t shirt to prevent more burn (he's still pretty bad, especially left shoulder), and I wore my long sleeve shirt snorkeling the whole time (both shirts UV protective). It was a looooong and very bumpy boat ride out there over huge waves since we went outside the barrier reef. We snorkeled in two places then stopped on a little tiny caye that was owned by the tour guide Carlos' grandfather until 2000 when he died, and now it is his! His own personal tiny little island. There is a shack on the island and we stopped there for over an hour while he cooked us lunch on a fire inside the hut, and then told us the story of the mangroves and how they create cayes, before setting off for one more snorkle and then the long journey home. He went a different way on the ride home, that is longer, but not so high of waves, so a bit more comfortable, plus we got to see St.George's Caye and some other cayes along the way. There was actually a home on a tiny tiny tiny little caye even smaller than the one that Carlos owns, and one home that was just on stilts way out in the middle, no land at all!

This morning we had the most excellent breakfast ever at CocoPlum, the same place we went for dinner on Saturday night for dinner and Garifuna drumming. We both had the CocoPlum omlette with fruit tray. mmmmmmm... delish. And the best coffee Harold's had here yet. They also sell some sunburn remedy that they make, so we bought some to use on Harold's back, and he thinks it's working!

Tomorrow is our last full day in Caye Caulker so we are hoping to do a Manatee Tour before we leave, but Chocolate is not running his until Friday :( We are now hoping for Red Mangrove, but not sure they will get enough people to run it. If not maybe we'll go to another place, not sure yet. Maybe we'll have to manatee watch from Placencia, but that will not be at Swallow Caye where we were hoping to see them. Cross your fingers for us!

Then Friday morning we are leaving early for our treck into the Jungle Lodge with a stop at the zoo.

Caye Caulker Pics

Caye Caulker

Chocolate is not running the Manatee tour today because he thinks it's a bit too choppy for them to surface much. He says hopefully Thursday, which will be our last full day here so we are crossing our fingers. If not, we can always try a different tour company.

Now we will have to check and see about the Turneffe snorkel tour and the sunset tour and see when if we can confirm that those will go. They need a minimum number of people, so you have to keep checking back to see if it will be going.

Cross your fingers that we will get to do both Turneffe and Manatee tour before leaving Caye Caulker on Friday morning.

We decided to take a low key day today because the Manatee tour is not going and well.... we are pretty sunburnt from the snorkel tour, despite using tons of sunscreen and reapplying often. Harold especially - he is very sore. :( So we came to the Cyber Cafe (where it is nice and air conditioned, and out of the sun) to upload some pictures (link at the top). Hope you guys enjoy them!

Ocean Fun!

Today was our first trip out to the reefs for snorkeling. We signed up with Raggamuffin tours for the trip out to the Coral Garden and Hol Chan. Despite the high winds and choppy ocean the trip was great. We went out in a sailboat with 17 other people. They served us food and one of the guides made fresh Salsa on the boat, it was amazing!!

I have one minute left to post so all I'll say is we are both a bit sunburnt but very happy with todays tour!

Caye Caulker later same day ;)

Our Sunset Cruise with Raggamuffin Tours didn't happen tonight due to not enough people signing up for it, but we have signed up for their Full Day Snorkel Tour to Hol Chan Marine Reserve, Shark and Ray Alley & Coral tomorrow. They are even givng me beans and rice instead of burger (no gluten!), how nice.

We still would like to do the sunset cruise a different night.

The other tours we are planning are:
Chocolate's Manatee Tour at Swallow Caye
Eco-Tour's snorkel trip to Turneffe
and if we have time, we'll go to Ambergris Caye for a day (which is the large key just north of Caye Caulker)

The woman who runs CocoPlum Gardens was on our dock today while we were snorkeling around, and told us to come over tonight as they have the Garifuna Drummers, and dinner. We'll go there instead of the sunset cruise.

It's almost like a week here is not long enough! But Friday we will be transferring to Caves Branch Jungle Lodge with a stop at the Belize Zoo along the way.

Oh! And I almost forgot! There is a colony of cats here on Caye Caulker that all live in one yard, and are all ear tipped! The guy who feeds them seems to give them bread though :S We've bought Temptations that I will keep in my pocket and give them when we go by. They are not feral as they come right up to be pet by anyone - looooove attention. I'm impressed that they all seem to be TNR'd though - it's not so with the dogs here. There are so many, and so many nursing bitches... there is a sign posted that they will be catching and euthanizing (actually they didn't phrase it that way, but it was clear that was what they meant) the dogs who are not collared and running free forming packs.

Ok... way to end on a down note :(

How about this - Our first day in the ocean today was great and we saw all kinds of fish and a star fish, and yesterday there was an eagle ray right at our dock! And Harold got bit on the toe by a crab - hahahahaha. :)

Hopefully we'll have opportunity to share some photos later this week.

Caye Caulker

We are in Caye Caulker now, but just checking emails and such quickly. We'll try to post again before we leave, hopefully with some pics!

We're in Belize!!

Our flight left with just a delay to de-ice the plane, and we made up the time in the air. Not that it mattered since we had almost 3 hours to kill in Houston. Arrived in Belize City on schedule, and caught our transfer to Crooked Tree, which is just over an hours drive, half of which is on a road that is in worse shape than our cottage road.





We arrived just as the sun was setting and it was gorgeous, though we didn't get a picture as we were checking in etc. Then it was time for dinner - YUM! They are good cooks here at Bird's Eye View! Then even though exhuasted from very little sleep Tuesday evening, and travelling all day, we decided to go on the night hike (with guide and flashlights) to see some of the cretures in the savannah forest.





This morning we were up at 5:45, breakfast at 6:15 (fruit, tea, coffee) and off on a boat ride in the lagoon for a 2 hour bird watching trip. We saw tons of new and interesting birds including TWO of the Jabiru Stork, which can grow to 5 feet tall and have a wing span of up to 12 feet - the largest bird in the Americas.

Then in the afternoon we took a guided tour through the Mayan ruins Altun Ha, and home just before dinner (which was excellent again!), a rest and then internet.



Here are some pictures (hope they work out ok):















See them in our album here.

Off to Caye Caulker in the morning for approx a week. Hope to update again from there.

Delays and Cancellations expected

Travel Updates

Winter Weather Expected

Date of Release: Feb 12, 2008

Winter weather conditions are forecast for February 12 and 13, 2008. Delays and cancellations can be expected as the airlines work to balance their schedules with weather conditions at all airports affected by the weather. Passengers are strongly advised to check flight status directly with their airline before travelling to the airport.

The GTAA has full staff and equipment prepared for snow clearing and deicing. Information regarding delays and cancellations is available using the Live Flight Information tool.

Weather

Weather in Belize

Weather in Toronto (TWN)

Weather in Toronto (EC)

I am a little worried about the snow tonight... hopefully we get less than expected, and it ends early enough. We'll be heading out around 4am.

What we're leaving behind

Last day at work

Tomorrow is our last day of work!

So nervous, yet excited at the same time :D

Belize pics (by someone else)

This guy has taken some awesome pics in Belize.

Caye Caulker

North

South

West

Shoe Shopping

Treked out in the snow (& slush & puddles) on the TTC ALL day Saturday as we found out we would need hiking boots or shoes for our jungle excursions. Harold got these: Columbia Beartooth™ GTX




And I got these: Merrell Siren Sport GTX XCR



We also got these cool headlamps for the caves:
Headlamps


Now all we need to get is Snorkel's and Masks!

5 more work days to go :D

CAVES BRANCH EXPEDITIONS

Here are the tours we are hoping to take, and thinking of taking while we are staying at Caves Branch. So hard to decide!

Definates

River Cave Expedition - Cave Tubing

More underground rivers .. This time combine cave tubing and cave exploration to explore this incredible river cave system where ancient Maya Ceremonial centers, pottery, artifacts, altars, obsidian blood letting blades, jade and the actual footprints of the Shaman and priests dated to 400 A.D. are still seen.

Spectacular crystal formations over 5,000,000 years old cast eerie shadows into the black abyss as you explore and experience the most sacred area of the ancient Maya.

A living museum where the past can still be experienced in its historical and natural location. Massive cathedral size chambers with walls of river sculptured rock dwarf explorers as we pass on foot and inner tube.

Imagine the experience as we float through a cathedral and you turn off our lights … leaving you with the sensation of floating in timelessness.

Subject to high water levels during the rainy season.

OR

River of Caves Tube Float and ZIP Line Combo Adventure

Experience the full 7 mile tube float, only available through Caves Branch, then after lunch, experience the adrenaline rush on the new "ZIP Line" aerial adventure through the tree tops of the tropical rainforest. A special Adventure Combination only available at Caves Branch.

Pre set departure dates from July to February... subject to high water levels during the rainy season.

AND

Tikal Full Day Trip

Tikal in Peten, Guatemala is one of the grandest and most magnificent Mayan site in Central America. Four hours of guided tour at the site and enough time to walk around on your own. Leave at 6:00 a.m. and return 5-6:00 p.m. Optional stops on way back for photographs and shopping. This trip includes round trip transportation, Guatemalan border and park fees, guide at the site, and lunch. The guests have to pay their own BELIZE departure tax.

Note: People who have US passports or the new barcoded EU passport do not need a visa to enter Guatemala. All other visitors should check with their embassy about getting a multiple visa for Belize and a Guatmalan visa if they plan to do this tour and return to Belize.

3rd & 4th possibility

River Kayak Day Trips

Natural history guides will take you along a beautiful 8 mile stretch of the Sibun where you can take you time to stop and enjoy your surroundings throughout the day. Our local experts help you get the most from this Belize river kayaking experience.

Mayan Ceremonial Cave Tour

If You Dare...enter into the world which was believed by ancient Mayan priests to be the "ENTRANCES TO THE UNDERWORLD".. the Realm .. the Domain .. The Kingdom of their Gods .. XIBALBA. Fighting the forces of the spirits left from a civilization lost, walk the actual steps that Mayan Shaman walked as they entered .. Xibalba.

Feel the presence of the ancient Gods as we explore spectacular and awe filled crystal chambers that hold 2,000 year old Maya ceremonial centers. Fire pits, charcoal and ash, pottery, bowls, relics, alters, wall carvings, glyph writings and actual skeletons of sacrificial victims are found in various ceremonial caves. These caves are dry caves .. no cave tubing.

This adventure starts off with a 40 minute hike through the jungle which is considered to be challenging. If you are not up to long hikes or strenuous activities, then we do not recommend this activity to you. Once at the site of the cave entrance, you must be somewhat agile in order to enter the cave. All participants must be relatively fit.

Jungle Tours and Treks

One full day in the pristine jungle with local bushmen guides. Learn many of the secrets that the jungle holds: natural medicines, herbs, barks and many plants that are still used today by natural healers throughout Central America. Ancient ruins, burial sites and altars lurk below the shadows, hidden by time, as you trek through areas few have ever seen. Explore the Blue Hole River as it surges from below a 250ft cliff and take the opportunity for a refreshing dip in its aqua blue waters.

Daily departures year round, seasonal rain does not effect these jungle tours.

Xunantunich and Cahal Pech Maya Ruins Day Trip

This guided day trip with experts on Maya takes you from the Caves Branch Estate to two of the major Mayan sites in Belize.

First visit Xunantunich, also known as the "Maiden of the Rock" which is the second tallest Mayan ruin in Belize. It stands 130 feet high to give a panoramic view of the Cayo District, Guatemala and the Mopan River. The site has been largely excavated and is reminiscent of some of the largest Mayan temples found in Tikal and Copan and has a great on site museum.

Then lunch in San Ignacio and proceed to the Cahal Pech Mayan ruins, meaning "Place of the Ticks". Cahal Pech is located 15 minutes on the outskirts of San Ignacio, and was home to a Maya Royal Family.

extras, we can pay ourselves if we feel like it:

Jungle Safari After Dark $30

The Belize jungle is habitat for an incredible variety of fauna. Our wildlife adventures begin in the early evening. Departing from the Jungle Lodge after dinner, local bushmen guides will lead you through the jungle in search of many of the elusive animals that feed under the cover of darkness such as howler and spider monkey, gibnuts, kinkajou, wild boar, deer, quash, armadillo, tarantulas, scorpions, leaf-cutter ants and of course snakes!

On a number of outings since we opened the Lodge, even the elusive jaguar has been sighted as close as two minutes from the Lodge itself. These are exciting and enthralling wildlife adventures for all.

Nightly departures year round, a bright moon negatively affects possible number of animals seen.

Birding Watching $35

Whether you are a beginner or a seasoned birder, Caves Branch offers daily opportunities for viewing both local and transient bird populations. Many of the native Belizean birds are not found elsewhere in North America so be prepared for a treat.

These treks occur early in the morning, as this is a time when most bird species are feeding or are moving to new locations, making it ideal for viewing. As the night sky lightens and the jungle comes to life, you'll start your walk down our 1km drive that shares three different and distinctive birding habitats. It is not unusual to spot over 100 species over a couple of mornings. These excursions are truly a feast for any birding enthusiast and allow you to sample what bird watching in Belize can be.

Morning bird watching runs from dawn to 8:00 a.m. (breakfast)
Full day bird watching is also available for the really dedicated.

The Pets

Very common question is: "What are you going to do aboaut the pets while you're away?"

While we are away we are boarding the birds at the Menagerie, and we have a Petsitter coming to look after our kitties. Lee of Three Star Pet Sitting Services.

We met her last week, and she seems great!

Planning for Belize

We've been planning (& planning & planning) our trip to Belize for many months now - a four and a half year belated honeymoon of sorts. We've just about everything we need, and it's just over 3 weeks until we depart.

We've started this blog in hopes to share our travels with our freinds and family while we're away.