After our layover night in Cancun, and after having gotten a much needed full 12 hours sleep, we were only a short flight away from our destination of Belize – a destination chosen due to the abundance of lobster on the islands and the recent lobster festival.
Thinking, as the flight was international, we should arrive at the airport a full 2 hours in advance and then grab some breakfast and coffees pre-flight, it actually turned out that our flight was so small we were flying out from the FBO private airlines terminal and the cheapest food items available were a $20usd salad or a small $6usd pot of Pringles. We were not their regular clientele, and with a budget still very fresh at the back of our minds we skipped food all together and sat out the full 2 hours waiting for the only 3 other people to check in (after caving and getting the $3 dollar coffees they offered us).
When it came to boarding the flight it was simply a matter of walking out the doors of the terminal and turning the corner to find our teeny tiny propeller driven Tropic Air flight. We managed to secure second row seats with a view into the cockpit, until they unfortunately drew the curtain upon take off! We were then distracted by views of the bluest sea and our first sight of the reef, and in no time at were landing in Belize. After collecting our bags we sped across the city to jump on the water taxi which took us to a Caribbean paradise!
Caye Caulker was more beautiful than we imagined (and hotter too) and we spent our first night in the aptly named Pelican Sunset Bar with incredible views as the sun went down, alongside a rum punch or two. Dinner consisted of lobster (our reason for coming) and the most delicious red snapper at Roy’s, accompanied by some local ‘music’ and a dog sleeping under the table. With our first night completed we went to bed ready for a snorkelling adventure with Caveman snorkelling tours, heading out to see Belize’s barrier reef, the second largest in the world after Australia.
Our tour started with a visit to the tarpons, where we were given sardines to hold above the water waiting for them to jump up and grab them. The wait was terrifying, and there were a few screams when they finally leapt from the water. We then motored out for a guided snorkel along the reef, seeing an eel, some yellow bellied snapper fish, a rainbow parrot fish, and some barracudas, amongst many more. Our final stop of the trip was the most anticipated as we hit up the shark and stingray alley. With initial trepidation we watched our guide enter the water, but in no time at all Sarah was straight down the ladder after him – only to scream when a stingray brushed past her. Once we were both in the water we headed around the side of the nurse sharks, keeping a cautious distance, until they swam straight towards us. This was definitely an experience we won't forget, and one we'd recommend to anyone visiting Caye Caulker.
After reading great things, our second full day on the island kicked off with a fry jack from Errolyn's house of fry jacks – a local favourite. They were delicious, but definitely not something to have before a swim. We then treated ourselves to an iced coffee and a smoothie with views over the sea at Ice N Beans, before deciding we’d gone slow for long enough and heading back to the hostel to take one of their kayaks out. After a slow walk to the closest at deck, we were in and kayaking up to the split – a natural break in the island caused by a hurricane, spotting a starfish or two along the way. We rounded off our time on the island with a third and final (for now) sunset.
We'll miss being by the sea but are ready to see what adventures inland Belize has to offer.