Belize Cayes

3-Wens
The scene around Rìo Dulce was getting to us. By noon Kylie and I hopped onto a public launch over to Finca Tatin, a little jungle get-away named after the tributary of Rìo Dulce it is located on. We were able to score a room even though it was packed with guests. Our room was off a little stone walkway from the main house. It had a very rustic feel. Checking out our room, I noticed the light was not working. When we brought this to the attention of our host, he didn`t seem surprised. "That`s cuz the power is only on from five to ten." Check. The rope swing off the dock was a nice bonus.

After a shrimp dinner at the lodge, we drank beers and played cards with some wacky Canadian kids before crashing.

4-Thurs
Kylie and I got wicked sunburned today kayaking around the river for about four hours. Here is us before turning bright red. Finca Tatin provided the two person kayak. Neither of us were impressed by the condition of it, yet it floated, so... We paddled over to Rìo Dulce canyons, where vertical cliff faces drop off into the water. Herons and pelicans were abundant. Here is a shot of lunch we ate on the river.

5-Fri to 11-Thurs
Back to Rìo Dulce to catch the sailboat at 1:30 for our trip out to the Belize Cayes.
Five others were also on the boat besides the captain, cook, and first mate. We were the youngest couple. Our double room was like a coffin, leaving us to wonder how the single cabins felt. Showers were 1.5 liter bottles of fresh water to pour over your head standing at the stern, rationed to one bottle a day. Unfortunately the weather was not always on our side; it rained or the clouds blocked out the sun.
There were a few sunny days, making wonderful sunsets.
We ate very well, consisting of whatever was caught; lobster, fish, conch, crab.
The crew worked very hard everyday, spear fishing for hours each morning and afternoon to get our next meal and sailing the boat from caye to caye.
Snorkeling in the clear water over the reef filled our days, viewing the colorful sea-life. Sort of regret not buying a disposable water camera to capture those sights. On the paddle boards we chased a four foot nurse shark shortly (glad to have viewed it from above the water than in).
The days passed easily; our return to land seemed too soon.


11-Thurs
Itching to get away, we spent very little time in Rìo Dulce after leaving the boat. Tonight we bunked at the eco-friendly Finca Ixobel, just outside the city of Poptùn to the north. They offered a wide range of activities; horseback riding, cave exploring with tubing, hikes up a nearby lookout point, yet we were interested in hot showers. A quick moving tarantula near Kylie`s bed that evening made me share mine with her.

12-Fri
A two hour shuttle ride north and we arrived at Flores. The city is very tourist orientated; gringos outnumber locals by far. Restaurants, hotels, shops, travel agencies, bars, and cafes are everywhere. The entire city of Flores is located on a tiny peninsula out into Lago Pèten.
It takes only minutes to walk from one side the other.