Our Wonderful Vacation to Belize!!
We spent a wonderful 12 days on the island of Ambergris Caye off the coast of Belize (formerly Brtish Honduras). We absolutely fell in love with the beautiful jungle island, surrounding reef and atolls, the interior of Belize, the delicious food and the warm and friendly people. This is certainly a trip we will always remember--and one we hope to make again.
Click on the pictures to for a better look.
This is an arial picture of the Blue Hole of Belize, a 440 foot sink hole in the reef, made famous by Jacques Cousteau in the 1970's. We took a two hour boat ride across fabulous Carribbean waters to dive the Hole. We loved the cave, the stalactites, stalagmites and even the bull sharks that we swam with!
A view from the small plane we took on our 20 minute flight from the mainland to the island of Ambergris Caye.
The beautiful Carribbean waters off Ambergris Caye. The reef, just 1/2 mile off the island, has good diving. We saw lobsters, rays, huge groupers and schools of fish. We even swam with a 6-foot hawkbill seaturtle.
Rush hour in San Pedro, the small town on Ambergris Caye. We attended town barbeques and watched the intensely competitive town soccer matches. One of our favorite activities was walking through town passing out the two big bags of bubble gum we brought with us to all the town kids.
Gerald touring--island style--in our rental golf cart. Cars on the island are few and golf carts are the major form or rapid transit.
Michelle taking a water break on the dock.
Gerald sightseeing in the beautiful jungle on Ambergris Caye. The jungle is filled with birds and iguanas that can safely make it across the road ahead of oncoming golf carts.
Gerald resting after a delicious lunch at Capricorn Restaurant on the "nort'" end of the island..
Bomba Village, located on the Northern River, was the very essence of a jungle village. From here we caught a rickety old school bus for a hair-raising, but fascinating ride, through the interior of Belize..
Here we are at the New River Lagoon preparing to take a boat ride up the river where we will see crocodiles, monkeys, and birds, including the rare 5-foot tall Jabiru stork.
We visited Lamani, one of the only continuously-occupied Mayan villages in Central America. We climbed up to the top of the tallest temple for a 360* view of the surrounded jungle and the New River. Here we are with one of our guides who helped us spot most of the wildlife on our boat ride up the river.
The view of our dive shop, Gaz Cooper's, preparing for a dive, as seen from our hotel balconey..
The lighthouse on the stunningly beautiful Half Moon Caye. This white coral sand island is one of only two islands in the world where the Red-Footed Booby bird nests.
At Half Moon Caye with our dive master, Justin. We stopped here for lunch inbetween dives.
Ger on a wall dive off Lighthouse Reef. There were so many fish in this area that the dive is known as The Aquarium.
Michelle enjoying the Carribbean breezes at the Victoria House on Ambergris Caye.
There is an old creole saying about Belize: "Once you taste the water, you'll always come back!" We certainly hope so!
This is an arial picture of the Blue Hole of Belize, a 440 foot sink hole in the reef, made famous by Jacques Cousteau in the 1970's. We took a two hour boat ride across fabulous Carribbean waters to dive the Hole. We loved the cave, the stalactites, stalagmites and even the bull sharks that we swam with!
A view from the small plane we took on our 20 minute flight from the mainland to the island of Ambergris Caye.
The beautiful Carribbean waters off Ambergris Caye. The reef, just 1/2 mile off the island, has good diving. We saw lobsters, rays, huge groupers and schools of fish. We even swam with a 6-foot hawkbill seaturtle.
Rush hour in San Pedro, the small town on Ambergris Caye. We attended town barbeques and watched the intensely competitive town soccer matches. One of our favorite activities was walking through town passing out the two big bags of bubble gum we brought with us to all the town kids.
Gerald touring--island style--in our rental golf cart. Cars on the island are few and golf carts are the major form or rapid transit.
Michelle taking a water break on the dock.
Gerald sightseeing in the beautiful jungle on Ambergris Caye. The jungle is filled with birds and iguanas that can safely make it across the road ahead of oncoming golf carts.
Gerald resting after a delicious lunch at Capricorn Restaurant on the "nort'" end of the island..
Bomba Village, located on the Northern River, was the very essence of a jungle village. From here we caught a rickety old school bus for a hair-raising, but fascinating ride, through the interior of Belize..
Here we are at the New River Lagoon preparing to take a boat ride up the river where we will see crocodiles, monkeys, and birds, including the rare 5-foot tall Jabiru stork.
We visited Lamani, one of the only continuously-occupied Mayan villages in Central America. We climbed up to the top of the tallest temple for a 360* view of the surrounded jungle and the New River. Here we are with one of our guides who helped us spot most of the wildlife on our boat ride up the river.
The view of our dive shop, Gaz Cooper's, preparing for a dive, as seen from our hotel balconey..
The lighthouse on the stunningly beautiful Half Moon Caye. This white coral sand island is one of only two islands in the world where the Red-Footed Booby bird nests.
At Half Moon Caye with our dive master, Justin. We stopped here for lunch inbetween dives.
Ger on a wall dive off Lighthouse Reef. There were so many fish in this area that the dive is known as The Aquarium.
Michelle enjoying the Carribbean breezes at the Victoria House on Ambergris Caye.
There is an old creole saying about Belize: "Once you taste the water, you'll always come back!" We certainly hope so!