Bélize

25/12/24

Christmas Day! We started with a quick ferry across the split to the South Island of Caye Caulker (Caye Caulker was cut in half after a hurricane in 1961 ). On the south side, we had some amazing barbecued jerk chicken and lobster. Later on, we discovered a place where you can feed tarpon ( a massive type of fish). It’s hard to explain but I’ll let the videos show you what it is. Later on, we went to a beach at sunset to see stingrays that came right up to our legs looking for food.

26/12/24

Today on Boxing Day we went on a snorkelling trip with the first stop to feed tarpons and frigate birds. On the second stop we went to a reef where we saw nurse sharks, turtles, stingrays, and fish. Next we went to Shark and Ray Alley where the guides fed ten nurse sharks and I swam under them and went right next to them. For the final stop of the day we went to the wreck of a cargo ship that was sunk to be turned into a artificial reef.

28/12/24

Today we started off with a short walk around the jungle next to our hotel before heading into the centre of San Ignacio to visit The Green Iguana Conservation Project where we learned that the green iguana’s main defence is to whip predators with its tail.

Later we visited the AJAW chocolate LTD where we learned about how the ancient Mayans fermented and crushed up cocoa beans and added it to hot water with spices such as cinnamon, chilli, and even honey which of course we got to try ( my favourite spice combo was chilli, honey, all spice and cocoa). Back then cocoa tea was only for people of high class because spice was very expensive. We also learned that raw cocoa beans can treat diabetes, lower cholesterol and give you lots of great vitamins, minerals, and nutrients.

Later after dinner we toasted marshmallows by the fire pit ( I did mine the scouts way; set on fire, burnt to a crisp and gooey on the inside!