We've been very busy over the past week. Last Monday we left our Laguna paradise and headed for Belize. We originally planned to skip Belize as we hadn't heard great things about it, but after discovering that we pretty much had to travel through it to reach Guatemala, we thought that we may as well stay a night or two, and we're so glad we did. Such a friendly country!! After an initial quite stressful trip over the Mexican-Belize border we arrived in Orange Walk, a rural town where we felt very out of place and a little intimidated, but everyone we met was so friendly and helpful that we actually really enjoyed our stay, while we were here we visited the Belizian ruin site Lamanai after boating down the river spotting toucans, spider monkeys but no alligators ...
Excuse the hat: It was so hot we had to buy them... Yes that's right we have matching shit hats!
After our two nights in Orange Walk we took a bus to Belize city before catching a water taxi over to Caye Caulker, a beautiful and very slow paced island. We chilled out here for three days sipping iced coffee and eating fresh doughnuts, snorkeling and finding a shadow in the form of a hilarious German chap who was staying in the same hostel as us....
Said amazing doughnuts - made in front of our very eyes and dusted with a massive amount of cinnamon sugar!
Shark and ray alley- also swam with a loggerhead and green turtle
The last leg of our trip involved a VERY hot VERY delayed five hour journey from Belize city to Flores in Guatemala. But the journey was worth it. Flores is an extremely pretty and romantic little island......
Again very slow paced and a great base for surrounding activities. During our stay we took a day trip to Tikal, the ancient Maya site. Below is the view from an almighty 70 meter temple!
Tonight is our last night in Flores, tomorrow we head south to Coban.
The weeks highlights:
Best view: watching an Eagle Ray jump two meters out if the water while snorkeling off of Caye Caulker...sorry no picture, a 'you kinda had to be there' moment.
Best food: Soooo much good food this week...amazing fresh doughnuts on Caye Caulker, authentic home made tostadas on the streets of Flores and hearty local chicken stew in Orange Walk, Belize to name a few!
Lesson learned: Easter week or Santa Semana is HUGE in Central America. The world literally stops! No booze or buses on Good Friday for us, I guess there are worse places to be stranded than an island in the Carribbean sea though....
Best question asked: While watching Rachel climb an extremely tall Mayan ruin, our tour guide asked me in a funky Caribbean/Belizian accent, 'So, are you guys friends or are you soul mates for life?'
Love Monday Funday: Our Monday treat this week was getting up at 4.00am to head to Tikal. Amazing ruins, amazing wildlife. Colin came too:
Number of borders crossed: 2
Number of hours on buses: 12
Number of hours on boats: 5
Have a super week everyone.
Big Love Lisa and Rach xx
Hey. Its Nick and Marie from Yumas house. Sounds like you have had an amazing time and love the pics from the snorkeling. We just arrived in Antigua which seems really nice. Will be here for a couple of days so if you get here and fancy a beer then just let us know.
ReplyDeleteHi guys! Our journey over to Guatemala was long but so worth it! We're heading to Antigua tomorrow and plan to stay for about four days so catching up
ReplyDeletefor a beer sounds ace! How long to you guys plan to be there? C
Sorry! Super tired today..got up at 5am to go to Semuc Champney! I have just re read your comment and you have already told us that you will be there for a couple of days! Will be in touch when we arrive! X
ReplyDeleteHa ha. Yeh not loving the early starts. We are heading over to the big lake place today but just for the day. Will be back in the evening. Drop us a mail if you are about and not too knackered. Nick.x.charteris@gmail.com
DeleteHope the journey is ok. Cant figure out why but we keep feeling like crap after sitting on a bus for hours.