Wherever You Lead: Weekend Adventures

For two weekends in a row, we had some very exciting excursions! First, we went on a cave tubing adventure. We drove about 20 minutes out of Belmopan and ended up at a lodge kind of area where we met up with our guide, Pablo, and we each picked up an inner tube. We carried these tubes down to the river and then crossed it, pausing a bit to swim and cool off before the hot hike before us. The water was an incredible clear blue and was definitely a refreshing rest. We continued on our hike and walked on a path through the jungle. We peered into a few dry caves and saw some bats and then carried on. We walked for a fair bit, saw a cashew tree, and came to the spot where we would begin our drift down the river. After the optional jump off a cliff into the river, we swam in the river a bit, and then were seated on our tubes and began our journey into the dark cave that the river cut through.

We turned on our head lamps and drifted slowly into the cave, our voices echoing off the smooth brown walls that surrounded us on each side. Looking back the crystal blue of the water and bright yellow light got smaller and smaller as we continued on into complete darkness, only our weak head lamps guiding us into the cave. We learned how the Mayans came to use these caves and how they explored them. How they believed the sun gods lived down here and how they came to these caves to offer sacrifices (human sacrifices) to appease their gods. Even children were sacrificed and it was considered a great honor.

Awhile later we reached the end of the first cave and broke into the bright day light. Swallows flew overhead as they ducked in and out of the cave. We took a rest and swam again. We then continued on into the next cave a little while later. This cave was much longer and we even passed by an opening in the cave that we didn't float out of. We heard rushing water and passed by a small waterfall cascading in through the opening. A little while later we passed by stalagmites and stalactites and then through the opening. We kept drifting down the river past the river bank and jungle until we reached where we had started and could hike back to our car.

It was definitely one of the coolest things I have ever experienced. To be able to float on a cool river through a very long and dark cave with nothing to listen to but the echoes of our own hollow voices. Such a thing I didn't know existed, but would definitely recommend to anyone who has the opportunity.

Resturant at Caye Calker with a swing bench and sand floor.

The next weekend we were able to hang out with the kids at a church social on Saturday night where they nearly froze to death because of the 60 degree weather. It was definitely a fun bonding night for us. The next day we were up early, headed to the coast. We started out on a water taxi, heading out of Belize City. We went along for about an hour and saw flying fish passing along our boat. We began to reach water that I called a Caribbean Blue color. A color that I never knew truly existed.

We reached Caye Calker first and spent the afternoon there, walking around and eating dinner at a very cute little place. The island was very small but had a very sweet little community.

Ice cream fun at Caye Calker.

We headed off again and reached San Pedro on the Ambergris Caye, which was our destination. We spent the weekend at a resort right on the beach. We walked around and visited different shops and just enjoyed the view of the beautiful beach and ocean right in front of us.

We also went out on a snorkeling excursion to the reef. We grabbed our snorkel gear and fins and took a 10 minute boat ride out on the water over beautiful blue waves. We reached the first spot and hopped off the boat into the water. We swam around a bit then headed closer to the reef. We saw many types of fish and coral and even some sting rays and an eagle ray! We swam over a deep area and saw guides skin diving. They dove down to the floor and would touch areas of sand where sting rays were, and they would soar off as if they were flying through the water.

We went to another spot called Shark and Ray Alley where we could swim with both nurse sharks and sting rays. As soon as we got there we saw sharks swim up and rays because they attach a boats motor to being fed by the people who come. We hopped right in before they swam away and we were able to swim right beside nurse sharks. The sting rays hung around for a lot longer and some of the guides were even holding them up. It was an incredible experience to see what we usually perceive as dangerous animals up so close.

The Caribbean blue water.

We headed back home on a Tuesday morning and my friend Kelsi and I asked to sit up on top of the boat by the captain. I could not stop taking pictures from the boat the entire time, in fear that I would somehow miss something or would not truly capture the true blue of the ocean.

A boat sailing out on the water.

It was a beautiful place to visit, a real paradise. It was amazing to see such vibrant colors on the water and such interesting creatures beneath its surface. To see such a different ocean from one that I am used to was a very interesting thing. I could never imagine that the sea could hold such beautiful colors. It was truly breathtaking.