17 Search Results for "ambergris"

• Dinner right on the beach

  • From: carla
  • Description:

    Ten years ago, I read an article in a magazine while waiting in a lobby  about an island called Ambergris Caye.  I had no idea where it was, but I remember the article saying it was like 'paradise,' just like Fiji but a fraction of the price.  I had always dreamed of going to Fiji.  I tore out the small article and shoved it in my purse, thinking one day (when I could afford it) it would be a great destination spot.  Later that night I placed it in small pocket in my planner.  It remained there for 8 years until 2 years ago, when my boyfriend proposed to me, and we began discussing honeymoon destinations.  I remembered the article about this island that I read, and went to fetch it out of my 10- year old planner. Sure enough, it was still there.  I started researching the small island of  Ambergris Caye, Belize, and we immediately made our decision.  We spent 7 days at Victoria House hotel/suites on this island and had absolutely no regrets.  Our single unit thatched-roof casita was perfect for newlyweds.  It was quiet and peaceful, yet alive and awake with woodpeckers in the trees and iguanas walking though the grass.  It was just-as-described...paradise.  All our needs were attended to and the level of service was impecable.  Most notably, the locals were super friendly and sociable, and not afraid or disgusted by tourists.  The island is overtaken my golf carts, the primary means of transportation by the locals, yet the island still has a local feel to it.  There are no McDonalds or Wendy's there, but any day of the week you can eat where the locals eat, at little diners like Los Cocos where we ate freshly caught snapper and conch, and homemade ceviche.  No restaurant in the U.S. could beat it.  The water was warm every day and you could swim near the beach and see eel and stingray swimming under your deck.  It was picturesque.  Words can't describe what made this the best vacation EVER for us, and pictures just don't do it justice.  But we will be back. Oh yes...we'll be back.

  • 3 months ago
  • Views: 66
  • Not yet rated

• My view from our pool

  • From: carla
  • Description:

    Ten years ago, I read an article in a magazine while waiting in a lobby  about an island called Ambergris Caye.  I had no idea where it was, but I remember the article saying it was like 'paradise,' just like Fiji but a fraction of the price.  I had always dreamed of going to Fiji.  I tore out the small article and shoved it in my purse, thinking one day (when I could afford it) it would be a great destination spot.  Later that night I placed it in small pocket in my planner.  It remained there for 8 years until 2 years ago, when my boyfriend proposed to me, and we began discussing honeymoon destinations.  I remembered the article about this island that I read, and went to fetch it out of my 10- year old planner. Sure enough, it was still there.  I started researching the small island of  Ambergris Caye, Belize, and we immediately made our decision.  We spent 7 days at Victoria House hotel/suites on this island and had absolutely no regrets.  Our single unit thatched-roof casita was perfect for newlyweds.  It was quiet and peaceful, yet alive and awake with woodpeckers in the trees and iguanas walking though the grass.  It was just-as-described...paradise.  All our needs were attended to and the level of service was impecable.  Most notably, the locals were super friendly and sociable, and not afraid or disgusted by tourists.  The island is overtaken my golf carts, the primary means of transportation by the locals, yet the island still has a local feel to it.  There are no McDonalds or Wendy's there, but any day of the week you can eat where the locals eat, at little diners like Los Cocos where we ate freshly caught snapper and conch, and homemade ceviche.  No restaurant in the U.S. could beat it.  The water was warm every day and you could swim near the beach and see eel and stingray swimming under your deck.  It was picturesque.  Words can't describe what made this the best vacation EVER for us, and pictures just don't do it justice.  But we will be back. Oh yes...we'll be back.

  • 3 months ago
  • Views: 45
  • Not yet rated

• Catching fish! My first one.

  • From: carla
  • Description:

    Ten years ago, I read an article in a magazine while waiting in a lobby  about an island called Ambergris Caye.  I had no idea where it was, but I remember the article saying it was like 'paradise,' just like Fiji but a fraction of the price.  I had always dreamed of going to Fiji.  I tore out the small article and shoved it in my purse, thinking one day (when I could afford it) it would be a great destination spot.  Later that night I placed it in small pocket in my planner.  It remained there for 8 years until 2 years ago, when my boyfriend proposed to me, and we began discussing honeymoon destinations.  I remembered the article about this island that I read, and went to fetch it out of my 10- year old planner. Sure enough, it was still there.  I started researching the small island of  Ambergris Caye, Belize, and we immediately made our decision.  We spent 7 days at Victoria House hotel/suites on this island and had absolutely no regrets.  Our single unit thatched-roof casita was perfect for newlyweds.  It was quiet and peaceful, yet alive and awake with woodpeckers in the trees and iguanas walking though the grass.  It was just-as-described...paradise.  All our needs were attended to and the level of service was impecable.  Most notably, the locals were super friendly and sociable, and not afraid or disgusted by tourists.  The island is overtaken my golf carts, the primary means of transportation by the locals, yet the island still has a local feel to it.  There are no McDonalds or Wendy's there, but any day of the week you can eat where the locals eat, at little diners like Los Cocos where we ate freshly caught snapper and conch, and homemade ceviche.  No restaurant in the U.S. could beat it.  The water was warm every day and you could swim near the beach and see eel and stingray swimming under your deck.  It was picturesque.  Words can't describe what made this the best vacation EVER for us, and pictures just don't do it justice.  But we will be back. Oh yes...we'll be back.

  • 3 months ago
  • Views: 56
  • Not yet rated

• Swimming with the sharks and f

  • From: carla
  • Description:

    Ten years ago, I read an article in a magazine while waiting in a lobby  about an island called Ambergris Caye.  I had no idea where it was, but I remember the article saying it was like 'paradise,' just like Fiji but a fraction of the price.  I had always dreamed of going to Fiji.  I tore out the small article and shoved it in my purse, thinking one day (when I could afford it) it would be a great destination spot.  Later that night I placed it in small pocket in my planner.  It remained there for 8 years until 2 years ago, when my boyfriend proposed to me, and we began discussing honeymoon destinations.  I remembered the article about this island that I read, and went to fetch it out of my 10- year old planner. Sure enough, it was still there.  I started researching the small island of  Ambergris Caye, Belize, and we immediately made our decision.  We spent 7 days at Victoria House hotel/suites on this island and had absolutely no regrets.  Our single unit thatched-roof casita was perfect for newlyweds.  It was quiet and peaceful, yet alive and awake with woodpeckers in the trees and iguanas walking though the grass.  It was just-as-described...paradise.  All our needs were attended to and the level of service was impecable.  Most notably, the locals were super friendly and sociable, and not afraid or disgusted by tourists.  The island is overtaken my golf carts, the primary means of transportation by the locals, yet the island still has a local feel to it.  There are no McDonalds or Wendy's there, but any day of the week you can eat where the locals eat, at little diners like Los Cocos where we ate freshly caught snapper and conch, and homemade ceviche.  No restaurant in the U.S. could beat it.  The water was warm every day and you could swim near the beach and see eel and stingray swimming under your deck.  It was picturesque.  Words can't describe what made this the best vacation EVER for us, and pictures just don't do it justice.  But we will be back. Oh yes...we'll be back.

  • 3 months ago
  • Views: 74
  • Not yet rated

• Bouganvilla view

  • From: annereilly
  • Description:

    Driving around the island, on a golf cart, was a fun way to sight see Ambergris Caye

  • 5 months ago
  • Views: 134
  • Not yet rated

• I'll have the soup!

  • From: phieaglefan
  • Description:

    On a recent trip to Ambergris Caye, Belize, this menu caught my eye as we wandered some streets well away from the tourist center.  I had heard about Cowfoot Soup, but had never seen it on a menu until this day. 

  • 6 months ago
  • Views: 157
  • Not yet rated

• Belize birthday

  • From: bberwyn
  • Description:

    Leigh celebrates her 39th birthday on Belize, enjoying a view out over the Caribbean from a rusty beach cruiser. This photo has been altered by Photoshop. I was experimenting with the program and while trying out different tools, I saw this version of the image, which to me invokes the dreamy quality of that day.

  • 6 months ago
  • Views: 275

• Afternoon Stroll

  • From: EMA375
  • Description:

    Ambergris Caye, Belize

  • 7 months ago
  • Views: 135
  • Not yet rated

• Beautiful Belize

  • From: EMA375
  • Description:

    Ambergris Caye, Belize

  • 7 months ago
  • Views: 134

• On The Reef

  • From: bberwyn
  • Description:

     

    Coral, caves and Mayan ruins beckon in Belize

    TURNEFFE ATOLL — Rarely do tropical island-dwellers praise hurricanes, so Leigh and I listen when Carlos Miller starts to explain how the periodic storms help sustain the mangrove-coral ecosystem of Cockroach Caye.

    We’re standing near a makeshift Robinson Crusoe shack on Turneffe Atoll, one of the tiny specks of dry land off the shore of Belize. Chunks of foil-wrapped chicken sizzle fragrantly on a wood fire. Miller shows us the sweaty, salty leaves of a red mangrove. He explains how the hurricanes flush sand off the reef and into the trees. The root pillars trap it to build new land, helping both parts of the related ecosystem. Bigger hurricanes can destroy mangrove stands. But over time, the cycle of storms leads to renewal and growth, not just destruction. A succession of mangrove species, fueled in part by the storms, help sustain the delicate balance between the reef and the oceanic mangrove forests, Miller explains.

    It’s great to get that global perspective from time to time. That’s what passports are for. With that bigger picture in mind, I wonder if some events we see as natural disasters back home — pine beetles, forest fires, drought, floods — are also part of a natural cycle that drives ecosystems. But it’s challenging to remove the disaster tag when your life or livelihood is at stake.

    The Caribbean reef decline has been traced in part to over-fishing. Algae-eating fish are disappearing. Without the predators, algae smothers the coral. In some parts of the region, run-off from beachside tourism development is damaging nearby reefs. Other direct impacts include pollution from agricultural and industrial sources and sediment from deforestation, along with the ever-looming threat of global warming.

    For now, Turneffe Atoll remains one of the most pristine and diverse marine preserves in the Caribbean. The mangrove shoals around Cockroach Caye still function as a marine nursery for the Western Hemisphere’s largest coral reef, and Miller, who leads snorkeling and diving tours here, wants to keep it that way. 

    Today, he’s cooking for six. Leigh and I share the boat with an enthusiastic Austrian family who are wrapping up a multi-week backpack style loop through Central America. At one point, Miller’s friendly face breaks into an affirmative grin as we scoop up the last of the salsa and offer a cleanup day in exchange for a free overnight on the island. At both morning dive stops we see thriving and diverse coral colonies, with no sign of disease or decline. 

    Family flag

    Miller’s family flag is firmly planted on the tiny strip of coral. He inherited the island from his grandfather, along with an aura of paternal wisdom he demonstrates by mentoring local kids as apprentice skippers. He’s a little grumpy first thing in the morning as he eyes his latest batch of tourists, assessing who might get seasick in his boat. But as the passengers start to show some esprit de corps, he warms up and shares his stories. He’ll soon have more to tell. His wife is just about to return home from England with their first child.

    After lunch we explore one more undersea garden; six of us spread out across acres and acres of Caribbean Sea with nobody else in sight. Late-afternoon sunlight shimmers through a school of translucent squid hovering in a fantasyland of purple, green and gold coral patches. Leigh and I float hand-in-hand. The gentle currents rock and drift us gently through the slots and outcrops, in synch with endless schools of fish. Together, we feel part of our beautiful world.

    As we head northwest back toward Caye Caulker, a school of bottlenose dolphins plunges through our wake. Even though we’re running late, Miller cuts the engine and urges us to jump in for an impromptu swim. As soon as our ears are underwater, we hear the squealing sea mammals, gently inviting us to dive and spin with them. This is the deep blue sea. Beams of sunlight filter through plankton-rich water, and the dolphins swirl closer around us in a trippy Jacque Cousteau moment before they disappear below. After dark, we trail our fingers through phosphorescent streaks of plankton as we motor back to Caye Caulker in Miller’s skiff.

    Get more info on Miller's eco-tours at  http://www.mangrovebelize.com/, or via e-mail to info@mangrovebelize.com.

    San Pedro vibe

    We’re well into a whirlwind spring getaway, base-camped in San Pedro, on Ambergris Caye. It’s the hub of Belizean shore tourism, with a classic palm fringed strip where bikes and golf carts rule.

    The town is one of the main starting points for exploring the great Mesoamerican Reef, second only in size to Australia’s Great Barrier Reef. Partly for this reason, Leigh had long ago circled Belize on the travel map in her Colorado home, so it was the perfect destination for a surprise birthday trip.

    One evening, we rent a kayak and carry it three blocks across the narrow spit of land to the lagoon side. You’d think that in a town that’s only a couple of hundred feet across, people would be accustomed to seeing boats everywhere. But our portage draws curious looks.

    We glide out to meet the fiery orange sunset as a few egrets flutter out of the mangrove thickets. Near a headland, we find a conch shell dumping ground where local fishermen abandoned dozens of the empty vessels. I dip shoulder-deep into the still bay and retrieve a few of them. On the bow of the boat, rays from the sinking sun burst across the pink interior of the shells with a tender and inviting light.

    The laid-back pace of San Pedro suits our languid mood. We stroll late, eating ice cream and frozen custard first, then scouting seafood joints. The search culminates with a birthday dinner of fresh crab and conch in a sand-floored bungalow, where a trio of local kids does magic tricks and signs us up for a probably nonexistent school raffle.

    Reefing

    Our first reef excursion is close to San Pedro. Both casual snorkelers and serious divers find it all here. Dozens of outfitters line San Pedro’s piers, all offering treks to popular spots like the Hol Chan Marine Reserve and Shark Ray Alley. Longer dive trips venture out to the famed Blue Hole.

    We sign up for one of the standard tours with Amigos Del Mar Divers (www.amigosdive.com). The first stop is Hol Chan. At the break in the reef we spot patrolling barracudas and a sea turtle majestically riding the tidal current, along with armadas of neon-colored reef-nibblers, straight out of Finding Nemo.

    At Shark Ray Alley, the guides chum the water to draw a school of nurse sharks and rays to the boat. It seems a strange practice for a marine reserve, but the guides say fishermen have been cleaning their holds in that spot for generations, long before they started hauling tourist divers to the area.

    Traffic at both sites is high during peak season. At times we feel like we’re playing footsies with scuba divers below and rubbing shoulders with passengers from several other boats anchored nearby. But the density and variety of marine life makes it worthwhile. As the swimmers disperse, Leigh and I are wide-eyed at the sight of a neon moray eel. We marvel at how close we can get to a golden curtain of fish, all swaying as one with the tidal current.

    The half-day visits to Hol Chan and Shark Ray Alley are action-packed and great for kids. But for Leigh and I, the eco-oriented Turneffe Atoll trip with Miller had a more rewarding flavor, well worth the exhilarating two-hour ride across choppy seas.

    On our last island day, we ride the water taxi back to Caye Caulker, Miller’s stomping ground. We enjoy the mellow barefoot mood on the sandy main street. A squall moves in, and the beachfront vendors hustle to pack away rainbow-hued sarongs and strings of beads. For our last dinner of the trip we meet Miller at the Happy Lobster, curious to hear more of his take on the tourist trade.

    Cave relics

    Ecotourism stems from the mindset of tourists as much as the number of recycling bins, Miller reminds us. That means when we travel, we must show gratitude and respect for the privilege of sharing other environments, cultures, landscapes and food.

    This attitude can pay off with access to amazing sights like the Aktun Tunichil cave system.

    Ten centuries before Miller started thinking about the sustainability of his guiding company, Mayan priests used the cave to appeal to a god for a balance between rain and sun. Danny, our guide, leads us into a crystalline underworld through a maze of water tunnels. He explains that deep in the labyrinth, the Mayans prayed to Chac, the sustainer.

    The keyhole-shaped entrance to the cavern is draped with vines. Mossy boulders line the banks of the pool where we must swim to get inside the cave. We find our footing on a narrow ledge, one hundred feet past the entrance, and maneuver through a maze of stalactite-draped passages and sparkling caverns.

    Thousand-year old pots and bones are arranged in small sacrificial areas. Mayan priests made openings in the rim of some vessels to allow the spirits within to escape.

    At first look, the remains appear jumbled. But the ritual use of pottery may have included aligning the pots to mirror heavenly constellations, Danny explains. The caves themselves were part of the ceremonies as a place of emergence, he said.

    Most archaeological evidence suggests that, along with symbolic offerings, dire times called for human sacrifice. Priests opened the chests of their victims to tear out a beating heart. The bones we see reflect the intent of the priests. Entire skeletons are covered with a thin layer of sparkly limestone, beautiful but grim. Other sacrificial victims were somehow tied to the cave walls and left to die in a certain body position meant to show intent to the gods, Danny says, as we view the skeletal remains of the Crystal Maiden.

    Get more information on Aktun Tunichil Muknal at http://www.mayabelize.ca/maya/actun-tunichil-muknal.shtml, or book a tour with pacztours@btl.net.

    Temples

    Mainland Belize also has a rich collection of Mayan ruins. Early morning on our departure day, we hookup with Johnny, a hustling friend of Miller’s who runs a one-man taxi guide service out of the capital. As we speed north on the main highway, Johnny shows us pictures of his daughter on his cell phone while trying to keep the driver-side door closed with his left hand. By the time we’ve heard all the old Fix-Or-Repair-Daily Ford jokes, we’re parked at Altun Ha. 

    Along with Caracol and Lamanai, Altun Ha stands tribute to the Mayan era. Along with human sacrifice, this era produced extensive trade signifying a well-developed economy. Arts, math and astronomy matching the levels of the Arab and Hindu worlds were prominent. Some of the older sites date back to 600 BC, and some were inhabited through 900 AD, spanning the entire range of the Mayans.

    Johnny power-walks us through the old fortress and temples, making sure we stay just ahead of the throngs of bus passengers streaming in from the cruise ships anchored in the Belize harbor. It feels a little like a race, but we find a few spots where it’s quiet and we feel how the Mayans used the man-made mountains as look-outs to scour the jungle canopy for campfires or other signs of intrusion.

    From the summit of the highest temple, it all seems so clear and orderly; neat plazas and paths lead to giant steps climbing to perfectly proportioned plateaus. But it’s also a reminder that every edifice, every civilization, is subject to decay and decline. Maybe Mayan civilization collapsed under the weight of civil and political strife as neighboring settlements battled each other for a scarce resource.

    On the bumpy road back to the airport, we scarf down the last of the spicy chicken taquitos we bought from a sidewalk vendor in Caye Caulker. It's our last taste of Belize on this trip. We wash them down with $10 see-you-later drinks at Jet’s Airport Bar in the departure hall before winging back to our snowy mountain home. All is well in the age of jet travel, as long as you have an open mind, a pair of flip-flops, a Bloody Mary in your hand and a smiling travel partner at your side.

    Things to know about Belize before you go

    Belikin Beer is served in tiny 10 ounce bottles, with very thick glass that help the brew stay cold. But be prepared to tilt the bottle up all the way and suck nothing but air — they go down quick and smooth.

    Wikipedia web page on Belikin: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belikin

    The 2004 Belikin Calendar girls: http://www.bluefield-prod.com/belikin_beer_calendar_girls%201.htm.

    You can use U.S. Dollars to buy those Belikins, bucks are commonly accepted at a fixed two to one exchange rate. The language is English. As a Commonwealth country Belize currency features historic portraits of the British Queen.

    Belize City isn’t touted by the guidebooks, but we stayed for two nights in the downtown Hotel Mopan, using the city as a jumping-off point for the cave tour at Aktun Tunichil Muknal.

    We enjoyed the scruffy but safe vibe of the port town, right down to quaffing beers alongside local fishermen and hookers at a canal-side red-light bar. Plus, it’s the only place we’ve been solicited for real estate by a sincere-sounding sidewalk salesman: “Pssst, you wanna buy 20 acres near the airport?”

    The town is full of tumble-down clapboards, and since we’ve heard that Leo or some other celebrity has recently bought property in Belize, we fantasize about the interior mansions hidden behind the weathered façades. Since most coastal travel in Belize is by boat, the ferry terminal in the city is a central station of sorts, advertising connections via boats, planes and buses to many regional destinations. The well-stocked convenience store in the terminal will have anything you might have forgotten, from bottle-openers and batteries to ice-cold Belikins.

    Hotel Mopan: http://www.hotelmopan.com/

    Be sure to check out Jet’s Bar in the Belize City airport. It’s cozy enough, but beware. The charming owner will convince you he has the best Bloody Marys for miles around, but he won’t hit you up with the $10 bill until you’re running to your gate.

    Caves and snakes: The deadly fer-de-lance lives in the tea-colored tropical Belizean rivers. Crossing the Roaring River crossing on our trek to the cave, the guide makes us all stand still while one of the zig-zag-backed serpents slithers out of the water and into a tree.

    Aktun Tunichil Muknal is a two-hour drive, then a 45 minute hike from Belize City, in the Maya Mountain backcountry. Several tour companies run trips from the nearby town of San Ignacio, but PacZ tours picked us up at our Hotel in Belize City and offered first-class service and a friendly guide.

    The reef is a highlight of any Belize visit. We were thrilled by the low-key, personal and environmentally oriented snorkeling tour to Turneffe Atoll with Carlos Miller, based on Caye Caulker. And Amigos Del Mar Divers in San Pedro offer a full range of trips, including the standard half-day excursions to nearby Hol Chan and Shark Ray Alley. Amigos del Mar: http://amigosdive.com/

    Belize is slightly smaller than Massachusetts, at about 22,966 square kilometers. Most of the mainland consists of a limestone bench covered with jungle scrub, rising to mountainous terrain on the western border with Guatemala. Mexico’s Yucatan region is to the north, with Honduras to the southeast.

    Belize became part of the colony of British Honduras in 1854 and didn’t gain independence until 1981, a move delayed by territorial disputes with Guatemala. 

  • Blog post
  • 1 year ago
  • Views: 1080

• Conch sunset

  • From: bberwyn
  • Description:
    Two conch shells perched in the bow of a kayak glow in the sunset light during an evening paddle on the lagoon side of Ambergris Caye, Belize.
  • 1 year ago
  • Views: 412

• Belize biking

  • From: bberwyn
  • Description:
    Celebrating her 39th birthday, Leigh Wadden looks out toward the great Mesoamerican Reef from a pier near San Pedro, on Ambergris Caye, Belize.
  • 1 year ago
  • Views: 517

• Screen View

  • From: bberwyn
  • Description:
    Seen through a window screen, a beach-goer in San Pedro, Ambergris Caye, Belize, enjoys a sunny Caribbean view of the great Mesoamerican reef, the largest in the Atlantic Ocean.
  • 1 year ago
  • Views: 303

• Belize Fire Spinners

  • From: dtf110
  • Description:
    Fire spinners/dancers in San Pedro, Ambergris Caye, Belize. Performers: Laura Goldman and Paul (Fire Flies - Ambergris Caye, Belize)
  • 1 year ago
  • Views: 711

• An Un-BELIZE-able Wedding

  • From: dtf110
  • Description:

    

    Belize is an amazing country, which is why my husband and I decided to get married there this past May (2008). This included dragging 30 of our closest family members and friends with us to a country most had never imagined visiting, although we didn't get any complaints. :)

    Like most city escapers, we headed to our favorite island, Ambergris Caye, or according to the locals "the tourist island".  While this may seem touristy to them, this island offers a relaxing escape from work, cities and mainland troubles. While remote compared to most other Caribbean islands, Ambergis Caye still has a great variety of restaurants, beach bars, and shops. I mean where else can you visit some Mayan Ruins, dive on the 2nd largest barrier reef in the world, zip line through the rainforest, go cave tubing and then head out to place your bet on the local chicken drop? (Let's just say chicken, square and "droppings". . . you can figure out the rest).  Although with all these activities, most of us just grab a nice cold Belikian beer (or two) and enjoy the beach and slow mentality that is Belize.

    For more information about the island, you can visit http://www.ambergriscaye.com/ 

    This picture was taken by Kay Scott of Kay Scott Photography on the pier of Ramon's Village in San Pedro, Ambergris Caye, Belize.

  • Blog post
  • 1 year ago
  • Views: 697

• Our Wedding

  • From: dtf110
  • Description:
    This is one of our wedding pictures taken on the pier at Ramon's Village in Ambergris Caye.
  • 1 year ago
  • Views: 295

• Conch sunset

  • From: bberwyn
  • Description:
    A trio of empty conch shellls rest on the bow of a kayak in the calm waters a Caribbean lagoon near Ambergris Caye, Belize.
  • 1 year ago
  • Views: 148