A Little Liming and a Little Snorkeling

Wednesday, November 10, 2021
Caye Caulker, Belize
Monday was another beautiful day so, after sorting through our pictures from the previous day's adventure in the morning, we decided to head over to the Dip and Sip, just before the Split, for lunch and an afternoon of swimming and lounging by the water.  Since there is not a lot of actual beach space on Caye Caulker, most swimming and lounging is done on (or off) docks and Dip and Sip has a nice setup for this.  Had some nice tacos for lunch up on their rooftop deck.  Along the way, we booked a half-day snorkel trip to the local reef (CC Marine Reserve) for the next morning with French Angel.  Then home for a pasta dinner and an early night.  Actually every night is pretty early here and every morning is pretty early--we haven't really been able to sleep in past 6:30.
Tuesday morning, another great day--there's supposed to be lots of rain coming by Friday so we're enjoying the sunshine--we headed over to French Angel for 10:00.  Ash was there and told us that Sonny, who was supposed to take us, had gotten a last minute dive booking (obviously more money than our little snorkel trip) and asked if we would mind going at 2:00 instead, so we said sure--we had no other plans for the day anyway.  So we went out in search of a restaurant, Suggestion Gourmet, that we had read about that is just around the corner from where we are staying.  Turns out it is closed.  So we stopped into our place for a bit then walked back into town and ended up at Barefoot Caribe, on the waterfront.  I had a huge quesadilla that was very good, but we could easily have shared.  Not really the light bite I was looking for before our snorkeling, but too tasty to leave!
Eventually wandered over to the dive shop and met up with Sonny and were driven, along with the 2 ladies who were joining us on the trip, in a golf cart over to the back side of the island, up at the north end, where the boat was docked.  The first stop was just down the coast a few hundred metres to see, from in the boat only, a school of tarpon, who hang around near the shore there.  They really jump high out of the water if you hold your hand out!  Then a stop at the dock of the Iguana Reef Inn (a big place that I didn't know existed--lots of higher end development happening on the west side), where there is a kind of sanctuary for sea horses.  The tiny creatures are very hard to see and even harder to get a picture of.
Then we headed around through the Split and about a 10 minute boat ride to the reef at the Caye Caulker Marine Reserve.  First stop was a spot to see if we could find some manatees to swim with, but the big "sea-cows" weren't around on this day.
Then, a little further along to the main snorkeling spot on the reef at Coral Garden.  The reef is getting pretty bleached out these days (we haven't been here since 2014) and there weren't all that many fish around to see at this day and time, but Sonny was extremely good at pointing out whatever there was to see--this while towing around one of the women, who had a cracked rib, on a life buoy ring.
Then over to the shark/ray spot.  As soon as the boat pulls in, they start to swarm around--partly the result of generations of breeding, as this was the spot where fishermen used to clean their fish before this was a protected marine park, and partly because tour guides, unfortunately, routinely chum the waters to attract them.  I'm always amazed at the sheer number of them--you have to watch your step when walking around the boat to avoid stepping on a ray or kicking a shark.
Then a leisurely ride back and through the Split to the west side, where we had Sonny drop us back at the Iguana Reef Inn because it looked like a good place to watch the sunset and it looked like it would be a good one.  Had a couple of drinks and were entertained by the very tame pelicans that are all over the property, while waiting for the sun to go down.
Then we headed across to Front Street (Hicaco) and back to Hibisca for a fabulous dinner of a coconut curry seafood "stew" that had skewers of seafood, plus crab claws (that you had to smash), which, having seen it before, we knew to split between the 2 of us.  Then a decadent banana, booze and ice cream combination for desert.  All in all, a really great day.

Comments

Ylva Maureen Van Buuren
2021-11-10

Amazing photos. Great start to your trip. Enjoy.

Ann Crumpton
2021-11-11

I am enjoying reading about your travels- love the photos- so glad y'all are having a good time !

Garth
2021-11-18

This looks incredible and a lot of fun

2025-02-10

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