We did so many strenuous activities in Guatemala and San Ignacio that it was definitely a good call to end our 15 day trip with a few relaxing days on the island of Caye Caulker.
To get to Caye Caulker, we booked a car to take us from San Ignacio to Belize City, and then transferred to a boat to take us to Caye Caulker. As soon as we arrived onto the island, we were immediately approached by a number of porters with golf carts to take us to our hotel. It was just a short ride to the far end of the island, where our hotel was located.
Our few days on this island was BLISS! The island is car-free, so we got around by bike (provided by our hotel) or by foot. It was an island small enough where one can bike/walk anywhere, and we loved that!
I didn’t plan too many activities while in Caye Caulker, allowing us to enjoy the island leisurely. We biked all around the island, but stopped when the smell of fresh seafood on the grill was too tempting to pass up, or if an ice cream sign promised a quick relief from the quenching sunshine. We spent long hours just dipping our feet into the ocean and enjoying the sea breeze together, which felt soooooo relaxing after all our previous activities in Guatemala and San Ignacio.
One cool fact about this island is that during a hurricane in the 60s, a part of the island was split as a result of the storm, forming what is now a narrow channel that divides the island into two. Here’s an aerial view of it:
If you’re into loud music and party vibes, the restaurants and bars at The Split would be the place to hang out!
While on the island, we had one of the BEST snorkeling experiences ever, with Caveman’s Snorkeling Tours. We signed up for the full day tour, and saw so many sea life in the pristine blue Caribbean Sea, including manatees (!!), sea turtles, nurse sharks, stingrays, and even an eel! It was amazing how we were surrounded by nurse sharks at one point, but we never felt unsafe as our guides were super attentive and knowledgable. Also, the Caveman himself came out to pray for us before we hopped onto the boat, so that was extra reassuring. 🙂
When we returned to shore, we were even treated to the most clear and beautiful rainbow across the ocean!
One of Belize’s famous attractions is the Great Blue Hole, which is a giant marine sinkhole measuring 1,043 ft. across and 407 ft. deep. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a bucket list item for many scuba divers around the world. Since neither Bridgette or I are scuba divers, we decided to see an aerial view of the Great Blue Hole from a small propeller plane that circled above the iconic site. It turned out to be a fantastic way to see it, because if you actually snorkel or scuba dive in the hole, you wouldn’t see it in its entirety. From high up, we were able to see how astounding it really is! And, because of this plane ride, we also experienced one of the world’s tiniest airport on the island!
On our last night on the island, we decided to end our trip with a sunset sail. There was another couple on the catamaran with us, and in conversation, we learned that they were from Idaho. I mentioned that I lived in Idaho for a few years of my childhood, and that my parents had owned a Chinese restaurant in the small town of Nampa. As it turned out, the couple had actually been to our restaurant and remembered my parents!! We were amazed at this chance encounter, and shared some fond memories of our times in Nampa.
It was the perfect way to end our trip, as we stared out into the lovely horizon and thanked God for the ways He opened our eyes and hearts through each of the unique experiences, and the wonderful people we encountered.
