Tarantulas, Temples and Toucans

We are now back in Chetumal, in the South East corner of Mexico, having spent a spontaneous week-long 'holiday' in Belize and Guatamala. Last Friday we drove 160 miles across Belize - to the forested hills around San Ignacio, which borders Guatamala.  We were pleasantly surprised by the bustling little market town, which had a relaxed, Caribbean air and plenty to keep us occupied.  We shopped at the weekly market, ate ice cream in a nearby Amish village and rode a hand-cranked ferry across the river to visit more Mayan ruins at Xunantunich.

Whilst in San Ignacio, we organised a day-trip to Guatamala to visit Tikal, probably the most impressive of the Mayan sites we have visited, and undoubtedy the most famous - it did, after all, appear in Star Wars. Our enjoyment was much enhanced by an excellent guide, Edgar, who had grown up in the jungle here and was able to point out much wildlife such as crocodiles, turkeys, monkeys and, most excitingly, some toucans. He even managed to prise a tarantula out of a tree root for our enjoyment! 

Before we left Belize, we made a last-minute decision visit the Cayes - a string of islands along the world's second largest barrier reef.  We took a water taxi from Belize City out to Caye Caulker and treated ourselves to a couple of nights in a hotel (our first for 4 months), and several meals in restaurants on this tiny but idyllic, Caribbean island.

Tony and Francesca spent the first day on a snorkel trip out into the coral reef, where they swam with sharks, turtles, rays and many other fish. Ellen and Liberty spent the day paddling and watching the seahorses and other creatures around the island. The snorkelling trip was such a success, and Liberty's confidence in the water had improved so much lately, that we all took a shorter trip the following day. Even Libs managed to see the enormous sting rays swimming below us and a little of the amazing coral 'gardens' that we swam through.

We thoroughly enjoyed our break in Belize, particularly because it was so different to Mexico. In fact we have already started discussing the practicalities of a grand road trip through Central and South America.