The Caribbean Island with the "Go Slow" vibe

The Caribbean Sea
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After a few hours in Belize City (not much to do there really) we met my parents at the airport. Watched their plane land from the waving deck. So nice to see them.

After the potatoes and pampers were loaded on in bulk, we could get on the ferry (actually more like a speed boat) to Caye Caulker. From first arriving it was clear our few days here would be very chilled out. We caught a golf buggy to our Cabana at the Ocean Pearl Royale Hotel. The golf buggy was really overloaded with all our luggage, a typical scene on the island.

P4060608
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The cabana was very basic but had its own Caribbean charm with a veranda complete with hammock and deck chairs where we watched the Humming birds in the mornings.

Spent the first full day there chilling out. Wandered around looking at the various little handicraft and jewelery stalls (nice to have mum there to enjoy them with me as not really Bens cup of tea!) The people on the island are really friendly. Everyone says hello as they walk past. Chilled out in a bar overlooking the Caribbean with a few beers. Mum tried out the hammock too. Spent a while watching a flock of pelicans and Frigate birds feeding off the scraps from the fishermens catch and saw lobster boxes being made ready for June when the lobster season starts here.

Caye Caulker
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In the evening we went to Wish Willies as we had read that it served the best seafood on the island. Certainly not disappointed. Wish Willy was a great host too. Had a few beers at the Bamboo bar on the swinging chairs afterwards.

Next day we went on a boat trip out to the coral reefs. The Caribbean sea was beautiful - an amazing turquoise colour and so clear. First stop was to snorkel around the coral gardens. It was mums first time snorkeling so she was a bit nervous at first - especially as she usually hates putting her head under the water.  She soon got the hang of it though. The coral was really pretty and we saw lots of cool fish too including Four Eyed Butterfly fish.

Mum and Wish Willy
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On the way to the next stop we were joined by a school of dolphins who swam by the side of the boat. A lovely sight.

Next was the Manatee Reserve - also known as Sea Cows. Enormous creatures that none of us had ever seen before. We could only really see them from a distance as they poked their noses above the surface for air. One came really close to the boat but it was swimming pretty deep so only really made out its outline.

Onto St Georges Caye for lunch before heading in search of sharks and Sting Rays.

Dolphins
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The second snorkel stop was nearer to Caye Caulker. here was saw enormous Green Moray eels hiding under rocks, lobsters, lots of Conches in their beautiful pink shells and lots more fish.

the final stop was at Shark ray Alley. As soon as we got there we could see a Nurse Shark from the side of the boat along with loads of bid Sting Rays. I was a bit nervous about getting in this time. The Sting Rays were really big and as the water was so shallow we had to be careful not to tread on them! Not long before we got back on the boat, mum hadnt seen any Rays in the water yet. We spotted a few but them when swimming back to the boat I looked up and she was surrounded by six enormous ones! Really cool. UnBelizable day out!

Going slow
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Did a bit more jewelery shopping with mum while dada and Ben chilled out back at the Cabana (caught dada in the hammock when we got back). Had barbecued fish on the beach for dinner, with a free rum. All good. Then some more beers at the Bamboo bar before playing cards back at the cabana.

Mum, dad and me got up early and hired a golf buggy to go bird watching. Pretty unsuccessful but the golf buggy was great fun. Said goodbye to Wish Willy on our way past. Breakfast from the local bakery on the veranda before leaving. Very sorry to go - could easily have spent longer here.