Hot Time in the West

Sunset, San Ignacio - As Hot and Humid as it Looks!
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The nonstop flight TO San Pedro became a three-stop local as we returned to Belize City, this time to the Municipal airstrip via Caye Caulker and the International Airport, but at only half the airfare.  We then waited an hour for our rental car to be brought to us from, you guessed it, the International Airport 10 miles away.  Then we were off on a 2 hour drive to the western outpost of San Ignacio, near the Guatemalan border.  The "Western Highway" was nearly traffic-free, passing through a smattering of small towns.  Arriving in the twin cities of Santa Elena and San Ignacio, we skirted the towns and ended up at our canaba at the Cahal Pech Resort hotel overlooking the town.  It was here that we spent the last three days of our trip. 

Xunantunich Ruins, Cayo District, Belize
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Well, in retrospect, San Pedro was WARM. San Ignacio was HOT.

Now, in our first Belize post, I mentioned earlier that Belize was HOT.  Well, in retrospect, San Pedro on Ambergris Caye was WARM.  San Ignacio was HOT.  And HUMID.  HOT and HUMID.  Our thatched roof cabana looked cute, with a large hammock in the screened in porch/  But its thin plywood walls acted as a radiator with the afternoon sun shining on it.  The marginal air conditioner lowered the temperature a few degrees, but with outside temperatures reaching over 100 degrees, that was really no relief anywhere. 

Its Ice Cold!!!!, San Ignacio
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We did manage to visit several Mayan Ruins, the main reason for exploring the west of Belize, ranging from the fully excavated Xunantunich Mayan site to the partially excavated Cahal Pech site, a short stroll from the hotel.  We also visited a wonderful butterfly farm where we were treated to a fascinating tour by the owner and his daughter  San Igacio itself was a bit rough and tumble, but had a few good dining options.  But, all in all, it was just too hot to really enjoy our stay. 

Xunantunich Ruins - Detail, Cayo District, Belize
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Enroute back to the International Airport, we stopped for a hot and humid stroll through the Belize Zoo, an OK facility with indiginous Belizian critters.  Experiencing a flight delay in Belize City, we still managed to make our connection in Houston and arrived home to 42 degree weather.  Ahhhhhhh.

Hand Crank Ferry enroute to Xunantunich Ruins
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Some journeys are better than others.  Belize won’t make our top ten (or twenty), but it was still educational, still involved lots of pool time, and resulted in a fond appreciation for Belikan beer.  We also had a number of instances of interacting with the Belizians, and concluded without any doubt that they are the friendliest and most helpful people in the world!