Page 12 - NBY News February 2019

On the Go...... THE BEST OF BELIZE
On the Go......
On the Go...
On the Go
On the Go

BY JILL WEINLEIN stairs, we noticed a table with chairs and
hammock on our wooded deck. Opening
We kicked off 2019 with a trip to the front door, the 380 spacious room
Belize. The first time we traveled to offered a King size bed and bunk bed for
Belize, we stayed in a treehouse at the our daughters. There was an air
Hamanasi Resort in the small town of conditioning unit, small refrigerator,
Hopkins. Wooden stairs led up to a deck bathroom with double sinks, large tiled
with a hammock and hot tub. Inside was shower, bath robes, beach towels, in-room
a spacious bedroom with a beautifully safe and Belizean hardwood floors.
tiled bath, a small kitchenette and sitting The resort opened in 2014 and offers an
area. It was such a memorable vacation, onsite restaurant serving a warm
that we wanted to start the new year off complimentary breakfast to guests each
in the warm, safe and beautiful country. morning. It’s attached to the Breezeway
Belize borders Mexico, Guatemala, and Pool Bar open for lunch and dinners. A
the aquamarine Caribbean Sea. Since it bartender is always ready to make tropical
was once British Honduras, people speak drinks and open Belize Belikin beers.
English. It’s a melting pot of Creoles, Beyond the bar is a small oceanfront
Mayans, Mestizos, East Indians, Chinese, pool next to a few beach suites. Activities
Mennonites, North Americans, include swinging in a hammock under a
Europeans and Central Americans. palapa on the beach, taking a kayak out for
We planned a trip with two other a water tour, or ride one of the
couples and their adult age children to complimentary bicycles into Placencia
stay in treehouses at the Mariposa Resort Village to visit beach bars, restaurant,
in Placencia. Flying less than three hours coffee and gelato shops.
on United Airlines from LAX to The Placencia peninsula has storefronts
Houston, we then boarded another plane for visitors to reserve a snorkel trip to one
to fly about two hours from Houston to of the picturesque cayes (islands). Each day
Belize City. we visited Dana at Nite Wind Tours to
Once we arrived we picked up our book a snorkel trip. The first day we
rental four-wheel drive SUV and drove motored out to the private Wild Orchid
four hours to Placencia with two stops Caye for a 45 minute snorkel led tour and
along the way. At the Belize Zoo, we lunch on the island. Belize has the South
enjoyed a traditional lunch of stewed Water Caye Marine Reef, the second
chicken with rice, black beans and largest barrier reef in the world. The water
plantains, before strolling through the is a pleasant 82 degrees, with visibility of
tropical exhibits to see 45 native species. at least 100 feet. We followed two squid
These animals, reptiles and birds were swimming with schools of brightly
orphaned, rescued, born at the zoo or colored fish.
rehabilitating. Highlights included being On our next snorkel trip, we took a boat
close to a jaguar, harpy eagle and to Silk Caye to see a variety of tropical fish
beautiful toucans. in water so clear that I discovered four
Our second stop was at The Country different shades of blue at various depths.
Barn Dairy and Creamery for freshly This tiny island is completely surrounded
made black cherry and coconut ice by a coral reef. After lunch on the sand, we
cream. This roadside dairy and cafe near got back into the boat and motored two
St Margaret’s village on Hummingbird minutes away to a nearby snorkeling area
Highway is run by a Mennonite family. to see protected marine life. Jumping into
These farmers make and sell homemade the water, schools of docile nurse sharks
ice cream, flavored milk and fresh about four to six foot circled underneath
yogurt to the public, resorts and our boat. Two different types of rays and a
restaurants. hawksbill turtle swam near us. Our District. Two residential guides escorted herons dotted the river. After lunch at a
Driving on the paved road to snorkeling guide pointed out a variety of us on our upriver ride, to point out local cafe, we boarded the boat to search
Placencia, the street signs are in English coral, grouper and colorful tropical fish. beautiful flora, fauna and subtropical rain- for manatees before arriving back at
alerting us to one-lane bridges, and We saved our last full day for a trip forests. Highlights included crocodiles Placencia Village and the Mariposa Resort.
speed humps when entering a new together on the Monkey River Jungle bask along the banks of the river, and Put Belize on your 2019 travel list to
village. Cruise from the docks at Placencia Village. bright orange iguanas sunbathing on enjoy warm sunshine, clear blue water and
Arriving at the Mariposa Resort, the While cruising to Monkey River Village, branches of trees. Up on the top of trees, snorkeling experiences you will never
owners Bruce and Sharon Maddison, staff we first stopped at a small and peaceful our guides pointed out troops of howler forget.
and two dogs greeted us warmly. We village with about 200 residences along the monkeys, and a variety of birds darting For information about the Mariposa
were led to Treehouse #3 for our one- coast of Southern Belize in the Toledo above. A variety of wading egrets and Resort, call (501)523-4474 or go to https://
week stay. Walking up the wooden www.mariposabelizebeach.com.
12 February 2019