26
February
11
The Cayes to Happiness
Hanging out with endangered manatee, viewing the Andromeda galaxy, taking a nightly star bath and swimming in the bioluminescence. Our friend Kevin Rushby from The Guardian newspaper explains how industrial tourism seems further away than the Orion nebula on a catamaran trip exploring the Caribbean coast of mangrove islands and remote reefs in Belize.
For the full article follow this link.
For the audio slideshow follow this link
Special thanks to Cliff from Belize Luxury Sailing for making the trip a possibility, and to our friends Aime and Angus from London for sharing their vast wealth of cosmic knowledge…. and for catching and cleaning many lunches and dinners.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/2011/feb/26/belize-ambergris-caye-holiday-islands
http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/audioslideshow/2011/feb/24/belize-adventure-sailing-caribbean?intcmp=239
http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel
16
February
11
From afar the designated bird sanctuary of Man-O-War Caye looks like any other tiny mangrove island, but as you journey closer to shore the frenzy of activity becomes apparent, with birds soaring in the sky above in every direction… and the guys strutting their stuff (or inflating their red gular pouches) for the ladies during breeding season.
Man-O-War Caye lies around 70 miles south of Belize City close to South Water Caye. The 3 different types of mangrove vegetation provide a perfect sanctuary to a variety of indigenous bird species, including Pelicans, Brown Booby birds, and the Magnificent Frigate birds (also known as Man-O-War birds). Here is our pick of pictures….
17
January
11
Manatees, which are also known as sea cows are marine mammals, originating around 45 to 50 million years ago. They are gentle, slow moving, plant-eating herbivores and their closest living relatives are elephants and aardvarks. They can grow over 13 feet in length and weigh up to 3,500 pounds.
Despite being an endangered species, with a population of approximately 2500 in the waters of the United States, Manatees are present in the waters of Belize and can be witnessed throughout the year. A close concentration can be witnessed at Swallow Caye, located 4 miles off the coast of Belize City. Swallow Caye has been declared a wildlife sanctuary and serves to protect the manatees and other marine life that call this habitat home. For more information or to plan a visit to see our aquatic gentle giant friends contact Swallow Caye Wildlife Sanctuary
With pristine rain forests, expansive orange groves, banana plantations and cacao farms, the terrain of Southern Belize makes it truly unique. Throw in spectacular beaches, world-class fishing, a rich Mayan heritage and a more Afro-Caribbean vibe, it becomes clear why the area has appeal to such a wide variety of travelers.
