On to Caye Caulker in Belize

Keith with our new friends~ Alex, Austin & Stephan

Valerie & little Maya

Our last evening in Bacalar was spent chatting with Stephan & Austin while Alex prepared for her parents & sister to arrive sometime after 8 pm from Savannah, Georgia. We also enjoyed a walk to La Playita for Christmas dinner, pizza & a big bowl of guacamole.  Once we were all packed up we spent some time getting to know Alex’s parents as they finished up with massages next door on Al & Faye’s upper floor balcony overlooking the lake.

Pelicans resting after diving in the water for fish

We arrived at the waterfront in Chetamul right on time, traded in our ticket for a boarding pass, went through immigration & waited for the water taxi to load. There were 40 others on the speedboat for the 1-½ hour bumpy ride to San Pedro where we went through immigration & customs to get into Belize.

High spirits as the boat leaves Chetamul

The sun was setting as we boarded a smaller water taxi with around 20 others for the last 30-minute ride to Caye Caulker. 

The sun setting over San Pedro 

Keith waiting for our ill-fated second water taxi

Not ten minutes away from the dock the motor sounded like we were in trouble and the boat slowed way down. They pulled into a different dock where mechanics looked the engine over and directed the very young driver to take us back to San Pedro for a new prop to be installed. It was pitch dark & the unlighted boat blended into the midnight blue waters. 

Leaving San Pedro

Luckily the repair was quickly made & we headed for Caye Caulker where we were met by a golf cart taxi; there are no cars on the small island. Sullivan, our driver, stopped first at the bank so I could pull out Belizean dollars ($2.00 BZ to $1.00 US) and then at a nice sized market for a few breakfast supplies. Since it was late & we hadn’t eaten he also took us to the prepared food stand just outside his front door for ‘take out’~ chicken, mashed potatoes & a big serving of rice & beans.

Jeff met us at the Sandcastle house where we will spend the next four nights. It’s quite nice and quiet. Tomorrow we will get our bearings & explore the island.

Iguana at the Chetumal dock