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RABBIT ENVY
Belize Vacations at
a Private Island, Belize package for the best tropical vacation for water
sports
Belize was
called British Honduras when I went to school, and in 1981 it became an
independent Central American country. You can
find it on a map just below Mexico, east of Guatemala, and along the warm
western Caribbean. Belize City, the capital, isn't spectacular, but the
Maya temples located inland,
and the trips available from there are spectacular! This year I visited Altun Ha, a Mayan site rich in history and culture. On a previous visit to
Belize I toured Lamanai and Xunantunich and other Mayan
ruins in Belize. I have also paddled rivers in Belize, among them the Caves
Branch River (cave tubing anyone?) and the Mopan River. There are enough
things to do in Belize to fill four vacations. English is
thankfully the official language of the country.
My focus this trip was on an off shore island, 40 miles from the mainland, and
60 miles from Belize City. Cully Erdman, along with his partners and staff, runs
a resort on a private island unlike any I have visited. The first time I read
about Slickrock was in Outside magazine. You can find information and photos
about stays in paradise at www.slickrock.com.
I encourage you to visit this great Belize adventure
travel website.
Water Sport Vacation
Slickrock's resort is on a 13-acre private island
named Long Caye. The island resort is complete with all the water toys,
comforts, and natural beauty one could hope for, including a junk food bunny
appropriately named Lucky. Seems he gets to live in paradise while everyone else
just visits. A very lucky rabbit indeed!
My week of fun, sun sea, and surf passed too
quickly. I spent my time sea kayaking, snorkeling, scuba diving, surf kayaking,
and hammock surfing. Meals are super, the guides friendly and knowledgeable, and
the accommodations unbelievably fine with thatched palapas strung out along the
beach under the palms. Long Caye is in a marine reserve on the edge of a huge
reef. The snorkeling and diving is superb, schools of fish numerous, eagle rays,
nurse sharks, sea turtles, and spiny lobsters all within my grasp as I spent
each day paddling, diving, and floating in and around the reef. The island was
first visited by the Mayans and then pirates, now Cully has 'developed' it on
the edge of Glover's Atoll Reef. Long Caye has an awesome 2,000 foot deep
drop-off on one side of the island made famous by Jacques Cousteau - the scuba
diving here is phenomenal! The sun sets and rises over turquoise waters, while
all the best water toys take away the winter blues. The climate is warm, sunny,
and very pleasant - the palm trees constantly sway in the ocean breeze.
Everywhere you look beauty and warm water abounds. Now all you need are cool
sunglasses and a kickback attitude! Check it out sometime!
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