Our first day in Belize started with a bang as we awoke anchored just off Half Moon Caye, serenaded by the guttural sounds of hundreds of frigatebirds eager to find a mate. Once ashore, half our group departed on a short hike to a bird colony where guests can enjoy front row viewing of frigatebirds and red-footed boobies. The parental boobies were warming eggs on their nests and nurturing small chicks while trying to ignore the cacophony of frigatebirds circling overhead. Not an easy feat! After the hike, we went snorkeling in the warm, shallow sea that surrounds the island. We were treated to up close sightings of barracudas and countless reef fish. In the afternoon, we jumped on a speedboat and motored over to one of Belize’s most popular attractions, The Great Blue Hole. Here we snorkeled the interior rim, and those who were brave enough swam to the center to look down into the abyss. Sharks and rays frequent the blue hole, and many snorkelers were treated to sightings of both. Weary after a long day in the sunshine, we all returned to our shipboard home for our first recap of the trip and cocktail hour. Just another day of paradise here in Belize!
1/14/2023
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National Geographic Sea Lion
Mayflower Bocawina National Park
Today was our last full day of activities before saying adios! We spent the day visiting a Maya site, and we immersed ourselves in culture while listening and dancing to the music of the Garifuna Collective at night. First up in the morning was an hour and a half drive from Big Creek to Mayflower Bocawina National Park. We split into groups according to people’s preferences, and the three groups set off with their respective guides. The emphasis in one group was birding, and guests saw several of the over 600 species of birds found in Belize. The other groups took different trails, and they learned about the medicinal uses of plants, what roots and fruits are edible, and, of course, what to avoid! Black poisonwood and the spiny pokonobwai palm are on the list of plants to avoid. Some guests got lucky and spotted howler monkeys frolicking in the canopy! After hiking, everyone was treated to a delicious Belizean lunch in Maya Center Village accompanied by Maya marimba music and dance. Later in the evening, guests moved from the ship to The Placencia Yacht Club for a show by the world famous punta rock band, The Garifuna Collective. They put on a dock-shaking performance that motivated everyone to leave their seats and move to the groove of this homegrown genre of music! It was the icing on the cake of an amazing day. Thus ended the first voyage of 2023 for National Geographic Sea Lion .
