Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary and Goff’s Cay, Belize
A light rain fell in the darkness as we boarded our buses. And why not a little rain? After all, we were in the country of Belize and were about to set off to explore one of its tropical forests. Fact is, this area averages about 270 cm. of rainfall per year and alternates between two dry and two wet seasons. Belize’s approaching dry season was just struggling to take a hold.
This morning we would pass through the largest town in the Stann Creek district, Dangriga. This name, taken from the Garifuna language means “here, the sweet water is close at hand.” Settled in the early 17th century by the Garifuna (also known as Black Carib), a cultural hybrid of escaped African slaves and Caribbean Indians. The town’s dreamy atmosphere still harks back to a past age.
It was going to be difficult to make a decision today as to what activity to join in on. Float down a fresh water tributary while gazing upon bats on the under side of leaning trees. Climb to the top of Ben’s Bluff as we pass over a carpet of ferns and emerge into the Caribbean pine forest at the top. Or stroll along the Wari loop with our very knowledgeable local guide, Lascelle, while looking for jaguar tracks. Some of our guests asked if they could participate in more than one activity, but there was not enough time. On our return to the ship, I spotted a crocodile dozing on the muddy bank of a small river and shouted for our driver to stop. As we all poured out of our bus and then tried to sneak up on our reptilian friend, he quickly slithered into the muddy water and disappeared from sight.
Back at the entrance to the dock where the Sea Lion waited, we slowed down to look for the “Wish-willy” or Ctenosaura similes. A gregarious and common inhabitant of open and cleared habitats, we spotted a rather large specimen sunning itself on a piece of wood. Suddenly our naturalist, Jonathon was out the back of the bus and after a brief stalk had this handsome lizard held carefully in his hands.
By afternoon, the overcast sky had been replaced with plenty of sunshine. We had moved away from the lush tropical forest to another type of equally productive ecosystem, the Mesoamerica Barrier Reef. We had dropped anchor just off shore tiny Goff’s Cay. With its white sandy beaches and swaying coconut trees, it seemed like the ideal place for a little water time. The Zodiac full of excited scuba divers pulled away and set off to the east side of the cay to splash down into the blue-green salty. Snorkelers swarmed the beach and darted in and out of the water like the ghost crabs that occupied the sand.
This was just another typical day aboard the Sea Lion.
A light rain fell in the darkness as we boarded our buses. And why not a little rain? After all, we were in the country of Belize and were about to set off to explore one of its tropical forests. Fact is, this area averages about 270 cm. of rainfall per year and alternates between two dry and two wet seasons. Belize’s approaching dry season was just struggling to take a hold.
This morning we would pass through the largest town in the Stann Creek district, Dangriga. This name, taken from the Garifuna language means “here, the sweet water is close at hand.” Settled in the early 17th century by the Garifuna (also known as Black Carib), a cultural hybrid of escaped African slaves and Caribbean Indians. The town’s dreamy atmosphere still harks back to a past age.
It was going to be difficult to make a decision today as to what activity to join in on. Float down a fresh water tributary while gazing upon bats on the under side of leaning trees. Climb to the top of Ben’s Bluff as we pass over a carpet of ferns and emerge into the Caribbean pine forest at the top. Or stroll along the Wari loop with our very knowledgeable local guide, Lascelle, while looking for jaguar tracks. Some of our guests asked if they could participate in more than one activity, but there was not enough time. On our return to the ship, I spotted a crocodile dozing on the muddy bank of a small river and shouted for our driver to stop. As we all poured out of our bus and then tried to sneak up on our reptilian friend, he quickly slithered into the muddy water and disappeared from sight.
Back at the entrance to the dock where the Sea Lion waited, we slowed down to look for the “Wish-willy” or Ctenosaura similes. A gregarious and common inhabitant of open and cleared habitats, we spotted a rather large specimen sunning itself on a piece of wood. Suddenly our naturalist, Jonathon was out the back of the bus and after a brief stalk had this handsome lizard held carefully in his hands.
By afternoon, the overcast sky had been replaced with plenty of sunshine. We had moved away from the lush tropical forest to another type of equally productive ecosystem, the Mesoamerica Barrier Reef. We had dropped anchor just off shore tiny Goff’s Cay. With its white sandy beaches and swaying coconut trees, it seemed like the ideal place for a little water time. The Zodiac full of excited scuba divers pulled away and set off to the east side of the cay to splash down into the blue-green salty. Snorkelers swarmed the beach and darted in and out of the water like the ghost crabs that occupied the sand.
This was just another typical day aboard the Sea Lion.
