Coco Plum Cay, Belize
With a name like Coco Plum Island, how can we go wrong? Using this mangrove and coconut tree decorated, bright white sand sliver as a base, we kayak in her lee, snorkel on her turtle grass flats and explore her outlier island bird rookery.
Just to the windward of our Coco Plum haven lies the city block size mangrove-glued island called Man-o-War Cay. So named for the hundreds of Man-o-War, or frigate birds nesting, displaying, and circling overhead. Our Zodiac approach allows us to see up-close the inflated, candy apple red, gular throat pouches of these spectacular, almost intimidating birds. A seven foot wing-span belies their aerial maneuverability, which is demonstrated when these swallow-like fliers snatch thin sticks we throw above our heads. Within minutes our gifts are woven into nests high in the red mangrove trees. Upon returning to Coco Plum we find a barbecue feast spread in the shade of a palm thatched palapa.
The afternoon finds us back on the mainland heading for fertile farm land. In the middle of a mango grove is a one building factory. The smells are of spice and sweet fruit. On the sample table are habanero-cactus salsa, green mango chutney, orange pulp pepper salsa, and guava jelly. Marie Sharp is the entrepreneur and her story is one of humble beginnings, stolen recipes, new starts and eventual success. We are honored to hear her tale and eager to buy her product. The semi-automated, mostly hand done, made-to-work production process fascinates those of us with an interest in such things while black tailed kites and flycatcher identification holds the interest of others out in the fruit groves.
All in all a wonderful day considering we made it up as we went along.
With a name like Coco Plum Island, how can we go wrong? Using this mangrove and coconut tree decorated, bright white sand sliver as a base, we kayak in her lee, snorkel on her turtle grass flats and explore her outlier island bird rookery.
Just to the windward of our Coco Plum haven lies the city block size mangrove-glued island called Man-o-War Cay. So named for the hundreds of Man-o-War, or frigate birds nesting, displaying, and circling overhead. Our Zodiac approach allows us to see up-close the inflated, candy apple red, gular throat pouches of these spectacular, almost intimidating birds. A seven foot wing-span belies their aerial maneuverability, which is demonstrated when these swallow-like fliers snatch thin sticks we throw above our heads. Within minutes our gifts are woven into nests high in the red mangrove trees. Upon returning to Coco Plum we find a barbecue feast spread in the shade of a palm thatched palapa.
The afternoon finds us back on the mainland heading for fertile farm land. In the middle of a mango grove is a one building factory. The smells are of spice and sweet fruit. On the sample table are habanero-cactus salsa, green mango chutney, orange pulp pepper salsa, and guava jelly. Marie Sharp is the entrepreneur and her story is one of humble beginnings, stolen recipes, new starts and eventual success. We are honored to hear her tale and eager to buy her product. The semi-automated, mostly hand done, made-to-work production process fascinates those of us with an interest in such things while black tailed kites and flycatcher identification holds the interest of others out in the fruit groves.
All in all a wonderful day considering we made it up as we went along.
