Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary and Coco Plum Caye, Belize
Our Expedition Leader spoke very softly over the intercom this early morning to let us know that all was well and that we were anchored off of the town of Dangriga. Dangriga is one of the six districts of Belize located in the southern region of the country. It was settled in the early 19th century by the Garinagu people, a cultural hybrid of escaped African slaves and Caribbean Indians. We would travel by bus into the broadleaf forest of the Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary, which is home to a large population of Jaguar, the world’s third largest cat.
The group splintered off onto different paths in anticipation of a jaguar sighting or any other wildlife encounter. The sunlight filtered down through gaps in the canopy but for the most part the clouds hung low over Victoria Peak. Eventually, we arrived at this tremendous cascading waterfall with everyone dipping in to cool off after the long hike. The air was alive with the cries of various birds. The snapping of white-capped manakins coming from the thick understory could be heard for a long distance and were difficult to locate. Flashes of color zoomed by with the flitting of hummingbirds in and out of the giant tree ferns and other forest dwellers.
By afternoon, our captain had repositioned our ship close to the west side of Coco Plum Caye. This sandy mangrove island was a welcome sight after the red dirt and sand of the interior and provided a great opportunity for our guests to relax in hammocks, join the exciting soccer game or simply relax by the waters edge with a cocktail or good book and fish ceviche appetizers prepared by our kitchen. We watched the juvenile spotted eagle rays feed along the shallow sand flats just off the dock using their protruding duck-like snouts to probe for mollusks. And the sun suddenly burst through the low cloud cover and shot out golden streams of light across the darkening western sky as if to bade us farewell and safe passage. Once again, the Sea Voyager lifted her anchor and turned her bow to the south and to the land of Guatemala.
Our Expedition Leader spoke very softly over the intercom this early morning to let us know that all was well and that we were anchored off of the town of Dangriga. Dangriga is one of the six districts of Belize located in the southern region of the country. It was settled in the early 19th century by the Garinagu people, a cultural hybrid of escaped African slaves and Caribbean Indians. We would travel by bus into the broadleaf forest of the Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary, which is home to a large population of Jaguar, the world’s third largest cat.
The group splintered off onto different paths in anticipation of a jaguar sighting or any other wildlife encounter. The sunlight filtered down through gaps in the canopy but for the most part the clouds hung low over Victoria Peak. Eventually, we arrived at this tremendous cascading waterfall with everyone dipping in to cool off after the long hike. The air was alive with the cries of various birds. The snapping of white-capped manakins coming from the thick understory could be heard for a long distance and were difficult to locate. Flashes of color zoomed by with the flitting of hummingbirds in and out of the giant tree ferns and other forest dwellers.
By afternoon, our captain had repositioned our ship close to the west side of Coco Plum Caye. This sandy mangrove island was a welcome sight after the red dirt and sand of the interior and provided a great opportunity for our guests to relax in hammocks, join the exciting soccer game or simply relax by the waters edge with a cocktail or good book and fish ceviche appetizers prepared by our kitchen. We watched the juvenile spotted eagle rays feed along the shallow sand flats just off the dock using their protruding duck-like snouts to probe for mollusks. And the sun suddenly burst through the low cloud cover and shot out golden streams of light across the darkening western sky as if to bade us farewell and safe passage. Once again, the Sea Voyager lifted her anchor and turned her bow to the south and to the land of Guatemala.
