Caye Caulker, Belize
We headed to the ocean for the final stops of our Latin America trip for a plunge into the Belize Barrier Reef, the second longest in the world (you get one guess at the longest). We first visited the northern cayes and stayed in Caye Caulker, a very small town with sand streets and golf cart taxis. From Caye Caulker, the reef is just a short boat ride from the docks.
Sand streets of Caye Caulker
Our highest recommendation for this take-out restaurant, also known as Auntie’s
Fresh barracuda on the left, pork rib jerk stew on the right
Passing the mangroves on the northern end of the caye on the way to snorkeling
Some colorful coral at the Hol Chan Marine Reserve
Getting up close with a hawksbill turtle
At Shark Ray Alley, the fish behavior has definitely been altered and they flock to the boats (see video below)
Swimming alongside a larger stingray (but not the biggest we saw)
A barracuda attracted by the commotion near the boat
Descending on our first dive in five years
Coral “canyons” on the left; a wall of coral on the right (this is at 80′ depth)
A school of Creole wrasse
A creepy-crawlie under the ocean
A nearly invisible and translucent shrimp
A lamprey hitches a ride on a turtle
An elaborately patterned filefish
A spiny lobster hiding in a crevasse
Eels! Green moray and spotted
Our most memorable sighting in Belize: gorgeous spotted eagle ray
That’s so cool! Swimming with sharks & other cool critters