UNBELIZEABLE VACATION DAY 4 :: BELIZE DISTRICT, BELIZE :: On Thanksgiving morning, Kristie and I arrived in Belize, a tiny Central American country bordered by Mexico, Guatemala, and the Caribbean Sea. Our decision to vacation there was based on raving reviews from more than a few of our friends. The more we heard and read about Belize, the more it enchanted us: lush jungles, tropical wildlife, thousands of Mayan ruins, the largest known cave system in Central America, beautiful white sand beaches, snorkeling in the world's second largest coral reef, sustainable development practices, active environmental conservation efforts, and a very diverse, tourist friendly, English-speaking population. Despite its small size, Belize has much to offer!
During our two-hour flight from Miami to Belize City, we watched the Florida Keys, Cuba, the Yucatan and Cozumel pass under us. Our descent took us over miles and miles of dense jungle. 93% of Belize is under the cover of forests. After we landed at the tiny airport and cleared immigration, we crossed the parking lot with our bags to rent our trusty Isuzu Trooper.
Driving in Belize requires four-wheel drive. The highways are in good condition, but the side streets are pretty sketchy. Bumpy dirt roads and deep potholes are the norm, as are random speed bumps. We hit one that was seemingly in the middle of nowhere as were cruising at about 45 miles per hour. We screamed as the entire vehicle bunny-hopped a foot into the air. Then in slow motion, we watched our luggage go airborne. A group of kids alongside the road pointed at us with eyes and mouths wide open. Fortunately, the Trooper took the landing well and we were unharmed. Whew.
I slowed down after that and quickly learned how to spot the highway speed bumps. We became accustomed to having no lane markers, traffic signals or signs. Weaving around the occassional dog, horse, cow, rooster, or pig became routine. As the locals say, the cops pull over those who drive
straight in Belize. Renting a car proved to be a daily adventure, but it also gave us the freedom to enjoy more of the country on our own, including the
Belize Zoo, our first stop on our way across the country to our resort near San Ignacio.
The Belize Zoo is billed as "The Best Little Zoo in the World". It's a cute moniker, and one we wholeheartedly agree with. Chances are you've seen it in a nature or travel show. The Today show was there just a couple weeks before us. The Zoo only takes orphaned or rehabilitated animals, and they are all native to Belize. The story behind the zoo's founder is interesting. You can read all about her on the
zoo's website.
The animals are in a natural habitat, with real trees and plants. It was very hot and humid, so we appreciated the abundant shade. I think the animals do too. There is very little to separate them from the visitors. We were able to approach within inches of jaguars, pumas, ocelots, various birds, reptiles and of course, Belize's national animal, the tapir. Each animal had a hand-painted sign in front of their enclosure with a cute rhyme as a description. Apparently the zookeeper/founder has a song for each animal and travels the country's schools to sing them. The star of the zoo and Kristie's favorite was Junior, a frisky and friendly, two-year old Jaguar rescued from abandonment.
We spent a much longer time there than we had planned, thoroughly enjoying the laid back and natural environment. It was so unlike most zoos we're used to seeing. The Belize Zoo was a great intro to this amazing country. Over the next nine days, we fell in love with Belize.
Our next stop:
Chaa Creek.
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