Day 06 - Our last day at Tobacco Caye...

Our final day at Tobacco Caye was very eventful! For the first half of the day we took some time to sort out and label all the insects we've collected from the Trek Stop and Mopan River areas. We cataloged a total of 17 orders and 79 families collected and seen so far... not too shabby!

Labeling insects and preserving them in vials of alcohol

Afterwards, we still had the rest of the day to snorkel and explore different islands and mangroves near Tobacco Caye. We cruised around Bird Island first, a refuge where frigatebirds and brown-footed boobies congregate and nest.

A male frigatebird

A female frigatebird

Next, we were on our way to the mangroves. As our luck would have it, we spotted two manatees! We were quick to slip off our boat with our snorkeling gear to visit one of these endangered creatures up close. He/she didn't stick around for long, but it was certainly a special and unforgettable experience!

Snorkeling along the mangroves was a relaxing endeavor compared to the rolling tides along the reefs. The water was calm, and there were many interesting corals, fish, and even a sea bed covered in upside-down jellyfish to check out.

Upside-down jellyfish

Our last stop in our snorkeling adventure was at a channel along the reef. The water here was clear and less turbulent, and schools of fish migrated along the corals.

Squirrelfish

More updates to come soon!

Day 05 - Snorkeling and other activities!

Today we spent a full day snorkeling at Whale Shoal and along the outskirts of the Barrier Reef, guided by Mel. Both sites were definitely more challenging to navigate around than the shallows, but teemed with a larger variety of sea life. We saw a number of butterfly fish, blue tangs, groupers, parrotfish and other coral reef inhabitants.

Christmas tree worms on brain coral

Sea fans and a blue tang

Butterfly fish maneuvering around different corals

A stingray resting on the sandy bottom

We stopped by briefly at Southwater Caye for lunch and a quick walk along the beach. The sand was beautiful and it was nice to sit in the water and enjoy the gentle waves. We also inspected the shoreline and discovered a little starfish among the shells and bits of coral.

 

In the evening, we got some much needed R&R back at Tobacco Caye and chatted with the locals.We explored the island again when it got dark and discovered more hermit crabs, magpie shells (big edible sea snails) and even a gecko.

Magpie shells. The one on the right is polished to bring out its pretty black and white pattern.

A little gecko.

Foods of Belize Part I

We've enjoyed some amazing meals prepared for us during our trip. Here are some meals we ate during our 3 day stay at the Trek Stop.

Escabeche with tortillas and rice

Fry jacks with papaya, watermelon, eggs and beans

Seasoned chicken with rice, plantain and salsa

Bollo (similar to tamales) wrapped in plantain leaves

Breakfast burritos with chicken and beans

Our packed lunch after our ATM cave adventure! Seasoned chicken, rice, fried plantain and salad.

Chimole with a side of rice. Hard-boiled egg, chicken, onions and other vegetables.

Our last breakfast at the Trek Stop: banana pancakes with syrup and pineapples.

Are ya hungry yet? More meals coming up at a later update!

Day 04 - Tobacco Caye and Snorkeling 101

We had our final breakfast at the trek stop before beginning our two-hour drive towards the coast. Our next destination is Tobacco Caye!

We took a quick pit stop at San Ignacio and checked out the local shops.

Next, we hitched a boat ride to Tobacco Caye.

 On our way to snorkeling lessons!

 

Phil found a hermit crab in the shallows.

Bluestriped grunts

Yellow stingray

We all went for a night walk on the beach around the island to find nocturnal creatures.

Veronica holding a spiny urchin.

Baby hermit crab.

We caught a small octopus with the help of our guide Kimo.

Crikey, a croc in the mangroves!

More updates to come soon!

Day 03 - ATM Cave

The Actun Tunichil Muknal (ATM) cave, near San Ignacio, is a significant Mayan archeological site containing artifacts and even Mayan remains within its depths. We swam, waded, squeezed past tight formations and climbed to reach various hidden chambers. Unfortunately, cameras are no longer allowed within the cave in order to best preserve the integrity of this historical site. If you'd like to learn more about the history of ATM cave, take a virtual tour here with our guide Emile.

Here's an awkward group shot of us geared up before entering the cave:

After we got back and ate, we checked the black light traps again. Wolf spiders were a very common occurrence at night! They're big, they've got voracious appetites, and it's almost endearing to spot a female with her many babies hitching a ride...

 

A wolf spider feasting on its kin.

This female wolf spider carries her young on her abdomen.

This expectant mother decided to spend the night inside our dorm...