Belize, a small country on the east coast of Central America, is known for its dual Caribbean and Latin American identities. Its coral reef system is part of the second largest coral barrier reef in the world and stretches across reef islands of various sizes. This land also has rich and complete tropical rainforests, showing beautiful natural scenery and biodiversity. Therefore, it has become a popular destination for eco-tourism and diving enthusiasts. The mild and pleasant climate throughout the year makes it the " summer resort". Let’s fly to Belize and explore this mysterious and unfamiliar land.
Snorkeling with sharks at Mexico Rocks
Pearl of the Caribbean
As soon as we arrived, we were greeted warmly by the colorful airport signs, and palm trees swaying in the wind came into view. The sun was shining brightly, and passengers on board changed into relaxed tops and shorts to escape the snowstorm that hit Toronto the day before. We took a small passenger plane and flew over the city and tropical islands, overlooking the island scenery. Afterwards, we transferred to a boat, leaving the dusk beauty behind us, and finally set foot on Ambergris Caye. Matachica Resort is located in San Pedro, the only town on the island, and is mainly accessible by golf cart. The gentle breeze makes tourists walking on the streets feel the holiday atmosphere even more.
Rio Frio Cave
As the sun shone in the early morning, we boarded the canoe with our instructor and went out to explore the sea. The world's second largest coral reef is nearby, and snorkeling spots are a short sail away to explore the wonders of the sea. The sea is crystal clear, and the waves show multiple layers of colors. We are surrounded by colorful tropical fish, colorful corals and various algae. In the afternoon, we took a boat ride for about 15 minutes to reach the nearby Mexico Rocks. This coral reef has diverse corals and marine life, such as lobsters, eels, starfish, etc. This area of water has been designated a marine protected area since 2015 and remains an unspoiled snorkeling spot. The instructor led us to look for manta rays and small sharks and swim with them. Unfortunately, we were unable to encounter sea turtles.
Mayan city-state ruins Caracol
Under the umbrella-top palapa, Mambo's spacious open-air restaurant faces the Caribbean Sea and the world's second largest barrier reef, which relieved our fatigue after a long day at sea. The chef of this restaurant is from France and combines his own cooking skills and experience to use local seafood as the main ingredients to present a strong flavor of Belize. The lobsters and fresh fish we tasted that day were caught alive by the restaurant in the sea opposite the resort in the early morning and cooked on the spot in the evening, maintaining the ultimate freshness. Bread and pastries are baked fresh on site every day, and handmade pizza, pasta, and ice cream made with local vanilla beans are also available for dinner, giving us an exquisite culinary journey in Belize.
A room at GAÏA Sisters River View House
Chasing the Mysterious Mayan Ruins
With the driver picking us up, we embarked on the journey to GAÏA Sisters Riverview Holiday House the next day. This holiday home is surrounded by the Five Sisters Falls and lush jungle, home to more than 450 different species of birds and plants, and allows for walking walks along the river and stunning rainforest views. GAÏA holiday home uses hydroelectric power and is one of only five hotels in Belize with Green Globe certification. In the early morning, we had the opportunity to watch local and migratory birds, just as they were beginning to be active for the day, and the guide explained the relevant knowledge. The resort attracts numerous species, including parrots, toucans, harpy eagles and more, each with their own distinctive colors and calls. We also ventured deep into the dense jungle, immersed in the sounds of various animals, and were lucky enough to witness a curious coati staring at us from a distance in the trees.
The original inhabitants of Belize are the Mayans. They have a thousand-year civilization and are one of the three major ancient civilizations in the Americas. The Mayan ruins hidden in the jungle are full of mysteries. Although the Mayans are said to have disappeared, in fact, there are still 3 million Mayans living in Mexico and Central America, especially in Belize, where many people still speak the Mayan language. We visited the largest of the Mayan city-state ruins in Belize, the recently excavated Caracol hidden deep in the rainforest. The main pyramid is called Caana, the Sky Tower. There are four palaces and three temples built on it, and there are many tombs inside the tower. The ruins date back to the seventh century AD, and we heard the distant calls of howler monkeys during our tour. We also visited the Rio Frio Cave, a place where the ancient Mayans performed religious rituals. Along the way, you can see many natural freshwater pools, waterfalls and stalactite formations, which are beautiful.
Mambo open-air restaurant
From dawn to dusk, we enjoyed peaceful moments in the rainforest, listening to the unique song of birds, the gentle breeze and the sound of waterfalls, while gazing out at the majestic views of mountains and waterfalls. Five Sisters’ open-air restaurant offers a farm-to-table dining experience. Tropical fruits and vegetables are picked daily and grown by Mayan farmers in the resort's organic garden. Fresh eggs are provided from the chicken coop, and other ingredients are sourced from a network of local gardeners and farmers, reflecting the restaurant's utmost respect for the land on which it is located. . We participated in the cultural exchange dinner held by the restaurant and tasted local fresh seasonal products with travelers from all over the world. After dinner, we toasted marshmallows around the campfire and shared our stories.
This place is full of fantasy and mystery, and every corner is filled with endless exploration and discovery. From the long coral reefs to the magnificent ancient Mayan ruins, from the quiet coastline to the dense rainforest, Belize continues to amaze people with the wonders of nature and the charm of humanity.
