Spring Break in Belize Recap

Below is a travel log by Ms. Armiger on the group’s journey in Belize.

March 10th

Hello Everyone! I wanted you to know that after a long and exciting trip, we arrived safely this afternoon in Belize and everyone is settling in for a good night sleep so that we can be well rested for our day of snorkeling and sailing in the Hol Chan Marine Reserve tomorrow.

March 11th

I want to report that everyone is healthy and happy after an exciting day of snorkeling along one of the largest barrier reef systems in the world! We saw sea turtles, nurse sharks, rays and an incredible diversity of fish and coral. We’ll enjoy dinner in Caye Caulker tonight and head back to the mainland in the morning.

March 12th

Today we visited the Belize Zoo, which many have said would be better named an animal sanctuary. The founders of the zoo wanted to educate Belizeans and travelers from other countries about the importance of protecting native species and the habitats on which they depend. Among the amazing creatures, we saw today were jaguars, scarlet macaws, toucans, tapir and howler monkeys. For dinner, we had a delicious home cooked meal of chicken, coconut rice and black beans with our friends Nana and Dorita Mensah and their children (and puppies).

March 13th

Everyone had a chance to sleep in this morning at our guest house in San Ignacio. After a late breakfast, we visited the Mayan pyramids at Xunantunich. It is estimated that the ancient city supported 200,000 people over one thousand years ago. From the tallest structure called “El Castillo,” you can see well into the neighboring country of Guatemala. After a picnic lunch, we visited the Belize Iguana Project and learned about efforts to restore and protect populations of the native green iguana (which apparently has eggs that are a local delicacy).

March 14th

Our adventure to Actun Tunichil Muknal (Cave of the Crystal Sepulchre) was very exciting. It began with an hour-long drive down a winding dirt road, a hike through the jungle and three river crossings. From there we strapped on helmets and headlamps and waded into a cold river that flowed from the mouth of the cave. Nearly a mile in, we finally ascended a series of boulders to an expansive room filled with stalactites and stalagmites. Ancient ceramics and other artifacts were scattered throughout the floor and walls of the room. In a secluded corner, our guide took us to see the namesake of the cave “the crystal maiden” a fully intact human skeleton completely encrusted in calcite crystals. The ceremonial sacrifices in this cave are thought to be related to a drought that may have resulted in warfare and a collapse of the food supply for the ancient Maya people living in this area.

March 15-17th

After departing San Ignacio, we headed to the Green Hills Butterfly farm to learn about the life cycles of native butterfly species. From there our adventure took us south to the Mayan village of San Miguel. For three days, we lived and worked with the Pop family: Sebastian and Martina and their three young children Philion, Yadira and Abrianna. My old friend, Nana Mensah, Director of Belize Organic Family Farming will be met helped us to get settled in. Most families in San Miguel live a very simple life. They grow much of their own food--which consists mainly of rice, beans, corn tortillas, local fruits, and vegetables--and cook over a wood-fired clay hearth. They bathe and wash their clothes in the river and use an outhouse--which can get rather stinky and buggy. Our contribution while staying with the Pop family was to supply materials for, and help to construct a solar composting latrine.

March 18-20th

After many hugs and pictures, we said goodbye to our host family in San Miguel and drove to San Felipe to visit my old friends Juan and Abelina Cho at their chocolate farm. Years ago, Juan and I worked together for Sustainable Harvest International Belize--an organization that helps to provide farming families with the tools and knowledge to grow food in a more sustainable way. We learned about how cacao (the chocolate tree) can be grown under a biodiverse canopy of other trees, preventing the need for deforestation. We learned to ferment, roast and grind the chocolate beans in the traditional Mayan way. Then we sampled hot chocolate, chocolate bars, and Abelina’s famous chocolate chicken!

March 21-23rd

Our last three days in Belize were spend in the Garifuna village of Hopkins, right on the ocean. There was plenty of time for swimming, relaxing on the beach and reflecting on our amazing adventures over the past two weeks. The night before our departure, we were taken on a sunset river tour where we saw egrets roosting and the glowing eyes of crocodiles floating beneath the trees at the water’s edge. As the boat passed through a narrow passage of mangroves, the first stars began to come out in the night sky. We suddenly found ourselves in an open bay. The captain invited us to go to the back of the boat and to our astonishment, we saw that water in our wake was glowing. Fish swimming away from the boat gleamed like shooting stars. We dove into the bioluminescent bay and everything around us lit up as we splashed around like little children. Though I am grateful for every moment of this trip, nothing compared to that magic of that night.

March 24th

Our journey has finally come to an end. A few of us got up for sunrise this morning and to say goodbye and thank you to this beautiful country. As we drove along the “green rollercoaster” of the Hummingbird Highway (one of only four main roads in Belize) we reflected on all of our experiences together. I was so impressed with this group of students for their openness to new people and new places and for the kindness and care, they showed for one another throughout this trip. I hope to introduce many more Vermont Academy students to the natural and cultural wonders of Belize in the years to come.