Get up and get ready to go and there is a storm bringing rain down pretty hard. It lightens up just as we need to leave the hostel to make the ferry, so we walk down the beach to the ferry dock and get on the ferry. Again they cram us in like sardines and we are off back towards the mainland. As we approach the BC terminal, there are rain clouds all over the place (I am starting to think Belize doesnt want us to leave). We get in and grab a taxi to the airport. Once we get to the airport, we realize the check in station (even the kiosks which do not require people) for United doesnt open til 8am. Fortunately we are only a few minutes before 8 at this time so we wait a little bit, get through customs and everything (no line - really quick) and then get back to the gate area. They have 6 gates with a couple shops (mostly gift shops) that all have a 20$BZ minimum for credit cards and the only real food place isnt taking credit cards at all. We have enough small change to get us some breakfast sandwiches then sit by the gate waiting for our flight (2 hrs or so). The airport does have an open hotspot to use but it is spotty at best when it comes to letting you actually connect. Flight is on time and we board the plane to head out. Plane is a third full, most of which is in economy. The flight attendants tell us we can spread out but dont let anyone move up to economy plus as those seats are more expensive. Makes no sense as the plane it leaving and those seats get no different service than normal economy. It seems every year airline service in the united states gets worse and worse. Get into Houston and we whiz through immigration/customs and get picked up to head home for christmas celebrations.
Overview:
This was the first trip our family has taken with the nephews. Originally, my plan was to spend a few days in western Belize (in the forest) and meet up with family after. However, after consideration, I decided since it was a family vacation, I would make the most of the time on the island and used that time to get my Advanced OW Certification and do some amazing dives. Also got to spend more time with the whole group which was really nice as it was the holiday season.
As I spent 92% of my time on San Pedro, I am only able to speak to the things I saw/experienced in that part of the country. The resort life on the island is expensive, but that is the clientele they are looking for so it makes sense. The interesting thing is that on that same island, there is this giant population of less well to do families who are trying to make a living as they get priced out of the houses/land they lived in not long before all these giant resorts showed up. I read many posts about not going onto the back street as it was dangerous/dirty/etc. I probably went back on that road more days/nights than not and I found that to be the place people should visit. That is the real life San Pedro that was nice to see; small hole in the wall diners with some delicious food at a fraction of the cost, normal stores you would see in a city (grocery, hardware, etc.), even the soccer field and random houses with food stalls attached where people are trying to make a buck. The roads were often much shittier than the other 2 main roads, but either way, its a small island so walking around was easy.
For my travel preferences, I would have preferred to stay on Caulker as it was more my speed/price with what seemed like more hostels, chill bars, etc. They had much better access to the water all over the island instead of being in a cement jungle with some sand here and there. That being said, I do not know what kind of access to scuba outings they have on caulker. If that is the reason you are in Belize, then you chose well. I believe those dives being my first dives since my original training spoiled me as the wildlife you see below the surface is amazing. I found it hard to describe many of the animals I found down there due to my color vision being shoddy, but man were those creatures beautiful and plentiful. Being able to see sharks get close enough to touch, swimming alongside turtles, taking in the diversity of the fish swimming all around, among other experiences, were just a fantastic way to start a diving career. The night dive was one of my favorite things I have done in recent memory; it was creepy as you only can see as far as your light will let you, but the animal activity is different than during the day which gives you a whole new perspective for life under the sea. Seeing eels slithering among the rocks as opposed to just sitting in a hole opening their mouth, having an octopus running along the floor bottom (not sure if they are even out during the day) is just a great experience to compare with what you see during the day.
This trip would not have been possible without my family though. My little brother put it together as he is an avid diver and was the inspiration for me to get my certification and my Advanced cert on the trip so that I could dive with him in this beautiful part of the world. My parents and my older bro with his family who came long for the ride despite having 2 kids under 4, gave us a fun trip with our family that we have never taken before. Granted with family going their separate ways, it may be the only vacation we get to spend all together for the time being which makes this week on the island that much more special. Love yall!
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