Ok, so I was expecting paradise, I didn’t find it on Ambergris Caye, I found it in the ocean.
My friend went to Belize (Caye Caulker, Ambergris Caye, inland to the temples, etc) and the pics he brought back and the stories were incredible. It was off-season so I thought, what the heck, I’ll give it a try! I was excited to get to the reefs!
Well, I Ambergris Caye wasn’t for me. It was too touristy and EXPENSIVE, (try $50 for a lunch for two at a little place on the beach, couple sandwiches and iced teas). I stayed on the north end and found it difficult to get to the small downtown area, no road, you’ve got to go on the narrow beach in places and walk/bike or take the $15 water taxi. So I rode a bike, no lights, over 5 miles each way…it sucked when you wanted to relax with some cocktails and then try to maneuver your way back up the unkept beach (watertaxi stopped around 10:00pm).
The worst part was there was really no swimming off the beaches, it’s all sea grass and speed boats are allowed to cruise inside the reef, which is where you’d want to swim/snorkel/etc, so forget that, I just wasn’t comfortable, I’d have to work to get out there…oh well…
Now, all that said, the most incredible thing was obviously, the reef. You have to take a tour or a boat of some kind to get out to it. (Which, if I ever go back, I will be staying on a boat versus the land.) INCREDIBLE! Huge 6’+ moray eel, schools of Blue Tang/Surgeonfish, baracuda, sharks, rays, all kinds of coral, just gorgeous!
I’m glad I went, even though I was disappointed. I’ve learned to research everywhere now to make sure it’s somewere that more matches what I’m looking for – laid back, less touristy, close reefs.
I’m off to Bonaire next and couldn’t be more exited, snorkeling and diving to the reefs just off the beaches in a protected marine park, yahoo!
