Searious Trip to Caye Caulker + A Two Minute Hostel Assessment

Aug 15, 2011|
Let’s mix things up.  No…not a new place.  Nah…not a new trip…a new tour company!  It wasn’t the ideal day weather-wise when we were picked up by Searious Adventures but it still ended up being a very sunny and all around good time.

Searious has a smaller, more intimate catamaran than some of the other big companies in town.  You are very low to the water, which can be good.  The staff is fantastic.  And if one of them isn’t offering you rum punch or rum and coke or just plain run at least every 8 minutes, you know that a staff member isn’t feeling well.

First stop is the Searious dock for snorkel equipment.  We met the new temporary little mascot.  Super cute.  They have contacted the marine reserve…but for now, he lives in a container on the dock and seems quite happy.  He’s about the size of your thumb.

Out on the boat, we stopped at Hol Chan for some snorkeling.  I’ve never seen so many newbie swimmers, life jackets and life rings.  Jamie kept busy playing Whack-A-Mole.

Willie Leslie is the captain of the boat, owner of Searious Adventures, lifelong San Pedrano and all around good guy. 


Wayne was his wingman.  And kept us well, well fed and with plenty of drinks.  1st course coconut tarts, 2nd pineapple, 3rd watermelon.  And in the afternoon, some of the best chips and salsa you will have on the island.  The salsa has black beans and corn.  Delish.

Willie (in this crazy outfit) spotted some dolphins and whipped the boat right around.

While on Caye Caulker, I wanted to see the two most popular hostel options.  I meet lots of backpackers coming down from Mexico or just travelling around Belize that ask about low cost housing in Caye Caulker.  So I spent a total of 2-4 minutes in the 2 hostels to get a feel for the situation.  DISCLAIMER:  2- 4 MINUTES PEOPLE!  OBVIOUSLY I HAVE NO REAL IDEA WHAT IT IS LIKE TO STAY IN EITHER OF THESE PLACES.  But I am quick to form opinions…and here they are.

Yuma’s House (Formerly Tina’s Backpacker’s  http://www.yumashousebelize.com/ )

Just off the water taxi and right on the beach.  Yuma’s looks very cute from the outside.  Beachfront with it’s own dock and hammocks, can you beat that?

We met the owner Susanna and she showed us around the property.  It was quiet, well groomed and very artsy looking.  There were signs around the property warning that no one is allowed on the property other than guests. I think they are quite strict about keeping it a quiet place.  Yuma’s seems like the much more relaxing hostel option.  And I think the rooms, common areas and kitchen are very cute.

The mattresses looked a little thin…but the rooms are very clean and you can’t beat that location.

Closer to the split and on the lagoon side of the island is Bella’s Hostel.  ()  You will see the signs.
Free bikes and canoes?  This sounds good.  When you walk down the side street, you see that Bella’s is located right next to the new nightclub in town Jello Shots.  That cannot lead to quiet nights…but this hostel is known as the “party place” so I guess you need to go with the flow.
We were there around 1pm…there is an upstair lounge and dorm style room.  And then downstairs was a common room/dorm/I’m not sure what.   “Go with the flow” seems to be the theme and I think you definitely need to be VERY laid back to stay here.  With absolutely no expectation of any privacy…or neatness.  Enough said.
The common area/kitchen/tv lounge.
 A cabana.
Maybe I just caught them at the wrong time…
Back to Rainbow Restaurant on the beach for a yummy lunch of Snapper with Cilantro Sauce and cheese fries…and then to the boat for a sunny cruise back to San Pedro.

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