Five Days in Cayo, Part One: The Lodge at Chaa Creek to San Ignacio Town to The Deep Jungle

I’ve been back on Ambergris Caye now for two days.  After 5 amazing AMAZING nights spent in Belize’s Cayo District…the largest district in Belize, smack in the middle and bordering Guatemala.

Here’s a slightly odd looking map.  Cayo is in green.

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Jungle, mountains, rivers and lush greenery…basically many of the things that Ambergris Caye is not.  But that’s the beauty of Belize – it’s all in this tiny country.

IMG_3670I reported back on my visit to The Lodge at Chaa Creek’s Eco-Camp for 24 Belizean kids.  And about my AMAZING overnight camping in the heart of Belize’s jungle – the great Chiquibul – and the heroes that are protecting our few baby macaws from poachers.  And even some of the restaurants in San Ignacio.

But I took lots more pictures.  I mean LOTS.  And here is a wrap up on Cayo (well half of it) before we get back to the sun and the sand of San Pedro.

And here is a more detailed map of the area with some of the other places and areas I visited.

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First let me show you where I was staying at gorgeous Chaa Creek.

Cottage no. 4.  Sigh…

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And my lovely porch with a view of the Macal River.

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The beautiful outside bar and lounge area just up this path…

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Early morning was for birding…and I went on a short trip my last day in paradise.

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And the pool area.  Camping is rough 🙂

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Cuties nesting RIGHT in a pool umbrella.

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On to my next stop.  I had one night in San Ignacio town to stock up on food and water for my 24 hours in the Chiquibul and do some re-packing.  For $39US a night ($30US w/o air conditioning) – the Western Guest House was excellent.   Right at the quiet end of Burns Avenue (the “main drag”), with a HUGE common area, coffee in the morning and a spotless room…what more could I want?

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Another delicious meal at Guava Limb Cafe was in order…and it is two blocks further down the street from the guesthouse.

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I passed some infusing rums…

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I love LOVE the artwork…

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My iced tea with sugar syrup.

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Just behind the cafe is a huge beautiful park…and someone was grazing their horse and her pony.

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I decided to stop by Artemis Glass…and followed the sign off the main road.

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I ended up going in the totally wrong direction and straight up hill…passing an old hospital.  A property that could house the most amazing haunted house of all time.  I would have gone in for a closer look but the shutters started creaking in the wind…seriously scary place.

IMG_3436IMG_3438A gorgeous HOT day to be walking up the steep hills of San Ignacio.

IMG_3440Near the top of the hill, I just happened to stumble across my favorite cake joint, Sweet Ting.

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And a thick piece of coconut cake.  Energy, really, to go find Artemis Glass.

IMG_3446Time to trek down the hill and actually find what I was looking for….

 

 

 

 

 

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