Belize

The most surprising thing about Belize, for me at least, was trying to figure out how the country managed to stay off my radar for the first nearly five decades of my life. Packed within its tiny territory is a plethora of land and water-based activities that could keep one busy for weeks. I based my stay on Ambergris Caye, the largest of Belize's offshore islands, but even from there it is very easy to island hop to other atolls and take in the highlights of the mainland as well.

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Colorful welcome to Belize sentiments on the side of a building in San Pedro, main city on Ambergris Caye. My first and lasting impression of Belize is all the bright colors everywhere.

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As always, I begin my time in a new country by random long walks on random long streets. In this case, just enjoying checking out the local touches on simple things like door handles.

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This is a school in San Pedro. What a heavenly looking place to learn!

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Lots of pastel colors decorate the local houses and condo complexes.

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Playground in central San Pedro. I wonder if the kids playing on the swings have any idea how lucky they are to live there?

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Colorful hammocks.

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San Pedro had several lovely little art stores and street vendors selling unusual handicrafts. Dia de los Muertos souvenirs were also omnipresent.

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Life imitating art. Nearly every little back alley ended in a view like this!

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So much of life and tourism in Belize is centered on the water, and I was out in a boat nearly every day. The people of Belize also have a rich sense of humor, as this sign onboard the Amigos del Mar flagship attests...

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I covered as much area on water as I could during my stay, from the Hol Chan Marine Reserve to Shark & Ray Alley, to a sail through the Turneffe Atoll to Lighthouse Reef, where the world-famous Blue Hole is found. The waters were so gorgeous I didn't mind the several hours of open-ocean sailing needed to get to some of the more remote spots.

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Resting on tiny Half Moon Caye in between scuba dives in the Blue Hole area.

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Ten miles south of Ambergris is tiny Caye Caulker, a pleasant way to spend a day.

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Belize has several important Mayan ruins sites. I visited Xunantunich, inland near the Belize/Guatemala border.

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All good things must come to an end. Time to leave Belize, here taking Tropic Air from Ambergris back to Belize City on the Mainland while enjoying one last spectacular view at this low altitude of the fringing coral reef offshore.