Lost Reef Resort & Hideaway Placencia

... going, but asked about accommodation prices as we went, and on the third look we found a nice cheap hotel called the Sea Spray Hotel. It had economy rooms for US$20 pn; the rooms were ensuite and there was even warm water! It had its own private beach with sun loungers too.

We spent 2 days at the beach; swimming, sunbathing, walking along the waters edge and trying out the local food. We had some nice fish, and of course had jacks for ...

... Garbutt and his cousin Migaul who brought us out to the island and would be taking us snorkelling over the weekend, joined us for dinner, and we had a lovely evening sitting around drinking beers and soaking up the atmosphere on our island… (Well lovely apart from the sand flies who were VICIOUS and did not let us have 5 mins peace on the island before they started biting. The worst affected looked like they had measles by the end of Friday night.

Lime Caye, Toledo, Belize sarahelective

... we arrived to Placencia, where our driver met us and took us about 2 miles down the road to our hotel, the Turtle Inn. We were greeted with yummy hotel signature drinks and briefed on the resort before wandering back to our sea front cottage that is a rustic paradise complete with intricate wood furnishings and a half-outdoor bathroom, where we have, thus far, had our most exciting encounters with wildlife -- prompting us to take the camera with us each time nature ...

... the back of my knees adn a toddler throwing apples on my foot. it was fun. got to dangriga and all the locals helped us figure out how best to get to placencia which turned out to be staying on our bus to independence and catchi9ng the ferry over to placencia. i got a bit grumpy on the bus because i couldnt sleep adn was really tired but it was too bumpy adn nowhere to rest ur head plus i had only eaten a cinnamon roll all day and so beck laughed at me while i pouted and grumped away ...

... life eh!) we eventually reached the mainland and headed via taxi with Sandy, James and the Yorkshire couple we bumped into again. Going via the backroads my impression of Belize city was still pretty grim and unsafe and on arriving at the bus station I saw the same guy from when we arrived so walked very fast with my head down so he didn't see me! Then onto our 'chicken bus' it was, this ...

... local who had a name that was similar to a criminal so had to get a criminal clean record to show she was someone else, a US teacher who had overstayed in Honduras and had to pay a fine, and 2 couples who entred Honduras on luxury buses and although they had paid the tax to the bus driver he never paid customs so they had no proof of entry). So at 12.40 pm we were all finally on board and ready to go... The boat ride is normally 2-3 ...

... ourselves with flashlights and headed off into the jungle. After daintily trying to not step in the mud in the lot, I realized as soon as we got on the trail that the entire jungle was just one big swath of mud and getting covered up to the ankles was going to be unavoidable. Then we were told to turn our lights off and be as quiet as possible while we followed Julian through the jungle, following only his light. We crept along for about ten minutes before Julian pointed out ...

... half way through eating it when I was hit by flying sand. My calm beach had become the opposite. Shop owners hurried to cover or bring in outside stock, tying things down. It gave me a sense of the less idyllic side of life on the Caribbean: hurricanes. The wind blew its little heart out for half an hour and then stopped as abruptly as it started. I joined the others in the restaurant and had a delicious banana shake. They were still waiting ...

... Why are we always so stressed and hurried? Those people do good business and ... relax! Leaving at 9 becomes leaving at almost 10! We sail for more than an hour. The water is pretty rough and Dr T is expected to feed the fishes, despite the motion sickness tablet. Don't you think it is rude to my boyfriend? A water person, diver, sailor and boat person and he gets see sick??? But he does not this time. Takes care of my gear. Hey, I am only a rescue diver ...

... homes). And we saw some advertisements for construction firms boasting about their efficiency and speed in destructing the mangroves, filling them in, and providing sea walls for new construction projects. Someone call Greenpeace! So if you are thinking about going to Placencia, GO NOW while it is still a little paradise and not another over populated, environmentally-destroyed getaway... Placencia is very laid back and casual ...