We've decided to head for Punta Gorda which is the most southern part of Belize. We were not really sure what this town would be like. So, we made reservations for one night at a place that the book said might just be the quirkiest place in Belize. That's always a good attractor for me. I like quirky! Anyway, we were pleasantly surprised with Punta Gorda. We were afraid it might be a little rundown looking since it's supposed to be kind of out-of-the-way. You wonder when the highway turns into dirt road. Punta Gorda reminds me a little bit of a town on the Oregon coast, except the vegetation is different. It's right on the ocean and looks more ocean like since it doesn't have the reef protecting it from ocean waves as much as Belize City. It was clean and the houses were all pretty nice. The hotel called Sea Front Inn is right on the main road overlooking the ocean. This hotel is made from stone and concrete and wood trim. We thought it was pretty cool looking. It's huge. There was a movie production company staying there because they are working on a movie in town based on a book. I'll have to look for it when it comes out.
We decided to stay two days at Punta Gorda and scheduled a half day kayak trip down the Rio Grande River just outside PG (that's what they call Punta Gorda in Belize) for the next day. The next when we left for the trip they drove down this road that is apparently where the community dumps their garbage. There were piles of garbage on either side of this road and it was apparent that they had been dumping here for dozens of years. There were Black Vultures everywhere. At least I got to add a new bird to my list.:-)
We floated down the river a little ways in these beastly plastic sea kayaks with no rudders and the guide put the life jackets on the front of the boats instead of making us wear them. I thought that was a little risky since we were going to come out into the ocean at one point and have to paddle a pretty long distance to get to the takeout. I figured I'd be able to get the life jacket myself if I needed it. So I wasn't too worried but, it sure didn't seem like the safe thing to do. The river was slow going with no rapids so at least that part was pretty easy. We got out at a little reserve where the guide, Ben, pointed out the different native fruit trees and how they were used by natives of the area. That was really interesting. He was a nice kid, 21 year old and seemed to know a lot for that age. The reserve also had a hut with a manatee skeleton and a dolphin skeleton from two that were killed by boat motors and washed up on the beach of the reserve. After our tour of the reserve, we got back in our boats and continued our float. At one point Ben told us to look for the crocodiles that might be near this canal dug out by a mean old man that won't let the tour guides bring their customers into his canal. He feeds the crocs so they tend to hand out in his canal. We floated up close to the mouth of the canal and spotted one right along the shore within six feet of where we were. It was really big and we were all a little jumpy to be so close to one so big floating in our boats. I started thinking I should have put on the life jacket after all.:-) At one point the other couple that was doing the float with us accidentally hit some mangrove trees along the shore with his boat and it scared the croc. I made a huge racket as it pushed off to dive and scared all of us. That was pretty exciting. I think Dave got some pictures of it.
Not too long after we saw the croc we reached the ocean. It was fairly calm but, there was a good current and without a rudder it made paddling a lot harder. We were constantly correcting the boat to keep from getting swept out to sea. The other couple apparently didn't know they were going to be paddling across the ocean and were pretty upset that they had to work. The husband complained the rest of the way back. He was pretty obnoxious and I think he got afraid of getting swept out to sea so reacted by bitching about the trip. They were hugging the shore most of the paddle back, so we paddled out a ways from the shore to get out of ear shot. He talked non-stop and it got on my nerves. It was a pretty hard paddle back to the take-out, I will admit. I managed to get the heaviest boat so I was paddling twice as much as Dave to get anywhere. But, it was a great experience and good to get a little exercise in. We were both tired after the trip though. For lunch we ate at Emery's restaurant and had broiled King Mackerel. Oh, man that was good fish!
Tomorrow we are heading for Tobacco Caye, a small island off the coast of Dangriga. So we have to take the bus back up to Dangriga and then a water taxi across to Tobacco Caye. More thumbnails ...
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Punta Gorda Hotels
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