Western Caribbean in December, 2010

December 2010

During the holidays, my daughter and I decided to spend Christmas on a 7-day Western Caribbean cruise beginning in New Orleans. Our ports included Costa Maya, Mexico; Belize City, Belize, (Mahogany Bay); Roatan, Bay Islands, Honduras; and Cozumel, Mexico. The side excursions kept us busy!

Ready for an adventure.

We enjoyed the day in Costa Maya sailing and snorkeling the Caribbean water. In Roatan, the shore excursion included Tabyana Beach and Gumbalimba Park where we interacted with the parrots in the bird sanctuary and frolicked with the monkeys at the monkey refuge.

Chattyhummer in Costa Maya

Chatty and Ellen both love birds!

Gumbalina Park

 Rather than shopping, Ellen and I spent our spare time Geocaching each island. My daughter has found over 500 caches. Our directions led us to the back side of Mahogany Bay Island to a Mexican Restaurant. At this cache, we meet new friends and were given Deer’s Eye necklaces to take home.

Geocaching at Costa Maya, Mexico (Tropicante)

Hummingbirds everywhere!
Gumbalimba Park, Roatan

Even though I was looking forward to Belize, I was scared to death knowing that I actually would be zip lining though the jungles with Aerial Trek. This was definitely out of my comfort zone! We were harnessed up and climbed up a steep hill to reach the first of eight platforms.

Aerial Trek

The zip wasn’t that intimidating but they got higher and steeper, even up to 150 feet. Jumping off the platform was the hardest part for me. I guess it would feel like jumping out of an airplane although I’ve never experienced that. I just had to close my eyes and do it! Would I do it again? You bet ya! Thank goodness I could calm my nerves with cave tubing that afternoon.

Cave tubing, Belize

In Cozumel we took an off-road jungle adventure to Jade Caverns via the all terrain Xrails. This was one rough ride through the dusty jungles. The trails were bumpy and we rode over large boulders and through water.

Xrails to Jade Caverns for adventure seekers
Cozumel, Mexico

We were grateful for the bandana that covered our mouth and nose. We had dirt from head to toe. At Jade Caverns, we swam in sulfur water through a pitch dark cave covered with thousands of bats.

Ellen dancing with the dolphin

He's sneaking up

Fishy kiss

Swimming with the dolphins was one of the neatest things I’ve ever done. We had the opportunity to touch their velvety soft skin, listen to them sing, watch them jump, and ended the trip with a big kiss planted right on the lips! It tasted fishy!

Chattyhummer