Want To Get Away?

Belize 2001

                  On January 12, 2001, fourteen Franklin College students embarked on an eight day trip to Belize, Central America.  The following is an account of our adventure, as three of the participants.

 Before we begin our tales, allow us to introduce ourselves.  We are:

Charlie Livingston,  Rachel Mathes,  Ryan Hinds

ITINERARY

1.    January 12, 2001:

        Indianapolis, Indiana to Cahal Pech in the Cayo District of Belize

2.    January 13, 2001:

        Xunantunich - This Mayan ruin was the religious center for the Mayan world in the Belize area.  It is known for having the second tallest structure in Belize which is entirely man-made.  At the top of the plaza, or the highest point, one can view Guatemala below.  We received a briefing on Mayan culture before we scaled the ruin.  It was very interesting and quite large.

      Clarissa Falls - These "falls" were on the Mopan River, a major river in Belize.  It was a breezy, cool spot where we relaxed before we ate lunch at the Clarissa Falls Resort.

      Ix Chel Farm - This was a medicine trail that was made famous due to the efforts of Dr. Rosita Arvigo.  She was a student of the last Mayan healer, Don Elijio Panti.  This trail contained thirty-five plants that are used for medicinal purposes both in the States and in Belize.

        Blue Morpho Butterfly Farm - This was a farm devoted to breeding, raising, and selling Blue Morpho butterflies.  They constantly send butterflies to the States for gardens there.  The guide said that Florida gardens are the main source of income for the farm.  We were given a short briefing on all the stages of Morpho development.

        Cahal Pech - This Mayan ruin was the site of trade for the Mayan cities in Belize.  This site was very large and well preserved.  Employees were planting grass to keep erosion to a minimum while we were there.

3.    January 14, 2001:

        Jaguar Paw - Although embedded seven miles into the jungle, this area was gorgeous.  We went river tubing through a large cave, after a hike through the jungle.  It was a little cold, but very unforgetable.  After tubing, we walked around the resort area there, and ate a delicious lunch in the jungle.  The drive through the jungle was certainly the most remarkable thing about this experience.

        Belize Zoo - This zoo was absolutely incredible due to its amazing variety of species and its success.  The animals were very close to us, in many cases, and the vegetation was beautiful.  This trip was particularly hot, however.

        Fly to Ambergris Caye

4.    January 15, 2001:

       Mexico Rocks - For many of us, this was our first time in the water, so Mexico Rocks was a very calm, yet colorful spot.  It was beautiful there and most of us were awe-struck with our first site of coral reefs.  This spot had a huge variety of fish with yellowtail snappers, yellowheaded and blueheaded wrasse, french grunts, and foureye butterflyfish being the most abundant.  We saw a flounder at this spot as well as a moon jelly and christmas tree worm.

        Channel - This was a cut through the barrier reef that protected the Belizean Cayes and had a great variety of organisms.  We saw a copper sweeper, which Ken (our guide while we were at Ambergris) said was very rare to see during the day.  We also saw several large parrotfish, bermuda chub, a cushion sea star, and a sea turtle.

5.    January 16, 2001:

        Mangroves - Many of the people on the trip did not enjoy this spot due to its shallowness and murkiness.  Some of us absolutely loved it because there were many fish there and some species that we did not often see.  This area was "the nursery" for the reef and there were many juvenile fish, including a baby baracuda.  We also got our first site of huge stingrays at this site.

        Coral Gardens - This spot was very "garden-like."  There were coral heads everywhere and they were very spread out.  We saw a hogfish and saucereyed porgy here, along with the usual species that we were beginning to recognize as abundant.  This day was particularly gorgeous and the boat ride back to Ambergris was quite enjoyable.

6.    January 17, 2001:

        Shark/Stingray Alley - This was the most memorable experience for us because it was certainly nothing like we had ever done before.  When we jumped in the water, there were many Southern Stingrays and Nurse Sharks below us.  The captain fed them some fish, so they mingled around the boat for a while before they swam off.  We also saw a Spotted Eagle Ray there. 

        Hol Chan - This was yet another incredible adventure because of the awesome size of this area.  Hol Chan is a cut through the reef and is about thirty feet deep with coral reef walls on either side.  There were very large fish here and they would come right up to us.  This was exciting for all.  Due to its uniqueness, this area is a National Marine Park and is protected.

7.    January 18, 2001:

        Hol Chan and Shark/Stingray Alley

        Soft Coral Gardens - This area was completely dominated by soft coral that was gently waving in the current.  There were many small fish here and a great variety of soft corals.  We did not see any hard corals here, which was quite unique.

8.    January 19, 2001:

        Leave for Indianapolis