Today we visited Pelican Caye. This caye (known also as a “cay” or “key”) is distinguishable by its large concentration of red mangroves forming an inner lagoon. After disembarking by Zodiac, we reached land but soon set off to explore the underwater coral formations surrounding the caye. It was a fun outing, to say the least, getting to snorkel and wade among these pristine underwater ecosystems. The draw of such rich environs serves to remind us also of the inherent pricelessness of the natural world and our growing responsibility to keep these spaces preserved and otherwise free from pollution and degradation.

In the afternoon, we learned about the history of Belize in a lecture given by Randy Jones, one of our Belizean naturalists. This was followed by more fun in the lounge as we listened and danced to Latin music, proceeding toward more remarkable experiences ahead.