Red Bank and Maya King, 2/11/2023, National Geographic Sea Lion
Aboard the
National Geographic Sea Lion
Belize & Guatemala
Day two of our voyage was multifaceted. We started with an exciting hike up the foothills of the Maya Mountains to see scarlet macaws. We had a chance to take a wonderful float in an inner tube down a mountain stream. We enjoyed a lunch buffet with a plethora of local flavors. Next, we hopped on the “Hokey Pokey” water taxi to Placencia, where an art festival was in full swing. Our guests took the opportunity to appreciate artwork made by many local artisans. Finally, we danced the night away to the rhythm and beats of the Garifuna Collective.
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The sun eased above the horizon and gently kissed the calm, mirrorlike sea, greeting National Geographic Quest as she lay at anchor just east of the mouth of Monkey River. This is the largest estuary in southern Belize, and our destination for this morning’s adventure. This winding waterway did not disappoint, as guests enjoyed great views of egrets and herons on the edges of the river, parrots and toucans overhead, while “garobos” — male green iguanas sporting their orange and black breeding colors — sunned themselves on the treetops. After returning to the ship and enjoying a delicious brunch, it was soon time to gear up for a final afternoon of snorkeling and diving off Laughing Bird Caye. Some guests snorkeled among the beautiful coral reefs that surround this small island, while others floated above the corals in kayaks. Everyone savored the tropical flavors of fruit punch and snacks from the hotel department. We finished the day with a slideshow of guest and staff photo memories from our Belize adventure.
We started our day by stocking the cooler full of drinks and water, preparing for the morning at the national park of Bocawina. The ship anchored in front of the village of Hopkins, and expedition leader Shawn did his (Good Morning Good Morning) call to guests on board. After breakfast, we set off on Zodiacs to Hopkins; there we boarded buses to travel to the park while guides taught us about the culture and history of Hopkins Village. The 45-minute ride gave us great views of the Maya Mountains and the coast of southern Belize. Arriving at Bocawina National Park, we went out to enjoy nature for the morning. We spotted some beautiful birds, and even had some unexpected sightings like the gray-headed kite. After the birding at Bocawina, we drove to have lunch in Maya Center. Afterward we made our way to Placencia, where National Geographic Quest was waiting for us after relocating from Hopkins. After a long day of enjoying the jungle, we got ready to enjoy some music from local band The Garifuna Collective. It was great fun, with everyone dancing to the local music. After a few hours we returned to the ship to finish the day with some drinks and then dinner. Lastly we had an update about the next day’s activities, explaining the plans for our last day in beautiful Belize on National Geographic Quest .
