Take it Easy in Caye Caulker, Belize
“Go slow”—the only directive given on any sign on the five-mile-long island of Caye Caulker, just off the coast of Belize. As one who, at the time, had never been outside of the USA and Canada, I found myself awestruck at this quiet place, surrounded by ocean and without a car in sight. Locals ran barefoot through muddy streets, and tour guides escorted the few other visitors via golf carts. Most of the locals are multilingual, but the national language of Belize is English, which soothed my anxiety about coming to a foreign place without knowing any foreign languages.
While there, my husband and in-laws took the opportunity to scuba dive and snorkel. I spent my time on the boat in each case. Despite my fears of being in and around water, I found myself thoroughly enjoying the views of the clear waters and the plethora of ocean life. I got to hold a baby octopus, witness an entire school of nurse sharks swim right up to the boat, and enjoy the sunshine and sea breeze—during December!
On the island itself, the people were so kind to us, and we loved trying the local dishes. My husband and some of my in-laws love seafood, so getting it so fresh was certainly a treat for them! But my favorite treat came from a small place called Ice ‘N’ Beans. There, I had a couple of the best smoothies and got to drink them on the swings just outside, with the perfect view of the beach.
Caye Caulker was such a fun place to visit, and I would highly recommend it to anyone who needs to slow down.
