Placencia, Belize
December 12-15, 2011
The quickest way to travel from Honduras to Belize was to catch a boat from the town of Puerto Cortes in Honduras rather than spending hours on a bus. We opted to stay in the smaller and safer town of Omoa which was only 15 minutes away. We spent a few nights there while we waited for the "once per week" and only boat ride to Placencia, a small town on the southern coast of Belize. Our plan was to spend more time in Belize and explore the northern Caye's ("keys"). Though there was no obvious reason, one of us had a ominous feeling about being here and we've learned in our travels, that if something doesn't feel right, to honour it. So we cut our trip short and headed instead to Guatemala.
Sea Sick and Dizzy
Once we arrived at the dock in Puerto Cortes, the waters were extremely choppy and there was a delay as we waited for the officials to give us the OK to depart. At the last minute, we were given the "go" even though the weather didn't appear any better. But we boarded anyway and that's when the adventure began! We were assaulted by 6 feet waves that the boat crashed into, sending everyone out of their seats continuously for the first hour of the ride. Twice, the engine of the boat was flooded and we had to stop in the middle of ocean bobbing back and forth so fiercely that for a moment, we considered swimming back to shore. Then, with luck, the waters smoothed out and we had a calm journey for the remainder of the way! Oh the adventure!
Our Accommodations - Lester's Wooden Cabins
Placencia basically consists of the longest continuous sidewalk in Central America where most small hotels and shops have sprouted up on either side of it. We chose a group of private cabins right on the beach called Lester's Wooden Cabins. Or at least, that's what we think it was called. Two disheveled guys with booze on their breath showed us the cabins, took our money and then we never saw them again! Anyway, it was a great location, great view, and a nice place to chill out for a few days.
Photo's of Placencia and the Beach