Iguana Reef Inn - Caye Caulker, Belize

Altun Ha Trip

Tuesday, November 24, 1998, 8:00 am - The inaugural Altun Ha trip for guests at the Iguana Reef Inn embarked from the pier on the premises. Bill, Jean, Carl, Maurine, RJ and Linda were ready for their first look at a Mayan site in Belize. Our tour guide and captain Rico and his assistant Jerry fired up the engine and we were off.

After a short ride across the protected Caribbean waters inside the barrier reef we entered the mouth of the Northern River. The Northern River is a narrow, winding channel cut through the mangroves that dominate the low-lying areas along the Belize coastal zone. We glided slowly across the smooth water and our guide pointed out the various flora - ranging from three different types of mangroves to beautiful orchids. Along the way we also saw a crocodile and numerous wading birds. Usually, a large iguana is seen chilling in a tree but that was not meant to be on this trip. The 15 minute trip through the river was definitely a highlight of the tour, providing a good feel for the wild side of Belize.

Seemingly out of nowhere we entered a large lagoon and descended on the village of Bomba. We would dock the boat there and hop on the school bus pictured below to take us to Altun Ha. The village of Bomba is a small (pop. 40) farming village, but we quickly realized that they had a healthy wood-carving trade as a secondary means of income. They've taken advantage of their opportunity to greet the many tourists that pass through their village. To quote RJ: "They've carved out a niche for themselves." Shortly after we arrived one of the villagers appeared with a Coati Mundi that he would be happy to place on your shoulder for a photo opportunity -- for a dollar of course. Jean was our group's Coati Mundi perch for the photo shoot.

After spending about fifteen minutes in Bomba we boarded the bus for the 30 minute ride to Altun Ha. The road, like many roads in Belize, was just a gravel path for miles. In many places we had to slow down to a crawl because the road was underwater from the recent rains. It's all part of the adventure of visiting mainland Belize and experiencing the wilder side of the country. We eventually reached the (paved) Old Northern Highway and quickly reached Altun Ha. Our personal park guide introduced us to the history of the Mayan culture and Altun Ha. The trading center of Altun Ha was discovered in 1957 and is, by far, the most extensively excavated of the Mayan sites in Belize. Pictured left is a view of one of the well-manicured plazas from atop of the highest temple, the Temple of the Masonry Altars. You can barely make out our group in the picture being enlightened by the park guide. After the brief intro by the park guide we were free to walk around and check the place out on our own. Rico was kind enough to fill us in on other details that the park guide overlooked. The climb to the top of the main temple is recommended because of the spectacular view. It's not an easy climb but everyone in our group took the challenge and made it to the top. The picture to the right is the Iguana Reef Inn group taken from one of the smaller temples with the main temple in the background. The main temple, by the way, is the one pictured on the Belikin beer bottle.

Climbing the ruins develops an appetite so we boarded the bus for the short trip to the Maruba Resort for lunch. This oasis, carved out of the jungle, is a first-class resort offering accommodations, a restaurant/bar, a swimming pool and Jacuzzi and a full-service spa. All of the facilities are available as a part of the tour. Lunch was the first order of business. Pictured are Bill, Jean, Carl and Maurine seated at one of the richly-appointed tables. The menu was diverse, with dishes to suit almost everyone's taste. A number of us tried the special of the day - wild boar. After our appetites were sated we went our separate ways to take advantage of the other services. Some just sat by the pool with a cold one, Linda got a manicure, Maurine, Bill and Jean braved the mud treatment, covering their bodies completely with a variety of colorful mud. Unfortunately, we don't have pictures but rumor has it pictures were taken and we hope to get our hands on one soon.

About 3:30 it was time to return to Caye Caulker. We retraced our steps and were back on Caye Caulker before 5:00. Opinions of the trip were varied, which is to be expected, but everyone enjoyed the adventure. Rico and Jerry from Anwar Tours were professional and knowledgeable. If you you have the time during your stay on Caye Caulker the Altun Ha trip is worth considering.