Every morning we woke up to continental breakfast at the door of our lovely little hut. The next afternoon we explored the island by kayak. That evening, before sunset, our hostess, Teri arrives at our door asking if we would join her in a photo shoot for the island resort. We felt flattered and happy to help out. The photographer took us to the rooftop of the main lodge, where the view and sunset were our backdrop and we were the stars! Teri graciously, informed us we would receive complimentary massages during our stay for time in the spotlight. We scheduled our massage, back to back (pardon the pun) for the next day. The Spa and Massage location was inside a quaint thatched roof cabana with the most tranquil ambiance. Most of the days on the island were sunny, skies blue with intoxicating trade winds. Although the sun was strong on the caye, it was not going to waste as long as an island tan was happening. It was the best I'd seen. One afternoon we scheduled a snorkeling and boat adventure. On other days we spent time by the poolside sipping island punch with unlimited refills. The afternoon and evenings meals were shared around the communal dining table inside the main Lodge. The interior of the lodge was made of mahogany which gave it a warm, rustic charm. It turns out that we would be joining the professor from UCLA, on an excursion and tour to the Mayan Ruins of Lamanai. We left the island on a transport boat to the mainland and a shuttle to the river boat dock. We met our guide who resembled the American actor, Don Cheadle only he had dreadlocks. The riverboat ride was a blast! We got caught in a storm along the way which made the adventure more exciting. Earlier on the drive through the suburbs we had the opportunity to view some of the housing and living conditions. Belize is a poor country and still undeveloped. The main source of revenue is tourism and attraction to the islands and resorts. Upon arriving to the dock at Lamanai which means Mouth of the Crocodile, our guides took us to a picnic area and served us an authentic Belizian chicken and rice meal for lunch. It was so good we asked for the secret ingredient for the sauce to take home. The storm moved in completely as we finished lunch and started our trek through the Mayan forrest. The ruins were phenominal! The Mayan Empire dates back as far as 1800 years. There were nine temples throughout the empire stretching as far as the tip of Mexico to the farthest end of the forrest in Belize. There are four major temple ruins in the Lamanai forrest. One of the structures had been partially re-surfaced from erosion. The ancient sundial, which sits in front of the first temple is a calendar with the months named after a specific Mayan gods. Mayans lived like royalty and survived off the natural vegetation and resources of the jungle surrounding them. The poor were most resourceful. They built the ruins out of soil, sand and limestone. One of the tallest temples is 200ft and remains intact. We were able to climb to the top overlooking all the forrest and the ocean. The Mayans invented a game similar to kick ball or soccer. Unfortunatly, the losers lost more than a game and had to die. Our guides were very thorough and kept a catalog with pictures of the original temple structures. This was the most educating and awesome excursion of our trip; one we will not forget. The next day, we walked to the end of the island to visit one of the residents and their Aquarium museum. A charming ten year old boy was our guide and . The entrance fee was $2/pp. We were given a complete description and explanation about all the different types of sea animals inside each aquarium tank from a very knowledgeable young student of marine life.
The St. George Resort maintains a minimum booking for small groups. Ideal for special occasions, romance, diving and retreats.. It is still an affordable vacation choice. To find the best budget travel, go to https//www.mytravelhammock.com.
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