Madeline Rose: Belize Chapter 2: San Ignacio

Chapter 2: San Ignacio (March 29 - April 2)

Next our trek took us to San Ignacio, on the Belizean mainland. We took a water taxi to Belize City, rented a car and drove to Cahal Pech Village Resort, or new home away from home. This was the "adventure" section of our trip!

Highlights: Air conditioned SUV, Rum punch welcome drink at Cahal Pech Village Resort, Hudut Fish (plantain encrusted snapper), Belizean Snow drink (Rum, Lime, Coconut - frozen), air conditioned room, trying new cuisine at the breakfast buffet, our guide Cipi teaching us Mayan legends (13 gods of heaven, 9 gods of the underworld) at Xunantunich, Canoeing the Macal River and taking a dip, new friends Paul and Kathy from Washington State (insisting on paddling themselves but struggling with it), bird sightings, ice cream in San Ignacio to cool off, dinner at Erva's (local joint), front desk losing our key, swimming at the resort.

Actun Tunichil Muknal (ATM Cave): THE highlight.
Driver & guide = Eric (only 27 ATM guides in Belize/8 people per guide), hard hat, headlamp, life jacket, NO CAMERAs or anything else (tourist dropped a camera and crushed a skull in 2012) so photos below borrowed from internet, spelunking galore, orange tape marked artifacts which were all around within arms reach, bones/skeletons of 14 sacrifices, tight squeezes at neck level, boulder climb to get to inner cave, then remove shoes, traverse the "cathedral" and walk on ridges as artifacts may be in indentations, mayan pottery, Monkey Pot - one per cave, skeleton of crystal maiden (or adolescent boy) at end of cave, Marnie's hurt toe (gave a small blood sacrifice to the gods there), 13 pots in an alter-like spot (remember 13 gods of heaven), Mayans used torches, alcohol and likely hallucinogenics, drank water to cleanse soul, shoot through a hole at end of cave.

Remaining time at Cahal Pech highlights: Buying a necklace/bracelet set made of achiote seeds and achiote spice at the San Ignacio Farmers Market, Cave tubing with Felipe from Cahal Pech Village Resort and Dion as our guide, Zip Lining over a river, swimming at the resort.