Its Hammock Time

Hammock time

Not the famous MC Hammer track but the pace of life in Belize, especially here in Caye Caulker. Belize proudly dips one toe in the Caribbean and the other in the dense Central American jungle and we're firmly dipped into the Caribbean.

Their motto 'go slow' is sometimes too fast and this is typified by the only form of motorised transport on the island, the golf cart, which even the police dart around on. Comically, they have speed bumps along the 'main' sand roads, its a length of rope!

We were greeted with a tropical storm on our first night but since then its been sunshine all the way which was lucky for today's obligatory snorkelling trip. Little known fact, Belize has the second largest coral reef in the world, second only to the Great Barrier Reef so it just had to be done. The breath in our snorkel was taken away with the stunning sight of a 6 ft diameter eagle spotted manta ray, as well as nurse sharks, sting rays brushing past our legs, barracuda and a moray eel.

Friday night was Belizean band night at the Barrier Reef Beach Bar and it was absolute gridlock outside. There must have been more than 10 golf carts parked up on the sand with the police looking on closely. The band played all sorts of styles from rock to reggae but they were accompanied by an acoustic guitarist from Havana who was just unbelievable. Listening to him play the Spanish guitar with our feet in the sand, the gentle breeze blowing in off the moonlit Caribbean sea with a cold beer in your hand was just perfect, but we were getting hungry.

Dinner followed and we certainly enjoyed Enjoy, a small beachside restaurant just a two minute walk or a 30 second golf cart taxi ride away. We elected to walk. Belize is the most expensive of the Central American countries but this wasn't too bad, a whole lobster with shrimp kebab, coconut rice, sauteed vegetables, garlic bread, rum punch and fruit platter to finish........for just £7.