Sunday, 18 November 2012

Butts up

On Saturday we went to Jaguar Paw, Belize to go cave tubing in the rain forest. We had a thirty minute ride from the hotel and picked our three tour guides along the way. The last six miles of the ride were down a bumpy dirt road. Once we got to the jungle we rented water shoes and they assured us there were no piranhas or snakes to worry about. We grabbed our tubes and hiked up through the paths in the jungle. The tour guide pointed out different plants along the way telling us their names and uses including some that are used to make clothing, some used as medicine, and some used for recreation (hint hint). 

Our ride to the rain forest

Once we got to the jungle we rented water shoes and they assured us there were no piranhas or snakes to worry about. We grabbed our tubes and hiked up through the paths in the jungle. The tour guide pointed out different plants along the way telling us their names and uses including some that are used to make clothing, some used as medicine, and some used for recreation (hint hint).

Everyone's water shoes


Posing with our tubes

Hiking through the forest with our tubes

We crossed this river to get to the jungle we hiked through

Preparing to cross

Our tour guide Alex "the jungle boy"

Bats in the cave we hiked through

Cheryna eating termites (Emma ate some too)--they said the termites tasted like wood and mint

We walked about two miles and then reached the pool where we jumped off of a cliff and swam. After cooling down, we all got in our tubes, put our belongings into the dry bag and were off! We all had flashlights we wore on our heads, so that we could see upon entering the cave. 

View of where we entered the water

Another picture of where we entered the water

Surprised by the chilly water!

Chrissy jumped from the cliff!

About to enter the cave

Our last view of light before the darkness

The water would become very shallow at times and the tour guide would yell, "butts up"! This meant that we needed to lift up our bottoms so that we would not hit the rocks beneath us. In the cave we saw bats and even a small waterfall! While in the cave they had us all turn off our lights, and it was so dark you could not see anything at all! 

Chrissy in the cave

A shot from in the cave-the lower the ceilings the deeper the water

A waterfall inside of the cave

Melissa, Cheryna, Lisa, and Alex our tour guide

Paige, Emma, and Chrissy

Approaching the light from the inside of the cave

We made it! The whole group and our tour guide Dion

We floated for about two hours, and it couldn't have been a prettier day. Definitely one of the highlights of the trip! After tubing, we hiked back to the van and the tour guides took us to one of their favorite spots for BBQ. We took it back to the hotel and spent the rest of the day relaxing. 

C&M

Chrissy floating down the river

Melissa floating down the river

Chrissy taking it all in

A beautiful shot of the river

Another shot of the river

Emma enjoying her float down the river

Nearing the end of our journey


Butts up!



Dr. John taking a video of us coming down the river


Hiking back to the van

BBQ stop for lunch

Chicken, beans, and coleslaw

Belizean Rum

Chrissy relaxing after a long day!

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