Friday, May 25, 2007

Relaxing at the Catamaran Island Hotel - Rio Dulce, Guatemala - 9 April 2007

Holidays is not just about seeing all the sights. It's also about relaxing. And that was what I was doing for a day. Near the pool, at the bar. Came to rest at the Catamaran Island hotel!

To see where these photo's were taken exactly, have a look at the interactive map and zoom in and out for a better overview.


At the pool
Youssouf at the pool 1 - Rio Dulce, Guatemala - 9 April 2007

Relaxing at the pool of Catamaran Island Hotel in Rio Dulce.


Sitting at the bar 1
Youssouf sitting at the bar 1 - Rio Dulce, Guatemala - 9 April 2007

Relaxing at the Catamaran Island Hotel in Rio Dulce. Sitting at the bar and having a drink.


Sitting at the bar 2
Youssouf sitting at the bar 3 - Rio Dulce, Guatemala - 9 April 2007

Sitting at the bar 3
Youssouf sitting at the bar 4 - Rio Dulce, Guatemala - 9 April 2007

Sitting at the bar 4
Youssouf sitting at the bar 5 - Rio Dulce, Guatemala - 9 April 2007

Nightly encounter with a local cane toad
Youssouf's nightly encounter with a local cane toad - Rio Dulce, Guatemala - 9 April 2007

At night I was walking at the grass near the pool of the Catamaran Island Hotel and encountered a local cane toad. Nice fellow, a bit scared though. And he was not as puffy as most of his relatives.

Thursday, May 24, 2007

Youssouf's boattrip from Livingston to Rio Dulce - Guatemala - 8 April 2007

On April 8th I went from Livingston at the Guatemalan Caribean coast inlands on the river Rio Dulce. Going by bus instead of boat to the town of Rio Dulce is just as easy as going by boat instead of bus through the Sahara desert. So I chose a touristy boat trip, to see more of the Guatemalan jungle.
The Guatemalan jungle has more hills and mountains than in Belize, so that was interesting to see as well.

I just love the jungle.

Satellietfoto van boottrip van Livingston naar Rio Dulce, Guatemala

Legend:
Red = travel by bus
Green = travel by boat
Pink = travel by plane
Yellow = Daytrip / excursion (by bus or car)
Yellow with green dotting = Daytrip / excursion by boat


Youssouf's boattrip from Livingston to Rio Dulce - Guatemala - 8 April 2007.
Youssouf's boattrip from Livingston to Rio Dulce - Guatemala - 8 April 2007

In the jungle near a small creek. Lovely epifyts and flowers!
To see where these photo's were taken exactly, have a look at the interactive map and zoom in and out for a better overview.

Daytrip on the Monkey River - Belize, 5 April 2007

On April 5th I went from Placencia with a small boat (6 people and 1 sheep) through the mangroves to Monkey River town. This Monkey River Tour led up the Monkey river. In the mangroves there were lots of birds; pelicans, great egrids, magnificent frigatebirds. Up the river you could see bats, a fresh water turtle, big spiders, lots of jungle, birds of prey like the black vulture and much more. In the jungle there were lizards, howler monkeys and even a 12 foot boa!

To see where these photo's were taken exactly, have a look at the interactive map and zoom in and out for a better overview.

Click on the photo's for a larger version.

Map of the daytrip from Placencia up the Monkey River
Legend:
Yellow = daytrip
Green = travel by boat

Map of the daytrip up the Monkey River

In the Jungle near the Monkey River
In the Jungle - Youssouf at the Monkey River Tour daytrip - Placencia, Belize - 5 April 2007

In a Bamboo Forest near the Monkey River
Bamboo Forest - Youssouf at the Monkey River Tour daytrip - Placencia, Belize - 5 April 2007

Wednesday, May 23, 2007

Flight from Belize City to Placencia - Belize, 3 April 2007

April 3 I went from the island of Caye Caulker to the peninsula of Placencia, in the south of Belize. First with the watertaxi (speedboat) to Belize City, from there on with a 10 seater plane to Placencia.

Excellent view of the landscape, the coastline, the swamps and jungle of Belize from the plane!
Also fun to fly in a very small plane: you see everything and the landing on the Placencia airstrip was touch the ground and 3 seconds later you make a turn and you stand still.

To see where these photo's were taken exactly, have a look at the interactive map and zoom in and out for a better overview.

Click on the photo's for a larger version.

Map of the travelling from Caye Caulker to Placencia.
Legend:
Green = travel by boat
Pink = travel by plane
Map of the travelling from Caye Caulker to Placencia.

In the plane from Belize City to Placencia 1
Youssouf in the plane from Belize City to Placencia 1 - Belize - 3 April 2007

In the plane from Belize City to Placencia 2
Youssouf in the plane from Belize City to Placencia 2 - Belize - 3 April 2007

At the Placencia airstrip
Youssouf at the Placencia airstrip - Belize - 3 April 2007

Tuesday, May 22, 2007

Maya Ruins of Altun Ha - Belize, 2 April 2007

On April 2th I went from Caye Caulker by boat to Belize City, from there on by car to the Maya Ruins of Altun Ha. An excellent site. Very quiet, very green. No ball court or places for sacrifice out there, so the rulers of this ancient Maya City did not have to suppress the population. Quite a unique feature in the ancient Maya world.

To see where these photo's were taken exactly, have a look at the interactive map and zoom in and out for a better overview.

Click any of the images below for a larger version.

Map of the trip to Altun Ha in Belize.
Legend:
Yellow = daytrip
Green = travel by boat
Map of the trip to Altun Ha in Belize

At the Altun Ha sign
Youssouf at the Altun Ha sign

Overview of the plaza
Youssouf at Altun Ha - Overview of the plaza

On the steps of a temple
On the steps of a temple - Youssouf at Maya ruines of Altun Ha

Strangler fig
Strangler fig - Youssouf at Maya ruines of Altun Ha

On top of a temple
On top of a temple - Youssouf at Maya ruines of Altun Ha

Monday, May 21, 2007

Trip to Belize, Honduras and Guatemala - 31 March till 19 April 2007

Currently I'm in Ohio, USA. But, no photo's from that trip yet.

I'm back for a month from my last trip. A trip through Belize, Honduras and Guatemala. Starting March 31st, ending April 19th. Central America is really great and beautiful.

The trip went from the island Caye Caulker to peninsula Placencia, both Belize. From there on via Punta Gorda to Guatemala; by boat to Puerto Barrios and on to Livingston. After a night in Livingston I went to Rio Dulce for some relaxing. And then on to Copán in Honduras, for the Maya ruines. And from Copán on to Antigua in Guatemala. Proceeding the trip to Lago de Atítlan. And everywhere in between I made some nice daytrips. You'll hear about them soon ;-)

Below you'll find the map of my route. Click on the map or the photo's below for a bigger version.

The legend of the map is in Dutch, so here's the translation:
Red = travel by bus
Green = travel by boat
Pink = travel by plane
Yellow = daytrip

Map of Youssouf's travels through Belize, Honduras and Guatemala

Youssouf in coconut palm with bonsai mangrove at Caye Caulker - Belize - 2 April 2007
Youssouf in coconut palm with bonsai mangrove at Caye Caulker - Belize - 2 April 2007

Youssouf at the beach of Caye Caulker - Belize - 2 April 2007
Youssouf at the beach of Caye Caulker - Belize - 2 April 2007

To see where these photo's were taken exactly, have a look at the interactive map and zoom in and out for a better overview.