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Altun Ha with Seaduced

by tacogirl 12/11/2007
written by tacogirl 12/11/2007
Belize A Great Destination Explorer's Guide published by The Countryman press

I was not sure if it was all the fun we had, the rain on the way home, or the gringos gone wild wearing me out Sunday but after our trip to Altun Ha I needed some quality couch potato time.

Coming back to my pc to upload a couple of pics to this post, I now know it was sorting through the 535 pictures I took of our trip to Altun Ha today that warranted a break.I can’t even begin to write out details of our trip. We learned so much today, Our guides Ricky and Leon were lots of fun and super smart. I do not know how they hold so much information in their heads, I ended up with 8 pages if notes. That’s all till tomorrow – see you for breakfast with my iced coffee.

Morning all. I am now down to 461 pictures and ready to post the Maruba part of our trip. Net is very slow this morning, Becky and Dcg just showed up so I am going to take a break.

Been emailing back and forth with Travelqueen – we lost power and I accidentally closed blog window and lost Altun Ha pics (Note to self; make sure to hit save after each batch of pictures). Cindy just stopped by followed by Bill and Maya – everyone left to go eat and I am back to work.

Bill and Maya came back we are going for a ride to see if we can find those wayward girls ha ha. There are lots more great pictures to come but it may take a short while as I am going fishing with Bill Maya and Colette at 7:00 am tomorrow. I think I need a blog double.

We started our journey at Ruby’s dock at 8:40 am. It was a perfect boating day for Altun Ha.

As we headed to the mangroves, we had blue skies and turquoise waters. Once we got closer to the mangroves the water became brackish which is a mix of salt and fresh water turning it a rusty brown color.

Our guides let us know we could slow down at any point to get a picture, however no one had to ask as they did a great job to slow down and point everything along with giving us lots of information about what we were seeing.

Here are some of the things we saw on our boat ride through the mangroves to Bomba…
Snow Egret – Vulture – Great Blue Heron – Crock – Osprey – Black Crown Heron – Yellow Crown – Snake Cactus – Bats – Pink Vermilion – Elephant Grass – Kingfisher – Mangrove Swallows

It was not long before we arrived at Bomba – a small village where you are able to purchase local crafts and have them set aside for you to get on the trip home. There is also a short bathroom break before the drive to Altun Ha.

Getting on the boat in San Pedro

Seaduced Crew

Pick up at Victoria House

Becky on boat

Fun ride

Wind swept

Birds in flight

Brackish water

Birds

Lazy drive through mangroves

Mangroves

Lot’s of wild life to see

More brackish water

Twists and turns occasionally spice up our ride

Snake cactus

Bats in tree – look closely

Baby Crocodile – look left

Kingfisher bird leading the way

Stunning beauty

Elephant grass aka Fragmitis

Bomba

Boat at Bomba

Shops

Dog

Don’t forget to have change

Outdoor sink

Lots of wood carvings

Seaduced boat

Heading to Altun Ha

—

We got to Altun Ha and discovered that we had the site all to ourselves. How lucky is that? After we paid our $5 usd entrance fee, Ricky led the group to a covered, open air building to tell us a bit about Mundo Maya history and Altun Ha. Following that he walked us through the park and taught us about what we were seeing.

-Altun Ha is one of the most famous Maya sites
-Largest Jade head was found there
-Major ceremonial center
-Vital trading center
-40 miles from Belize City – 10 miles from Maruba – day trip from San Pedro

Heading to Altun Ha – Leon telling us about this part of Belize

Across from the park

$5usd entrance fee

Places to shop

Heading to information booth

Learning about Mayan culture

Heading into Altun Ha

Nice group of people to enjoy the park with

Walking through the park area

Learning about Altun Ha

Temple of Masonry Altars

Lots to learn

Ricky explaining about the architecture at Altun Ha

Lower part of Ruins

Face in rock

Palm tree

Interesting tree

Big tree

Learning some jungle medicine

Walking around Altun Ha

Our guides were very knowledgeable

Temple of Masonry Altars

Lots to see

Temple of Masonry Altars

Climbing Temple of Masonry Altars

Temple of Masonry Altars

Altun Ha – take the trip

Almost there – it is worth the climb

What a view

On top of Temple of the Masonry Altars

Plaza A as seen from the top of Temple of the Masonry Altars

Temple of the Masonry Altars

Lots of stairs

Lucky day we had park to ourselves

Temple A5

Plaza A

Great cardio work out

Temple A3

Temple of the green tomb

Temple A 5

Plaza of Masonry Altars left – Temple of the green tomb right

Temple of green tomb

Plaza A

Tree top straight ahead

—

Next part of our journey brings us to Maruba.

Maruba resort is filled with lush plants and cool things to look at. Ricky and Leon brought us there for lunch. We all chose to eat upstairs – what a view. For starters many of us ordered iced coffee which turned out to be a decadent treat as the waitress brought up a tray full of delicious looking drinks with a hibiscus flower in each one. Lunch menu was reasonably priced there was lots to choose from and everyone enjoyed their meal.

After lunch most of the group headed off for facials, massages or horseback riding. Becky and I quickly found lounge chairs by the pool and relaxed listening to the water fall. We camped out there and did some minor exploring. I was headed to the washroom and had to come back and get Becky and my camera as the toilet seat was just too funny, we both took pictures. By the time we had to go back to the bus we were both feeling very relaxed.

Maruba Resort

Jungle Pathways

Heading for lunch

Lush grounds

Downstairs eating area

Enjoying lunch upstairs

Becky and I

Iced Coffee with hibiscus flower garnish

Lunch is served

Spiral staircase

Eating area

Interesting statues through out the gardens

Covered lounge area by the pool

Jungle pool with water fall

Lounge Chairs

Lush plants around the pool

Funny toilet seat


Even funnier

Lounge area

—

Heading back to Bomba now rise is about 20 min or so. Everyone is trading stories about the treatments they got. So many interesting things to see along the way, houses cars people funny signs. Good thing I was not able to take pictures along the way or we never would have made it back ha ha.

Leon and Becky

Kids playing on dock

Time to go home

Leaving Bomba to head back to San Pedro

We had some lumpy water and wet weather along the way home. Becky and I were both glad we had hoodie’s with us. When we got back to San Pedro we decided to ask if they could drop Becky off at Xanadu dock instead of town and they did not mind.

Tips for the boat ride…

A bandanna or good hair tie very handy if you have long hair
If you are not taking pictures small binoculars would be fun
Never drink rum punch in the wind.
Bring a (rain) jacket for the way home it gets cold at night and in our case got a bit wet.
Sometimes the water is lumpy outside the reef – a towel for extra cushion can be useful – if you encounter a bit of a rough ride on the boat it is always a good idea to have a stretch when you get home

Related

tacogirl

Laurie Norton grew up dyslexic and was very challenged by the school. She never dreamed she would move to Belize and become a writer. A year after her move to Ambergris Caye, Laurie became an entrepreneur and professional writer starting tacogirl blog in 2007. Since then she has helped many people plan their vacations or move. She also has been published in Great Destinations Belize Guidebook, Moon Guide to Living in Belize, Insight Guides, Island Magazine several times and USA Today. Currently Laurie resides in downtown San Pedro and enjoys being a "city girl" on a tropical island.

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I just returned from my trip to Belize in mid-June 2022. I had been planning the trip weeks / months in advance and... Laurie (taco girl) wasextremely helpful in preparation for my trip. Her intimate knowledge as an expat who was ONCE a tourist, really helps because she is able to share first hand knowledge of how a tourist can explore Ambergis Caye like a "temporary local". An example of this, was she recommended 2 yoga classes for my wife to enjoy while on vacation that we would not have known about otherwise and the class was far better than a class arranged by a hotel, as you get the local experience not a staged one. In addition, she was helpful in providing recommendations for dinner and sharing some discounts she has arranged with local retailers. Reviewing the taco girl blog and reaching out to Laurie is like having a tour guide, but more important a tour guide that KNOWS Belize.read more
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From the perspective of a couple preparing for a permanent move to Belize, Laurie has been enthusiastically helpful in... both answering our questions and connecting us with local resources for our move. Highly recommend you contact her and make use of her valuable services!!!read more
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Laurie was super helpful in providing places to eat, things to do and best yet had ongoing blogs that allowed us to... look back on other places that she pointed out. A fantastic resource for both first time and return visitors of Ambergris Caye!read more
B W
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Fantastic service .I needed to find a place where I could buy a local sim card as my UK sim doesnt work in belize and... Tacogirl put me on the right path .Decided to walk across town and discovered so much more in beautiful San Pedro.Many thanks.BWread more
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We have been using TacoGirl for what feels like decades when planning our trips to Belize! It has only been a few... years but she is the first place we stop to see what is happening in our favorite vacation spot. She knows all the best spots to get away and do so many fun things - whether it is relaxing or exploring! We are planning our next trip with our twins and she was the first person I reached out to. Knowing we have a resource like her, makes trip planning a breeze!read more
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Found tacogirl while doing some research on an upcoming trip to Belize. This is the place for all the information you... need to plan your vacation. Incredibly helpful and responsive. I sent an email with lots of questions and received a very quick and detailed response that helped us finalize our plans.read more
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Kelley Adams
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We have been following TacoGirl for years now and before booking any trip to San Pedro we check to see what is... currently happening. We love the emails to let us know when a new blog has been posted. Keep up the great work Laurie, we feel like we know you.read more
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I first got my Passport in 2012 and Taco Girl was my first connection back then Great then and Marvelous Now! She's... blossomed and developed into a wonderful contact for any and all information Belize. She goes above & beyond to respond with information that you need whether visiting Belize or relocating! I wasn't able to fund the move then but now that I have much more equity I am doing it.This time she was the 1st person I reached out to! Now I am selling and moving to Belize. She responds immediately! Like I do in my Pet Sitting Business! I was so impressed I followed her all this time. And was not disappointed!Pamela Nixonread more
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Wanted to give a shout-out to tacogirl belize for helping us! She is a plethora of knowledge and was super helpful and... responsive in helping us find longer term stay on the island. Thank you so much for your help!read more
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I've spent the last month exploring Belize. I'm retired & seriously considering moving down to Belize permanently from... the US. I contacted the local San Pedro expert "Taco Girl" to help me get started in finding an apartment to rent. With her help, I've located several places that meet my needs & budget requirements. Thank you Laurie!read more
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I am very glad I found you and asked you a question about a spice in Belize. You helped me figure out the name of it... and where i could buy it. You went above and beyond to help. Thanks again.read more
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I am so grateful for the time and energy Laurie has taken to share about her experiences traveling to and living in... Belize as well as provide thorough recommendations for planning a trip there. I was so thankful (and honestly surprised) that Laurie took the time to respond to several of my questions via email. I highly recommend reading Laurie's blogs and helping to support her business. Thank you Laurie!!read more
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tacogirl was very nice to share her knowledge with us and assisted with planning our trip to Belize; thank you for the... help and info, it was helpful and allowed us to plan utilize our time accordingly while both on the mainland and islands of this great country.read more
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As a Canadian—tired of long winters—I cannot wait to spend some time in Belize. I haven't set foot yet, but I am... yearning for lots of Caribbean adventure. Thanks so much to tacogirl for her endless enthusiasm and generosity of spirit. She is a constant stream of up-to-date information. Her knowledge and love of the area is priceless, and I will need her expertise for future endeavours!read more
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We started coming to Ambergis Caye in 2014 and stumble on to Tacogirls blog, so glad we did! We used her 15% discount... at The Premier Duty-Free shop in the airport! It worked great all we did was let them know we read it on her blog . She has great information awesome pictures, we have tried several places she has recommended, all were amazing. Highly recommend reading her blog. Kathleenread more
ksniegoc1
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17:45 02 Jun 21
It was my first time visiting Belize and San Pedro so naturally I had a ton of questions when it came time to planning... the travel. Taco Gril's blog was an invaluable source of information for all the travel questions in Ambergris Caye. I was able to learn a lot of basic information, as well as many tips and tricks. In addition when I reached out to Taco Girl for advice on finding a local photographer and a restaurant recommendation, she was very quick to respond and gave me many helpful suggestions. She also provided a lot more information from a local's point of view, which was much for valuable than than a typical guidebook. Thanks to her helpful suggestions we were able to celebrate my daughter's birthday at a nice restaurant, and had a great photo family session with a local photographer. I'm very thankful for all her resources and knowledge.read more
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I started coming to San Pedro Belize in 2007 and that is when I met the online presence of Taco Girl. Her blogs on the... island and area are very personable and informative. She gives out promo codes from time to time so watch out for those. You cannot go wrong with someone who was a tourist and now lives here for quality info. Thanks Taco Girl for helping make my trips memorable!read more
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I take the seniors from our academy to Belize every year for their senior trip. One of the first people I contact when... I start planning the trip is Laurie with TacoGirl Belize. She knows the island of San Pedro better than anyone else out there. Trust me, I have looked. If you are looking for the best restaurants, hang outs and shops then Laurie help plan your vacation.read more
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Love Taco Girl Blog @LaurieNorton!I've been reading this blog since I started visiting Ambergris Caye in Belize almost... 10 years ago. It is filled with helpful up-to-date information and recommendations that I wouldn't necessarily find on my own. Laurie Norton's knowledge and extensive network on the island provides her with the ability to share perks/discounts/coupons with her readers, which come in handy year after year. Things on the island change daily - new businesses pop up constantly and LaurieNortonstays on top of these developments. Whenever I plan my return trip to the island, I always check her blog first - and I recommend you do the same. Trip Advisor ain't got nuttin' on Taco Girl!read more
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Laurie's blog is my official “go to” source for tourist and local information on San Pedro. Of course, it’s always nice... to see her guides on “what to do” in San Pedro, but I also appreciate her “insider” advice and human interest stories on what it’s like living as a local on the island. There is so much information it's amazing! Thank you Laurie!!!read more
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I am considering a move to Belize and I have serendipitously found tacogirl.....what a treasure! She is full of great... advice, helpful hints.....knows everybody on Ambergris Caye and has a thousand useful recommendations and suggestions. Whether you are planning a vacation or relocating, you should make use of the many services she has to offer…..read more
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I’m so pleased to see tacogirl's blog on Google. Laurie's blog is my official “go to” source for tourist and local... information on San Pedro. Of course, it’s always nice to see her guides on “what to do” in San Pedro, but I also appreciate her “insider” advice and human interest stories on what it’s like living as a local on the island. I especially enjoy her guest articles, providing a different perspective of all things San Pedro. Her tipping quide is a classic, and don’t forget her Tropic Air flight code and on-island discounts. You’re not up-to-date with what’s going on in San Pedro if you’re not regularly reading tacogirl's blog.read more
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I have known Laurie (Taco Girl) for several years. She has been a wealth of good information for me in all of my... pursuits in Belize. I highly recommend her for any services you may require.read more
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Do yourself a favor. Read this BEFORE any trip to San Pedro - Ambergris Caye or Belize in general. Not saying “do what... everyone else says”, but Laurie has frank and honest info which will make your stay in country a little more fun, a little more informative, and often at a great cost savings. Best thing: it’s unbiased, honest, and factual. Personal note: thank you for your personal tailored help in answering mine (and my wife’s) questions.read more
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Taco Girl (Laurie) is amazing. She has so much knowledge about Belize and has great connections with many of the... businesses in Belize. Because of her connections she is able to offer many perks and discounts that you wouldn't have been able to find otherwise. She is super responsive and I always go to her for all my travel needs. From golf cart rentals, to spas, to places to eat. She's got the inside scoop on all!read more
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20:22 21 Apr 19
Since 2003, my wife and I have been to Ambergris at least once a year to experience the fantastic diving. About twelve... years ago we me Tacogirl on a blog giving us discounts on golf carts, local airfares, and restaurants. Over the years we have grown a friendship and I look forward to her weekly blogs about he changes on my favorite home away from home. The island changes every year, and she always shows you what to see, do, and eat.read more
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Belize Blog Est. 2007

belize travel specialist

ABOUT ME

I took the plunge and moved to San Pedro Town on the Island of Ambergris Caye, off the coast of Belize, Central America. Originally from Canada, I made the life-changing move to escape winter for good (in 2006) after one three week vacation. If you have any questions or want Belize help planning and booking, please feel free to contact me.

SPARKING MY DESIRE

A few childhood memories that shaped my desire to move to Belize from a young age. Sailing in the Virgin Islands, seeing a rainbow out the window of an island hopper as we flew from Virgin Islands to Puerto Rico, Christmas in Hawaii and many trips to Florida.

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