A few days in Paradise

Sorry for the lack of update everybody... 

I have just spent the last few days follwing the East coast of Mexico down to Belize. 

I stopped off for a night in Playa del Carmen, known as a big party venue for tourists. I had very low expectations for Playa but was pleasantly surprised. It had a great feel to it, with a well laid out central town area, friendly people and beautiful wide beaches. The hostal I stayed at was great and I cooked dinner with some girls before having a few drinks.

My next stop for one night was Tulum. Another beach town, it is famous for its Mayan ruins and idyllic beaches. Once again it did not disappoint. Although the ruins were nothing in comparison to Chichen Itza, they made for a good couple of hours of wandering and fantastic views with the turquoise ocean as a backdrop. Again, the hostal was great, and perfectly designed for backpackers allowing me to meet loads of people! 

 My next main stop was Caye Caulker in Belize, but in order to get there I stopped one night in Chetumal. This is a bit of a boring town, perhaps because it was Sunday, or simply because there is not much going on there anyway! I stayed with a couple of Irish girls, Maeve and Amy, who I started talking to at the bus stop and we ended up sharing a hotel room both in Chetumal and then in Caye Caulker. 

This is not my own photo as my camera decided to break at this point of the trip....

Finally a few days in Caye Caulker the "Go Slow" Island. Just an hour away by ferry from Belize City, this Island truly is chilled. We stayed in a super simple, and super cheap Cabana made of wood in a quiet area of the tiny Island full of tourists and rastas. You can walk the length of the Island in less than 15 mins, and conveniently there is a bar at each end. On one end, the split, is the Lazy Lizard, a beach bar with an area for sunbathing, tables in the sea, playing great tunes and beautiful to be at sunset. On the other end, the I and I reggae bar, set out on three stories, with a roof terrace equipped with hammocks and swings to admire the views from with a cocktail! The local dishes were all seafood based and lobster was particularly scrumpcious... and at less than a fiver for a full lobster, sides and drinks I couldn't resist having some every night!

The Island is also famous for its snorkeling so along with Amy and Maeve, and Penny another friend I had met on Isla Mujeres, I took a day trip on a sail boat. It was well worth it! with 16 people, the boat wasn't too crowded but just enough to get chatting to others. There were 3 stops during the day, interspersed with fruit, fish burgers, ceviche, rum punch and of course reggae tunes. We saw, and swam with an incredible array of wildlife; nurse sharks, sting rays, baracudas, tropical fish big and little, and green sea turtles! A fantastic and slightly surreal day... lying on the boat sunning myself I felt a bit like a celebrity! 

I have just arrived in Flores, Guatemala, armed with a new camera so no fear, more updates will be on their way! 

Love Soph xxxx