Oh where, oh where do I begin…..

I wanted to write a summary, now that we have some more time, of our wonderful experience at your Jungle Paradise. John and I chose your 8 day/9 night Jungle package which we changed the Zoo for the Black Hole Drop. Before I give some summaries of our trips, we want to thank Karen, Andy and Simone from the bottom of our hearts for being so warm and courteous during our stay. The wonderful conversations in your Treetop Lounge were memories that will stay with us for a lifetime. The Food! The food that Nora, Tella and Wani prepare is fit for a King…. the fry jacks in the morning are a wonderful start to a long day.

The Guides that you use from “River Rat” (Gonzo, Brainard) are incredibly knowledgeable and have a passion for what they do, they respect the culture of the Maya and know so much from a personal level about each site and adventure that it is truly amazing and you listen to every word they say.

The eight days that we spent at your Jungle Dome started nice and easy with Horseback Riding in the jungle to see and hear the wonderful sights and sounds that your nearby area has to offer followed by a relaxing trip down the river before dusk to see the Iguana’s sunning themselves in the evening setting sun.

River Kayaking was incredibly fun, 14 miles on the Belize River with Henry was a great experience. There are just enough rapids to keep you on your toes while enjoying the sites of the river and what it has to offer.

Cave Tubing was something that we had never experienced; Brainard is very passionate for the caves and knows every crevice that they have to offer. To float thru a cave with crystal walls and natural stalactites was breath taking.

Our trip to Caracol was our very first experience to a Mayan temple site. Our group was a lot of fun and it was a great experience to see these massive structures that the Mayas once lived in. Caracol is so desolate and quiet that we felt like nothing else in the world existed!

Actun Tunichil Muknal was an experience of a lifetime for John and me. It was truly inspiring and amazing to swim, climb, and crawl thru the caves of ATM. To see vessels of the Maya from thousands of years and skeletal remains in the cave was mind blowing. We left there truly inspired!

The Black Hole Drop…WOW! I definitely countered some personal demons on that trip. After a very long hike thru the jungle and spotting panther tracks we came to the sink hole which was breath taking. To repel down from above and thru the jungle canopy was an experience that we will never forget….This is definitely one of the most exciting yet exhilarating trips that is offered. The guides are very professional and really know what they are doing and are patient and trusting, John and I left there feeling like we just accomplished a life long dream.

Tikal is massive, something that is difficult to accomplish in a day. The site is filled with tons of structures and to witness the temple peaks thru the jungle canopy is something that is beyond words. One of the longest days for our trip, but definitely worth checking out.

Some suggestions that we noticed while in Belize, especially for first timers like ourselves. Definitely come prepared with some cash. Whether it is in American currency or in Belize currency. We found traveler’s checks difficult at times to use, I definitely suggest exchanging your checks into some cash for tips and the like. Also, wearing white shirts is something that you should not do- they will get very dirty LOL.

Once again, thank you so much for sharing this piece of paradise with us. You can count on us coming back to Belize and the Jungle Dome in 2006!

Cheers,
Al & John

Labels: actun tunichil muknal, adventure travel, belize jungle dome, belize vacations, black hole drop, caracol mayan temples, cave tubing, caving, guest comments, guestbook, kayaking, mayan ruins, rappelling, temples, tikal, zoo