visitBelize.cn : visit Belize - March 3 - canoe, ruins and night walk

March 3 - canoe, ruins and night walk

We started the day bright and early - very early. 5:30am wakeup for a 6:00am canoe ride. We paddled across the New River lagoon just as sun broke, and had a nice, relaxing paddle down Dawson's Creek, one of the small side creeks. We saw many herons and cranes, as well as the quite rare Bald-throated Tiger Heron, which we were able to photograph:

Bald throated tiger heron, New River, Belize

After we returned, we had our early breakfast, then decided to revisit the Lamanai ruins since we enjoyed them so much the day before. This time we walked there, and once again we were the only ones there - we had each ruin all to ourselves, so had the luxury to explore a bit further, including a really cool fig tree:

Fig Tree, Lamanai, Belize

With the warm sun beating down, we decided to spend a bit more time on our favourite High Temple, and also went back to the Mask Temple for some better shots of the famous crocodile mask, and the Jaguar Temple with its fabulous wide open court area. Here are some of the better shots:

Mask Temple, Lamanai, Belize

High Temple, Lamanai, Belize

Jaguar Temple, Lamanai, Belize

We came back for lunch, and both caught a short nap - then while Elizabeth relaxed with a book, I went for a run, and felt the pull of the ruins beckoning. So like the previous day, I donned my running shoes and ran the mile or so to the temple, catching the late afternoon on the front of High Temple providing a clear, blue panoramic view of New River and the lagoon. Then on the way back, I took a small detour by the old sugar mill which was built and abandoned by the British in the mid to late 1800's. I walked all the way around before realizing that a huge tree was growing right down the middle of the old mill! Here are the best photos from my afternoon run:

view from High Temple, Lamanai

abandoned British sugar mill in Lamanai, Belize

After a quick dinner, we ended our penultimate day here with an evening walk - believe it or not, back towards the ruins! We didn't go all the way to the temples, but did see a few cool birds, a hummingbird sitting in her nest, many spiders including two tarantulas and finally a scorpion. These are the last pictures of the day, and my final words for the night!