belize

On our first day we canoed down the Macal River. We spotted iguanas, peccaries, coati mundis, bates tucans, and a Boa Constrictors.The rain forest is filled with beautiful butterflies and exotic flowers. We had to be very careful not to disturb the sleeping snakes.
On our second day we woke two hours before sunrise to prepare for our unforgettable adventure into the Maya underworld. We begin our journey from our Pooks Hill, crossing rivers and journeying deep into the Belize jungle to the opening of the sacred Actun Tunichil Muknal [The Cave of the Stone Sepulcher]. At the entrance we gear up with lycra suits and waterproof headlamps. We waded into the emerald colored water flowing from the cave's gaping mouth. Our journey followed the river's flow through wet and dry passages encased in hanging stalactites and towering stalagmites. Our final destination was the spectacular primary chamber where ancient kings and priests made blood sacrifices to appease the Maya gods. The chamber was filled with scattered human skeletons. These victims were sacrificed more than 1800 years ago. In a high chamber we saw the Crystalline Princes. She was sacrificed at age 16 and carefully laid out in the chamber. Who and why she was placed there will never be known. However, someone went through a lot of effort to preserve her remains. The cave was only discovered a few years ago. We felt very privileged to explore it.