Yuma's House Belize

“Go slow” is the motto and true feel of Caye Caulker island in Belize. This is laid-back Caribbean bliss at its best, without any kind of mass holiday resort feel, and with opportunities for sea adventures. Yuma’s House, a beautiful, peaceful hostel with dorms and private rooms is just 100 metres from the water taxi port. During lobster season, which begins in June, a three-course lobster dinner costs around £10. Other cafes sell barbecued jerk chicken with bottomless rum punch for similar prices. Snorkelling tours to the barrier reef, with nurse sharks, loggerhead turtles and giant rays, cost about £45 including lunch.
raggamuffintours.com

German GEO SAISON features Belize & Yuma's House

German GEO SAISON features Belize

Caroline, Kelsey, Eileen, Heather & Jill at Yuma's House, Jan 2013

USEFUL STUFF TO KNOW ABOUT VISITING CAYE CAULKER

Climate

Caye Caulker is typically a tropical lowland climate, with rainforest to the south and west of the lowlands. Island temperatures drop in the winter months with an average mid/late 70's in the day and dropping about 10 degrees at night. Summer months are hotter and much more humid. The temps still drop by about 10 degrees at night, and average daily temps are around 85 - 90's. The islands usually have a sea breeze that can feel like air-conditioning when the rest of the country is sweltering! The rainy season is supposed to start after Easter sometime and carry on till Oct. This has not been the case in recent years and we are seeing more rain later in the year. Usually great thunderstorms with massive lightening shows in the late afternoon or at night. Climate around the world is changing - so no promises!

Language

English is the official language but you will hear other languages spoken too. Spanish, Mayan, Garifuna and Creole to name but a few.

Money

We have the Belize Dollar. BZD$. It is pegged to the US dollar at 2BZD:1USD. There is one ATM here, which Visa & Master Card. The bank (Atlantic Bank Ltd) will also provide cash advances with credit/debit cards and charges $10BZD commission however large the transaction (need to show your passport). US currency is widely accepted and your change will come back in BZD dollars. Travelers checks are a good idea and you can spend them as 'cash' at most places and also change them at the bank ($IBZ per check). Again your change will be in local currency. Remember large notes are always a problem for smaller vendors.

Water
Yuma’s House is on the Village Water System (reverse osmosis purified water), please try to conserve use, as it is very expensive water to purchase. Maybe take shorter showers. To flush the toilets we use well-water.

Recycling

There is no official recycling here, but we do a number of things as responsible foreigners that may help at least! Glass bottles like beer, sodas are returnable. When buying drinks, try to use the glass bottles instead of the plastic. Leave them next to the trash for the kids to take back and make some pocket money. Plastic bottles we reuse in the guise of the fruit lady and her juices. Keep them separate too.

What To Pack

Flip flops and closed toe shoes for trekking if you plan to do that.
Beach Towel / Sarong
Sunglasses - always a good idea
Hat - same
Small Flashlight
Alarm Clock
Rain proof gear - if you don't it WILL rain on you
Insect Repellant - can get it here, but expensive
Sun Block - as above
Mask / Snorkel - especially if you have had problems getting a good fitting one before
Jacket / Sweater - for planes, boats and cooler temps

Beaches

The beaches here on the Caye tend to be soft & weedy due to the fact the reef protects us from the Caribbean surf and does not allow it to scour the sand free of growth. This allows the island to survive, as wave action would eventually wear the Caye completely away. It also contributes to a vibrant ecosystem, which encourages sea life to flourish.

Swimming on the Caye is usually done off piers or at The Split, where the island is divided into its 2 separate parts. The Split offers sand, clear water and an abundance of small fish to observe. There is current from time to time but it is easily read and overcome.

Supplies & Provisions

Most everything you would need to supply your kitchen with staples is available on the Caye. We have 2 larger (relative term) grocery stores and numerous smaller suppliers as well. You will find that prices are surprisingly high for some items but keep in mind that everything comes to the Caye by boat or barge.

Fresh Fruits, Vegetables & Local Fish

There are several fruit & vegetable stands in the village that will have whatever is in season. Stock will ebb and flow with barge deliveries, so Thursday and Saturday mornings are the best time to purchase perishables.

Local fresh fish can be purchased on the front beach (east side of the cay) between 1pm and 4pm in the afternoon. Watch for the frigate birds circling down low. You will know someone is cleaning fish. You will pay between $10 & $12BZ for fillet. Lobster will also be available from time to time, but please be careful not to buy undersized. The tail should be at least 4 inches in length.

Getting Around

There are no cars here. For the most part Caye Caulker is small and walking is possible all over the place. Bike rental is available along front street.

Post Office

We do have a Post Office here on the Caye for any snail mail you would like to send. The service is notoriously slow, but usually reliable.

Laundry Services

There are a number of laundry services on the Caye, where you can have your laundry done for you at a reasonable cost and there is one coin operated laundromat where you can do it yourself.

A BIG THANK YOU TO EVERYONE AT YUMA’S HOUSE BELIZE.

January 7, 2013

I’ve been traveling for fifty-five days now. I’ve stayed in a lot of different hostels thus far. Never before have I been so gutted about leaving a place.

When I booked my ten day stay in Caye Caulker way back on the first of December, my reasoning was really quite simple – I wanted to stay put during the busy Christmas/New Year’s tourist season. It would be too much hassle to find accommodations and I didn’t really want to deal with chaos over the holidays. I figured chilling out in the Caribbean sun would be a good break between all the hiking and exploring I’m doing for the majority of the trip. I didn’t come to Caye Caulker with lofty expectations of what my stay would or should be like. The first day I arrived on the island, I took a walk around most of it in about an hour. Caye Caulker is a pretty small place. This immediately concerned me; what the heck was I going to do on a tiny island for a week and a half? I’m a backpacker on a budget, equipped with the attention span of a gnat. At this point, I figured I’d stay til Christmas and then maybe head somewhere else for New Year’s as there was no way I could possibly just hang out in one place for that long… Well, I left the island yesterday (after fourteen nights at Yuma’s). I ended up finding so much more than I ever thought I would. This is in big part thanks to owner/operator extraordinaire, Susanne.

Susanne took over Tina’s Backpacker’s and created Yuma’s House, just over two years ago. In a very short period of time she turned a worn-down party hostel into a welcoming, relaxing place that attracts a specific type of traveler. Yuma’s House is hands down the best-run hostel I’ve ever stayed at. However, even though it’s operated with such efficiency and organization, it also has a charm like nowhere else I’ve been. I could quite easily write a thousand words about how good Susanne is at what she does, but I’ll keep it short and sweet – she’s pretty darn good.

In addition to Susanne’s awesomeness, the fellow travelers I encountered at Yuma’s over the last two weeks have been pretty spectacular as well. In a short amount of time, I met so many unique people from all corners of the world. I learned something different from every person that I befriended at Yuma’s. I decided on two separate occasions to extend my time on the island because I was having way too much fun with my new friends. More than any other place I’ve been, Yuma’s truly felt (and still feels) like home. Thanks to Christine, Gert, Jeff, Brie, Emily, Emiliano, Katie, Elizabeth, Josh, Carmen, Kerry, Emily, Angela, Amanda, Art, Bjoern, Fabienne, Pat and everyone else who I met over the last two weeks at this special place. You’ve all got a place in my heart.

I can’t forget to mention the the top notch staff Susanne has employed. Vely and Consuela keep the place spotless from top to bottom. Every detail is attended to. They’re always smiling, day in day out and their efforts don’t go unnoticed. Sheena works the desk like a pro when Susanne isn’t around. She keeps things running smoothly as they should. Carlos the night guard is a gem. So pleasant and friendly, he’s “the angel of the night” who keeps us feeling safe and secure. Additional props go to Lady, the experienced guard dog. She’s small but mighty and has been a great companion. I always appreciate having a good dog around. If I had a couple more weeks with her, I’d have her doing tricks for sure.

Yuma, Susanne’s son is quick as a whip and a master in the kitchen. I cannot thank him enough for the impromptu fettuccine alfredo (complete with bacon) he made for our girl’s night. It definitely saved me from a nasty hangover. I have no doubt this kid is going places. Susanne herself was a most excellent host. She was always there with useful advice, good conversation and supported what could be the beginnings of a career in baking for me (but that’s a story for another post).

Up until this point, I haven’t seen a purpose in returning anywhere I’ve been on my travels. I typically stand by the “everywhere once” philosophy. However I’ve done a 180 on that stance after my stay at Yuma’s. I will most definitely, without a shadow of a doubt, be booking a week (or four) when I’m back in this part of the world next year.

Saying goodbye was tough (those of you that were there know). But after my stay, I feel recharged. As much as I’d love two more weeks of hammock bliss, pot-lucking nights, epic card games and all the rest – it’s time to set off exploring new places, climbing more mountains and meeting new people. The last two weeks have been truly wonderful. Thank you all so much for the kindness and hospitality you’ve shown me. Much love to you all.

Tash.

http://firebirdtash.wordpress.com/2013/01/07/a-big-thank-you-to-everyone-at-yumas-house-belize/

Juni on his sailboat

Juni, Dec. 2012 © Natasha Tersigni
http://firebirdtash.wordpress.com

Spend your day with Juni

Snorkling tour by Juni

Photo's © Stephane Gabbey

Belize - Tales of wanderlust in Latin America

I didn’t really know what to expect from this little corner of Central America however, I found much to fall in love with.

The Belizean population is composed of a number of different people groups – Indigenous, Caribbean, Creole, Central American refugees, and others – which results in a very accepting tolerant perspective and a society full of niches. Their culture caters to so many preferences and for this reason I found travelers are easily persuades to stay longer than anticipated, myself being one of them.

I entered Belize from the Mexican border and after a bus, plane (there was a 50% off seat sale!) and boat I arrive in Caye Caulker the same day. My plan was to wing it in terms of accommodations and it turned out better than expected.

I happened upon Yuma’s Place (http://www.yumashousebelize.com) , an adorable hostel right on the beach, and in no time I was part of that family. I really do mean family in the truest sense of the word. The hub of travelers that came, went and stayed during my week at Yuma’s were some of the warmest, accepting, friendly and hilarious foreigners I’ve experienced. Absolute shenanigans and absolutely rich. It was exactly what I needed at the outset of my journey to get me in the flow of meeting people and to realize the necessity of these nomad communities. Even though I left Canada solo, in no way do I have to be alone as I travel.

Belize’s biggest downfall in the eyes of backpackers is that it is not cheap. I was spending nearly as much as I would in a week in Edmonton. That said, I couldn’t stay long. A Belgian man, Koen, who was also staying at Yuma’s, was leaving for San Ignacio so I took this opportunity and ventured with him to Belize’s interior. We had heard raving reviews about the ATM caves near San Ignacio so I figured it was the perfect place to stop over and explore before heading to Guatemala. The caves were not cheap but it was worth every penny. For the Mayans these caves were the site of human sacrifice so along with amazing rock structures, stalactites, and stalagmites, there were numerous artifacts and skeletal remains. It was discovered only a few decades ago so everything is very preliminary and authentic. I feel like 15 years from now it will all be very different.

Also at Yuma’s I met an American woman, Paradise, who was doing an internship at the botanical gardens near San Ignacio. While we were there we met up with her one afternoon at a Rasta bar for a drink. As we were drinking our beers she introduced us to a friend of hers that happened to stop in. I never really got an official name so all I know him as is ‘The True Rastafari’ and believe me he looks the part! It turns out he is a herbal man, trained by his aunt in Jamaica and does various treatments using traditional Mayan herbs – enough said I wanted a part of this. In Belize I was feasted on by sandflies one morning so my skin was ripe with bites and in need of respite. Also, Paradise mentioned he gave her a hair treatment and showed me all the new growth on her scalp – again, enough said, I was in! The Rastafari took Koen and I to his cultural center (basically a backyard with a small herb garden and a bench) and proceeded to mash-up the leaves of a plant whose name escapes me at the moment. He patted all my bites down with this leave paste then started with the aloe: fresh-cut aloe everywhere on my body. It was kind of glorious, it felt like I was swimming in a layer of silk and surprisingly, being rubbed down by a skinny old Rasta stranger was not really that creepy. His herb treatment was pretty basic so my conclusion is that he is more of a Rastafari than a herbal man. None the less it was a gem of an experience. To top this off, it turns out he is a recorded musician too so obviously I had to by one of his albums.

Thank you Belize, it was truly a pleasure.

by lanajoym

http://ramblinggems.com/2011/11/09/belize/

Kayaking with Purpose

While Caye Caulker is well known for its laid back and slow pace, it is full of active water sports and activities like scuba diving, snorkeling, kayaking, and many more.

During my visit to Caye Caulker, one of the activities that caught my attention the most was kayaking. But not just any kayaking, it was kayaking with Ocean Academy.

Since Caye Caulker is a small island with a small population, it didn’t have the means to provide for a public high school – so all kids had to either drop out or go to San Pedro to continue their education. Education in Belize is not free, and for some families this is an expense outside their limited budget. But in September 2008, Ocean Academy –a non-profit community high school– opened its doors to provide a high school education to local residents. While the school is much more affordable than going to San Pedro, students still need to pay for their education, either with paid tuition or with tuition credits like community service. And, here’s where kayaking comes in…

As a way to earn tuition credit and gain valuable job training, many of the 60 students of Ocean Academy volunteer to guide visitors around Caye Caulker; either by foot, bicycle, or kayak.

A pair of Ocean Academy high school students introduce visitors to island life including its history, community, plants, animals, and sea creatures. Just as the school’s motto is “Preserving our Heritage, Creating our Future,” the students share their unique perspective of how they value the roots and the careful development of their precious island.

I personally don’t consider this to be another tourist activity, as it is mostly a way to interact with the kids in the local community, see Caye Caulker through their own knowledge and experience, and at the same time, help and encourage them to continue their studies with the small donation given for their time.

I did the kayaking trip with a group of six kids from the school, and we kayaked the northeastern shores of Caye Caulker, the split, and the western shores where there are a few underwater caves and where sometimes the manatees can be spotted.

What made this kayaking experience much better than just renting a kayak is the fact that I had the kids showing me everything around the island, and all their tricks and secrets. I had Mercedes as leader, a bright young girl looking to become a marine biologist. As she paddled with me on same kayak, she fed me all the information she knew about the island, sea, and current events – in addition of sharing her passion for sea life.

The other kids, spread in two extra kayaks, did also their part by looking for stuff to show me – like the freaky six legged star, different fish types, and the underwater cave entrance.

One of the moments that impressed me the most was when Kyle told me from a distance, “if we go to that specific spot we might find a sea horse”. We paddled our way there, and indeed, there was a sea horse!! This was the first time I had seen a seahorse in the open ocean, and it was beautiful!

These kids know these waters like the back of their hand.

By the end of the trip, we stopped to feed the Tarpon Fish. Usually you put the bait on the water surface and the Tarpon will jump and suck it right out of your hand, but in my case, they were all lazy so they only ate the bait when it went deep in the water (which I’m glad because I didn’t want a fish sucking my hand!).

I believe this is a different way to get to enjoy the island while creating a positive impact.

The cost of a “Meet the Island With a Student” is a donation of $30 BZD per person to Ocean Academy (not including the bicycle or kayak which can be rented at a variety of places on the island).

Arrangements can be made through Ocean Academy’s website contact form or through the Sea Dreams Hotel (the local sponsor of Ocean Academy’s “Meet the Island With a Student” Visitors Program) by emailing reservations (at) seadreamshotel (dot) com.

The students are available when school is not in session (weekends, holidays, and summer).

I highly recommend doing this while in Caye Caulker, but if you’re not able to schedule a “Meet the Island With a Student” session during your time in the island, you can always donate to the school to help with students’ tuition.

by NORBERT

A snorkeling trip with Carlos - Carlos Tours, Caye Caulker

You're in good hands when you take a snorkeling trip with Carlos and Romeo. Going with Carlos is informative and fun, and the wildlife in the cayes is unmatched for snorkeling. Carlos is excellent with people, and tailors his attention and his itinerary to the group. If you need a lot of instruction and assurance, you'll get it. If you're experienced, he'll make sure you have enough freedom and water time to have memorable wildlife sightings and magical encounters. It's clear he loves where he lives and what he does every day, and his regard for the ecosystem of the reef is a wonderful model. He has extensive knowledge of the flora and fauna that he is only too happy to share.
These guys work hard to make each trip fresh and exciting for every new group.

CARLOS TOURS IS LOCATED ON FRONT STREET ON CAYE CAULKER ISLAND, next to the Amor y Cafe.