In addition to diving with whale sharks we took a day off so that Randy, Robbie and I could tour the local rain forest. We were looking for monkeys, but found much more.
Edmond, our guide, placed the outboard in gear, and we headed into the heart of the Belizean tropical rain forest. If we got lucky we’d find monkeys along the rivers. Unfortunately we were not that lucky, but there was plenty of other wild life to see. Every couple of minutes Edmond slowed the boat to show us another jungle species.
Eventually our guide pulled over to the rivers edge and tied the boat up. He told us to wait, as he would return shortly. Almost and hour later Edmond returned with good news. He had found a family of monkeys, but it would be a half hour slog through the forest to see them. We jumped off the boat into knee high water, and made our way to the trail covered in calf high water. I didn’t have the guts to ask about snakes, and I had already seen the local crocodiles as we waded into the jungle. I was just ahead of my youngest son Robbie when he yells at me to stop.
Robbie being the caring, loving son that’s always concerned about his father’s well being replied. “I’m not touching that thing,” as he backed away from me.
Eventually I was able to pick out a couple of black spots high in the trees. We made it back to the boat without further incidents, if you exclude a bazillion mosquito bites. Don’t they have malaria down here? On the way back to the dock we past by some monkeys in the trees right next to the river. We didn’t even have to leave the boat to see them.