Totally Tubular - Cave Tubing Nohoch Che'en Caves Branch Archeaological Reserve

On our half day off the boat we decided to keep it aquatic, of course. Can’t stay out of the water too long or the Fisharts gills stick together. We had a bit of an unpleasant experience waiting for the rest of the van full of boat goers to load up. We were about half an hour late leaving the dock for our excursions as the people from the other boat were busy buying drinks from the bar. Despite there being free drinks on the boat. And the tight timeline for the (oddly) coveted wine and cheese party on the respective boats. And then we had to make a pit stop at a convenience store for water and beers and bug spray. Amid the obnoxious remarks and douchebaggery of the others.

Anyways, we drove a little less than an hour out of Belize City to Nohoch Che’en Caves Branch Archaelogical Park. Our gang of four was signed up for the 90 minute cave tubing experience where as the rest of the van were on their way to a shorter 50 minute zip lining excursion. Geared up in helmets with lights, life jackets, and big ol’ inflatable orange tubes we started on a short and breathtaking 20 minute lazy walk to the were we’ll put in to start the float. 

Along the way, our funny and friendly guide told us a little about the flora and fauna of the jungle and stories of his hunting misadventures. Showing us a few medicinal plants and food-producing trees as we goofed around looking at birds and bugs. Can you spot the small green bird in the green foliage?

Alligator tree

Reaching the cool, turquoise water it was time to tie up the caravan of tubes and begin floating idly along into the cave. There are eight caves in the park, but we’ll just be floating through the one hospitable one. 

Into the abyss! The cave was humid and dark and quiet. Except for our cheesy cave jokes and remarks. We watched the passing stalactites and looked for recognizable shapes in their wavy patterns and ridges. 

Jellyfish

Hearing the sound of rushing water, we soon came upon a series of waterfalls gently rushing over a stone plateau. In the distance was a section open to the sky, overgrowing with jungle plants. Apparently it’s the path to another series of caves including one full of glittering stalactites, if I remember correctly it’s called the crystal cave. But I’m bad at listening. 

Just prior to emerging from the cave, we scanned the ceiling for specimens of the three species of resident bat - insect bat, fruit bat and false vampire bat. See those brown blobs in the holes in the rock? The big ones are the fruit bats and the little brown dots are the insect bats. Yeah bats!

Exiting the cave we still had a leisurely float ahead of us, slowly watching the shoreline pass by. We stopped to snack on an allspice leaf, spotted many completely unphotographable birds, and one large grumpy and uncooperative iguana.

Before we came ashore at the end of the route, there was one last thing to do... 

Kerplunk! Schlepping our tubes back to base camp, we were rudely pressured to get a move on and change quickly by the others who weren’t listening when the time discrepancy between our two excursions was explained. Rudeness ignored or aside, we piled back in the van and headed back to Belize City through a crazy pouring rain storm just in time for our casual wine and cheese part and photo slideshow on the boat. 

After socializing over Chardonnay and grabbing a disappointing bite at an overpriced restaurant, we said some goodbyes had our last night of sleep on the boat. The next morning would see us putting in a few hours of waiting time at the port-adjacent hotel pool before it was time to depart for the airport. Goodbye BZE and hello YYC!