From Copan we headed back into Guatemala and up to Rio Dulce, where we enjoyed a night sipping mojitos by the pool at Bruno´s, a yachties haven!

The following morning we boarded a launcha (wooden boat) expecting to take a short ride up the river to the Garifuna town of Livingstone. Three hours later we had fully explored the Chocon-Machacas Nature Reserve which included a scenic boat ride through the mangroves - home to the manatee (sea cow), Rod swimming in thermal springs and shack homes where people who have never seen a road live on the side of the river.

Finally, having arrived at Livingstone in the midday heat, we decided that given our extensive travels over the past few days we should push on to our ultimate destination - Belize.

Here was the problem, the standard ferry didn´t leave until 7.30am the following morning and with Rod due to depart in a few days from Belize City, time was not on our side. So we decided to bite the bullet and hire a private boat to take us over to Punta Gorda, a Belizian port, only to find out that we had been scammed and had paid double the going rate. Worse still, the port´s manager had decided to take a long lunch and we couldn´t leave Guatemala until he had stamped and signed our papers - and we had to make the last bus at 3pm!

The race across the Carribean at top speed was memorable... nothing but blue water, a foreign land in the distance and circling sharks below. Very bond (or the Amazing Race depending on your perspective). Below is a picture of the customs office at Punta Gorda - welcome to Belize!