snorkelling Archives — Thrifty Mommas Tips

Five Favourite Western Caribbean Cruise Ports

Paula — Tue, 18 Apr 2017 11:43:25 +0000

The western Caribbean is one of my favorite areas for cruise ports. With an abundance of natural beauty, friendly locals, amazing sights to take in, and endless adventures awaiting, the western Caribbean has some of the best cruise ports imaginable. I’ve put together a list of my favorite ports in the area. If you are planning a cruise of the western Caribbean be sure to take note of these ports. Western Caribbean Cruise Ports that Always Deliver My family and I have enjoyed all of these wonderful spots, some on several occasions. They rarely disappoint. These ports offer all the grand scenery we expect in the Caribbean, as well as a great vibe and opportunities to make life long memories. Belize In the extremely exotic Belize, you will find a HUGE range of activities and sights to see. With gorgeous beaches to the east and dense jungle to the west, Belize is home to rich wildlife on both land and see. Visitors can look forward to relaxing on the beach, snorkelling, diving, as well as exploring the wonder of nature and the Mayan ruins found there. Highly recommend the Belize Barrier Reef snorkelling experience. It is well worth the cost and the time. One of our favourite excursions ever was that time we snorkelled with nurse sharks and stingrays in Belize on New Year’s Eve Day. Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands Grand Cayman is the jewel of the Cayman Islands. This largest of the Cayman Islands boasts gorgeous, white sand beaches, fine dining, exciting nightlife, beautiful reefs, and more. Its famous Seven Mile Beach, Stingray City, and Botanical Park are all must see attractions. Traveler Tip – Do NOT Miss the Turtle sanctuary. I will return. Roatan, Honduras Roatan, an island about 65 kilometers off the northern coast of Honduras, is a western Caribbean paradise just waiting to be explored. Of course, you’ll find the white sand beaches that are so well-loved in the Caribbean. Unbelievably lush, Roatan also boasts amazing diving areas, gorgeous flora and fauna, and great excursion options. Such great memories of waking up here one morning on our first ever cruise, spying the turquoise blue waters and beach right beyond our balcony stateroom. Magic! Cozumel, Mexico A mostly untouched island off the coast of Mexico, Cozumel is a must see port in the western Caribbean for diving enthusiasts. Although, it boasts white sand beaches, resorts, dining, and all of the things we love about Caribbean travel, Cozumel really shines for diving. There are diving spots around sections of the Mesoamerican Reef, the Museo Subacuatico de Aerte’s submerged sculptures, and the Chankanaab eco park. A diver’s paradise. Ocho Rios, Jamaica No post on the western Caribbean would be complete without at least one stop in Jamaica. Ocho Rios is the tops for me. This lovely area features amazing shopping, dining, and natural beauty, Ocho Rios really delivers. Enjoy horseback riding on the beach, swimming with dolphins, and relaxing on incredible beaches. Or have an epic lunch at one of the many restaurants in the area. Do some shopping or get your hair braided. We’ve been to Jamaica several times and we love it. Jamaica is one of the most family friendly areas we have visited. Our memories of the first time we took the kids to Jamaica are special. I will never forget how the Jamaicans treated our girls and nicknamed them “Baby Girl!” and “Fish.” Western Caribbean Cruise Ports You Must Visit The western Caribbean is an oasis of both natural and man-made beauty. You really can’t go wrong with any port in the area. That being said, the cruise ports I just listed are the ones in the western Caribbean that you absolutely should not miss. They are some of my personal favourites and they boast some incredible excursion opportunities as well!

The post Five Favourite Western Caribbean Cruise Ports appeared first on Thrifty Mommas Tips.

Snorkelling with Stingrays and Nurse Sharks in Belize on the Last Day of the Year

Paula — Tue, 31 Mar 2015 17:46:43 +0000

It’s the last day of the year, a year that sped by lightning fast, but then again don’t they all? This is how we spent December 31 snorkelling with stingrays and nurse sharks in Belize. It still is etched on our collective hearts as the best way to spend the last day of the year. If You Go, Consider This: In hindsight I wished that I had bought a GoPro HERO4 SILVER before we took our first ever cruise. I had no idea we’d need one out in the ocean, flying along in a jam-packed speedboat on our way to swim with nurse sharks and stingrays and sea urchins galore. These shots are the ones I captured despite the lack of a Go Pro. I was a little worried about dropping my iPhone in the water as we whipped along. The Faster Years Fly By Who can tell me how it is possible that the older you get the faster the years go? What strange voodoo is this? I have no rational explanation for this phenomenon. It seems to defy laws of physics. But I know this..as we slide towards the end of the year as a family, I feel it is my job to remind everyone what a great year this has been. What a blessing too! We will seize the last moments of this year and ring them dry and enjoy all the feels together as a family and we will do this in Belize. Plan Ahead For Cruise Excursions In fact, I started planning this day almost as soon as we booked our first ever cruise back in October of 2014. Waking Up in Port The last day of the year jumps to a start, on a cruise ship in the Caribbean, and so do I, climbing quickly through the unfamiliar furniture, and into the restroom of our stateroom to throw a swimsuit on. I gather tickets and sunscreen, wake sleepy children, nudge my husband, and we are off to grab breakfast and wait in the amphitheatre with all the other people striving to get to the second port of call. Our Ports of Call This cruise has four ports of call and I have been labouring over the excursions for days, if not weeks, this winter, while I plot this last day of the year together. It gives me some motivation, comfort and strength to get through a chilly winter in Ontario – looking forward is the best way. Moving forward too. Towards Belize Together the four of us eventually surge forward with the crowd of people heading to Belize. A rush onto the transferring boat and then we are in Belize. Together, about 30 of us pile into the smallest speedboat capable of fitting this many people. My younger daughter sits at the very back with my husband and I try not to worry that she could fall off at every sudden wave we jump. I try relaxing, enjoying this, looking forward, sun on my face, my thirteen-year-old cuddled beside me, water spraying up off the boat. The Boat Ride It is a fast and, at times, scenic boat ride through the inland mangrove islands en route to our destination. The driver cuts the motor and we come to a narrow passageway lined with mangroves. I recognize them easily from all the times we have visited the Dominican Republic. The driver tells us there are often dolphins here. Everyone holds their breath. You can hear the silence out here at least until and someone points and says: “Right there. Look.” Spotting Dolphins From a Distance One dolphin swims along. Then another. Gentle splash-less jumps in and out of the water. Not the gigantic aquarium style ones you see at animal shows, but quiet, natural, lovely motions, right before they vanish out of sight. My kids are mesmerized. There are manatees here too, says the driver. Cows of the sea. But not today. We spend a long time searching through the water from the relative comfort of this boat, but we don’t see any. One more dolphin. And another. One puts on a show for a time and we spot him repeatedly, as we all try to jockey for pictures. The motor starts the boat again and someone comes around with snorkelling apparatus we try to fit on our feet. The water shoes are back in Ontario, Canada, having missed the plane ride, the luggage or cruise ship…(why do we always forget those? And why did I buy them again?) As we move through the inlet the one dolphin follows the boat. Everyone clings to the rail. The children stand on the benches. He continues on with us for several minutes. You don’t see that every day. Our First Cruise This is our first time in Belize. Our first time on a cruise. The first time two of us have snorkelled at all. My older daughter and I snorkelled in Puerto Vallarta in June last year on a media trip. That time we were bitten by tiny mosquito jellyfish repeatedly. It was a one of a kind adventure. My husband has never snorkelled. My younger daughter, a fish in our pool, has never snorkelled. I can’t wait to see them try this. My youngest has a small obsession with sharks and so I chose this adventure partly for her. Nurse sharks and stingrays – two of her favourite things. She assures me: “nurse sharks are very gentle mom.” “Most sharks don’t want to hurt humans.” I know this. I have heard it almost daily for the past two months, but I let her tell me all the great things she has collected about sharks. Snorkelling Near the Reef in Belize We stop. Ahead there’s a reef in the middle of the ocean. Okay, not literally the middle of the ocean. It’s a reef off the coast of Belize. The famous Belize barrier reef. The girls clamour and chatter excitedly. How fun! There are five or six other small speedboats with tourists anchored here too. We stake our claim to a small portion of the salt water reef. The water is light green almost transparent and turquoise too. Clear, crystal waters. This is magical. This is Belize. I have dreamed about this and here we are. The air is chillier than the other ports of call but I knew this coming into this daytime adventure. I warned the girls to dress appropriately 21 and 22 degrees and a gentle rain starts to fall. Slipping in to Crystal Blue Water One by one we slip off and into the five foot high water. Payton jumps happily and without any other intention but to get to the stingrays that are everywhere. They are swimming easily without any apprehension or concern for the tourists among them. I slide in and look down and there’s one right beside me. My heart jumps. Multiple others bounce into the water and swim around and I remember ‘salt water close your mouth.’ Beside me Payton is happily, excitedly hollering: “Look at them. One just swam under me.” Someone splashes and she crumples: UGH, salt water. Memory is funny that way. Somehow we forget this every trip and someone always tastes salt water by accident. I worry she is done. She swims back to the boat. The rest of us are told to follow the leader, so we do. We are told put your face in the water. My husband grabs my hand and one of my daughters on the other side and we wade forward. The water is a bit wavy and cooler than we imagined. But here we are on a reef off the coast of Belize and I will be darned if I will let anything stop me from enjoying this day. Delight Looks Like This The last day of the year and we snorkel and my husband starts to get the hang of it. The first time ever. He lights up and he begins to chatter on. And with each new sight he sees under the water he motions for me to see it too. I have rarely seen him this carefree and excited. Life is sometimes not carefree. Thank heavens for these moments that are. We swim around and follow the instructor and we are suddenly somehow a smaller group than the one we started in. There comes a point where the waves get bigger and it starts to rain gently and the instructor keeps on walking. My comfort level is not as high as it was when I could effortlessly swim back to the boat. We are disappearing slowly into the reef area, each one of us swimming wildly around hunting for nurse sharks and then someone yells: “Look back towards the boat. There are a couple under the boat.” Nurse Sharks I look. There they are just resting under the boat quietly motionless. Sluggish and lazy looking. I know they will not harm humans. They freak me out a bit. We are swimming with sharks. We are swimming and snorkelling with stingrays and nurse sharks in Belize. I let that sink in. Urchins Then we stop again and the tour guide says “Look!” and he holds up a sea urchin that looks like a bristle, a prickly little black thing (this is where a Go Pro would have been brilliant) and it is also, he tells us poisonous. We all do double takes together. “Did you just say poisonous?” “Yes, it’s poisonous,” he repeats. “Then how can you touch it?” someone asks. “I am used to it. I’ve been bitten a couple of times and so I know where to handle it. Anyone want to touch it? he asks, then warns us to touch only the spiny textured bits on the top. So we do that. One brave person and then another actually volunteer to hold it. My husband holds one and he is clearly amused. Of course he tries to hand it to me. I take a step back and let him keep his poisonous sea urchin all to himself. Swimming Near the Reef Carefully Another few feet and we are told to swim carefully with face in the water around red coral that is poisonous also. My daughters have fallen behind but I can clearly see them snorkelling closer to the boat, where they feel comfortable. I relax knowing they are there. I swim through the poisonous coral and avoid injury. We spy numerous interesting tropical fish, more stingrays than I ever imagined and an eel hiding between some rocks and coral. I am surprising myself again that I am still out here enjoying this. Silencing Nerves If you look towards the shore you can barely see land. It feels like we are very far out. I am silencing the voice in the back of my head reminding me there could be other bigger sharks and creatures out here. It’s not brave if you aren’t a little bit scared, right? I hear my husband talking to other tourists in our group. He is swimming around, his head popping up, his entire body almost vibrating; “Did you see that?” I nod yes. A few moments later, again. There’s a whole other world down there beneath the water and we are seeing just a glimpse today. I heard my husband say: “That is amazing. Now I understand why people love to scuba dive and snorkel.” Nearby my older daughter is doing the same thing as her Dad. Ainsley, meanwhile has caught a chill and climbed back onto the boat. She is done and ready for food. I see her helping someone clean the snorkelling masks. Tarpon It’s a short ride to shore and we spy dozens of pelicans and big Tarpon fish. There are seagulls too. My daughter feeds the massive Tarpon. Each one of the fish tries to out jump the other, manically frisky. Lunch in Caye Caulker We stop for lunch at Caye Caulker. My husband and I each share a beer after waiting in line for one of the two restaurant bathrooms where our group changes into the clothing they have brought with them. A leisurely lunch and a stroll through this small fishing village and we head back to the port on the speedboat again. Later that Night Later, much later, we will have a family New Year’s Eve dinner together and the kids will each head to their respective Camp Carnival or kid’s camp group for a special New Year’s Eve late night youth event. It will be hard to top this. December 31, 2014 – the day we spent snorkelling with stingrays and nurse sharks in Belize. Our best last day ever. The cruise ship we took was Carnival Pride. The excursion was Belize City Adventure excursion Sharks, Rays and Island Getaway.

The post Snorkelling with Stingrays and Nurse Sharks in Belize on the Last Day of the Year appeared first on Thrifty Mommas Tips.

Snorkelling in Yelapa Mexico with Mosquito Jellyfish

Paula — Fri, 04 Jul 2014 18:36:00 +0000

When the mosquito jellyfish bit me I stopped short a moment, treading water, breathing and wondering what just happened. Am I hurt? Did I imagine that? Should I bail? I am far from an adventuresome swimmer. In fact, truth be told, I almost drowned once in a wave pool. Michael Phelps, I am not. But my kids swim beautifully and are well on their way to summers filled with pool parties and maybe even jobs as lifeguards. Today I am snorkelling in Yelapa, Mexico with my daughter and some travel bloggers. Living the life, admiring the view until this happens…. In a cove in Banderas Bay, I look for my daughter, Payton. From the boat that dropped us off I hear: “Paula, she’s over there.” And in fact she is 100, maybe 200 feet away. Should I swim to her, or paddle back to the boat. While I am sitting there bicycling my legs in the water to stay afloat, I feel another bite on my leg. I start to swim to her and change my mind. I hear others saying: “Ouch, something bit me.” Payton is safe across the bay swimming and snorkelling and she scarcely looks up to see where I am. She is embracing the experience, the water and the beautiful sliver of time in paradise. This day has barely started. We are in a bay in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. She has already zip lined and rappelled at Canopy River Tours Puerto Vallarta. One afternoon she rode a donkey and another day she swam with dolphins at Dolphin Discovery. Did I really expect her to be phased by some tiny jellyfish nips? Still, I am concerned. I know nothing about this. Back to the boat it is. I find a tour guide and tell him. “I got some jellyfish bites. Are they dangerous?” Two little letters – No. I pause at the foot of the boat thinking I will get out and sit and wait for the others. It is the cautious choice, perhaps it’s best. Around me, others are quitting and one or two other bloggers are also weighing their options. Out of the corner of my eye I see the brave Deanna Tousignant of Maple Leaf Mommy. We were both a bit nervous about this to start. Our first time snorkeling. But there are many still in the water. One more chance, I think and I make my breath slow down enough to negotiate the snorkeling mask and the goggles. After all how many chances in life might I have to go snorkeling in Yelapa Mexico? I can do this, I think and I look down, face immersed, breathing through this tube and I spy a school of clownfish. [tweetthis]Yelapa is a gem and a must see when you visit Puerto Vallarta. #travel[/tweetthis] It is magic. Pure perfection, unlike anything I have done and I instantly find my brave side. Swimming out away from the boat into the blue bay that is a warm embrace in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. When I stop looking I find my daughter swimming near another group and together we take turns telling each other what kinds of fish we see. Someone here comments to me on how good this child is at snorkelling. For a few weeks two years ago I took her and her sister to a kid’s scuba diving class. I have all but forgotten. Wrapped inside a Canadian winter, they swam and pretended to find schools of treasure like these. It was a diversion from regular swimming lessons inside an old brick YMCA downtown in London, Ontario. This experience couldn’t be less like that, but somehow her brain remembers and she reminds me. We squeal together when she sees something she swears looks like an eel, then a pufferfish. Sky, waves, caves, boat, perfect water, my daughter, and me trying brave on. I think to myself, like I always do now: somewhere my Mom is watching. In the last 14 months, I have learned that hearts heal a little bit more each day. Puerto Vallarta, Yelapa, snorkelling, swimming, travel, sun, sky wide open. All the feels. This is the best thing I have done since we got here on this Puerto Vallarta media trip. This is the memory that will be balm for the winter months inside a snow belt area of southern Ontario. And this is the activity I will want to do again, safely with my entire family. I know we will all go snorkelling in Mexico. It is so brilliant, I instantly wish to transport everyone with here. As I swim around getting more comfortable each passing moment, I get another mosquito jellyfish bite. And another. And again. Suddenly, they like me again. It feels not unlike a mosquito in the water, but with a tiny shocking jolt. It is the realization that you cannot see what it is biting you that freaks you out most. But we are safe, I tell myself and we keep swimming. Love is a little like this. And adoption is like this too. A leap into something bigger. Around us a few people are kayaking. Still enchanted from the clown fish, I make my awkward mermaid-like fins work. Tour operators eventually call us all back to the boat, for lunch, lemonade and a tour of a secluded fishing village called Yelapa. Together we dry off and hike through town. Stray cats and dogs wind around our feet as we snap photos every couple of steps. There are so many things to see. Merchants selling scarves, plates, ceramic skulls and jewelry. We wind our way uphill through women selling things, babies crying inside houses and the sound of water trickling through outdoor pipes above our heads. It’s too much money for a scarf but I pay not anyways. Together we reach a waterfall, an outdoor bar and the oddest bathroom I have yet to see, shower curtain for a door. Here the water is cold but we each pose for pictures before moving on to the next spot. Another hike, a few more pictures, we travel past a makeshift shrine, some homes and a bar here in the mountains that makes us all chuckle. On the sign, is a QR code and a notice that free WIFI is available. On the cobblestone street, a tourist giggles as she trots along on a donkey, and finally just past a school and across a stretch of beach, we reach the most picturesque beach I’ve ever seen. This is Yelapa. The vendors are a bit aggressive. There are half a dozen fishing boats lining the shore and a man splits open a coconut to bring my daughter a lemonade made with coconut water for about $2 Canadian. The effort of splitting the coconut open alone is worth that much. It’s a bit more of a walk from here. [tweetthis]In Yelapa you can buy coconut water lemonade and potentially swim the afternoon away. #travel[/tweetthis] On the boat ride back past the Sierra Madre mountains I sip a Margarita and sit in the shade hugging my daughter. We watch the silly crew perform their Mexican Kiss routine. My daughter tapes it on her iPhone and I strike up a conversation with the American couple beside us. This is the memory I wish everyone could have when they are sick, or sad, or struggling through an endless January. This is a perfect Mexico day etched in my memory. When I am old and frail and unable to visit magical places like this I hope I can summon these memories, hold them close like pearls and remember how brave we once were, and how much we loved. On Snorkelling in Yelapa and Our Visit To Puerto Vallarta This was the Snorkeling and Hiking tour in Yelapa. You know those tours you go on sometimes when you travel and you actually wait and wait and then see none of the things promised. This is not that tour. I saw more than I imagined and recommend it highly. It was hosted by Puerto Vallarta Adventures. You can read the rest of my posts about Puerto Vallarta here: Five Reasons to Visit Puerto Vallarta. The Review of Casa Magna Marriott. Dolphin Discovery (my daughter’s favourite part of the trip.) In Praise of Mother and Daughter Trips To Book Casa Magna Marriott you can visit Trip Advisor. We were guests of the Puerto Vallarta tourism board which means we received flights, accommodations and food in exchange for honest coverage here. My opinion is all my own and it is also truthful. This post also contains affiliate links as a service to readers. If you make a purchase I receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.

The post Snorkelling in Yelapa Mexico with Mosquito Jellyfish appeared first on Thrifty Mommas Tips.