Belize, Ambergris Caye - April 2007
Dogrose

Our taxi pulled into the tiny Municipal airport in Belize city. We were hot and hungry after our 5 hour bus journey from Chetumal in Mexico across the Belize border, and eager to get to our destination of Ambergris Caye, a small island off the coast of mainland Belize, boasting the worlds second largest barrier reef.

There were two airlines to choose from, Maya Island, which we were informed by our driver to be the cheapest, and Tropic air, which looked a touch more upmarket.

Still in backpacker mode we tried Maya first but were informed that they only had one seat left on the next flight. So, leaving our bags on the trolley, we trundled the hundred yards or so across to the Tropic air building.
We entered a small waiting room, which, at first I thought was the staff lounge, as most of the people in there appeared to be pilots.
We asked at the desk about flights and, yes, there were two seats available on the 4.30 flight, 15 minutes away.
We swapped our US$60 for two blue boarding passes and sank into the comfortable seats in the full blast of the air con.

Ten minutes before the flight was due one of the desk staff approached me. There was an earlier flight, she informed me, and promptly swapped our blue passes for white. With only ten minutes to go I wondered how much earlier this new flight could be.

Five minutes later a small, single prop plane, pulled up outside the building. It probably seated 15-20 people. We were excited as this was the smallest plane we’d flown on.
Gathering our things together we waited for the announcement to board. The voice came over the tannoy “would people with blue passes please board the plane”.

Confused, we sat there while the small room emptied and we were the only ones left. A few minutes after the plane had taken off the woman approached me again. “Your plane is ready now” she said and led us through the doors on to the run way. We couldn’t believe our eyes. There, shimmering in the afternoon sun, was a little 4 seater plane, two seats for us and one each for the captain and pilot!

Kelvin banged his head on the wing, climbing into the small space behind the pilot’s seat. The pilot apologised, worried that he’d hurt himself, we were more worried that he’d damaged the plane.

We sped down the runway after brief safety instructions (there is a life jacket under your seat. If the plane appears to be loosing altitude quickly please stick your arms out of the window and flap like hell).

As we rose into the air the plane seemed motionless and thoughts of Jonathan Livingston seagull came to mind, we felt we should maybe help it along by rocking forward, urging it upwards.
Soon we were chugging away over cobalt blue water, dotted here and there with beautiful little white islands that looked as flat as pancakes.

The flight took 25 minutes and we were both quite sad when we saw San Pedro airport looming up and we started to descend.
Touching the ground we started to slow along the little runway. The captain threw open his window and instructed the pilot to do the same. We could only presume this was to help stop the plane.

Sorting through the luggage that was piled onto the long table by the runway, we both agreed that it was definitely the best 60 dollars we’d spent so far and we both have our fingers crossed that we’ll be just as lucky on the return trip!

To watch a short video of us coming into land at San Pedro airport:
Click here

If you’re interested in reading more of our travels, check out:
Wrinklies on manoeuvres