For virgin traveler, ease into Belize

The

water taxi revved its outboard motors, spitting the scent of gasoline into the tropical air, and then took off, headed from Belize City to San Pedro Town on Ambergris Caye, 35 miles away. Onboard, airplane-weary tourists, commuting locals, boxes destined for island businesses — and my wife and I with our luggage — crowded on wooden benches for the hour-plus trip.

Once the boat took off, we quickly lost sight of the onboard chaos and instead became absorbed in the tranquil view.

To call the waters of the Caribbean turquoise is to sell them short. There is an underpinning of deep ultramarine, topped by intricate cerulean waves shimmering across the surface. When the sun casts a certain light, the water seems lit from below and downright otherworldly.

That's what I'd come for: to dive into a whole other world.

It took me decades to get a passport, and not because of some State Department mistake. When I landed last winter in Belize, I was a 56-year-old virgin traveler. I had never been outside the continental United States — or my own travel comfort zone. It's not that I fear planes or other modes of travel. I simply prefer to vacation in places I have been before, where I know what to expect ­— places I consider emotionally safe. And I bet I'm not alone.

My wife has no such hesitation. She arranged for us to get passports several years ago. When they arrived in the mail, mine quickly landed in the back of my sock drawer, where I would have been happy to keep it tucked away. My wife, though, had other ideas.

On Ambergris Caye, the water taxi docked in front of the Conch Shell Inn, right where we were staying, so we quickly checked in, unpacked and then headed out for a walk.

That's when the culture shock set in.

Some of the dining options on the island were housed in colorful but dilapidated shacks no larger than a garden shed. Everywhere we walked, locals wanted to sell us handicrafts. A humble general store was called "Caye Mart," in a cheeky nod to the American chain. Bicycles and golf carts zoomed along the pothole-pocked roads. We were two among many wandering tourists; Ambergris Caye is a popular vacation spot because of its proximity to Mayan ruins, a vibrant coral reef that parallels the island, and its sunshine and charm.

I felt fortunate that we decided on the Conch Shell Inn, which is an oasis of calm in a busy little beach town. More important than location to me, though, is that it is owned and operated by a couple from Richfield, Joan and Mark Johnson. Joan felt like a friend from home, albeit one who knew just what to do, where to eat and what tours to take.

We rose early for our daylong trip to Lamanai, an archaeological site that was once a major Mayan city. Thanks to the recommendation of Joan, our tour avoided a return to Belize City. Instead, we wound our way through the back country.

Along the way, our drivers and guides told us about their country, stopping often to point out crocodiles, spider monkeys, bats hanging from a tree and a giant termite nest that rose from the branch of a tree like some giant, overgrown mushroom.

As we hiked on our final approach to the Mayan ruins, an eerie, loud, prehistoric sound pierced the jungle air, stopping us in our tracks. Just a little howler monkey, our Mayan guide told us, adding that its piercing cry was used as the basis for the T-Rex roar in the movie "Jurassic Park."

Thrills continued when we crested a set of stone steps still somewhat engulfed in greenery and saw Jaguar Temple, its stones depicting a jaguar's head. Next up, Mask Temple, which is adorned by a 13-foot stone mask of a Mayan king. Then, I climbed the summit of High Temple, which was built centuries ago and excavated from jungle growth in the 1970s. From the top, I looked down on the surrounding landscape, miles of thick trees and the waters of the New River. In the heart of the jungle, stepping back in time at least 1,300 years and standing atop the highest of four temples at the site, I felt like my own king.

My wife and I had never snorkeled before, yet one morning we hiked down from the Conch Shell Inn to the pier, where we boarded the 40-foot catamaran Lady Leslie, run by a father-and-son team, for a trip to the coral reef. During our half-day excursion, we would hit two snorkeling locations, plus stop at a quieter nearby island, Caye Caulker, for lunch and shopping.

Our snorkeling guide, Jody, the son, didn't help matters when we asked about encountering great white sharks. "Nothing to worry about," for him anyway. "Great whites only like white meat," he said, his practiced lineup of jokes helping to ease our fears of the unknown.

Soon, it was time to push off to our next stop, a location known as Shark Ray Alley, known for its abundance of sharp-toothed swimmers.

Jody threw chum into the water, and soon sharks and rays swarmed beside the boat.

I asked about the safety of jumping into shark-infested waters and then turned to check on my wife. She was nowhere to be seen, until I looked overboard and saw her swimming among the fish, without her life preserver.

I guess she overcame one of her fears, just as I had overcome one of mine.

I'm glad I broke in my passport in Belize. Its sights above and below water made my first international trip worthwhile. Now, though, I can see a whole world of possibilities. Or, maybe, I'll return to my new comfort zone, howler monkeys, sharks and all: Belize.