Mr Wolton, along with Mrs Wolton and Miss Sowah took a Group of 12 boys from the RGS, 1 ex-RGSer from Borlase, 2 girls from Claire’s Court and 1 girl from Wycombe High, to Belize for 2 weeks this Easter.

We were greeted by our guide Mr Joe Garel at the airport and following lunch by the Belize River, we spent our first day at a howler monkey sanctuary. We came across a troop of beautiful black howler monkeys. We managed to antagonise the dominant male enough to howl us off his territory.

The group on the beach
In the days that followed we visited the Belize vivarium to help transplant trees, washed a 16ft. python, cave-tubed for over a mile underground and explored the giant ATM cave. Here we trekked for a mile, crossing a river 3 times. We trekked through the caves, with our helmets and head-torches, passing through very small spaces on our hands and knees. We admired this sacred Mayan site seen as the opening to Xhibalba (hell), coming across the skeletons of Mayan sacrifices and learning about Mayan culture. Later that night Alex found a Fer de Lance (the most poisonous snake in Belize) near our accommodation.

Looks like a tough course ...
Martz Farm was our next stop. A family run clearing in the forest where Joe Martinez, had built tree-houses as places to sleep. The family were incredible, the walks were inspiring. We trekked up the Rio Frio river to a waterfall and swam upstream surrounded by the beautiful Macal river valley with huge limestone cliffs and tropical forest either side. Everyone was sad to leave their “home in the trees”.

Messing about on a rather clear blue sea
In the Jaguar reserve we enjoyed/endured many long hikes and It was here we saw the elusive Tapir whilst river tubing on yet another hot tropical afternoon.
The snorkelling at South Water Caye was fantastic, seeing parrotfish, nurse sharks, barracuda, sea horses, octopus and on one of our boat trips we were incredibly lucky to see a pod of dolphins!

Spot the ball
All in all, the Belize trip was well worth the 2 year wait. It was a truly  life-changing trip and none of the people on the trip will ever forget it. Many thanks have to go out to Mr Wolton, Joe Garel and all of our guides for such an amazing trip.

Looks like potential for fun here

Relaxation

Andy Noble 13SB