Belmopan – The Jaguar Creek
Belmopan
The Jaguar Creek
September 26, 2022
After another day spent in the cabaña, seeking refuge from the rain and all outside activity alike, it was time for me to get back on the road. This time round, it’d be a quick stop in the capital – Belmopan – where I’d be meeting Roy again, yet another impromptu decision.
I remember waking up feeling all giddy and excited at the thought of seeing him again. Somehow, it felt as if it had been years since we were last together – the days I spent in Caye Caulker already felt like they belonged to a different lifetime. And now we’d be together again – if only for a few days. The second I hopped off at the bus stop, there he was – all tall and handsome, waiting for me. We ran toward each other and met in the middle with a big kiss you’d only expect in a wartime movie. I just couldn’t believe we were together again.
The City of Belmopan
We spent the morning roaming around the city and its market. While Belmopan is the country’s administrative capital, I have to admit it’s pretty unimpressive – except for its National Assembly Building, which was built to resemble a Mayan temple. Being with Roy did make it considerably better, though. I have to admit, it also felt a bit weird – kinda like a mix between hanging out with an ex you’d just broken up with and hanging out with a long-distance partner you hadn’t seen in ages. It wasn’t awkward at all, but I did feel like we were making things harder – especially for him.
You see, for me, as special as our fling was, it was just that. And when it came to an end, I put it in this bright and shiny bubble that would remain floating in my mind for perpetuity. For him… I don’t think it was the same. He wanted more. He wanted this thing we had to go on. In this regard, I did my best not to give any mixed signals – telling him over and over that our lives would invariably take different courses and that it made no sense to pursue it any further. I didn’t go so far as to tell him that I didn’t think we were compatible in the long term – I thought I’d spare him the misery, after all he had done for me.
But yeah… we’d spend a few more days together and then we’d have to say goodbye all over again – as if the first time wasn’t heart-wrenching enough. But that… that was something we’d worry about later. For the time being, we were together – and that’s all that mattered.
Surprise, surprise!
After going around the city, it was time for something Roy had planned exclusively for me – knowing I had missed out on the Cockscomb Wildlife Sanctuary. We got in a cab and, without knowing where it’d take me, I just sat there, calm and tranquil, knowing full well that whatever he had in mind would be worth my time. He did plan most of my itinerary in Caye Caulker, after all!
Turns out, we were on our way to Jaguar Creek – a fancy eco-lodge nestled in the middle of the jungle. There, we’d have at least a day to roam the forest, visit a couple of places he had in mind, and, to top it all off, spend the night in a gorgeous wooden lodge. The second we got there, I was immediately in love with the place. The road leading there is surrounded by trees on both sides, forming a canopy in the shape of an archway that leads straight to the lodges in the middle of the jungle. Plants of all kinds and flowers of every colour filled what I could loosely describe as a terrace, with a wooden bridge connecting the cabañas to each other. In the background, the soft sound of the coursing creek could be heard, along with the rustling of leaves and the light pitter of the rain.
Jaguar Creek
After settling in, we were met with Kay and Darcy, a couple from Arizona to whom we took an immediate liking and decided to spend our time there with. Nearby, was what’s known as yet another Blue Hole – a natural pool of azure water found in the middle of the jungle, connected to a system of labyrinthine caves.
There was only one problem with going there. Turns out, the only way to reach the Blue Hole was by bike, since it was already too late to arrange transport and too far to walk. It was at that point I had to confess that I didn’t know how to ride a bike. Perhaps in an attempt to show off his manly, macho side, Roy had me sit on the handlebars while he exerted himself a thousand times over trying to keep the thing moving. I felt like a proper passenger princess – or rather, a damsel in distress – especially with the bike wobbling dangerously at every twist and turn.
But somehow, we made it. By the time we got there, the rain was falling as heavily as it could. Being well accustomed to swimming in the rain – something I’d gotten used to during my travels – I managed to convince everyone to join me for a dip in the pool. They were hesitant at first but eventually gave in, and ended up loving every second of it. We ventured as deep into the caves as we could, accompanied by dozens of tiny fruit bats, but as the water level rose, we quickly had to make our way out and head back to the lodges.
Next up was Jaguar Creek itself – a small river right on the premises. Normally, it’s the perfect place to go river tubing, but the rain had been so intense that the river was too high, making it unsafe to do anything more than admire the landscape’s beauty. While I’d usually be bummed about missing out on something like that, I was completely okay with it this time – partly because it wasn’t in my to-do list in the first place, also cause Roy and I got to spend some much-anticipated alone time together in that lovely lodge.
