Belize Vacation Review: Placencia, Red Bank, Lamanai, Caracol, Barton Cave, Monkey River, Mayan Ruins, Wildlife, Birdwatching

So many! 
Snorkeling at Ray Caye island was amazing! We saw a huge variety of beautiful fish, anemones, and coral, whale sharks, a sea turtle, an enormous stingray, many mantas, and two dolphins.
Seeing so many different birds. All our guides were excellent birders—knowledgeable and excited to share. The Scarlet Macaws on the Red Bank tour were spectacular! Special mention of Golden (Golden tour?) out of Placencia.  His enthusiastic personality was so much fun!
Exploring Barton Cave was an excellent tour.  Beautiful rock formations and interesting history.
We saw manatees in the mangrove swamps during our Monkey River tour, and got great nostril pictures—they didn’t break the surface much.
Every lodge we stayed at was very comfortable.  Great food, friendly people, beautiful rooms, and a good range of activities.  Special mention of our host at the hotel in Mystic River; she really goes the extra mile to ensure her guests’ comfort!
Tours of the Mayan ruins at Lamanai and Caracol were an amazing look back in history.