Belize!

[morgan]

I'm heading off to the rain forest in Belize for a week early next month. I'm bringing my dslr instead of my rangefinder. This is the first time in a few years I've traveled without my trusty R-D1, but I figure for wildlife the canon is a better way to go (and it was an excuse to buy the 70-200 f4). Any tips for wildlife? Also for packing/backpacks? I'm bringing the 70-200, 17-55IS, and either the 24 1.4 or the 35/2.0, not sure which yet. Any rain forest tips, and no gross stories please. I'm nervous enough about this trip.

 

[Sikario]

I have just come back from Belize, in fact I have only just started scanning the film from my trip. I spent most of my time in the San Ignacio region. I drove down from Mexico, through Corozal, Belize City and along the beautiful Hummingbird Highway.

I would be mindful not to take too much equipment, the sun can be scorching and when it isn't shining the rain arrives instantly and can be incredible.

Carrying a huge, heavy backpack would be hell. I only ever took one camera out with me at any one time. Admittedly, that camera was usually my Pentax 6x7, which equates to about 5 rangefinders, but I am glad I left all my lenses at home.

I am no wildlife photographer, and that's probably why I don't have many tips to give you. There is a huge amount to shoot in the jungle, but it's a difficult environment to take photographs. A long lens will help I imagine, particularly for birds and howler monkeys. Many of the creatures are small and live in the undergrowth so a lens with decent macro capability may help.

Where exactly in Belize are you travelling to?

 

[morgan]

I'm going to the San Ignacio region as well. How was the bug/mosquito situation? I'm new to wildlife shooting and bought the 70-200 pretty much just for this. I 95% of the time use my rangefinders, but I'm comfortable with my dslr. I hadn't thought about the macro thing, that's a great idea. I never bring this much gear on hikes, so it will be a bit of a test. But I figure if I bring the two zooms and one camera, that's not too bad. I may also buy a p&s like the canon s90 just in case I get sick of carting my crap along.

Any tips on sites? We're planning on doing some of the ruins - ATM, Tikal, and maybe try to get down to the cockscomb wildlife refuge area. Did you see a lot of mammals?

I'd love to see your stuff. Be sure to post!

 

[rpilottx]

Tikal Last Year

Tikal Last Year

I visited Belize last year at the end of May. My daughter and I went from Cay Caulker south and then spent time near San Ignacio and visited Tikal. I was carrying an M4 with 35/90 lenses.

I don't recall any problems with mosquitoes but the humidity sucked. After 4 hours wondering about Tikal I was done in. Drink lots of water. I believe the humidity caused the original covering on my M4 to peel in large chunks. I sent it to Cameraleather for griptac.

Take fast film as the jungle is dark. And a micro lens if you want to do plants which were in abundance. The 35 worked pretty well in Tikal.

 

[Sikario]

Yes the humidity is an issue, in the jungle you'll find that your hands become soaking wet in a matter of minutes.

I used anti-malarial tablets (Avloclor) after seeking advice from my doctor. The advice was backed up from a family I stayed with in Belize City, they said why take the risk of not protecting yourself. I seem very prone to mosquito bites and despite arming myself with a potent mosquito spray I was still regularly bitten.

I had my own car so I didn't go on any tours. Although I didn't see any of Belize's most famous mammals in the wild, such as the Jaguar and Tapir. I viewed them at Belize Zoo, which is well worth a visit. You'd have a better chance of viewing them in the wild, if you hire a guide at one of the reserves. They may do night tours for the big cats. I believe the Tapir national reserve is closed to the public, although ATM tours pass through the reserve.

One thing is for sure, you'll see lots of vibrant-coloured birds, lots of Iguanas and countless leaf-cutter ants!

I really liked San Ignacio, it had a laid-back vibe. The mix of different people and cultures made for an eclectic choice of food too. If you happen to be in San Ignacio on the weekend, visit the market in the early morning, you'll see Mayan, Rastafarian, El Salvadorian and Mennonite people all trading next to one another.

Once I get some shots scanned, I will post them in this thread.

 

[morgan]

We're not going to have a car, so we're doing the tour stuff, which I guess has its pluses and minuses. I hadn't wanted a car, but now I'm wondering if we should get one. As far as mammals, I'm not expecting to see much around the lodge (although there have been some large cat sightings), but we hope to go to the Cockscomb nature preserve. I'm excited for all the birds and lizards though. Less so for arachnids.

I'm probably going to do the anti-malarial stuff as well. What bug spray did you use (so I know not to use it! 🙂 ? We're going with Avon Skin so Soft, as lots of Belize travelers have reported that it works great.