Anderson's Lagoon
South of Hopkins in Anderson's Lagoon, bioluminescence (when an organism emits light through a chemical reaction) is the main attraction. Plankton that live in the water light up when disturbed by any agitation of that water, such as when fleeing predators or when fleeing your excursion boat. In a different take on the town’s nightlife, several Hopkins outfitters (Barefoot Services; www.barefootservicesbelize.com and Get to Know Belize Tours; www.gettoknowbelizeadventures.com) let you take in this evening spectacle. The first part of the evening takes you by boat through the mangroves of the Sittee River where you’ll spot crocodiles, iguanas, and coatimundi among the variety of nocturnal animal life. You enter the lagoon and the motion of your boat drives the display of blue light.
You have a narrow window of opportunity for optimal viewing here. You want the driest of Belize’s dry season. (Bioluminescence is a year-round phenomenon, but rain stirs up the lagoon, making it nearly impossible to see.) Most nighttime excursions run February through May, admittedly with forays outside those months, depending on the weather. You want as close to a dark night as possible. Nights surrounding the new moon are ideal. Quarter-moon nights become possible but less optimal. The full moon makes for difficult viewing, and tours do not run on those nights. Unfortunately, the bioluminescent phenomenon does not show up well in smartphone photos.
