San Pedro Island Ferry One of the country's most antiquated and last remaining hand-drawn ferries provides the most popular access route between the central populous of San Pedro Town and the developing northern region of Ambergris Caye. The unique, remarkably buoyant, miniature barge-like contraption is ingeniously maneuvered against the subtle currents of the shallow river that connects the Caribbean Sea to the sheltered lagoon on the back portion of the island by the simple combination of seemingly tireless labor and one ragged yet sturdy rope. A continuous assembly of golf carts, cyclists, and pedestrians congregate on either side of the narrow waterway while the ferry casually lumbers forth on its return voyage from the opposite bank of the channel. An astounding feat to many, the small vessel can hold up to three golf carts which alight via a primitive removable board ramp that connects the ferry to the edge of a small cemented boarding platform. While the entire crossing only takes a couple of minutes, the short journey exposes an astounding convergence of the island's major eco-systems. The shallow, sometimes brackish channel is home to a number of tiny crabs and an abundance of juvenile reef fish that seek comfort in the spiraling roots of the flourishing mangrove cluster that lines the northern shore. On fair days, the channel is brilliantly transparent exposing an array or multi-colored angel fish scurrying above the pale sand bed just below the surface. A quick glance to the east reveals a milky-white horizon spanning across a vast interchangeable backdrop of azure, turquoise, and emerald that signifies the majestic reef crest less than a quarter mile offshore. The breaking waves are clearly visible from the pristine beachfront setting that encompasses the Boca Del Rio community park directly adjacent to the ferry's southern boarding platform. The northern horizon is a seemingly endless expanse of green mangrove tips and scattered rays of beaming white light generated by the sun's reflection upon the crystal waters of the San Pedro lagoon. The skyline is often dotted with a number of soaring gulls, crows, and frigate birds that hover above their sheltered nesting sites amongst the rich mangrove thickets. Not only does the ferry serve as an ideal vantage point to appreciate the unsurpassed natural beauty of the surrounding environment but is also acts as a symbolic reminder of the island's rich history. In a time of continuous development signified by the emergence of luxurious condominiums, exclusive resorts, and vigorous nightspots, it is not difficult to overlook the town's humble origins. Indeed, the rustic contraption is one of the final tangible souvenirs of a surprisingly not so distant by-gone era of rolling coconut plantations toiled by the diligent inhabitants of a sheltered fishing village predominantly unscathed by outside influence. Before the construction of the upscale resorts that now border the winding sandy road that ruggedly traverses the region just north of the channel, the area was virtually uninhabited save for a few striving fishermen and farmers. The introduction of the ferry undoubtedly paved the way for almost inevitable northward expansion thus forever solidifying its establishment as a milestone in the island's technological and economical growth. On a clear night, a keen sense of nostalgia is certainly evoked by taking a backwards glimpse at the natural silhouette created by the reflection of the misty blue moon upon the northern lagoon waters as the ferry slowly meanders towards the endless sea of lights and echoing waves of sound that radiate from the heart of San Pedro Town. Far exceeding its primary function as a necessary mode of transport, the underlying charisma of the modest island ferry is undeniably rooted in its invaluable historical, cultural, and aesthetic significance.