Cayo Scoop! The Ecology of Cayo Culture

Not a month goes by where Chaa Creek isn't on a top 10 list.  This month they made gayot.com's list for 'Top Value Spas' and Fox News' list of 7 'stunning jungle and rainforest retreats.'  

http://www.foxnews.com/travel/2013/04/11/7-stunning-jungle-and-rainforest-retreats/

"The Lodge at Chaa Creek prides itself on being a true eco lodge, 100 per cent devoted to green, sustainable tourism.  Set on 365 acres on a private nature reserve in Belize, the riverfront resort offers a vast menu of adventure travel packages at great rates.  After a day of spotting exotic animals, hiking along a medicinal plant trail, canoeing at sunset on the Macal River, horseback riding or rainforest ziplining, guests like to chill at the jungle bar or relax with luxurious spa treatments.  While the cost of a therapeutic massage is not cheap at $85 (or $70 for a custom facial), the environment is priceless: al fresco pampering with views of the rainforest, a musical backdrop of tropical birds and a spa that is decorated with fresh flowers every day."

Belize Trails, a new Cayo based organization that will specialize in the design and construction of sustainable jungle trails, is having a Wilderness Survival Course starting on December 2nd.  You can learn how to prepare a jungle survival kit, identify edible plants, navigate the jungle, train your mind for jungle survival, and much more.  Sir Winston Harris and Lenney Gentle, who both have lived in the jungle for extended periods of time, will be some of the leaders of the course.

"Wilderness Survival is an intensive survival training program in the jungle of Belize.  Instructors provide students with essential skills to improve their chances of surviving and leading a team under adverse conditions in the tropics.  This program provides hands-on skill development in route finding and orientation, shelter making, water procurement, trapping and hunting, foraging, fire-craft and bush medicine during a multi-night simulation experience.  Students are introduced to the psychology of survival, basic wilderness skills, leadership training and emergency rescue."

The owner's of Ka'ana were interviewed by Hospitality Design about their new private pool villas.  The unique villas are quite luxurious, and utilize many different type of local woods in their design.  They explain what they created quite well.

“With the villas, we challenged ourselves to create a truly world-class product that could sit alongside these great destinations and really put Ka'ana on par with the best of the best, and our own favorite resorts around the world.  We wanted to make sure to embrace the local environment and culture but maintain the modern feeling that is present throughout the resort.  We love the contrast of providing luxury amenities to guests while they are surrounded by the raw Belizean jungle. After a hike across rivers and exploring caves it's great to return to something clean and lush.”