Get Started for FREE
Sign up with Facebook Sign up with X
I don't have a Facebook or a X account
 Your new post is loading...
Your new post is loading...
Scoop.it!
Ian Anderson's Caves Branch Jungle Lodge is highlighted in this vacation video. It really captures the magic of the award winning adventure lodge.
'Cave's Branch Jungle Lodge - Voted best hotel/lodge in Belize AND a top 10 adventure lodge in the world. 
No comment yet.
Sign up to comment
Scoop.it!
Brigitte de Graaff, a well known European blogger, wrote a great article about mainland Belize. Unparalleled indeed. Pook's Hill and Caves Branch are praised for their beauty. Great article. Cayo is the best!
"The interior of Belize is characterized by endless diversity. High in the north, close to the border with Mexico, you will find an interesting mix of cultures that can be easily recognized by the rich cuisine. Spanish, Mexican and Asian influences are not to be missed and this region has a pleasantly rippling agricultural culture. Completely opposite is the west of the country, where you can attract yourself as an adrenaline junky. Deep in the jungle you can raft, zipline, cave and tube until you are completely tired and you will still have admired only a small part of all the beauty. This is also the place where you can visit many well-hidden Mayan ruins, or even spot wildlife."
Scoop.it!
Congratulations to all the winners of the 2017 National Tourism Awards! Cayo represented well: Mick And Lucy Fleming, from Chaa Creek, were awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award, and Caves Branch won the Hospitality Award.
Scoop.it!
Belize is, for good reason, showing up on a lot of tourism websites. While Cayo isn't the main focus of this article(as it should be), it's still mentioned.
"A Central American country with amazing beaches and gorgeous waters that isn't Costa Rica... Jump on an inner tube and explore the limestone caves at the Nohoch Che’en Caves Branch Archaeological Reserve. This network of caverns was once the sight of sacred Mayan rituals. Cave tubing in Belize is a must when visiting mainland Belize."
Scoop.it!
Congratulations, Caves Branch! They won this year's Birdathon. One of Cayo's premier lodges which is known for birding, can now say they are the 'birdiest.' Thanks, Belize Raptor Research Institute and Roni Martinez!
"This year, Ian Anderson's Caves Branch Jungle Lodge captured the championship title of the Belize Raptor Research Institute's Annual Bird-a-thon Competition. Renowned birder aficionado Roni Martinez handed over the H. Lee Jones Cup with the Caves Branch Jungle Lodge plate now included on the trophy and this has now taken up a residence on our wall of fame. This means Caves Branch Jungle Lodge Estate has been named the "Birdiest" destination in Belize! Woohoooo"
Scoop.it!
Cayo really steals the show in this travel article from the San Francisco Chronicle. It's pretty comprehensive as far as attractions go. 3 of the 5 places to stay mentioned in the article are in Cayo: San Ignacio Resort Hotel, Ka'ana(which was just in an article about wellness travel), and Caves Branch. The Guava Limb Cafe and Pacz Tours are also specifically mentioned.
Scoop.it!
Yahoo Travel has a great article that highlights the new artisan cheese-making going on at Caves Branch Jungle Lodge. They can be found in Cayo at the Wine House, and in Belmopan at the Farm House Deli. If you like cheese, you've got to try these cheeses. "With pristine Caribbean beaches and dense tropical jungle, the Central American country of Belize offers visitors the best of both worlds. It has become a popular destination for adventure-seeking travelers, wildlife lovers, history buffs and R&R takers alike. But one thing it has not been known for, largely due to its location in the tropics, is its dairy industry. Until now, that is. Three years ago, an entrepreneurial local lodge owner become one of the only artisanal cheese makers in the country. Today, after honing its craft, Caves Branch Adventure Company and Jungle Lodge produces 12 varieties of cheese from a small batch factory on its property. The Cheese is used to feed its own guests and sold to other hotels in Belize.
Scoop.it!
Cayo always cleans up at the BTB National Tourism Awards, as the base for Belize's sustainable ecotourism should. Guava Limb won best restaurant, of course. Gaia Riverlodge won hotel of the year, while Table Rock Lodge won best small hotel. The San Ignacio Resort Hotel won for best hospitality, and Miriam Roberson won the Minister's Award. Caves Branch won for best tour operator. Congratulations to all the well deserved wins! "Last night was the 13th National Tourism Awards. Congratulations to all the winners. Your hard work and dedication pays off. CayoGuides.org congratulates the Cayo winners, those hard working Cayo people that brought all those awards home because when we win, the Cayo District wins. And the Cayo winners are Guava Limb Cafe, Table Rock Lodge, Gaia River Lodge, San Ignacio Resort Hotel and Anderson’s Caves Branch Jungle Lodge. Guava Limb Cafe won Resturant of the Year. It is located in downtown San Ignacio. The exterior is a colonial building with a modern touch. It prides itself in serving quality coffee drinks, pastries, signature dishes and a wide variety of specials."
Scoop.it!
Video of the day. The Ambergris Today crew paid a visit to Ian Anderson's Caves Branch, and got a video of the Black Hole Drop excursion. Definitely a great adventure. "The Black Hole Drop adventure tour of Belize has you hiking, rappelling down the mouth of a sink hole, climbing boulders, ladders and more hiking in one of the most thrilling tours in the country. "
Scoop.it!
Cayo's activities are all over the cloud lately. Around half of this latest Huffington Post list is in Cayo, and the Bocawina zipline, the longest in Central America, is close. The Mayan sites are highlighted, as is Caves Branch, and all the activities one can do there, like the Waterfall Cave, cave tubing, and the Black Hole Drop. "Belize is considered part of the southern Maya lowlands of the Mesoamerican culture area. The area peaked in growth during the classic period dating from 250 AD to 900 AD, although the settlements date as far back as 400 BC. Many of the excavations highlight preserved plazas, pyramids, temples, frescoes, tombs and ball fields."
Scoop.it!
The Making Tourism Benefit Communities Adjacent to Archaeological Sites project made a great donation to the Institute of Archaeology. One of the objectives of the MTBCAAS is the enhancement of the tourism experience by improving the local infrastructure and services. They donated some much needed tools and equiptment which will be used at many sites, including 4 in Cayo: ATM, Xunantunich, Cave’s Branch Cave and Barton Creek Cave.
"The Belize Rural Development Programme Phase II (BRDPII) 'Making Tourism Benefit Communities Adjacent to Archaeological Sites' is a 24 month action promoting broad-based rural economic growth and reduction of the incidence of poverty in the rural communities of Belize."
Scoop.it!
You can win a cheesy adventure vacation package by entering IACB's picture competition. It's the standard most likes photo competition. It's great to see some delicious cheeses being produced in Belize. Good luck!
"ENTER THE CONTEST TO WIN A CHEESE MAKING ADVENTURE PACKAGE FOR 2 at Ian Anderson's Caves Branch Jungle Lodge. The package is complete with Accommodations, Meals & Adventures! It's easy as 1,2,3! 1. Take a photo of your favorite cheese. 2. Submit your photo and a sentence about why it is your favorite. 3. Gather the most votes & WIN!! Click the link for more details and the submission form http://bit.ly/17Y6aaf ; - Contest ends on July 31st, 2013"
Scoop.it!
Cayo got a great write up in International Living. Yes, Everyone should visit Cayo, even though the only things we have here are Mayan archaeological sites, rivers, waterfalls, caves, hiking trails, butterfly farms, medicinal trails, ziplines, cenotes, canoe adventures, botanical gardens, granite pools, Lake Benque, ATM, award winning hotels... Photo is from the Black Hole Drop adventure at Caves Branch Lodge.
"If you love lazy rivers, vast rolling hills, and fertile farmland and rainforests where you can test your gardening skills, Cayo is for you. The heart of this area are the twin towns of San Ignacio and Santa Elena, which both enjoy an Old West feel…but in a tropical frontiersman kind of way that you’ll find only in Belize. Bargains can be found here, too—not only on real estate but on the huge amount of produce and fresh cheeses grown and produced here by local Mennonites."
|
Scoop.it!
Forbes has a nice travel article highlighting 3 places to travel to if you love the outdoors, and Cayo is 1st on their list. They loved the beauty and nature found here, while enjoying their stay at Caves Branch Jungle Lodge. Definitely worth a read.
We are starting our list in Central America, in the (criminally underrated) and devastatingly lush country of Belize. With its vivid combination of dense jungle and the Caribbean Sea, the wild beauty of Belize is reminiscent of Tulum ten years ago—before the influencers, and the pervasive house music, before it became one of the most well-known bohemian getaways on the planet.
In Belize, there is still much left to be discovered. While much has been made of Ambergris Caye as of late, and the diving opportunities off the coast at the Great Blue Hole to be particular, the Cayo district remains blissfully undiscovered to many would-be visitors.
The country only measures 170 miles from north to south, an incredible fact considering the diversity of its ecosystems. And even the highways in Belize are gorgeous: Hummingbird Highway, in particular, is known as one of the most beautiful streets in the world. Which is all the better to appreciate the glory of your natural surroundings, of course. We told you Belize was underrated."
Scoop.it!
Congratulations Caves Branch Jungle Lodge! They won the Belize Tourism Board's Hospitality Award for their outstanding service. The BTB has a little video about Caves Branch that they made for the award.
"The Hospitality Award is being presented to a tourism ancillary organization that offers exceptional customer service, manages the business seamlessly, is sensitive to the needs of staff, flexible in adapting to change and accommodating to the industry’s needs"
Scoop.it!
Westjet Magazine has another Belize article out. They answer the question with, 'stay in a jungle lodge, take a hike after dark, explore Mayan ruins and go cave tubing,' and while they miss about 50 other things, it's still correct.
Chaa Creek, Table Rock, and Caves Branch all got recommended for lodging. Xunantunich is highly recommended too.
Scoop.it!
Congratulations, Justo! Tour Guide of the Year! He works at Ian Anderson's Caves Branch Jungle Lodge. The Belize Tourism Board put together a little video of him.
Scoop.it!
Video of the day. CNN did a special on the Hummingbird Highway, and all its beauty. it's a few years old, but has been trending in the news lately. St. Herman's Cave and the Blue Hole are shown, as well as Caves Branch Lodge.
"Videography for CNN for special on the Hummingbird Highway."
Scoop.it!
National Geographic has published a short article about Waterfall Cave, located here in Cayo, across from Caves Branch Jungle Lodge. Definitely worth a read, and the Waterfall Cave is a must if you haven't been there yet. More great pictures here. "Once thought to be the entrance to the mythical Xibalba, Belize's Waterfall Caves is a spectacular subterranean world with a few grizzly surprises... I’m in a cave in the Belizean jungle, hundreds of feet underground, beneath a limestone mountain ridge. We’ve been following the subterranean course of a river, but have taken an unplanned vertical diversion up a scarcely defined sidetrack that disappears into the roof of the cave. I’m refusing to let myself think about the return journey."
Scoop.it!
The Farm House Deli had their grand opening this month. They are located in Belmopan, at the corner of Rio Grande and Nim Li Punit streets. They offer fresh produce, pastries and bread, and artisan cheeses from Caves Branch(which can be found in Cayo at the Wine House). Delicious! "As close to organic as we can provide right now .. freshly garden picked daily .. a variety of over 20 fresh vegetables."
Scoop.it!
Travel article of the week. Great title, and it's from National Geographic. They recommend Chaa Creek and Caves Branch in Cayo, along with a visit to Xunantunich, canoing the Macal, cave tubing at Caves Branch, and the Belize Zoo. Great article. "Walk the medicinal trail to learn about traditional healing, canoe on the Macal River while spotting toucans and iguanas in the treetops, and visit the nearby Maya archaeological site of Xunantunich, boasting a spectacular temple. At sunset, pull up a chair at Chaa Creek’s open-air bar, where owner Mick Fleming periodically turns up to regale guests with tales of his family’s early days homesteading here."
Scoop.it!
Video of the day. Great GoPro video of a trip around Belize. The time lapse photography at Caracol is done well. The first half of the video is Cayo, and you'll see plenty of familiar sights. The Hawkesworth Bridge is on there, and Rio On Pools, along with Caves Branch, and the Waterfall Cave. "We tackled the muddy roads, steep stairs, deep caves, and coral reefs of San Ignacio, Caracol, Caves Branch, Caye Caulker, and Ambergris Caye."
Scoop.it!
While Belize has been on many lists lately, from Trip Advisor, to Lonely Planet, to Fodor's, this week, a couple of great articles about Belize were published. The first, entitled Five Reasons to Love Belize, discusses the mysteriousness of Caves Branch and the wildlife at the Belize Zoo, and its Tropical Education Center. http://www.wheretostay.com/blog/Five-Reasons-To-Love-Belize/277
The second, entitled Top Best Places to Visit in Belize, deserves the blatant redundancy in its title because Cayo is listed first. Cayo's Larry Waight wrote the piece for the Huffington Post, and he gave a long list of prime destinations.
"San Ignacio Town is the main town in the Cayo District of western Belize and is an ideal base to explore ancient Maya cities like Caracol and Xunantunich, ceremonial caves like Barton Creek and Actun Tunichil Muknal, and cascading water falls like Rio on Pools and Big Rock waterfalls in the Mountain Pine Ridge Nature Reserve. Hiking, kayaking, bird watching and horseback riding are also top rated outdoor activities in the area."
Scoop.it!
Cayo has the caves! Waterfall cave, located off the Hummingbird Highway, has a series of cascades in it that you can climb up. It's guaranteed to be an incredible day of exploring fun.
"Along the Hummingbird Highway, near the Blue Hole, is the Waterfall Cave. After a 20 minute hike to the entrance of the cave, you hike 3 kilometers into the cave, climbing up 7 waterfalls and cascades. You then backtrack, jumping into the pools, and enjoying an amazing lunch along the way. Contact Ian Anderson's Caves Branch for more information."
Scoop.it!
The Belize Cycling Association had a race today. Congratulations to all the winners!
"The Capital City Cycling Race held on Sunday June 2, 2013 featured 41 riders riding from Belmopan to La Democracia Village to Caves Branch Bridge on the Hummingbird Highway and back to Belmopan for a total of 60 miles.
|
