Cayo Scoop! The Ecology of Cayo Culture

A Glazed Out Christmas Special is in the works with Chaa Creek and The Guava Limb Café, so it's going to be top notch. It'll air on TNC on Friday, December 22nd.

 

In related news, they are gearing up for season 3, and are looking for passionate chefs to be on the show.

Check out Ashley's National Costume. Wow! She'll be stunning at the Miss Universe pageant. They did the photoshoot at The Lodge at Chaa Creek.

 

'This costume depicts the Jaguar in its natural habitat glistening under the moonlight. Ashley is clothed from head to toe in a beaded jaguar print leotard, thigh-high boots accentuated by a tropical flora back piece, and a lighted moon, with the Jaguar’s head prominently displayed on her body. Ashley’s height and sleek body perfectly portray the agility of the Jaguar in its natural habitat. Like the Jaguar, Ashley’s onyx eyes penetrate through the darkness to bring light to the young women she mentors.'

Cayo was listed as one of the 2020 Travel Hot Spots by Ali Wunderman, author of Frommer's Guide to Belize.  Frommer's is one of the better guide books for Belize, and offers lots of great information about the tours, lodges, and cultural hot spots around Cayo.  Chaa Creek, Parrot's Nest, Soul Project, and other spots are highlighted.  Ali was recently interviewed by Javier on the Belize Travelcast.

 

"Cayo District (Western Belize): The Cayo District is the heart of Belize's Mayan world, as well as its prime ecotourism destination. Between a full plate of active adventure activities and a steady diet of Mayan ruins and ancient burial caves, families will find this a great place to spend time in Belize. The Lodge at Chaa Creek is not only extremely comfortable for families, but they also have their own butterfly breeding project and natural history museum on-site. And if parents need a little pampering, they also have an excellent spa. For families on a budget, we highly recommend the Parrot's Nest which offers free river tubing, treehouse stays and much more family-friendly fun...

 

Try rappelling into a sinkhole or riding horses to visit a Mayan ruin. And if you like zip-lines, this country has you covered.

Belize’s interior (which, by the way, is less than two hours from the coast/airport, so there’s no logistical reason to skip it), is also where the country’s youth are developing art and culture in a new way. In San Ignacio, the twice-weekly Soul Project (housed beneath The Old House Hostel) showcases live music and rotating installations created by young, local artists, while the San Ignacio Resort Hotel merges hospitality and stewardship with the Green Iguana Conservation Project.

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Beltraide launched the 6th edition of Invest Belize Magazine.  It's in printed and digital formats.  They interview Cayo business owner Lucy Fleming, and she explains how sustainable practices actually help a business be profitable.  There's also a good article about the Belize Audubon Society, and their take on sustainability.  Much of the issue focuses on sustainability.

 

Sam Harris, of the World Culture Band, has a article in it entitled The Heartbeat of Belizean Rhythms, where he talks about the richness and diversity of Belizean music.  

 

Definitely worth a read.  They have many pictures from the event:

https://belizeinvest.net/2018/12/11/ibm-vol6-launch

Lucy Fleming sat down with Meg Peir and answered some questions about life in Belize.  She talks about everything from the diversity of the Belizean people to what makes Belize special, and how one can find themselves here.  Worth a read. 

 

"Thinking of traveling to Belize? The Cayo District in the western part of the country borders Guatemala and was once the heart of the Belizean Maya world and is still rich with pre-Columbian archaeological sites. Cayo encompassses two thousand square miles of jungle and is one of the most vivid environments on the planet. It is hard to imagine anyone who has a better grasp on the attitude that is needed to adapt to and be in harmony with this kind of full-on, in-your-face life force than Lucy Fleming, one of the world’s eco tourism pioneers, who settled in Belize in 1977 and, with her husband Mick, founded Chaa Creek Lodge, today one of the best-known sustainable tourism enterprises on the planet. In this riveting interview, Lucy reveals the Belize she has called home for more than forty years, and shares some powerful personal experiences she's had that are sure to inspire you. . Buckle your seat belt and get ready for an adventure!"

The Cayo Corn Festival is finally happening!  The first one will be on Saturday, August 11th, and will be on Burns Avenue.  It'll be a cultural festival celebrating Cayo.  Lots of corn based foods will be on sale.  There will be live music, and the New Sensation Band will be performing.  

 

"The cultural Maya ‘Mano and Metate’ Presentation along with a variety of corn meals prepared by different women in our community. If you have the best corn food or drink then visit us at the Cayo Welcome Center and enter our Corn Festival competition where First prize is $700 and Second prize: $300.

 

Live music by the most versatile band in the land ‘The New Sensation Band’ and of course Ice cold Belikin Beers, stout, Lighthouse, landshark, Guinness and Coca-Cola.

 

Sponsored by: San Ignacio & Santa Elena Town Council, Cayo Welcome Center, Belize Tourism Board, Chaa Creek, Atlantic Bank, Belikin and Coca Cola Belize."

The Heart of the Town Fundraiser, which will raise funds for the San Ignacio Police station, will be this Saturday night, at the Wine House.  The wine will flow, and they'll have food and a silent auction with a wide selection of great items.  

 

"Join us for a Wine Tasting and Silent Auction at The Wine House in San Ignacio Town to raise funds for the San Ignacio Police Station. 

Wine Tasting include : 1 Red Wine + 1 White Wine + Hearty Appertizers

Cost: $30.00

AUCTION ITEMS INCLUDE:
A Private Candlelight dinner for two at Table Rock
Lunch for two at Trey's Barn and Grill
Pia's therapeutic Massage... one 1 1/2 massage
White Rock Farm Foods
Orange Galley items
San Ignacio Hotel... dinner for two
The lodge at Chaa Creek 
The spa at Chaa Creek
Guava Limb Restaurant
Maria Estella's Unisex Salon; Gift baskets 
and many more!

All proceeds will go towards purchasing of equipment and supplies for the police precinct. Donations for the silent auction are welcome and can be dropped off at The Wine House.
For more information, please call 636-1497."

Video of the day.  National Geographic spent some time at Chaa Creek's Blue Morpho Butterfly Farm.  Check out all those butterflies!  

 

"We are LIVE from the Blue Morpho Butterfly Enclosure at Chaa Creek Lodge in San Ignacio, Belize."

Video of the day.  WCVB Boston spent some time in Belize, and put together a great little video, which focuses mainly on Cayo.  They interview Mick and Lucy Fleming from Chaa Creek, and talk about the many Maya archaeological sites in the area.  They also have Big Rock Falls in there.  Montes is also interviewed, and he shows them around Xunantunich and Cahal Pech.

 

"Belize is the perfect place for a little R & R, reef and rainforest, and if that's not enough, you can even visit ancient Mayan ruins."

Feelgood news of the day.  The Realize Belize Team took several kids with disabilities horse back riding at Chaa Creek.  Their goal is to make Belize more inclusive for those with disabilities.  Thanks, Realize Belize, and Chaa Creek!

 

"A fantastic morning horse riding for children with disabilities at The Lodge at Chaa Creek! Thanks to our volunteers and everyone at Chaa Creek for your support in making this happen!"

Chaa Creek has a new online travel guide for Cayo(and).  It's immaculately done, and has tons of information about all the sites and excursions around Cayo, along with the cultures of Belize.  Chaa Creek's history is also shown, along with their views on ecotourism and sustainability.  

The 2017 Eco Kids camp at Chaa Creek has started, and the 1st day was Biodiversity and Conservation oriented.  Read all about it as Alex Atkinson once again tells the stories of the week.  

 

"Chaa Creek’s 2017 Belize Eco-Kids Summer Camp started with a storm, which, anywhere else, would have probably been a bad omen. But here, in the middle of the jungle surrounded by dark woods, flooded rivers and trees full of howler monkeys, we just took it in our stride, and as they came down the jungle trail, there were smiles all around that cut straight through the gloomy clouds.

 

Literally. As they sat down around our famed camp fire, the clouds gave up and moved away, and we started with – of course – the ice-breaker, our nickname game, where we have the chance to give ourselves our own camp names before other, less charming ones are bestowed on us. There’s a catch – your nickname has to be a food, and it has to start with the first letter of your name."

 

'This year was the Spa At Chaa Creek’s first entry into the coveted category, and as Nancy, the Spa’s manager, expressed, “We were excited, and now we are delighted to have been recognized as Belize’s Best Health and Wellness Provider.”'

Video of the day.  Miss Universe Belize, Iris Salguero, visited Cayo.  She highlights some of Cayo's famous landmarks and attractions.  She visits Xunantunich, the Green Iguana Conservation Project, and Chaa Creek, and she walks the Hawkesworth.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CNz2Mzxllou/

 

"Part of being Miss Belize is getting to travel around our beautiful country."

The Metro has a nice article about culinary experiences in Belize.  It focuses mostly on Cayo, where we've had 5 restaurants opening in a little over a month's time.  Pop's is mentioned, as is the Guava Limb, and the Marie Sharp's Tourist Center, where the author participated in a cooking class.  Chaa Creek got a great recommendation too.

 

"Imagine a place that’s so immersed in nature that, as you fly into its international airport, all you can see are lush green forests.

 

Imagine while hopping between one city to another on a commuter plane, the sea below you is so clear that you can actually spot a sting ray from the air.  That was my experience of Belize, a central American country that considers itself part of the Caribbean.

 

Formerly British Honduras, Belize is now very much an independent state, and one of the few places where English is spoken by locals. Its location and history means that its culture and its food is incredibly diverse – and that’s what I went to discover."

The Belize Tourism Board had the 2018 National Tourism Awards last weekend.  Congratulations to all the winners! 

 

There were a winners here in Cayo:

Chaa Creek won Hotel of the Year.

Carlos Hernandez won Tour Guide of the Year.

St. Herman's Blue Hole National Park won Tourism Site of the Year.

Ian & Ella Anderson won the Lifetime Achievement Award for their work in the tourism industry.

 

The BTB has many great pictures from the event.  And a video.

The Eco Kids Summer Camp has once again come to an end.  Thanks, Chaa Creek, for once again sponsoring an amazingly educational Summer camp!

 

"What an incredible a week of camp we've had. Huge thank you to everyone who contributed towards the success of Eco Kids camp 2018, until next time!

 

Bringing along birds that classify as raptors, you can bet that sharp claws, giant wings and menacing eyes instantly got everyone’s attention. Getting the chance to touch and hold wings and Taxidermied birds, excitement quickly filled the air. Another topic of conversation that morning was the epic ECOLYMPICS! Yup, you read that right! Upon our return back to camp yesterday, each time encountered an obstacle course which was a combination of games played throughout the week along with their knowledge from past presentations. Forcing them to work as a team, games such as Maya ball and worm races tested their ability to combine the different skills from each camper."

Chaa Creek's 2018 Eco-Kids Summer Camp has kicked off.  They have daily updates on their site, so you can follow along and see what adventures the eco-kids are doing every fun-filled day. 

 

Chaa Creek's Belize Eco-Kids 2018 Summer Camp started with a storm today July 16th, 2018 with 28 Belizean kids from different backgrounds partaking this year!  Arriving at the camp grounds entrance, fueled by camp songs and now being in the jungle itself, smiles could be seen stepping out of the bus one by one. After a final announcement by our wonderful and caring Counselor Lilly, the kids lined up and marched down Chaa Creek’s Howler trail into camp. The trail, which would normally be filled with howler monkey screams during the night, was now filled with cheerful laughter and footsteps heading towards memories that’ll last a life time."

Chaa Creek has an interesting article about Belize caves, and how Forbes Magazine likes the Great Blue Hole.  They list 5 of the best caves in Cayo too.  Actun Tunichil Muknal tops the list. 

 

"Our Underground Love Affair With Belize Caves.  Belize’s Caves offer deeply moving experiences – from diving sparkling Caribbean waters to canoeing, tubing or rappelling hundreds of feet into a forest canopy."

Feelgood video of the day.  Realize Belize teamed up with Chaa Creek to do some 'horse therapy' with disabled children.  Thanks Chaa Creek and Realize Belize!  

 

Chaa Creek has a great article about the experience: Belize Travel Blog.

 

"Here at Chaa Creek we love giving back, so it was an honor to host kids from Realize Belize recently for hippotherapy on the property. What a great group of kids! Check it out"

The Cayo BTIA, supporting their cause of sustainable tourism, held their first clean-up campaign last weekend, and, wow, they picked up a lot of trash between Cayo and Benque.  Thanks to all the people that made this happen, including Chaa Creek, Black Rock Lodge, and Ka'ana!

 

"A typical conversation with a Belizean about what they think makes Belize so great will eventually lead to the point being made that it’s Mother Nature’s best-kept secret and a haven for sustainable tourism. Further investigate why and you’ll hear about the historic Mayan Ruins, the miles of untouched jungle, the birds, the great barrier reef and practically every other highlight there is to know about Belize. In addition to all the talk of natural resources, we’re sure you’ve heard us speak of the commitment from Belizeans to be as green as can possibly be...

 

The hope for this project? That next time more teams join – enough teams to clean up the entire 8 mile stretch of road between San Ignacio & Benque Viejo Town. The longer-term goal? To remind everyone in Belize that together we can make a valuable difference and notable contribution!"