Cayo Scoop! The Ecology of Cayo Culture

Pictures from the groundbreaking in Succotz this morning. Can't wait to see the Xunantunich Hammock Bridge.

Xunantunich got a wonderful write up in thetravel.com.  Well written article, with history and archaeological finds.  Worth a quick read.

'Xunantunich is located in the jungle within sight of the Guatemala border (only around half a mile away). At its peak, Xunantunich was the center of the Maya world in this part of the Belize Valley region (during the Late and Terminal Classic periods). In its heyday, the Belize Valley was home to around 200,000 people...

One of the most significant finds at Xunantunich was a burial chamber in 2016. The burial chamber had been untouched and is believed to be one of the largest Maya burial chambers found in modern times. Inside, a body of a young adult male (aged between 20 and 30 years) was discovered. The chamber also houses a number of artifacts like obsidian knives, jade pearls, animal bones, and ceramic vessels.'

The latest edition of Our People, Food, and Culture is all about Cayo, and things to do and see in the area.  Oxmul Coffee is mentioned, as are Poustinia Art Park and the San Antonio Women's Cooperative.  Rio Frio Cave, Rio On Pools, and Xunantunich are highlighted.  It also sets the stage for the 2nd part, which focuses on Finados, by interviewing David Ruiz.  

Part 2 here.,

'In this episode of Our People, Food, and Culture, we learn about the Cayo District’s many natural wonders and its Yucatec Maya heritage through the celebration of Los Finados. Tune in to part 2 at 4:00 p.m. on the BTB Facebook page and the Travel Belize YouTube Channel!'

Video of the day. Great video of Xunantunich-Ancient Mayan Archaeological Site, and Cahal Pech Archeological Site, from a guest perspective.

'Walkaround of Xunantunich and Cahal Pech maya ruins. Both of these sites are beautiful with amazing history. Both of these sites can be visited in a single day. El Castillo is about 130 feet high from the ground. Tour provided by pack https://www.pacztours.net/ . They will provide free pickup from the San Ignacio area hotels.'

The environmental video of the eco delegate of Belize, Simone Sleeuw.

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UPDATE - Due to the weather, it has been moved to Thursday, October 27th.

NICH is having an Archaeological Day Fair at Xunantunich on Thursday, October 13th. They'll have a Pok Ta Pok game, and informational booths. The fun starts at 10am.

'Starting at 10 am, we invite everyone to join us for a day of fun as we do our part in celebrating all works of archaeology.

Booths such as basic Maya writing, artifact management, bioarchaeology, and a live-action Pok Ta Pok game by the Sak Xikin team will all be available to our Belizean public.'

USA Today has a great article about Belize, and it focuses on the best part: Cayo.  Xunantunich Archaeological Reserve is highlighted. Worth a read.

"If you're seeking adventure, Belize should be top of your list. From the warm waters of the Caribbean to the heights of the Maya Mountains, there are plenty of treasures to be found."

Ascenthium teamed up with TR Shine and other Belizean singers to create a music video for their song collaboration entitled Yes I Believe.  The video was shot at the Xunantunich Archaeological Reserve.  Worth a watch, as Cesar's solo rocks Xunantunich.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CSNXm2VJ-O2/

This is a collaborative song done by various artists bringing to you the inspiration for the opening of the celebration season we believe in Belize our Country & homeland

Video of the day.  DJ Dalla visited Cayo for episode 3 of Music & Culture.  He took a trip to the Green Iguana Conservation Project, then Xunantunich.  Sam Harris from the Garifuna Collective plays at the base of El Castillo. DJ Flayva from Cloud 9 does a great set, and then the Jade Band performs at Falcon Field.  

https://www.instagram.com/p/CG1DIS7Fr7U/

Video of the day.  A high res tour of Xunantunich.  Everyone loves Xunantunich.

"Xunantunich (Mayan pronunciation: [ʃunanˈtunitʃ]) is an Ancient Maya archaeological site in western Belize, about 70 miles (110 km) west of Belize City, in the Cayo District. Xunantunich is located atop a ridge above the Mopan River, well within sight of the Guatemala border – which is a mere 0.6 miles (1 km) to the west. It served as a Maya civic ceremonial center in the Late and Terminal Classic periods to the Belize Valley region. At this time, when the region was at its peak, nearly 200,000 people lived in Belize."

Twist Magazine loves Cayo in their latest issue.  They mention many of the more popular sites around Cayo, including Xunantunich, Cahal Pech, Ajaw Chocolate, and Mountain Pine Ridge, and they are enamored by the San Ignacio Resort Hotel.  Great read, and one can get an idea of how Cayo is perceived from the guests' point of view.  

"During your stay in San Ignacio, be sure to take time to enjoy the town itself. The fruit and vegetable market is busiest on Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays, so go on one of those days if possible, and consider booking a session at AJAW Chocolate and Crafts, where you can learn about the history and process of cacao and drinking chocolate in the Mayan tradition.

We spent a week in San Ignacio and barely scratched the surface of the outdoor and cultural excursions offered here. With more time, we would have canoed the Macal River, rappelled into a sink hole, toured more caves, and driven over the border to see the ruins at Tikal. We didn’t miss megaresorts, all-inclusive dining experiences, or beaches."

Video of the day.  St. Leonard Tours has an epic video chronicling their horseback ride to Xunantunich.  Words don't do it justice.  The video really captures the Xunantunich Archaeological site in all its glory.  Amazing!

303 Magazine has an article out about budget travelling in Belize, and Cayo is highlighted.  Cenaida's gets a great mention, as does the Green Iguana Conservation Project, Mountain Pine Ridge, and Xunantunich. 

"Tucked away in the jungle is the small city of San Ignacio. While there are tourists in San Ignacio due to its rich history and culture, it isn’t what you would call a “tourist town.” The center of town is a few streets of restaurants and businesses, all centered around a local food and goods marketplace.

A winding river snakes around the city, and just beyond is some of nature’s finest — jungle-thick hikes that lead to towering waterfalls, hot springs and pools. But the real gem of San Ignacio is its Mayan footprint. Ruins of ancient Mayan structures, caves filled with artifacts and other historic sites are scattered around the city. San Ignacio is where a traveler finds their sense of adventure."

Great travel article about Belize, and it's spot on covering mostly Cayo. From Xunantunich to Caracol to the San Antonio Women's Cooperative. Worth a read.

'A short drive from the co-operative is the Xunantunich archaeological site, which I access by hand-cranked ferry over the Mopan River. There’s a hardly another soul around as I climb the central pyramid, El Castillo’s gargantuan steps up to its giddy heights. At 40 metres, it is one of the tallest structures in Belize (the tallest pyramid at the Caracol Mayan complex, around 25 miles south, tops out at around 43 metres) and from the top I can see over the border into Guatemala in one direction and miles of trees in the Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve to the east.'

Caracol got another great write-up, and they described it quite well, along with the fact that not that many people get to see it due to it being remote.  Worth a read.

'One of the largest Maya cities, Caracol, is rarely visited and is lost far in the jungle off the beaten path in Belize.

Caracol may not be a household name, unlike Tikal and Chichen Itza, but it is one of the large Maya archeological sites. It is located around 25 miles south of the Maya site of Xunantunich on the Vaca Plateau, about 1,600 feet above sea level. It was one of the most important Maya centers in the Maya Lowlands during the Classic Period.

Caracol was rediscovered in 1937 by a native logger called Rosa Mai. At the time, Belize (then called British Honduras) was a part of the British Empire. It was visited the next year by A. H. Anderson - an archeological commissioner.'

'We are excited to share with you this collaboration between Smokovich Designs and Sunset Maya Workshop. This has been a project that has been over one and half years in the making. Jorge Castellanos and I have teamed up to bring these ancient images from the past into todays world. Jorge is a talented slate carver that lives within eyesight of “El Castillo” at the Xunantunich archaeological temple and has spent his life dedicated to his craft.'

Video of the day.  Some nice video from all around Cayo, including Xunantunich, Caracol, Cahal Pech, and Mountain Pine Ridge.  

"In this video, I will be taking you to San Ignacio Belize and showing you all the things to do in San Ignacio. Belize is a country with many things to offer, wonderful places, good food and so much more to explore. San Ignacio Belize is one of those wonderful places and has so much to offer. Let's explore all the things to do in San Ignacio Belize together and don't forget to subscribe for more."