Cayo Scoop! The Ecology of Cayo Culture

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."

Video of the day.  One Chance Travel put together a great video of their vacation to Belize, and it highlights Cahal Pech and the Belize Zoo.  They have a nice article about Cayo, which mentions many local spots, from Ajaw Chocolate to the Green Iguana Conservation Project.  Worth a watch, and a read.

"Check out our trip video! We visited 3 spots in Belize: San Ignacio, Placencia, and the island of Caye Caulker! Read more on our blog"

D'Sky Bistro, Chef Ennel's new restaurant, is having it's grand opening week starting today.  It's on the hill to the east of Cahal Pech, on Alvorado street.

"D'SKY BISTRO BY CHEF ENNEL extends to you a cordial invitation to join us on our GRAND OPENING week starting Friday January 18th, 2019!! 

We're bringing you a different fine dining experience in San Ignacio with exceptional service, food, ambiance and views!

**FREE Welcome Drink
**FREE Welcome Appetizer when you order a main plate
**Wine Tasting courtesy The Wine House
**LIVE Marimba entertainment from 6pm - 10pm

To reserve your table kindly call us at 824-7876 or e-mail us at dskybistro@gmail.com."

Belize was ranked as a top 5 honeymoon destination for adventurers.  Cayo is highlighted, of course.  Big Rock Falls is pictured, and they highly recommend the San Ignacio Resort Hotel for lodging.  The Green Iguana Conservation Project and Cahal Pech are also recommended.

Want to plan an adventure honeymoon? Try one of these five honeymoon destinations, where you can top off a day of adventure with plenty of romance...  At the family-owned San Ignacio Resort Hotel, each of the 26 rooms have airy, white-draped beds and are accented with local art. Take your morning coffee at the pool, where, if you’re lucky, you’ll spot toucans, searching for fruit among the trees. The resort makes it easy to experience the region: Walk into the town of San Ignacio or stroll the trail that loops through the property’s 17-acre jungle preserve and iguana sanctuary.

Video of the day.  Virtual Trip has a nice video of Cahal Pech.  They walk to, and around, Cahal Pech.  Great video, and music that works well.  Somehow, they didn't get the mini-museum at the site.  

"A walk through Cahal Pech ruins, in San Ignacio, Belize..Cahal Pech is a very small mayan site few minutes from San Ignacio town, it could be reached by walk in about 20 minutes. It's still a good place to visit, you can combine cahal pech with Xunantunich in the same day."

Travel Weekly highlighted Belize in its latest article, and Cayo, of course, gets most of the story's focus.  The San Ignacio Resort Hotel, Ka'ana, and Gaia Riverlodge are all mentioned as great lodging options. 

While ATM is somehow not mentioned, the Black Hole Drop, Actun Loch Tunich, is, as is the Green Iguana Conservation Project.  Caracol, Xunantunich(Hanna Stables gets a shout out in regards to getting there), and Cahal Pech, some of Belize's nicest Maya archaeological sites, are recommended. 

"Neatly wedged between Mexico, Guatemala and the Caribbean Sea, don’t let its size fool you – there’s plenty here for a standalone holiday. Its Mayan experience is at the heart of it all, predominantly in the western Cayo District, home to the unassuming capital Belmopan, aka the ‘Garden City’ thanks to surrounding waterfalls, caves and rivers that are ideal for hiking, birdwatching and soft adventure.

The tourist hub, though, is San Ignacio, a small town of lively local bars and restaurants, and a good base for Caracol, Belize’s most impressive Mayan city; Cahal Pech, the oldest known site in the Belize River Valley; and the temples of Xunantunich, where a new tomb was discovered in 2016. Hanna Stables offer horse-riding tours here, including a quirky ferry crossing with horses in tow.

Cayo District is home to the Actun Loch Tunich cave, where a hike and abseil take you 300 feet down into Central America’s largest cave system."

Cayo is 2nd on the list, of course, and it's all about culture and history.  Cahal Pech is specifically mentioned.  

"Get your kids hooked on history with a trip to San Ignacio, Belize—which is one of your easier international trips, as it’s a relatively short flight from the United States and is an English-speaking country. If you go during the summertime, you’ll likely find renowned archaeologist Jaime Awe and his team working on an excavation at Cahal Pech, an ancient Mayan ruin. You’ll get the opportunity to witness them unearthing history, and the team will even field your questions. In addition to exploring the ruins, you can go cave tubing—which beats a lazy river any day."

Congratulations are in order.  Cayo was listed on Trip Advisor's top 10 Central American destinations, based upon travelers' experiences in the region.  As it should be, since we have so much to do, including Cahal Pech, seen in the picture.  Cayo came in at 7th place.  San Pedro, the only other Belize entry, came in 1st place. 

"It’s true: parts of Belize are getting touristy. But San Ignacio remains rustic, making it a great base for budget-friendly tropical adventure travel. Canoe on the Macal River, or walk to Mayan ruins at Cahal Pech (just be warned: it's uphill)."

Video of the day.  One of the photographers for the MMAC put together 100's of pictures from the race last month.  He captured pictures from all over Cayo, from downtown San Ignacio to Cahal Pech, to waterfalls and trails in MPR.  He captures the essence of the race really well, and he has the music to go with it - 'We Are the Champions' is one of many great songs.

The Cahal Pech Archaeological site is featured on this video.  It's narrated and edited well, and shows most of the site, including the museum, and the recent improvements.

"Cahal Pech Mayan Ruins in San Ignacio, Belize are a great set of ruins to visit.  Cahal Pech sits on the top of the hill overlooking the town of San Ignacio. From pretty much anywhere in town you can see the cell phone tower that dominates the skyline .. the ruins sit below it well to the north a little.  Its a medium hike up the hill from town to the site but it can be done.  Or like us you can stay at the Cahal Pech Resort which is also below the tower.  This is a great site, having many halls and staircases worth exploring.  When you come to Belize I would come here again its a really cool place."

Video of the day, and it's all about the Cahal Pech Archaeological Site.

"Cahal Pech is located on a hill that overlooks the twin towns of San Ignacio/Santa Elena in the Cayo district of western Belize. The name of the site means 'Place of Ticks' in the Mayan language.

The site consists of seven plazas and over 30 structures including temples, residential buildings, ball courts, an altar, and a sweat-house, all situated on just 2 small acres. A royal burial chamber was found in one of the structures. Inside the tomb a ruler had been laid to rest with the accouterments necessary for the afterlife. The site was a hilltop home for an elite Maya family and there is evidence of continuous habitation to as far back as 1200 BC - making Cahal Pech one of the oldest Mayan sites in Western 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."

Great article about Cayo from the Full Passport.  But, to have two days is 2 weeks too little.  She has a decent itinerary with Cayo for the nature and jungle, and Hopkins for the beach. 

"Located about fifteen kilometers by road from the Guatemalan border, San Ignacio is a popular base for exploring the mountainous, jungle-covered Cayo District of Belize. There’s something for everyone in San Ignacio: backpackers will love the plethora of inexpensive accommodations and the lively bars along Burns Avenue; adventure seekers will revel in opportunities to trek through mysterious, sacred caves and explore the countryside by horseback; history nuts will delight in the abundance of important Mayan ruin sites nearby; and chocoholics will enjoy the chance to learn about the chocolate-making process from the descendants of the people who created it – and sample the goods, of course!

Even if you’ve done Caracol, I suggest paying even a brief visit to Cahal Pech since it is a very different type of complex. It’s also worthwhile to enlist a guide to help you understand everything you’re seeing, as there aren’t many signs or readable placards to be found. Rene was able to paint a fascinating picture of the life of a ruling family as we walked through their courtyards, kitchens, bedrooms, and ceremonial sites, which overall gave us a much more well-rounded view of Mayan life."

The premier issue of Caribbean Culture & Lifestyle is out, and McNab Designs has done it again.  Well done, vivid, informational, and Cayo is all throughout.  Ajaw chocolate, and the Green Iguana Conservation Project are both mentioned as great sights to see in San Ignacio proper.  ATM, Xunantunich, and Cahal Pech are highlighted as must see's.  The only flaw: Simply Delicious, which is recommended for eating, has just closed. 

"Welcome to the first issue of Belize’s newest travel publication, Caribbean Culture + Lifestyle!  CC+L is the go-to for the best in current, local and regional travel news. Plus… It’s available on-the-go."

Video of the day.  Check out this cool tourist-made video of San Ignacio.  It starts at Cahal Pech, and shows many of the main sites of downtown Cayo.   In fact, most every street in downtown Cayo is featured, along with the Haswkesworth and wooden bridges, and the murals too. 

"San Ignacio is the second biggest city in Belize, after Belize City. The town is located near the guatemalan border and is surrounded by the Macal river, mountains and jungle.. we can find there two mayan ruins: Cahal Pech and Xunantunich.. It's the perfect place to discover Belize, its landscape and population."

The Cayo BTIA is having a special strategic planning session on Wednesday, March 22nd, starting at 6:30pm.

"Inviting our BTIA Cayo Chapter MEMBERS to an important consultation meeting being held next week Wednesday March 22nd, 2017 at the Cahal Pech Village Resort, San Ignacio Belize from 6:30pm - 8:30pm. Your presence and input is requested."