Cayo Scoop! The Ecology of Cayo Culture

The Chulo Linares Canoe Race will be on Sunday the 30th. The race kicks off at 10am. Paddlers will navigate the scenic route from Bullet Tree Falls to Baking Pot Ferry, competing in many categories, and they'll have many prizes. The day concludes with an awards ceremony at the Aguada. Call 630-4753 for more information.

CAWS is having a spay and neuter clinic next Saturday in Bullet Tree Falls. It's only $30 per pet.

'We will be on site April 1 at 8:30 am to start registration. We cannot tell you how long it will take so be prepared to spend the day.  See the flyer for details.  Note: This clinic is intended for those people who cannot afford surgeries for their pets.  This will be a surgical clinic only.  If you have questions, please contact us in advance.'

Balance Point Wellness, Cayo's newest massage and wellness studio, is now open, and they're having a 50% off special next week to celebrate.  They're conveniently located in Bullet Tree Falls, and have an easy online booking system.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CPpHxgZlPU1/

"I am so excited to announce that the Massage & Wellness Studio in Bullet Tree Village is NOW OPEN and I am offering a 50% off Promotional deal for Massage sessions NEXT WEEK ONLY!! Take advantage of this very special deal. ( $40 for a 60 min and $55 for a 90 min) Click here for the online scheduler https://balancepointwellness.as.me/ to book yours RIGHT NOW. Space in limited for the promo spots.

Daniel Velazquez put together a short video showing some of the damage Eta caused to Bullet Tree Falls.  There are multiple GoFundMe pages to help those in need.  Any assistance is highly appreciated.  

https://www.instagram.com/p/CHfzQ9RFg1n/

"Bullet Tree Falls is a small village located in the Cayo District of Belize, along the Mopan River. The people of this village have suffered great losses during the recent flooding from hurricane Etna.

The families affected are in need of urgent immediate necessities such as FOOD, CLEAN WATER, SHELTER, beds, clothing, appliances, school supplies, building supplies, and more. Some of their houses are still underwater and they do not even have food to eat. We are raising money to provide vouchers for local families, who do not have insurance or any assistance, especially those with children and the elderly, to use at local supply shops to meet their individual needs.

For those of you who know me, this is the village I lived in for many years and the people there are family to me. Please contribute what you can!!!!!
Link to page..https://www.gofundme.com/f/bullet-tree-falls-flood-relief"

Video of the day.  Daniel Velazquez created this video with footage from his documentary about last Summer's Sustainable Summer Camp in Bullet Tree.  The kids did many clean-ups along the majestic Mopan, and after seeing the amazing amount of litter that was left each weekend, the kids have something to say to the loser litterbugs.  Great shame campaign.  

Beta No Litta!

"shame campaign PSA

keep our rivers clean...

for our future"

Video of the day.  Adma's Photography has a short video about the history of Bullet Tree Falls.  Bullet Tree started as a mahogany camp, and was established before 1859.

The 1st No- Plastic, No-Styrofoam Kids Summer Camp finished its 3 weeks run in Bullet Tree.  The kids did many clean-ups, learned a lot about sustainability, and made a lot of art.  Their mandalas are now on the bleachers at the Bullet Tree football field.

"Yesterday was the official closing ceremony of our successful 1st No- Plastic, No-Styrofoam Kids Summer Camp, 2018. These were 3 intensive, learning, enriching weeks for the kids, the parents, our organizing team, our facilitators and off course for myself. I am very, very thankful to all the persons who came together to make this camp a reality.

During the 1st No-plastic, No-styrofoam Kids Summer Camp, 2018; our facilitator Isabel Carrió taught our children how to create lovely environmental mandalas. Yesterday, as part of our closing, we set up most of these on the bleachers of our community football field, as a Community Creative Arts Project, which is a result of the children’s work.

The children also made a big interactive environmental sign which states “Choose your future”. This is meant to be a fun sign, where kids and parents can take photos of themselves, making faces that match the scenes depicted on the sign.

Bullet Tree Falls is where the 1st NO Plastic, NO Styrofoam Kids Summer Camp is happening.  Kids are learning art, how to avoid plastic and styrofoam, sustanability, and much more.  It's a 3 week camp, and they just finished week 1.  Looks like all the kids are having a wonderful time.

"Day 5! This week has been a great learning experience, not only for the kids, but also for us instructors. The imagination and creativity of kids is impressive. You'll see the fabulous, final art pieces of the kids, at the very end of the camp on the 29th of this month!!!!!"

Video of the day.  DanDan put together an amazing video about Bullet Tree Falls.  Great drone footage is featured.

TripAdvisor's 2017 Travelers' Choice Awards are out, and not only did Belize have 4 spots on the list, but Vanilla Hills, located in beautiful Bullet Tree Falls took 1st place in 'B&B's' for all of Central America!  The Inn at Twin Palms, located in Belmopan, came in at 17.  Sleeping Giant took 5th in the 'Small Hotels' category while Ka'ana took 21st.  

Clarissa Falls took 5th and Black Rock took 8th in the 'Bargain' category.  Sleeping Giant also took 2nd for Service and 6th for Romance.  Ka'ana was also 9th in Romance.

Congratulations to all the amazing winners!

Belize Adventure has a nice article about El Pilar.

"The name of El Pilar means watering basin, which is quite understandable if you consider the location of this ancient city.  If you want to pinpoint the exact location of this ancient Mayan city, it’s safe to note that you can access it via San Ignacio as well as the Bullet Tree Falls.  These are placed on the Belize River.  Many underground streams are found here and that’s the reason why you will find an abundance of vegetation in this particular location.  Again, this is understandable if you take into consideration the uniqueness of this place and the amazing benefits that it can deliver for any visitor."

Garifuna Settlement Day is just 2 weeks away, and to celebrate, Mime Martinez will be performing, along with Silas and Galicha and the New Style band, in Bullet Tree Falls. The fun starts at 9pm at the Bullet Tree basketball court, and entry is only $10.

'November 19th we are going to be performing live on the Basketball court. Mime Martinez and Silas and Galicha. You can't miss this one.'

Bullet Tree Falls inaugurated their new water system this week.  The new system is powered mostly by solar energy, and was able to be installed thanks to the Protected Areas Conservation Trust.  Thanks, PACT!  https://www.instagram.com/p/CMmic2Nl2Yw/

"On Monday, March 15, 2021 the Ministry of Rural Transformation, Community Development, Labour and Local Government hosted the inauguration ceremony for the Bullet Tree Falls Water System.

For years now Bullet Tree villagers received water directly from the river, with no prior treatment and using electric pumps to do so. Now thanks to a $400,000 funding contribution from PACT, the expansion and reinforcement of the village’s water system will provide safe, potable water from the Mopan River, which is ultimately fed by the Chiquibul Forest. They are also utilizing enhanced Green Infrastructure Technology to do so. The new water system is mostly powered by solar energy supporting a low-wastage treatment process.

"Flood Disaster Relief - Let’s pick Parrot Nest up and put her back together, together.

I moved to the little village of Bullet Tree Falls in western Belize back in 1998, raised two wonderful daughters and lived an amazing lifestyle running Parrot Nest, a little jungle lodge nestled in tropical gardens along the Mopan River. A place where family, friends and guest have come together over the years to a home away from home, a place where one steps back in time, enjoys rustic comfort, nature and the great outdoors. A place to recharge, relax, enjoy great food and good company and to explore many of Belize’s amazing Mayan ruins, waterfalls and spectacular caves."

Feelgood news of the day.  The FCD Environmental Youth Group teamed up with the Positive Environmental Group to do a river clean up in Bullet Tree.  A big thanks to all that helped make the river a nicer place.  Betta No Lita!

"FCD Environmental Youth Group joined forces with the Positive Environmental Group (PEG) in a river cleanup which was carried out at Bullet Tree Falls. The river cleanup was a success and we want to thank PEG for inviting us."

Video of the day.  Daniel Velazquez made a short documentary about the No Plastic No Styrofoam Kids Summer Camp that was held in Bullet Tree.  Shot over the duration of the camp, it highlights some of the events and activities, along with the clean-up the kids did.   Worth a watch. 

"This video is a 3-minute summary of our “1st No-plastic, No-styrofoam Kids Summer Camp, 2018”, which we held in our village of Bullet Tree Falls in July of this year. It highlights the goals of the camp, main activities carried out, interactive educational methods used and lessons learned by the children. This video was shot and edited by Daniel Velazquez of the Belize Soul Project, produced by Dr. Anita F. Tzec and fully funded by the Protected Areas Conservation Trust (PACT)."

Pictures from the event.

Bullet Tree Falls is getting a Bath and Body Shop!  The grand opening if this Sunday, from 10:00am to 5:00pm.  They'll have more than just bath and body products.  They'll have art, gifts, and souvenirs crafted by local artists.  They are located on the Santa Familia side of Bullet Tree, right around where the pavement ends.

"Announcing the Grand Opening of Belizean Made Gifts and Arts. This is the outlet for NSAA Bath and Body. You will be able to find one of a kind items for gifts, souvenirs and for the home. We will carry only BELIZE made items.  Unique. Local artisans.

Join us for the Grand Opening. Enjoy the river in Bullet Tree and find your place for the best of the best."

The Bullet Tree Falls Sustainable Summer Camp had a community clean-up campaign this weekend.  They also had a clean up yesterday at the Bullet Tree swim spot.  Betta No Litta!  They are imploring everyone to leave only footprints.  

"Today was an important day of our “1st No-Plastic, No-Styrofoam Kids Summer Camp, 2018”. We held the community cleanup activity, through which we seek to create awareness in our children and their families, that we are all responsible for keeping our village clean. That we should not expect anyone else to come clean it up for us; and most importantly, so that children can see that most of the garbage being generated in the village and thrown on the streets, in the culverts and drains are SINGLE-USE PLASTIC AND STYROFOAM.

I thank all the kids who participated, as well as all the parents who came out to support their children this morning. I also thank the Protected Areas Conservation Trust (PACT), for supporting our camp, but also for joining us today in our community cleanup, in the person of Mrs. Joyce Tun. We highly value and appreciate your continued support. In Bullet Tree Falls, we really need to start making a collective effort to solve the garbage problem that this village has! If we don’t make the positive changes today, we will be facing some very challenging health and environmental issues in the very near future."

Mind & Me is coming back to Cayo!  They'll be having a Pool Party at the new Poolhouse in Bullet Tree Falls.  The theme will be Woodstock '69, and NIght Quest, Primal Luxe, and Jeff Gold will be performing.  

The Cayo Animal Welfare Society is celebrating Cinco de Mayo with another cook off fundraiser.  This time, it'll be at Remo's Roadhouse, in Bullet Tree Falls, and the culinary focus is Mexican food.  If you want to enter, contact CAWS.