Cayo Scoop! The Ecology of Cayo Culture

The 2016 Trip Advisor Traveler's Choice Awards are out.  5 of the top 10 B&B's in Belize are in Cayo.  Congratulations, Twin Palms(1st), Vanilla HIlls(3rd - Bullet Tree Falls - pictured above), and the Jungle Dome(15th) for making the list of best B&B's in Central America!

The best lodges in Cayo, and their ranking out of 10:

1 The Inns at Twin Palms, Belmopan, Cayo

2 Vanilla Hills Lodge, San Ignacio, Cayo

3 Belize Jungle Dome, Belmopan, Cayo

4 Marz Farm Treehouses and Cabanas Ltd. Cayo

9 Macaw Bank Jungle Lodge, San Ignacio, Cayo

Another documentary film course is going to be offered soon.  The last one was done during the Summer of 2013, and many of the student documentaries took place in Bullet Tree Falls and around Cayo.  The one about the Green Iguana Conservation Project was great.  This time, they'll be teaming up with Cayo's Wildlife Institute.

"WE WILL BE OFFERING NEW WILDLIFE INTRODUCTION TO DOCUMENTARY FILM COURSE SOON, AND COLLABORATION WITH WILDLIFE INSTITUTE http://www.wildlife-institute.com/ MORE INFO. AND PROMO VIDEO COMING SOON, HERE IS OUR LAST CLASS REFLECTION VIDEO."

Feelgood news of the day.  The Institute for Sustainable International Studies vet students held a spay and neuter clinic in Bullet Tree.  They have a video from the clinic.  The next clinic will be in San Antonio on Saturday, June 21, starting at 9:00am, at the community center.  Thanks, ISIS!

Bullet Tree Falls is having their annual River Cleanup Extravaganza tomorrow.  Come out and join in the cleanup, and have some good food and fun at the same time.

Vanilla Hills Lodge, a beautiful little eco-lodge located in Bullet Tree Falls, is getting some outstanding reviews.  They are small right now, with only 2 cabins, the Hibiscus and the Orchid, but another one is on the way.  They also have a line of cheeses, breads, and jams that are tasty and healthy.  

"Vanilla Hills Lodge is situated in the rolling hills of Cayo on a wooded lot on the banks of the Mopan river.  Although only five minutes from San Ignacio Town, the tourist center of Western Belize, the lodge is surrounded by peaceful nature.  Vanilla Hills is your ideal starting point for a multitude of tours.  From here you are within easy reach of famous Maya sites, impressive cave labyrinths, the tropical jungle and many more day tours.  At Vanilla Hills Lodge you will be staying in spacious and well equipped cabanas."

The Rotaractors of the San Ignacio club recently did a trash clean up along scenic Bullet Tree Falls road as part of their Go Green Campaign.  This is just one of the many things they do around Cayo to make it a better community.  Thanks, Rotaract! 

"Clean up campaign on the Bullet Tree Road"

The Institute for Sustainable International Studies is having another vet clinic tomorrow.  San Antonio is the location this time.  The students, along with Dr. Tesecum, spayed and neutered many animals at the Bullet Tree Falls clinic, pictured above, a few weeks ago.  Thanks, ISIS.  

https://www.facebook.com/ISISBelize/

"Our summer students volunteered to help with a vet clinic in the Village of Bullet Tree Falls.  Students and their supervising Vets saw 58 animals and preformed 15 spay surgeries.  Paying it forward from ISIS to Belize."

The Bullet Tree Falls Corn Fest was Friday and Saturday.  They had football as the main event Saturday, and the Queen of the Corn pageant on Friday night.  Corn wine?

"Bullet Tree had their Corn Fest this weekend.  They had fun, games, food, football, and much more."

The Bullet Tree Falls Corn Fest flier is out.  This Friday and Saturday, come to Bullet Tree for fun, games, and dancing too.  Friday evening is the Queen of the Corn pageant, followed by Orquidea Negra Dance Company, and then a disco with DJ Diamond.  Saturday starts with the canoe race, then has a football quadrangular, and those are followed by a drinking contest, a pepper eating contest, marching bands, themed dances, a volleyball competition, and it also ends with a disco.  

Feelgood news of the day.  The San Ignacio Public Library paid a visit to Immaculate Conception primary school in Bullet Tree Falls.  What a way to celebrate Education Week.  Thanks, SIPL!

"The San Ignacio Public Library staff visited Immaculate Conception RC Primary as part of eductaion week.  The SIPL staff spoke about the importance of libraries and reading.  Stories and activities were also a part of this visit.  Students had educational fun."

CELA is doing another FREE vet clinic in Bullet Tree Falls, on January 2nd.  Keep that feral animal population down, and neuter.

"Our Large Animal Vet Practices class will be supporting a community animal health clinic in Bullet Tree Falls on Saturday, 2 January.  The clinic will open at 9 am.  Come early if your animal needs a spay or neuter.  See flier for more details."

The U.S. Naval Hospital Ship Comfort ported in Belize today, and will be here through the 18th.  They are having free medical clinics around Belize.  They are having clinics in Hattieville and Independence, and while there was one scheduled in Bullet Tree Falls, they might save that for next time.  The Belmopan Active Youths are organizing volunteers to help with the clinics. 

"The USS Comfort, a medical and educational exchange ship, will be visiting Belize from April 11- April 20.  As part of its outreach, it will be performing medical services in two sites—one in Hattieville Government School and one in Independence High School.  BAY is working with the organizers to find volunteers to help at the sites to do things like hand out water, distribute coloring books to kids, etc.  If you have the time please take on this opportunity let us know!!  It's gonna be awesome!!  Transportation and lunch will be provided.  Contact the BAY Office (822-1545) for more information if interested!!"

CAWS and HBHS are teaming up again to bring in vets to do some free spay and neuter clinics in Cayo.  They will also have deworming medicine and vitamins.  Saturday...the 29th??...maybe the 28th this year...the clinic will be in Santa Elena.  Sunday, it will be in Bullet Tree Falls.  Thanks CAWS!  Thanks, HBHS! 

This year's Documentary Field Film School started a few weeks ago, and the students have been having a great time learning about film in Belize.  Last year, they did Bullet Tree Falls, with this year they are doing San Antonio,  and the films will be shown at the next Cayo Film Festival.  They had a screening and an Open Mic night at the Soul Project.

The Belize Film School is just under a motnh away.  Last year the students did quite a few documentaries on local artists and personalities from Cayo, and Bullet Tree Falls.  This year, they are focusing on San Antonio.  Can't wait to see the footage.

"You could be in Belize making a Wildlife Documentary!  See where life takes you!"

The Lucas Botanical Medicinal Trail, located in Bullet Tree, is a great medicinal trail to hike.  It can be found on Paslow Falls road, just off of Bullet Tree Falls road.  It'll be on Trip Advisor soon.  Call Lucas Medina at 665-5421 for more information, or for an appointment.

Feelgood news of the day.  The ROWKIDS brought a medical team to Bullet Tree, where they checked out 140 people.  Thanks, ROWKIDS!

"Today ROWKIDS Medical Team treated 140 people to at the Bullet Tree SDA Primary School.  As the College of the Ozarks basketball players and coach held sports camp with the students.  Great team showing Christ's love to everyone!  Enjoy the photos."

The Institute for Sustainable International Studies will be having a spay and neuter vet clinic tomorrow in Bullet Tree Falls, starting at 9:00am.  Thanks, ISIS!

"As part of ISIS's commitment to serving the communities in Belize, our summer students will be sponsoring and participating in spay/neuter vet clinics in these villages:
Bullet Tree Falls, June 8, beginning at 9 am
San Antonio (Cayo), June 22, beginning at 9 am
San Jose Succotz, July 27, beginning at 9 am"

The Bullet Tree Corn Fest is this weekend.  The Queen of the Corn beauty pageant is tonight, along with a dance afterwards with DJ Diamond.  Tomorrow, it's an all day festival, that starts with a canoe race, and ends with a dance.

https://www.facebook.com/events/510547222338445/

"Once again the beautiful village of Bullet Tree Falls comes alive.  This time better than ever.  It's Corn Fest Day.  Come and enjoy yourselves on Friday 31st May and Saturday 1st of June.  On Friday come and witness the selection of Mrs. Bullet Tree Corn Fest.  four beautiful, gorgeous ladies are vying for this prestigious title.  It all starts at 6:00p.m.  After the pageant you can dance with D.J Diamond.  On Saturday 1st of May, the day starts at 9:00a.m with a canoe race from Benque Viejo Del Carmen to the Salvador Fernandez Bridge in Bullet Tree Falls followed by a whole day Football Quadrangular...  You are all welcome with open arms to the scenic village of Bullet Tree Falls."

The Bullet Tree Falls Queen of the Corn Festival is coming up this weekend.  The Queen of the Corn pageant will be on Friday, May 31st, and on Saturday, the festival will continue throughout the day.  Food, fun, games, and good times for the whole family, and the proceeds will be used to build a new classroom for the Immaculate Conception primary school.

"Once again the beautiful village of Bullet Tree Falls comes alive.  This time better than ever. It's Corn Fest Day.  Come and enjoy yourselves on Friday 31st May and Saturday 1st of June.  On Friday come and witness the selection of Mrs. Bullet Tree Corn Fest.  Four beautiful, gorgeous ladies are vying for this prestigious title.  It all starts at 6:00p.m.  After the pageant you can dance with D.J Diamond.  On Saturday 1st of May, the day starts at 9:00a.m with a canoe race from Benque Viejo Del Carmen to the Salvador Fernandez Bridge in Bullet Tree Falls followed by a whole day Football Quadrangular."