You Better Belize It!

Last month I had the pleasure of guiding another great group of Wofford College students to the beautiful country of Belize. The trip, which each student gets college credit for, focuses on the study of eco-tourism. Eco-tourism is about uniting conservation, communities, and sustainable travel. Throughout our trip, we explored and analyzed how the various eco-lodges and tours worked towards this goal.

We started off at the spectacular Black Rock lodge, an eco-lodge outside of the town of San Ignacio, just 8 miles from the border with Guatemala. The lodge sits up on the side of a mountain, overlooking the Macal River. The land across the river is protected and filled with wildlife including tapirs, jaguars and toucans, all of which can be heard from the lodge. 

One of many wildlife sighting at Black Rock Lodge

Basing out of Black Rock, we explored the best activities the area had to offer. We started off at the Actun Tunichil Muknal cave tour, which in my opinion is the #1 must do activity in all of Belize. It involves swimming and climbing through a wet cavern of a cave, before reaching a dry cavern that contains tons of ancient Mayan artifacts, including multiple skeletons. Unfortunately, cameras are no longer allowed in the cave due to people having dropped them on artifacts in the past. Check out some of my previous posts on Belize to see pictures from previous trips when cameras were allowed. 

Next up was a visit to Tikal, a national park in Guatemala known as one of the largest archeological sites and urban centers of the pre-Colombian Maya civilization. A day at Tikal involves more than just exploring the archeological sites, but also involves lots of animal sightings due to its jungle environment. We had a great day climbing ruins, learning about the history of the Maya civilization and watching howler monkeys leap from tree to tree. 

Tikal's Main Square

A view from the top

Our final day in the area was spent at the lodge itself, learning about and exploring its beautiful surroundings. In the morning, we took a sustainability tour to learn how the lodge runs completely "off the grid" with both micro-hydro and solar power. We also visited the garden where they grow their fruits and vegetables. In the afternoon, the students had the option of hiking up the cliffside to get a view of the Macal from the ridge, mountain biking a local trail or spending some time reflecting in their journals.

Canoeing the Macal

A view from the top of the hike

Mountain biking in the Belizian Jungle

Journal writing!

The following morning we said goodbye to Black Rock and moved south for the next phase of our adventure. The next stop was a night at the Cockscomb Jaguar Preserve, where we wandered the jungle in search of the ever elusive Jaguar. We tubed the local stream and hiked to a beautiful mountain vista before walking down quietly in the dark with the hopes of a sighting. Unfortunately, we never did see an actual jaguar, but we did come across some fresh tracks, which was exciting in itself.

Someone forgot to tell the local guide it was a silly shot!

Jaguar track

Following Cockscomb, we headed even further south into the Toledo district to spend time learning more about the Maya culture and traditions. We visited the small Maya village of San Felipe and learned the traditional Maya approach to making chocolate. Juan with Ixcacao Chocolate Tours showed us the farm where he grows the cocoa then we had the chance to actually turn the fruit into our own chocolate! 

Following the tour, all of the students split up into small groups and went into the village to experience a home hosted dinner with various families from the community. Some learned how to make tortillas, others picked vegetables from the family garden, but they all had the chance to see what it's like to live in a traditional Maya home and eat traditional Maya food. This is typically the highlight of the trip for most of the students and this year was no different. 

Mmmmm... Chocolate making!

Now it was time for the part of the trip the students always look forward to the most… the island adventure! We started in Placencia, a quant fishing village located on a narrow peninsula before heading out to our own private island, Hatchet Caye. Hatchet Caye is a beautiful, fully sustainable resort located just inside of the Belizean Barrier Reef, the second largest barrier reef in the world. 

Looking out from the resort in Placencia

    

Tutti Fruit Gelato in Placencia!

Hatchet Caye was our home for four days, and allowed each of the students the opportunity to experience a range of island activities including snorkeling, sailing, sea kayaking, fishing and stand up paddle boarding. Every day the students would rotate through instructional sessions on each of the activities and at the end of the four days, they then had the opportunity to revisit the activity that they enjoyed the most. 

On the way to Hatchet Caye

A Caribbean View from Hatchet Caye

Not a bad lunch spot!

Learning to Sea Kayak

Will teaching a Stand Up Paddle boarding class

Will showing how to fall off the board!

Our fishing guide Leslie, showing the students how to catch bone fish with a fly rod

Sailing class!

Playing volleyball with the Hatchet Crew

We also took a special side trip to the Silk Cayes, three small islands part of a marine national park. Here we were able to observe the difference between what we saw when snorkeling in a protected area versus a non-protected area. We had an amazing BBQ lunch in the sand and took in the awesome views. Finally, we cruised to a spot where it is known that local fisherman come to clean their daily catches. This attracts various marine life including rays, sharks and turtles. We were literally surrounded by these amazing creatures! It was quite the experience. 

Some students chose to used their new sea kayaking skills to get to Silk Cayes 

Snorkeling in the Silk Cayes National Park

Swimming with rays!  

And turtles!

And sharks!!!

Like all good things, our time on Hatchet and the country of Belize had to come to an end. Before saying goodbye, we all gathered as a group to enjoy one final sunset over the ocean. With some on the dock, some in kayaks and some on stand up paddle boards, we all watched the sun set while reflecting on the great experiences we’d had over the past 10 days. And when it felt like life couldn’t get any better, we watched a pod of dolphins swim by us just as the final light of the day disappeared.

Our last sunset at Hatchet Caye

Don’t get me wrong, there is plenty to be learned through lectures and books, but its experiences like this where some of the most important things in life are learned. 

If a trip like this interests you, email me at laura@actionlearningadventures.com to get in touch and start designing your own adventure!