info@lacasadedondavid.com

Belize Information

 

Click on any subject
INDEX TO OUR WEBSITE
Reservations:
About El Remate
Birdwatching & Cerro Cahui Park

Survivor Guatemala
Transportation in El Remate
Jungle Trips
More About the Hotel

Driving to the Hotel:
Tikal National Park
Horseback Riding & Swimming
Organized Groups

Boat Trips
How to get there
Tours We Offer
What our guest say

Belize Information
Guatemala Information
Maya Information
Links to other sites that may interest you
Back to Home Pag




Although Belize is best known for its Tropical islands, coral reefs, clear water, and  scuba diving there are a number of other very attractive areas. It's rivers, jungle and wildlife are not as pristine or abundant as the northern  Guatemala  Peten area, but They offer worth while tourist attractions. . Below are a few of the popular places near the western border in the San Ignacio area that are worth visiting.. This is just a few miles from the Guatemala border.  This area you'll find some of the more economical accomodations than other areas of Belize. Also tours to Tikal Ruins (about 2 hrs. drive) and other visits to Guatemala.

For visitors coming from Belize in route to Tikal, Flores or El Remate who are interested in Survivor Guatemala ... (Posted July 2005 ).

YAXHA Maya site just 75 Km. (46 mi.) from
Tikal.
The CBS program Survivor
Guatemala is now being filmed in YAXHA Maya site just 42 Km. (30 mi.) from Hotel La Casa De Don David in  El Remate. Yaxha is one of the more important Maya sites where many excavations, studies and restoration have been ongoing for many years. Since early May some areas of Yaxha have been closed to the public. All areas of Yaxha have been closed to visitors since June 6 and will not be open until after August 10. The filming area is protected with high security and only authorized personal can enter the area. Come from Belize or going to Belize you can easily visit Yaxha going to or from Tikal and Flores.

Yaxha is the third most Maya Ruins site many tourists after their visit to Tikal National Park. Ciebal is the second most visited Maya site after Tikal.

 Survivor Guatemala is expected to increase tourism and hopefully with a tourism economy this fast disappearing Rainforest along with the many Maya  sites will be saved.  Some hotels not far from Yaxha will soon offer tours to visit the ruins and see the areas Survivor Guatemala was filmed.

For the best excursions with guides who have worked there during the filming take a tour. See tours we offer


______________________________________________________________
The 1,000 Foot Falls near San Ignacio in the Mountain Pine Ridge area of BelizeRio Frio, & the 1000ft Falls Area Near the Mountain Pine Ridge, San Ignacio, Belize. The Mountain Pine Ridge pine forest is unique. It is at a  higher elevation and consequently is cooler. It makes for a nice side trip. Falls are spectacular and the rapids at Rio Frio are beautiful, with giant chutes of water cascading over large basalt and granite rock formations. The water is cool and there are several nice pool for swimming or just cooling off.  At the Hidden Valley Falls, better known as the Thousand Foot Falls, a significant stream falls over 1,400 feet into a lush, pine tree lined gorge.  It is a great place to watch for wild life and experience yet another of Belize's attributes. From San Ignacio it is about a 20 minute drive and both will take most of the day, especially if you enjoy swimming and hiking.
_______________________________________________________
Caracol Maya Ruins & Mountain Pine Ridge:   Depart from several tour facilities from San Ignacio to the ruins at Caracol. In recent years several universities are excavating and developing the ruin.  They are the largest ruins in Belize. The trip can be done by horse back or by 4 wheel drive except for parts of the rainy season. The road is just a trail in parts, but you travel through lush jungle and through several mountain passes.  The views are great. Caracol was discovered in the 1930's by a log hunter, Rosa Mai, but it was not explored until the 1950's by Linton Satherwaite of the University of Pensylvania. Due to its difficult accessibility, excavations didn't start until 1985, when Drs. Arlen and Diane Chase of Central Florida University started
working on Caracol.  Caana (sky palace) is a massive structure at its base and towers above the jungle at over 145 feet high.  Caracol was at its peak about the same time as Tikal and there were several battles between the two cities.  After exploring the main area of Caracol, the drive back can stop at Rio Frio (see above) to cool off.
______________________________________________________________
Jaguar at the Zoo in BelizeThe Belize Zoo: This is located at mile post 31 on the western highway. As far as typical zoos go, this one is a real treat.  It is obvious that the
curator took a very dense jungle area and left it intact, carving small pathways
through the jungle and using minimal wire enclosures to create the most natural
setting you will ever find save on the plains of Kenya. Most of the indigenous
animals of Belize are displayed. There are crocodiles, kinkajous, jabirus,
pumas,  scarlet macaws, tapirs, peccaries, sloths, small ocelots and margays,
and two types of deer.  It is a must see on any trip to Belize. They have
several jaguars, including a black one that is alone worth the trip, a good group of howler and spider monkeys, and a long list of animals that are throughout Belize, but that are not likely to be seen by the average hiker. Cost is about $7.50 US <>____________________________________________________________
Xunantunich Ruin, near San Ignacio and the Belize/Guatemal BorderXunantunich - From the Mayan village of San Jose Succotz located on the banks of the Mopan River just 2 miles outside of the border crossing, Melchor, Guatemala you can board a small hand-cranked pontoon ferry to go across the river to Xunantunich (zoo-an-ta-nitch).

There is a resident guide on
site and a museum. Look for the Iguanas in the trees along the river in this area.
_______________________________________________________________
Tropical Wings -After exploring Xunantunich, be sure to visit the nearby Butterfly Research Center at the Trek Stop, about 1/2 mile east on the south side of the road. There is a small hostel there that offers small clean cabins without baths and showers outside for $24-$35 double. See over a dozen different species of Belizean butterflies and herbs. Also there are orchids unique to the area.
_______________________________________________________________
Cahal Pech - Just outside of San Ignacio there are some of the most architecturally-diverse Mayan Ruins in Belize, Cahal Pech (ka-hall pet-ch). View examples of the "corbelled" arch (the Mayas version of the Roman arch), walk into chambers where royalty slept, and see 2000 year old red plaster still intact on the walls.
_______________________________________________________________
Panti Trail -The  "Panti Trail" is also an interesting place to visit. The herbalist who lives there is from Ohio, but she studied with one of Belize's greatest bush doctors, "Don Elijio Panti", before he died. She has created a well-marked medicinal plant path and her tours are very interesting. She has several medicinal products for sale and you can learn about plants used by the Maya and still in use today for healing the body and spirit. 
_______________________________________________________________    

Blue Hole:  Often confused with the "Blue Hole" off shore, this is a very small but nice place, and well worth the stop. Visit just to cool down after a hot day.  There are limestone caves throughout Belize and most have rivers that run through them at various times of the year. Herman's Cave is also very near hear. Occasionally the ground will cave in, allowing a look into an open air cave. This is what happened to create the 'Blue Hole'. The water boils up on one end of the chasm and flows into a cave at the other end.  The water is a very deep turquoise blue due to dissolved minerals and it is cool and running swiftly. From the Hummingbird Highway about 19 miles south of Belmopan, there is a small side-of-the-road park. You pay an attendant about $4.00 park fee, and take concrete steps down about 100 feet to the river bed. You can swim, wade and watch birds and butterflies.  It is a great place for a picnic.
 _______________________________________________________________

Cristo Rey Canoe Float and Rafting: From the present day Mayan village of Cristo Rey you can float by canoe to San Ignacio. Check at Eva's Cyber Cafe click.. http://www.evasonline.com/  and hotel or Martha's Kitchen & Guest House www.marthasguesthouse.com  Also there's river rafting at Clarissa Falls www.clarissafalls.com
_______________________________________________________________
Canoe the Belize River: Float on the Belize River from Redman's to the Iguana Creek Bridge. See one of the several rental places in San Ignacio for details.
_______________________________________________________________
Cheers Restaurant, Belmopan, Belize
http://www.cheersrestaurant.bz
_______________________________________________________________

About BELIZE  WEATHER

Annual rainfall ranges from 50 inches in the North to almost 200 inches in the South. Although the rainy season is usually between June and October and the dry season is between Marck and May, but don't expect it. In recent years global weather conditions and changes are making traditional predictions somewhat invalid. In general the weather is good, but if you happen to be there during any small tropical hurricane it can rain for several days. If the islands are too bad take a trip to the west border are or Guatemala to get away from the coast.  At the end of October, the weather does become cooler, and from November to February, it is generally pleasant with only light showers and cool fronts, The average humidity is 85 percent.




Map of Belize
Belize Information, Belize tours, Belize, Belize Information, Belize, Belize Lodging, Belize Hotels, Hotels San Ignacio,
San Ignacio Information, Blue Hole, Xunantunich ruins, Caracol, Pine Ridge, Caracol Ruins, Belize Information, Belize tours, Belize, Belize Information, Belize, Belize Lodging, Belize Hotels, Hotels San Ignacio,
For additional information about website:
Tikal Hotels information: mcnellie@mailcity.com