info@lacasadedondavid.com
Belize Information
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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 YAXHA Maya site just 75 Km. (46 mi.) from The CBS program Survivor Yaxha is
the third most Maya
Ruins site many tourists after their visit to Survivor For the best
excursions with guides who have worked there during
the filming take a tour. See tours we offer ______________________________________________________________  Rio
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. ______________________________________________________________  The
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
- 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. 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. |
