Cayo Scoop! The Ecology of Cayo Culture
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Cayo Scoop!  The Ecology of Cayo Culture
All the positive news and events from Cayo, with a special focus on culture, past, present, and future.
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Awestruck by Caracol’s Majesty

Awestruck by Caracol’s Majesty | Cayo Scoop!  The Ecology of Cayo Culture | Scoop.it

My Beautiful Belize's Mary Gonzalez took a trip to Caracol, and wrote a great article about it.  Some nice pictures in there too.

 

"What was once a bustling city is eerily quiet when we arrived. The only sounds are those of leaves rusting in the breeze, interspersed by an occasional roar from howler monkeys calling to each other high above the treetops. When we make our way past the entrance, darkened by the thick trees, it’s to emerge near a few tall structures. The sight of trees and their roots intertwined with the stone edifices is a testament to the amount of time Caracol lay undiscovered and untouched. In fact, despite having been discovered in 1938 by Rosa Mai, a logger seeking mahogany in the Chiquibul Forest, actual mapping didn’t take place until between 1951 and 1953...

 

The hope is that Belizeans and visitors alike will be able to take in the majesty of Caana, Belize’s tallest man-made structure (at 136 feet). For now, we risk our private vehicles on unfamiliar terrain, driving through a bit of a potholed section of dirt road. On this trip, we’re surprised to drive on patches of paved road, clearly old and washing away, deeply rutted in several large parts, but still navigable enough. It’s all worth the bumps and jumps, as we eventually pull into the parking area near the visitor center to make our way through the famed Maya city of Caracol."

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Survival in the Chiquibul

Survival in the Chiquibul | Cayo Scoop!  The Ecology of Cayo Culture | Scoop.it

Powerful article, with some amazing pictures, from Tony Rath, chronicling the adventure to the deepest parts of the Chiquibul Forest Reserve.  Excellent read.  Based upon all the evidence of xateros taking over the Chiquibul, he entitled the article, 'Belize is at War.'


"The Chiquibul is the largest protected area in Belize covering more than 265,000 acres of tropical broadleaf forests in the southern Cayo District. To the east lies the nearly 150,000 acre Chiquibul Forest Reserve, and to the south is the 100,000 acre Bladen Nature Reserve. The great Maya site of Caracol lies in the middle of the park. Doyle‘s Delight, the highest point in Belize (3675 feet), occurs on the southern edge of the park. The Chiquibul is also home to one of the last nesting sites of the scarlet macaw in Belize. And an estimated 540,000-square-foot Chiquibul Cave System, the largest in Belize and the longest in Central America, is a treasure trove of geological and archaeological wonders. In 2007, the Belize Forest Department and a local non-governmental organization (NGO) - Friends of Conservation and Development (FCD) - entered into a co-management agreement signifying for the first time an actual management of this unique and pristine landscape."

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Belize Ornithological Tour

Belize Ornithological Tour | Cayo Scoop!  The Ecology of Cayo Culture | Scoop.it

Definitely a call to nature lovers of the world.  Eco Camino Belize's Ornithological Tour has been finalized.  It's hits Cayo of course!  Mountain Pine Ridge, Rio On Pools, Caracol, and the Chiquibul are the highlights of this tour.  Ecotourism at its best.

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