Cayo Scoop! The Ecology of Cayo Culture

Cayo always cleans up at the BTB National Tourism Awards, as the base for Belize's sustainable ecotourism should.  Guava Limb won best restaurant, of course.  Gaia Riverlodge won hotel of the year, while Table Rock Lodge won best small hotel.  The San Ignacio Resort Hotel won for best hospitality, and Miriam Roberson won the Minister's Award.  Caves Branch won for best tour operator.  Congratulations to all the well deserved wins!

"Last night was the 13th National Tourism Awards.  Congratulations to all the winners.  Your hard work and dedication pays off.  CayoGuides.org congratulates the Cayo winners, those hard working Cayo people that brought all those awards home because when we win, the Cayo District wins.  And the Cayo winners are Guava Limb Cafe, Table Rock Lodge, Gaia River Lodge, San Ignacio Resort Hotel and Anderson’s Caves Branch Jungle Lodge.  Guava Limb Cafe won Resturant of the Year.  It is located in downtown San Ignacio.  The exterior is a colonial building with a modern touch.  It prides itself in serving quality coffee drinks, pastries, signature dishes and a wide variety of specials."

Cayo has the caves!  Waterfall cave, located off the Hummingbird Highway, has a series of cascades in it that you can climb up.  It's guaranteed to be an incredible day of exploring fun.

"Along the Hummingbird Highway, near the Blue Hole, is the Waterfall Cave.  After a 20 minute hike to the entrance of the cave, you hike 3 kilometers into the cave, climbing up 7 waterfalls and cascades.  You then backtrack, jumping into the pools, and enjoying an amazing lunch along the way.  Contact Ian Anderson's Caves Branch for more information."

They had another cheese making workshop at Ian Anderson's Caves Branch, and it was fun and informative for all.  Belize now has some great cheese to choose from.

"In September, 2011, I travelled to Warren, Vermont (pop. 302) and took a two week cheese making course offered by Dr. Larry and Linda Faillace of Three Shepherds Farm.  16 months later, our cheeses are being recognized by International cheese makers and holding our second International Cheese Making Workshop.. and its only getting better from here."

Ian Anderson's Cave Branch Jungle Lodge is having a contest where you can win an all inclusive 3 day, 2 night vacation.  See their website for more information.  Best of luck.

"Here's your chance to win an adventure in Belize! You do not need to be a previous guest to qualify as a contestant. Starts February 2013 - Click this link if you require more information about "Picture your Adventure in Belize". (http://www.cavesbranch.com/contest) Good luck! (Look over on your right to see recent posts by others - you will find the pictures there.)"

You can win a cheesy adventure vacation package by entering IACB's picture competition.  It's the standard most likes photo competition.  It's great to see some delicious cheeses being produced in Belize.  Good luck!

"ENTER THE CONTEST TO WIN A CHEESE MAKING ADVENTURE PACKAGE FOR 2 at Ian Anderson's Caves Branch Jungle Lodge.  The package is complete with Accommodations, Meals & Adventures!  It's easy as 1,2,3!

1. Take a photo of your favorite cheese.

2. Submit your photo and a sentence about why it is your favorite.

3. Gather the most votes & WIN!!

Click the link for more details and the submission form

http://bit.ly/17Y6aaf ; - Contest ends on July 31st, 2013"

Great article about Ian Anderson's artisan cheese, which can usually be found at Cayo's Saturday market.  It's some of the best cheese you can find around Cayo.  They even have a vacation package where guests learn how to make cheese.  All proceeds go towards the BNYCF.  Great cheese, great idea!

"Currently all cheeses are made with cow’s milk, purchased from a neighbor’s dairy.  This winter, Caves Branch will be importing both milk goats and more sheep from the U.S.A.  Semi-hard cheeses such as Old Brabander, Spressa, Trappist, Parmesan and soft cheeses, such as Ricotta, whipped Quark Feta, Roquefort and triple crème Camembert are offered for sale.  The soft cheeses are often blended with herbs, peppers or garlic.  Marketing began at the local market and over facebook to friends.  Two resorts are already serving Caves Branch cheeses to their guests and the growing trend to ‘serve local’ is increasing demand.  All the ingredients to produce the cheeses are donated by the Andersons and all of the proceeds from the cheese sales are donated to fund the ‘youth at risk’ programs of the Belize National Youth Chess Foundation, which Mrs. Ella Anderson founded and chairs."