Cayo Scoop! The Ecology of Cayo Culture

Ian Anderson's Caves Branch Jungle Lodge is highlighted in this vacation video.  It really captures the magic of the award winning adventure lodge.  

'Cave's Branch Jungle Lodge - Voted best hotel/lodge in Belize AND a top 10 adventure lodge in the world.

This is Ian Anderson's Caves Branch Jungle Lodge located in the heart of Belize's very lush forest. Belize's Caves Branch Jungle Lodge, which is considered one of the top 10 adventures lodges in the world and a top 100 exotic destination.'

It seems like most of the attractions are mentioned in this article.  Caracol, Mountain Pine Ridge, Cahal Pech, ATM, and many other sites are covered.  But what do they mean about Cayo not being a pretty town?

"If you want to go big, you will have to visit the granddaddy of Belize’s Mayan sites: Caracol. This site contains the massive pyramid called Canaa. To this day, Canaa is the tallest structure found on Belize. Those Mayans were something else. Caracol is located deep in the jungle; you have to take a long unpaved road to get there. This means that you will need to book an excursion with a tour operator. Besides the ruins, you will have the opportunity to encounter wildlife while walking around the structures."

NatGeo also mentions Belize in their Best Adventure Destinations for 2012, because of Cayo, of course.  They even quote Larry Waight from Chaa Creek!  “Next year, 2012, represents an important time for rebirth, reflection, and renewal for the Mayas, who still make up a significant portion of Belize’s population,”

Cayo and the San Ignacio Resort Hotel really steal the article that just came out in Brickell magazine.  The article, Breathtakingly Belize, starts on page 130.  Oddly, they didn't post many pictures of Cayo, instead going for the overused sea shots, but they do have the SIRH and Cahal Pech.

"Adventure reigns in this part of the country and I learned a lot on this leg of the trip about The Great Outdoors.  The most amusing being that male iguanas have 2 penises; the most useful that bags of water on a table will keep the flies away; and the saddest that the average lifespan of butterflies is less than a month...but at least they’re drunk on nectar the whole time!

A brief jaunt to Chaa Creek, an award-winning eco-luxury lodge with its own on-site organic farm and open-air spa, yielded encounters with tree monkeys, tail- thrashing black iguanas and elusive jaguars, among many other critters.  Bring water and a spray mister if you visit: There’s no A/C on site.  My favorite part of the experience in this part of Belize was by far the people.  They are a sweet, peaceful bunch.  A walk through the neighborhood features quaint little shops, small businesses operating out of homes and lots of roadside farmer’s markets."

The Lonely Planet has this to say: "This diminutive country of just 330,000 people and 8,800sq miles, sandwiched between Mexico to the north and Guatemala to the south and west, proves true the old adage that “the best things come in small packages”. And a sojourn at Mountain Equestrian Trails, with its hardy steeds, welcoming hosts and collection of cosy, kerosene-lit cabins tucked tight into the stunning rainforest of Belize’s mountainous western Cayo district, provides the perfect base from which to experience this little country’s manifold adventures."

Only San Ignacio is mentioned - ATM and zip lining get a good write up.  Guess the clock tower is working.