Cayo Scoop! The Ecology of Cayo Culture

Chaa Creek is doing something special for 2012.  They are making a stelae, maybe for when they are uncovered by archaeologists.

"The Maya, one of the world’s first literate people, created vast libraries and archives during the millennia-long span of their civilisation, most of which were destroyed by Spanish conquistadors in their zeal to remove “pagan” elements from their empire. Stone monuments known as stelae erected in cities and around temples were impervious enough to survive and have provided important clues from which historians have pieced together a picture of ancient Maya civilisation."

Bullet Tree Falls' Parrot Nest Lodge got a good shout out.

"Did you dream of living like the Swiss Family Robinson as a kid? Live out your fantasy at the Parrot Nest Lodge in Belize.  Here, you can sleep in a thatched tree house, under a 100 foot Guanacaste tree, surrounded by the Mopan River.  Your neighbors will be parrots and a giant iguana!

Climb down from your treehouse for a free tubing adventure sponsored by the lodge.  For two hours, you can float down the Mopan River, where you'll tons of wildlife. You'll also get to see the Bullet Tree Falls.

Explore the rest of Cayo from this centrally located hub—there's rivers, waterfalls, caves, archeological sites, jungle, and butterfly farms to check out.  Or, just lounge in your hammock on your tree-porch while watching nature."

Great article from Chaa Creek.  Some history is in there.

"While Belize’s love affair with the Royals hasn’t changed, Chaa Creek certainly has, with the Prince able to enjoy gourmet meals and fine wines from an excellent cellar. With 135 staff members on hand Prince Harry was well looked after, enjoying a professional massage from the Chaa Creek Spa, a visit to the onsite butterfly farm and quality amenities. 500 lit candles heralded the Price’s arrival.

'It was a wonderful visit and Prince Harry was a warm, appreciative guest who did seem to enjoy the Chaa Creek story,' Lucy Fleming said. 'And to us it really did bring home the fact that not all that long ago we had dirt floors, would kill a chicken for our guests’ dinner and had a staff of one – our neighbour’s son. I guess to go from backpackers to the Royal Family for guests is something, but to us it’s all just another part of the Chaa Creek story, and we couldn’t imagine life any other way.'"

Chaa Creek has 5 concepts for trying to be eco-friendly while traveling.

"In our fast-paced, material-heavy modern world, it can be difficult enough at home to live sustainably: Practicing environmental and ecological ethics on the road is sometimes that much tougher. There’s less under our control; we’re often beholden to local practice and custom about which we know little; and we may, like it or not, be part of a massive tourist horde, the impacts of which are substantial."

Number 2 deals with researching tour companies: "Research tour companies you might want to enlist for a leg of the trip, and choose those businesses that practice sound environmental and cultural practices."