Cayo Scoop! The Ecology of Cayo Culture

'Belize: A Glimpse of Biodiversity is the first 100% independent short documentary from Scott H.Wile. The short Bamboo Chicken Documentary presented by Wild Card Adventures offers but a mere glimpse at some of the Central American Biodiversity of Belize. In this documentary we merely scratch of the surface of tropical biodiversity as we travel to tropical rainforests, into the caves of Saint Herman's Blue Hole National Park and through the rainforest to catch sight of the wild things, native to Belize. Presented by Wild Card Adventures.

Filmed entirely in Belize.
Lamanai Riverside Retreat
Monkey Bay Wildlife Sanctuary
Saint Herman's Blue Hole National Park

All footage was captured organically while on vacation in between doing vacation-y things.'

The Belize Audubon Society had their Music and Art in Nature Camp at the Blue Hole and Guanacaste parks, and the kid's loved it.  Thanks, BAS,  PACT, and Giselle!

"Children from the Buffer Communities of St. Herman's Blue Hole National Park and Guanacaste National Park connect with Nature through Music and Art. They participate in Scavenger Hunts, nature walks, hikes, painting, and singing.  We thank Music Instructor Ms. Giselle E. O'Brien for her fun session!!  This activity was made possible through the support of Protected Areas Conservation Trust!"

Cayo's Mountain Cow Cave, located in the Blue Hole National Park, was on Overlander TV.  They went with Hun Chi'ik Tours.  This is a great video of one of Cayo's best caves.

"We start the tour by hiking through the steamy jungle, I film my first Blue Morpho Butterfly.  We then descend into the Mayan Underworld, going 150 metres down into the cave system, that has been used for ceremony since ancient times.  Maya shamans and priests would enter into trance in crystal cave to conduct their ceremonies and rituals.  We see huge caverns adorned with spelothems and crystalline formation, artifacts of pottery, beads, obsidian blades and human skeletal remains that have been calcified in the limestone floor.  Crystal Cave is located in the Blue Hole National Park.  After exploring the realms of the Under world (xibalba), we hike back to the vehicle and drive for five minutes to the Blue Hole for a refreshing swim."

You can see a lot of St. Herman's Cave, including the tubing adventure there, and the Blue Hole National Park in this professionally done video from the Green Light Project.  It also highlights Cockscomb Basin.  The BAS manages those, and quite a few other parks around Belize. 

"Since its formation in 1969 the Belize Audubon Society (BAS) has been Belize's foremost environmental organization protecting Belize's precious natural resources while educating the public about their value and sustainable use.  BAS has grown from an all-volunteer organization with 55 charter members to a Society of over 1,400 members and a staff of more than 40 dedicated professionals."

The Belize Audubon Society had their Adult Photography Camp.  They went to St. Herman's National Park to learn how to use their cameras.  Looks like they had a great time, as always.  

"From our conference, and the Fort George Area in Belize City, we traveled to Belmopan City, and St. Herman's Blue Hole National Park, where the campers had the opportunity to hike in the jungle and caves whilst learning how to use their cameras.  To summarize this camp in one word, 'fun!'  Thanks to all our participants, and thanks to the kind and continuous support from Mr. Lacelle Tillett and S&L Tours.  A big thank you also goes out to Neko, our caving tubing guide at St. Herman's."

Trip Savvy compiled a list of the best hikes in Belize, and of course, Cayo hikes dominate the list.  From Mountain Cow Cave to Guanacaste park to the Black Hole Drop to the Don Elijio Panti Medicinal Trail, they have it, along with some trails in Cockscomb Basin.  Definitely worth a read.  

"Belize is filled with beautiful secret beaches and breathtaking mountains that are just waiting to be explored. Here are the best hikes for adventurous travelers in Belize...

The Blue Hole National Park managed by the Audubon Society is rife with beautiful forests (and of course, blue waters) for visitors to explore. We recommend signing up for the Crystal Cave Tour to hike nearly an hour through the tropical forest before exploring the gorgeous Crystalline Cave within the jungle. You will notice caves are a big deal in Belize and well worth the effort to explore (especially when the interior looks like a crystal.) We recommend always signing up with a guide for these types of explorations, as repelling is involved, as well as more technical aspects of climbing. Plus, having a local guide is the best way to better understand a local culture."

The Belize Audubon Society presented the 2013 James A. Waight Conservation Award to Wildtracks.  Congratulations, Wildtracks!  The BAS has 4 managed protected areas in Cayo, ATM, Tapir Mountain Reserve, Guanacaste National Park, and the Blue Hole National Park.  Wildtracks, which is fundamental in Belize's wildlife conservation and rehabilitation efforts had this to say:

"We are feeling very honoured, and also humbled, by the outpouring of congratulations yesterday evening for Wildtracks, which has been awarded the James Waight Award for Conservation for 2013 - the most prestigious conservation award in Belize.  Whilst lost for words when accepting the prize, I feel I missed the opportunity to acknowledge all those who make what we do possible - all those community-based conservation organizations we work with, manned by people who inspire us in the words they say and things they do.  All those volunteers, both Belizean and international, who give up their time and provide their enthusiasm to keep Wildtracks activities, the NGO partners we've watched grow from strength to strength.  Those who help us when help is needed - whether it is transporting bananas, manatees or monkeys, providing veterinarian assistance or fixing broken water pumps.  Those children who have touched our hearts and shown that there is hope in the future generation.  Those people in Government, particularly the Forest and Fisheries Departments, who, despite the national economic problems affecting their work, bend over backwards to provide assistance when needed.  And to Belize, as a nation, for accepting us and providing an environment in which we can use the skills we have developed to work with others, in collaboration and partnership, towards the balance the country needs between conservation and development."

PACT and the Zambia Environmental Management Agency visitors also went to the Blue Hole and St. Herman's Cave.  Cayo has it all!