Belize General Info

Posted by Slickrock Adventures on October 31, 2012

Way back in 1999, one day Cully and I came home to our Belize City house to find a bunny in a box in the living room. Several guides were living there with us at the time, and we asked around, what’s the deal with the bunny? Kelly answered “Oh that’s my bunny, the vegetable man gave him to me.” We said, Kelly, what do you intend to do with this bunny when you are on the isl

Posted by Slickrock Adventures on October 30, 2012

We have some new friends we haven’t met yet, the owners of Hush Valley Lodge, a brand-new off-the-beaten-path resort somewhat like ours, but located in Costa Rica. They recently sent us a link to another organization in Costa Rica, the Copey Learning Center, that is looking for volunteer English teachers. Doesn’t that sound like fun? You can read more about it on their website: http://

Posted by Slickrock Adventures on October 29, 2012

This year our long time guide Neri Chi undertook the long drive down to Belize for us, driving a new truck and trailer full of new gear: 3 paddleboards, 2 sea kayaks, 3 sit on top boats, paddles, lifejackets, solar panels, and other assorted parts to keep our island resort well-supplied. I have done this drive 25+ times over the course of my career, but this year Neri agreed to do it for me. Each

Posted by Slickrock Adventures on October 26, 2012

One of the primary destinations in Belize is Xunantunich (pronounced “chew-nahn-too-NEECH”) Mayan ruin. For years the only way to cross the Mopan River to access Xunantunich has been on a unique cable ferry. Suspended by fixed cables that allow the ferry to rise and fall with the river level, this ferry was operated by a hand-powered winch. The ferry could carry two vehicles and lots o

Posted by Slickrock Adventures on October 25, 2012

Belize budget lodging can be hit and miss. Clarissa Falls is a fantastic alternative to the more expensive places in the Cayo area of Belize. Situated along the banks of the Mopan River, and just 5-1/2 miles west of San Ignacio, Clarissa Falls is very convenient and tours can be arranged for you with local operators. From here you can also go swimming, tubing or canoeing on the river, take nature

Posted by Slickrock Adventures on October 21, 2012

I’ve blogged about this wonderful little newsletter previously because it is such a wealth of information about one of my favorite districts in Belize — Toledo. And I was sad when it went out of publication last year. But now, I’m happy to announce that it is back and I just received a copy in my inbox. Belize is divided into districts (sort of like states), and Toledo is one of

Posted by Slickrock Adventures on October 20, 2012

Of the approximately 5,000 species of fish found along the coral reef, perhaps none are as feisty and territorial as the damselfish. Notoriously aggressive, these fish are known to nip at anything that comes between them and their food source. Likewise, these fish fiercely guard their egg clutches during spawning; quickly attacking anything that comes within close proximity. There are approximatel

Posted by Slickrock Adventures on October 19, 2012

According to a new study by The Happy Planet Index, a project of The Earth Institute at Columbia University, Belize is the fourth happiest country in the world. The new HPI results show the extent to which 151 countries across the globe produce long, happy and sustainable lives for the people that live in them. Costa Rica was first, with Vietnam and Columbia in second and third. The overall index

Posted by Slickrock Adventures on October 18, 2012

National Geographic Magazine’s October issue highlights the beauty of Belize’s Great Barrier Reef which, along with Glover’s Reef Atoll, is part of the same reef system – the Mesoamerican Reef. The Mesoamerican Reef, described in the article as “half the length of its famous Australian counterpart but in many ways more remarkable,” contains Belize’s Great Barrier Ree