(NAPA, Calif., February 2012) – Francis Ford Coppola’s famed Blancaneaux Lodge in Belize is commemorating the highly-anticipated final year of the Maya calendar by launching five exciting Cave Explorations within Belize’s Maya Mountain Massif, a collection of twelve protected areas considered to be one of the largest, most biodiverse and pristine wilderness regions remaining in Central America.

Blancaneaux Lodge’s new cave explorations, available throughout 2012 and beyond, are a fascinating and engaging way to celebrate the completion of the Maya Long Count Calendar’s significant 13^th b’aktun, ending on December 21, 2012 and marking the end of a 5,125 year era before resetting at year zero.  As a large civilization that spanned Mesoamerica thousands of years ago, the Maya’s unique discoveries on astronomy and mathematics are still relevant today. Commonly debated is this ancient prophecy of a new cosmic cycle, or b’aktun, resetting at year zero, causing reason to further explore and understand Maya culture this year.

“Belize is embedded with a rich cultural heritage and the best way to discover the region’s mystery and beauty is with an adventurous glimpse into the enigmatic Maya underworld,” said Neil Rogers, Director of Marketing for Coppola Resorts.  Adding, “This is a great way to engage in the b’aktun celebrations this year. Furthermore, the caves are such an authentic piece of our landscape; we’re really looking forward to offering these expeditions long after we’ve rung in the new Maya millennium.”

Suitable for guests of all ages, Blancaneaux Lodge’s cave explorations range from the easily accessible Rio Frio Cave to the strenuous Actun Tunichil Mucnal Cave (ATM). Culturally imperative to the Maya, caves represented a mythical zone of life and death and are often described as entries into the underworld.  Evidence of religious rituals, ancient burials and offerings to the deities is abundant to this day. Maya remains can be found among the caves near Blancaneaux Lodge and guests may gain knowledge of the country’s ancient inhabitants by caving in the Rio Frio Cave, Barton Creek Cave, Offering Cave, ATM Cave or cave tubing in the‘Caves Branch’ Nohuch Che’en Reserve.

The Rio Frio Cave trip suits guests of all ages and physical abilities. Trails within the Rio Frio Cave are ‘dry’ and the ‘tube-like’ cavern has good levels of natural light as well as a sandy beach on the side. Artifacts left by the Maya have long since been removed and are housed at the Department of Archaeology in Belmopan but the cave continues to be an easily accessible site to those interested in a light outdoor adventure.  Rio Frio Cave is available to guests as part of the Caracol excursion.

The Barton Creek Cave is a unique river cave located less than an hour’s drive from Blancaneaux Lodge. Anyone who is fit enough to paddle a canoe can enjoy exploring this 4.5 mile long cave. Along with the stunning beauty of the cave, it’s also possible to see an ancient Maya skull as well as pottery shards and ceramics. Most of the cultural materials in the cave are results of agricultural rituals with evidence of bloodletting rites and sacrifice. To date, excavations at the cave have revealed the remains of 28 sacrificial victims along with necklaces, carved animal bones and pottery. Guests are provided with headlamps and life vests as well as the accompaniment of a knowledgeable guide.

The Offering Cave is lesser known but a favorite among the staff at Blancaneaux Lodge. It’s located in the Noj Kaax Meen Elijio Panti National Park less than five miles from the resort. From the vehicle, a nice 20-minute jungle walk will bring guests to the ‘dry’ cave that is open and easy to navigate. At less than 3,000 feet long, the exploration of the cave takes two to three hours. The cave is stacked with huge Maya storage pots called ‘Ollas.’ There are also sacrificial remains, ceramics and tools left untouched since the Maya collapse at the end of the Late Classic Period. For many, the highlight of the cave is the mysterious Maya sculptures that glow amber when light is shined on them. For experienced horseback riders, it’s possible to ride to the cave in two and a half hours.

The Actun Tunichil Mucnal, or ATM Cave, is one of Belize’s main inland attractions.  Ranked as one of the ‘Top 10 Caves in the World’ by National Geographic Magazine, the cave trip starts with a 70-minute drive from Blancaneaux Lodge followed by a 40-minute trek through the Tapir Mountain Nature Reserve to the cave entrance. ATM Cave is only recommended for those of an adventurous spirit who have a good level of fitness. The underground stream flows out of the cave and it’s necessary to take a short swim into the cave (water depth is about 12 feet). About three hours is spent inside the cave and it’s necessary to squeeze through some tight spaces and climb over rocks to reach different levels. The rewards are worth it. Two small carved stelae are located above the stream, one carved in the shape of an obsidian blade and the other a stingray spine. On the next level lies the cave’s most famous occupant, the crystal maiden, a victim of ritual sacrifice from the Late Classic Period.

The ‘Caves Branch’ Nohuch Che’en Reserve cave tubing experience is Belize’s most popular on-shore activity for cruise ships while visiting the country. In order to miss the crowds for this amazing experience, Blancaneaux Lodge offers a daily early morning transfer option for all guests traveling to Belize Municipal Airport or Turtle Inn resort. The transfer stops at the Nohuch Che’en Reserve for an hour’s float along the Caves Branch River and a gentle jungle walk to reach the starting point for cave tubing. Each participant has a special ‘tube’ for the float, a headlamp, life vest and ‘water shoes.’ The float goes through a series of huge inter-connection caves separated by open sections where the river is flanked by high jungle.

For information on Blancaneaux Lodge, please visitwww.CoppolaResorts.com.

Belize City, Belize, July 21, 2011 — For years, culinary travel has been a growing trend and now, with the launch of Belize’s new culinary campaign, Savor Belize, foodies can not only explore unique cuisine offered throughout this destination, but they can learn what makes the fare so different from other Central American and Caribbean countries. In fact, Belize offers numerous food-focused tours and festivals that offer travelers a peek into the production of the country’s diverse culinary treats. Following are highlights of popular tours that are offered year-round and help to complete a culinary exploration of Belize:

Marie Sharp’s Factory
The Marie Sharp’s Tour is a fantastic way to experience one of Belize’s most popular condiments, which are quickly becoming known across the world for authentic, all-natural pepper sauces. A tour of the factory begins in the fresh air among lush habanero plants outside the production facility in Dangriga. Continued inside the plant, the tour offers visitors an up close and personal view of the creation of the famous habanero sauces, as well as Marie’s jams, jellies, juices and cassava chips. Marie Sharp’s Tour saves the best for last – the taste testing, of course! Each visitor is served crackers to sample various hot sauces, jellies and jams. Select your favorite and then pick up a bottle at the gift shop. Swing by for a tour, or call ahead if bringing a large group. To learn more about Marie Sharp’s full line of products, visit www.mariesharps-bz.com.

Belikin Brewery
Experience the creation of Belize’s official beer, Belikin, which is offered in four distinct varieties: Stout, Premium, Lighthouse Lager and the original Belikin. This free tour offers an exclusive look inside the brewing process at the Belize Brewing Company in Belize City. From the malt to the hops, this guided tour will offer a unique look at the brewing process of Belikin beer. After the tour, enjoy a complimentary, ice-cold brew at the Belikin Brewery’s pub. To learn more about all of Belikin’s brews, visit www.thebeerofbelize.com.

Cyrila’s Chocolate

Family-owned and run, Cyrila’s Chocolate provides a tour in San Felipe Village that provides visitors the unique opportunity to experience the traditional and authentic Mayan chocolate making process.  From a tour of the family’s organic cacao farm to lessons on how to shell cacao beans and grind them into a smooth paste, visitors actively participate in every stage of the chocolate production process in a beautiful, open-air thatched roof environment. Plus, visitors receive the ultimate reward for their hard work – a sampling the finished product! For more information about Cyrila’s Chocolate, visit www.cyrilaschocolate.com.  

Traveller’s Liquors
Sample the flavors, share the secrets and live the tradition of Traveller’s Liquors at the Heritage Center museum in Belize City. This tour offers a unique look at the bottling process, Belizean aging process and rich history of rum making in Belize. The Traveller’s tour also shares an exceptional history of Jamie Omario Permodo and his family, who created the award-winning Traveller’s rum almost 60 years ago. What better way to end the visit than sampling this unique rum and purchasing a vintage edition rum, available only at the Heritage Center. For more information, visit www.onebarrelrum.com. 

For more information on how you can be one with Belize, visit www.travelbelize.org and for more information on Belize’s authentic cuisine and culinary travel opportunities, visit www.savorbelize.com.

The ruins of Xunantunich are some of the best-preserved Mayan ruins in Belize.  Located on a steep ridge off the Western Highway in the Cayo District, the site is composed of six plazas and twenty-six structures dating from 200 to 900 A.D. – a time when other settlements were going into decline.  The most impressive structure is El Castillo, which is the second tallest building in Belize.

Xunantunich translates to “Stone Woman,” referring to the fire-eyed ghost woman who enjoys climbing the ruins of El Castillo.  On the day my husband and I trekked to the site, she wasn’t there, but that didn’t make our time there any less unnerving – until we met a few helpful Belizean girls.

After two humid miles of hiking along the Mopan River, we arrived at the hand-powered ferry – the only way to cross the river to get to the ruins.  The burly worker silently cranked the gears to transport us and two women in a Jeep across the water.

The road from the ferry is a mile-long stretch incline and we were thankful we packed extra water.  We reached the ruins sweaty and hot, but not dehydrated.

For most of the time, we were only two of maybe ten people in the whole site. The solitude grew disconcerting when men wearing fatigues and bearing rifles began stalking the grounds.

Belize and Guatemala are in a constant tiff over Guatemala claiming Belize as Guatemalan territory. Belizeans don’t agree and asserting their opinion has become difficult since the British, and their army, left the country once Belize gained its independence in 1981. Our lodging was close to the Guatemalan border and Belizean soldiers were nightly dinner guests after their evening patrol. But the sight of rifle-toting men roaming through a tourist attraction set our nerves on edge. We continued to explore the stone monuments all the while sensing the soldiers’ presence, not knowing if they were friend or foe.

The entire mood lightened when we caught them flirting with a group of teenage girls.  Their laughter echoed through the ancient site and all nervousness dropped away.  After feeling quite brave for climbing the other structures it was time for El Castillo.

One hundred and thirty feet doesn’t sound that tall until you realize you have to ascend narrow, guardrail-free steps. I made it to the friezes halfway up before my fear of heights took over. I stood pretending to admire the view while my husband nervously trudged upward. Just as I settled into my spot one of the girls bounced along insisting, “You have to go to the top. “

She didn’t have fire for eyes, but I thought perhaps this was the ghost trying to turn me into a playmate.

“I’m fine here.”

“You have to go,” she urged.  “Come on, I’ll help you.”

So, caving into peer pressure, I let her guide me upward. Or rather, she ran up and zipped back to check on me as I crawled along hugging close to the inside of the tiny staircases. The majority of the passageways no longer have exterior walls providing a constant reminder of where your body will land if you fall.  With her encouragement I made it, clutching like a paranoid gecko to the walls that remained intact.

“Aren’t you glad you’re up here?” she bubbled.

“Um, not really,” I said shakily, “but thanks.”

She took a photo of my husband and me and climbed up higher to flirt with the soldiers.  I nauseously stared over the edge.  My newfound guide rushed back to me.

“Okay, now we go back down.”

“Do you do this every day?”

“No, it’s my first time here,” she giggled through her lilting accent.  I groaned at her annoying bravery and scooted down the structure like a dog with worms.

The grounds have an information center with the story of the Maya, Xunantuich’s excavations and preservation, and two well-persevered stellae.

Tammie Painter earns money through writing to fund her travel dreams. Assisted by her attack rabbit, Lola, Tammie taps away at the keyboard in her home near Portland, Oregon. Her work has appeared in several magazines, websites and a handful of anthologies. To learn more about Tammie or to contact her, visit painterwrite.wordpress.com.

San Ignacio, Belize, June 2011 – This summer, Ka’ana Boutique Resort is putting a unique spin on the book “three nights, get the fourth night free” promotion with an added goodwill component. Guests can book a fourth night at the resort for just $18, which goes towards the Adopt-A-School program, where the $18 pays for an entire year of a child’s school tuition.

The Adopt-A-School Summer Package runs now through November 15, 2011 with rates beginning at $786. The four-night stay includes accommodations in the resort’s first class Balam or Casita villas.

The Succotz Primary School is just ten minutes away from the resort and attended by children ages four through 13. Ka’ana Boutique Resort is committed to supporting the school’s Scholarship Fund, Bathroom Rehabilitation Project, Sports Program and Nutrition Program in volunteering and donating locally. Offer cannot be combined with any other promotions.

With a perfect balance of luxury, adventure and relaxation, Ka’ana Boutique Resort is a haven for travelers seeking the ultimate Belizean experience.  Located just 70 miles outside of Belize City, Ka’ana Boutique Resort offers 15 first class cottages, a swimming pool, gourmet restaurant and petite spa.

For more information on Ka’ana or to make a reservation, please call 1-877-KAANA21 or visit www.kaanabelize.com and use promotional code KAASO.

My guide, Jose, looked around at me and put his finger to his lips, “Shh, can you feel the spirits?”

I held my breath. Human skeletons and cracked pottery lay scattered on the ground. Obsidian blades that were once used to pierce the tongue and genitals sat near a slate altar at the far wall. We were more than a kilometer underground. I was in Actun Tunichil Muknal, Belize’s “Cave of the Stone Sepulchre.”

The Mayans thought caves to be the entrance to Xibalba, or “place of fright.” In order to ensure a good crop or a spell of rain, the chosen human sacrifices would venture down into the underworld, carrying with them large ceramic vessels brimming with maize and jagged bloodletting devices. Shamans followed behind offering pleas to the Gods, their minds and bellies engorged with psychedelic mushrooms.

Upon entering Belize, I was immediately captivated by the beauty of its countryside and the diversity of its cultures. I found respite in the fusion of Mayan traditions and Caribbean lightheartedness, the myriads of ancient ruins and warm turquoise waters. Belize is a country of variety and mystery, and Actun provided a fascinating catapult into its people’s perplexing history. This was the adventure I wanted.

To get to the entrance of the cave I hiked through dense jungle foliage, traversed several swift rivers and trudged through thick black mud, struggling to keep my shoes on. Jose hacked at a termite nest with his rusted machete and he and I ate live termites right off the tip of his blade.

The mouth of the cave appeared mossy and tranquil. Emerald water poured from within. A soft green light gently illuminated the entrance from the jungle canopy above.

Swimming into the cave with the glow of sunlight fading behind us, we left the land of the living and approached the Mayan underworld. The only sounds that could be heard were the tap dances of spiders and crabs, scuttling away from our beams of light. We swam through chilly chest-deep water and crawled through narrow passageways, clambered over boulders and snaked in and out of crevices.

Climbing up a rugged wall onto a platform of dry cold limestone, I found myself in an enormous underground chamber. Immense thick arches, frail spindly stalactites and deeply grooved walls adorned the spacious corridor. The air was thick and heavy.
I turned off my flashlight and lit a soft golden lantern to fully grasp the surroundings.

Solitary human skulls peered sideways into the darkness, their blank sockets cold and eerie. Some were as small as infants. Dusty ceramic vessels littered the floor, their bases delicately pierced to release the spirits within. At the edge of a limestone precipice lay the final spectacle, the ‘Crystal Maiden,’ a 20-year-old woman clubbed and left for dead. Cemented to the floor by age, her perfectly preserved skeleton sparkled with calcite.

Kneeling in the dim chamber, my senses bristled with visions of the sacred ceremonies performed here over a thousand years ago. I shivered, tiny and trivial, in a cathedral of human bones and labored craft, a living museum of ancient souls and unwelcome fates. Could I feel the spirits? I still can.

To find out more information about Actun Tunichil Muknal

Photos by Jeni Stembridge

I met with Shikira Oxley of Belize Tourism at the Los Angeles Times Adventure and Travel show at the Los Angeles Convention Center to learn more about Belize. Check it out.

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“Welcome to paradise, mon!” Our snorkel guide, Abdiel, flashed a bright smile as he slowed his boat to meet us. Just ahead, waves from the Caribbean Sea were breaking off the Belize Barrier Reef, the second-longest barrier reef in the world. The water was a surreal shade of blue, the color of refreshment crystallized by the summer sun. He was right, it was paradise.

The boat rocked gently as we put on our gear – flippers, facemask and a snorkel. In a fifteen-minute boat ride, Abdiel, took us from San Pedro, Belize – paradise on land, to the barrier reef – an underwater paradise.

I swung my flippered feet over the side of the boat, ready to launch myself into the water when Abdiel’s voice stopped me. “Hey! You want to touch the sharks?” Sharks? What! There are sharks? Logic told me that sharks near one of the world’s most exotic diving sites was impossible, but my flippers were back in the boat nonetheless. Abdiel wasn’t kidding. Just feet from the boat, there were five sharks eating bits of fish that he had tossed into the water.

“What do you expect? Dis is Shark Ray Alley, gayl,” he said in a heavy Kriol accent, an English dialect spoken in parts of Belize. Shark Ray Alley, we soon learned, was one of the reef’s most popular dive sites, chiefly because it lives up to its name. Along with the sharks, stingrays glided around the boat on wingspans up to four feet. Assured that these were harmless nurse sharks, our group entered the water, one by one. Soon I was swimming alongside a school of sharks, reaching out to feel their sandpaper-rough skin whenever they let me get close enough. Meanwhile, the stingrays were almost affectionate, circling the slow snorkelers like attention-starved cats. Shark Ray Alley is just inside the reef in Hol Chan Marine Reserve, a reserve established in 1987 as a protected area subject to commercial and sport fishing regulations. Abdiel encouraged us to take our time while exploring the reef’s colorful inhabitants: groupers, parrot fish, angel fish, barracuda, eels, hogfish, lobster, and of course, the sharks and rays. “Dis is de reef, not de highway.” Once again, Abdiel was right. The ocean is no place to rush. The reef deserves much more than a passing glance.

Every kick of the flipper brought me to shockingly bright colors, perfectly crafted shells and collections of fish uniformly drifting together along the coral. The deepest part of Hol Chan Marine Reserve is 30 feet. Thanks to the clear water, it’s possible to enjoy even the deepest parts of the reef. Exhausted by the sun, the swim, and the experience of temporarily becoming a part of one of the world’s most exotic ecosystems, we climbed back into Abdiel’s boat and he tossed each of us bags of fresh drinking water.

As the boat made its way back to San Pedro, the bagged water washed the Caribbean’s saltiness from our lips as we shared stories from the dive. The barracuda, the feel of the shark’s skin, the sight of Abdiel spinning a stingray above his head underwater. They were memories we couldn’t lose, sights that could never be outdone, stories we couldn’t risk slipping from our lips and being washed away, like the salt of the sea.

Abdiel tied up his boat, and one by one, helped us step onto the dock. As we returned to dry land we thanked him for the experience. “No problem, mon. The sea is my office, and this is my job,” he said.

And, yes, it was paradise.

Written and photographed by Amanda Southall

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Maryl chats with Federico about “green” travel in Latin American countries. Federico of the Rainforest Alliance wants to get the word out that there many option for conscientious travelers looking for green tourism options in Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guatemala and Belize and minimizing our “footprint while traveling at home and on vacation. This interview is from the recent Adventurers travel Expo in Los Angeles for more on travel at ITKT.

Video produced by Wayfarer Digital.

Photo by Catriona MacCallum