Belize is an eco-tourist heaven steeped in history farmer, purse

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Belize is an eco-tourist heaven steeped in history

Walking through the jungle in San Pedro Columbia, the largest Kekchi Maya village in Belize, a visitor is suddenly caught off-guard by the sight of a stream of blue. It's not a river or creek that catches the eye but the dye from a turquoise leather purse that's melting off the bag and down her arm.

But the intense heat doesn't slow down group leader Eladio Pop, a Mayan farmer of the Agouti Cacao farm and a local legend for the way he does companion planting and organic farming. He effortlessly guides the visitors, chopping away rogue branches with the same machete he used to carve his farm out of the jungle.

Mr. Cacao plays a significant role in Belize's history and culture. The Mayans were the first to discover the process that transformed cacao into chocolate, and developed a trade that helped enrich the region. At one time the cacao bean was even used as currency. Today, the Toledo District is not only home to organic cacao orchards where the pods are grown, harvested and processed, it's also where the cacao beans are celebrated. Each year, the town of Punta Gorda hosts Cacao-Fest, which includes live music, displays related to the history of cacao cultivation and trade and art and archaeology exhibits.

Belize's Toledo District is rapidly earning a reputation as a prime destination for eco-tourists. Travellers can hike and explore its lush tropical rainforests, which house approximately 500 species of indigenous birds, black howler monkeys, jaguars and exotic flora and fauna.

History buffs will also enjoy the area's abundant ruins and archeological sites. Belize shares a rich Mayan heritage with the neighbouring countries of Guatemala, Mexico and Honduras, and it is considered to have been at the heart of Maya civilization. Although the Mayan occupation of Belize began as early as 1500 BC, it was during the classic period of 250 AD to 900 AD that the population is thought to have exceeded one million people. Archaeological remains include pottery, skeletons, stelae, as well as palaces, temples and ceremonial centres.

The Lubaantun archaeological site, for instance -"the place of fallen stones" -is situated within the Rio Grande drainage basin in the Toledo District. It is bounded by the seacoast on the east, the Maya Mountains on the north and west and swampland on the south. The site is well known for its mass of mould-made ceramic whistle figurines, metates (grinding stones) and manos (grinding tools), and its "stepped" (stair-like) architecture.

Travellers who want to support the Toledo District's sustainable tourism can sleep soundly at Punta Gorda's Hickatee Cottages, which give priority to having minimal impact on the environment. Not only will you not find a bottled water (Belize doesn't recycle) or an air conditioner, the resort runs on solar energy during the day and a generator at night.

The cottages are owned by British couple Ian and Kate Morton, who fell out of the rat race and in love with Belize. Mr. Morton is like an enthusiastic dad who always wants to share his knowledge. He owns countless bug, butterfly and animal books and when a call from a howler monkey or exotic bird is heard from the distance, he is eager to share his knowledge of the species with guests.

From Punta Gorda, you can take a 13-seat plane on Maya Island Air to St. George's Caye to discover another of Belize's great attractions -its beaches and celebrated coral reef.

Belize boasts the longest barrier reef in the hemisphere and is home to the Great Blue Hole, a large underwater circular sinkhole that is more than 300 metres across and 124 metres deep. Dip into the clear waters of the Caribbean and you can treat your eyes to the kaleidoscope of colours found in hard and soft corals, vibrant sponges and over 500 species of fish.

St. George's Caye Resort, about 20 minutes by boat from Belize City, the largest city in the country, is a private, secluded island offering its guests elegance and luxury. Guests stay in private cabanas and enjoy family-style dining with other guests and owners. The resort is equipped with a pool, a spa and staff that can teach windsurfing and sailing, and it offers top-notch snorkelling and scuba diving.

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