Say ‘I Do’ in the Jungle; Honeymoon on the Beach

Not everyone clamors to say ‘I do’ in front of a crowd. For some, the ideal wedding is a private affair between two people best appreciated in a space that inspires magical thinking. For those seeking to get away and elope, The Belize Collection offers an ideal opportunity amid our wedding offerings—the elopement package.

With the elopement package, you’ll have all the details of your wedding settled without the stress of months of planning or interlopers intervening. Once you’ve booked the elopement package from our website, a wedding coordinator will be assigned to work with you and your fiancé to ensure that the ceremony meets your aesthetic and ceremonial interests from the marriage license to the flower bouquet before you even leave for Belize.

The Belize Collection also has a full suite of vendors at the ready to help match your tastes and style for everything from the arch to the location to the dinner setup for you and your beloved. The wedding coordinator can manage as much of the planning as you like, leaving you plenty of time to figure out what you’d like to do while in the country.

After you arrive in Belize via a short flight, you’re a one-hour and thirty minute drive away from enjoying the seclusion and luxury at The Rainforest Lodge at Sleeping Giant. Hand in hand, you arrive at The Rainforest Lodge where you’re checked into a room that you may consider never leaving for your stay.

While you have a range of locations to choose from, you’ve already settled on a ceremony atop the cliff overlooking the Maya Mountains, a perfect backdrop for wedding photos.

The elopement package includes everything you need to make a wedding ceremony and private reception for you and your new marriage partner. You’ll receive a wedding officiant, a customized arch and path, a bouquet, and a matching boutonnière.

Along with the ceremony, an elopement in Belize is also ideal due to the ease of acquiring a recognized official marriage license. All you’ll need to bring is proof of citizenship (passport), original birth certificate, and if applicable: original divorce decree or death certificate. The only other requirement is that you need to be in Belize 3 days before applying for the marriage license, giving you plenty of time to plan and relish more time in tropical splendor.

Not interested in a legal marriage? No problem, The Rainforest Lodge at Sleeping Giant will gladly coordinate a commitment ceremony of your choosing.

While you wait for the wedding day, you and your beloved make time for play during the day, exploring the lodge’s grounds by foot, bike, or horse-drawn carriage, and also rejuvenating via massages and laps in the pool. Meanwhile, every evening you dine at the Grove House or Don Tonito’s, trying a full range of menu options that’ll leave you swooning with pleasure as you countdown to the fateful day. All the while, you’ll reaffirm why you’ve chosen this person to commit to—their sense of fun, the safety you feel with them, and their grounding presence.

Then on the wedding day, your wedding coordinator will have booked a make-up artist and hair stylist, who will get you ready in your suite to give you a look that lives up to the day.

Meanwhile, your wedding photographer, also booked by The Belize Collection, takes pre-ceremony photos that’ll live on in your home spaces and surprise social media announcements, conveying the enchantment of the day only the jungles of Belize can infuse.

From there, you’re ready to meet your spouse atop the cliff for a ceremony you’ll relish for a lifetime. With the sun kissing your skin, and the fresh air as your only witness, you’ll say ‘I do’ in a place that’ll embed the memory in you forever. Afterward, you’ll have a cake and bottle of champagne to enjoy, included in your package, as you look forward to the rest of your lives together.

Once the ceremony is through and you’re all packed up again, you’ll be driven 45 minutes away to The Lodge at Jaguar Reef for a beachside honeymoon. Your suite comes with a king-sized bed, a plunge pool, and immaculate views of the sea for you to gaze in and imagine your brilliant futures together.

Though the wedding will be over, your commitment to each other only starts the celebration and you’ll find plenty to do together from exploring the barrier reef to enjoying tropical cocktails at the Big Dock Bar. Whatever’s next, you’ll leave Belize secure in the knowledge that your commitment is one of abundance, trust, and peace.
Make your dream wedding come true today by booking an elopement package with The Belize Collection, and get started with your lives.

Sleeping Giant’s Artists in Residence Will Show That Humans Are Nature

Visitors to The Belize Collection know that every resort in the collection features an array of unique art pieces curated over the years. The Belize Collection views the appreciation of art as essential to achieving the level of comfort and pleasure we strive to achieve in all we do. That’s why we’re particularly excited about our newest project taking place right now on the grounds at The Rainforest Lodge at Sleeping Giant which looks to take art out of the gallery and thrust them into the wild.

Over the past two months, four artists have been working on three pieces that will be embedded into the very heart of The Rainforest Lodge grounds as an outdoor art installation. These artists, working with various materials including wire, wood, and cement, are using the opportunity to explore Belize’s ecological and cultural history. Their works clarify that humans have always been a part of the natural environment, a theme that has always been a major motivator for The Belize Collection’s efforts at reducing its environmental impact.

Lucia Meyer is working on a project that illustrates the life cycle of women at a scale that’s both immersive and intimate. Covered from head to toe in sawdust with a chainsaw at her feet, Meyer was unable to restrain a smile as she shared that sculpting the hardwood has worn out four chainsaw chains.

Meanwhile at a secluded part of the grounds at the base of the mountain featuring the gazebo lookout point, the team of Marcelo Patiño and Gabriella Giusti are working on a project that harkens to one of the central stories of the Lodge and to Belize’s Mayan cultural legacy. They’ve been working with a small team of Belizeans from the local community, and view the project in terms of not only the piece they’re creating but the collaboration and apprenticeship they’re able to offer to local residents. Lastly, near the new Sleeping Giant residencies, Diego Haretche is hard at work on a massive installation inspired by one of Belize’s most photographed animals and children’s literature classic The Little Prince. Shirtless, energetic and beaming with excitement, Haretche’s piece is unlike any artwork seen in Belize before, akin to the work of large abstract pieces like George Rickey’s Three Squares.

Residing at The Rainforest Lodge at Sleeping Giant for the duration of their residency, these artists have been motivated by the rich rainforest environments of Belize, noting the abundance of life even near the Lodge as an ongoing inspiration. Working on art that will exist in nature rather than a more controlled environment has come with plenty of obstacles. Rather than be dispirited by those obstacles though, the artists have found clever ways to work with the land in shaping the project rather than impose a predetermined idea of how they should function. As project coordinator Evelin remarks “When you think of making a sculpture in the jungle, you think it’s gonna be great, but there’s so much that can go wrong.”

In the midst of those things that did go wrong, however, much has gone right, and soon these art pieces will be ready for public viewing by visitors to The Rainforest Lodge at Sleeping Giant. However, these won’t simply be indicated on a map somewhere. They’ll be left unmarked for you to stumble across in your exploration of the grounds to reward the curious and adventurous.

The possibilities of outdoor art installations are truly rich as anyone familiar with Belize’s Poustinia Land Art project would know, and The Belize Collection is excited to see this project expand further in the future, including an open call for Belizean and international artists to add their work to the collection. The Rainforest Lodge at Sleeping Giant’s installation officially launches on August 3. Book a room now to be there for the unveiling and gain a new perspective on the nature of humanity.

The Smallest Lobster Fest has the Biggest Taste

With mangoes having had their moment in Hopkins this summer, lobsters are looking to make a splash of their own in the southern Belize village. This July 22, The Lodge at Jaguar Reef is hosting its second ‘Mini Lobster Fest’ with more activities and food to enthrall even the lobster skeptic.

Though Placencia and Caye Caulker are best known for their annual lobster fests to kick off the opening of the lobster season, the Lodge decided last year to offer a smaller, yet lively daylong affair with something to offer everyone not interested in huge crowds and long lines.

The day’s activities this year commence with a bang with the thrilling finale of the Battle of the Bartenders. Across three rounds, Rene from The Rainforest Lodge at Sleeping Giant, Briceno (fondly known as Bruno) from The Lodge at Jaguar Reef, and Immer from Umaya Resort will face off to decide who’ll be named The Belize Collection’s ‘Bartender of the Year.’

The bartenders will first have to make a cocktail featuring a mystery box ingredient. In the second round, they’ll be given a dessert or dish, and tasked with making a cocktail that perfectly complements it. In the final round, the bartenders will develop a signature cocktail using whatever ingredients are available. In addition to a cash prize, the winning bartender will have their signature cocktail featured across all of The Belize Collection’s restaurants.

Once the ‘Bartender of the Year’ has been crowned, it’s time to move on to the day’s main attraction: lobster. During the fest, visitors will have the option of trying out lobster prepared in a variety of styles. Choose from the pupusa bar, which will also feature tacos, and see how they reinvigorate this Salvadoran classic. You can also visit the grill station and have a serving of gooey and decadent lobster mac and cheese. More cheesy lobster goodness can also be found at Don Tonito’s where they’ll be baking pizza pies all day.

For those seeking a more classic serving option, the Big Dock Ceviche Bar will be up and running, ready to make you a fresh plate alongside some cassava chips. In the mood for just a grilled lobster straight up? The Lodge will have that too with Chef Rahim’s own spin on this traditional Belizean meal. Stroll the beach to enjoy all the variations of lobster with the sweet sound of the Panerrifix Steel Band playing live music.

When you’re not getting a bellyful of lobster, you can venture over to the artisan market at the Paddle House. There, you’ll be able to peruse fashion, earrings, home décor, skincare supplies, and more, all made in Belize.

The fest ends at 6:00 p.m., but that doesn’t mean the fun has to end there. Book a room at The Lodge at Jaguar Reef for the evening, and enjoy luxury accommodations where you can rinse off and reflect on the day in your suite. International guests can take advantage of the summer promotions currently being offered while Belizeans can book a room at a 50% local discount to join in the fun. Bring your night to an end by wandering over to the Paddle House for a stellar dinner. Help yourself to another order of lobster if you like. We won’t tell. The mini lobster fest only comes around once a year after all.

The Art of Mixology at The Belize Collection

At the Battle of the Bartenders, the Guests Come Out on Top

When visiting Belize, many look for a cocktail that’s both Instagram-worthy and refreshing. Thankfully, The Belize Collection has a full team of master mixologists across its three major resorts able and willing to help match you with just the right cocktail to get you in the vacation mood. To show off the skills of its impeccable bartending staff, and give them an opportunity to flex their ingenuity, and speed, The Belize Collection held its first Battle of the Bartenders on May 13, 2023.

For this event, three bartenders gathered at each of The Belize Collection’s resorts (Umaya Resort, The Lodge at Jaguar Reef, and The Rainforest Lodge at Sleeping Giant) to compete in a three round competition. At each resort, a judging panel consisting of two guests and a staff member assessed each cocktail based on taste, appearance, and creativity with ten points allotted to each criteria for a possible total of 30 points per round.

Guests at all the resorts and regular visitors were invited to the spectacle where the participating bartenders could choose from a range of ingredients, including fresh fruits, and also had access to a stovetop burner for reductions and flambés. With all they had available, the results were outstanding across all three rounds, leaving guests with a hankering to try out everything.

In the first round, the judges tasked the bartenders with developing cocktails prominently featuring the mystery ingredient: seasonal fruits. Each resort was assigned a distinct fruit to use with the jackfruit assigned to The Rainforest Lodge, the star fruit to The Lodge at Jaguar Reef, and Sapote to Umaya. Notably, each of these fruits are not commonly featured in cocktails, so the challenge was for the bartenders to find a way to feature the fruit while balancing its flavors with spirits and other ingredients. The bartenders first had 15 minutes to prepare their assigned fruit and then 8 minutes to construct 4 equal cocktails for the judges.

In the second round, the judges assigned the bartenders with making their own unique variation of a bar staple: the mint julep. Typically consisting of bourbon, sugar, water, crushed or shaved ice, and fresh mint, the participants were able to include one signature ingredient. With 5 minutes to prepare their ingredients, and 8 minutes to craft their mint julips, the bartenders were in crunch time as they put together this classic summer cocktail.

After two rounds of intense mixology action, the bartenders were faced with their most challenging round, creating a signature cocktail. Every bartender was able to bring one signature ingredient to the table. From there, they had 10 minutes to develop a garnish followed by 8 minutes to produce their cocktails for the judges’ assessment.

While all the bartenders got elbow deep into crafting their cocktails, at the end of the day only one cocktail from each resort came out a winner. We’re proud to announce the winners are Rene Weight representing The Rainforest Lodge at Sleeping Giant, Briceno Cal representing The Lodge at Jaguar Reef, and Immer Mai representing Umaya Resort.

The winning bartender at every resort won a resort stay and an online course from Scoolinary called Mixology Fundamentals: The 25 Classic Cocktails with Javier de las Muelas. The winners from each resort will be facing off at Jaguar Reef’s Mini Lobster Fest on July 22 where a master mixologist will be crowned. Be sure to come by for a weekend of savory food, Belizean pop up shop, and the final round of Battle of the Bartenders.

And because The Belize Collection thinks you should be able to enjoy a pre-vacation cocktail anytime, we’re sharing the recipes of the winning signature cocktail from every resort.

Winning Recipes of the Signature Cocktail round:

The Rainforest Lodge at Sleeping Giant
Mosquito Bite by Fermin

Ingredients:
0.5 oz Grenadine
1 oz Coconut Rum
2 oz Mango Daiquiri
0.75 oz White Rum
0.25 oz Lime Juice
1.5 oz Mango Pulp

Method:

  1. Prepare daiquiri mix
  2. Layer the drink using ice, pouring grenadine first, followed by coconut rum and mango daiquiri
  3. Garnish with fresh slices of mango

The Lodge at Jaguar Reef
Teaser of the South by Briceno (fondly known as Bruno)

Ingredients:
1.5 oz Dragon Fruit Syrup
8 Mint Leaves
2 oz One Barrel Rum
1 oz Fresh Lime Juice
1 oz Egg White

Method:

Garnish ingredients: dragon fruit, brown sugar, butter, One Barrel Rum, mint spring
Garnish method: Add cuts of dragon fruit to hot sauce pan. Add 2 tsp brown sugar. Add 1 tsp butter. Flambé all together with One Barrel Rum.
Cocktail method: In the shaker add 1 oz egg whites (shake well to get frosty) then proceed to add 1.5 oz dragon fruit syrup, 8 mint leaves, 2 oz One Barrel Rum, 1 oz fresh lime. Shake everything together and pour the cocktail in a Collins glass. Add garnish. Add the finishing touches: spray the cocktail with homemade aged rum and dragon fruit aroma.

Umaya Resort
Sayab by Immer

SAYAB (Mayan word meaning “Inexhaustible Vein of Water and Farming”)

Ingredients:
2 oz Belize White Rum
2 oz Tomato Juice
1.5 oz Cucumber Juice
1.5 oz Fresh Lime Juice
0.5 oz Simple Syrup


Method:

Mix all ingredients in shaker and strain over fresh ice. Garnish with blackberries, strawberries, a roasted lime wedge and sliced guava. Enjoy a hidden twist of watermelon flavour!

There’s No Such Thing As Too Much Mango at the 2023 Hopkins Mango Street Fest

Number 11. Black. Slippers. Judgewig. Thundershaw. Hofius. Yellow gold.
What may appear to the uninitiated as a random set of words is for many in Belize a
series of utterances that will set mouths watering. Each of these mango varieties is available in the country, and for many one of the central joys of living in the Jewel.
Fortunately, your appetite for the sometimes sweet, sometimes sour fruit du jour can be more than satiated at the 2023 Hopkins Mango Street Fest. The Hopkins chapter of the Belize Tourism Industry Association hosts this annual event that brings together locals and visitors from across Belize to revel in the fruit that makes the hot summer days tolerable.

The event takes place on the streets of Hopkins on June 10th and 11th from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. with a variety of activities for everyone in the family. Enjoy arts and crafts activities made especially for the kids and savor the shade while sipping refreshing mango juice.

For the adults, the activities meet every sensual desire aspired to in Caribbean poetry about the potent fruit. From competitions for the best mango dish and best mango drink to a bartending competition, mangos will take center stage as people course through the Southern coastal village.

You can mango hop from booth to booth, trying a selection of cocktails made especially for the day while enjoying the sounds of the Sweet Pain Band and Mac 90 Sounds. Be sure to stop by The Belize Collection’s very own booth where Chef Rahim will have a selection of exclusive dishes. You can try the zingy taste of mango and jalapeño pizza, or share a plate of fresh ceviche with diced mango. Chef Rahim will also feature a selection of mango cocktails and desserts that will disappear before you’re able to get it for the ‘gram.

The Lodge at Jaguar Reef has you covered if you’re interested in further exploring the delights of mangos. Belizeans can take advantage of the 50% local discount to join in the fun while international guests can call in to receive a discount. With two days of mango fest, The Lodge at Jaguar Reef is your premier choice to stay at and take a break from the action throughout the day. Retreat to your private plunge pool after a day of all things mango. Or escape the crowd when you’ve had your fill and cool off in your suite with room service. If the activities are done but you’re still up for more, head over to the Big Dock Bar for more drinks, sun, and sea. You can also rent one of the Lodge’s golf carts to travel back and forth to the street fest and enjoy the after-party at Ella’s Cool Spot.

While the heat might be on in the summer, the allure of mango brings a coolness to the body that one cannot resist. This is your chance to find out which mango reigns supreme.

Experience the Belize Songwriter Festival at The Lodge at Jaguar Reef

Last summer, The Lodge at Jaguar Reef hosted an intimate country concert with country artists Lucas Hoge, Rob Mayes, and Keesy Timmer. The chart topping singers and songwriters serenaded resort guests and locals with a casual evening of soulful, sometimes playful, country music. That evening of music and drinks has blown up into a two-day music festival as The Lodge at Jaguar Reef prepares to host 11 songwriters for the first annual Belize Songwriter Festival on May 19 – 20.

The brainchild of Lucas Hoge, this Belize music festival was inspired by his love for Belize. Hoge said, “Belize is one of the many locations I’ve been able to visit while filming my TV series Hoge Wild. I truly fell in love with this place and the people. Being able to work with my partners and our sponsors to bring this festival to life is simply incredible. We look forward to many years of sharing Hopkins Beach Belize with not only my songwriting peers, but friends and fans from all over the world.”

Choose Belize and Artistry Alliance are also credited as creators of the upcoming Belize event. Nashville Songwriter Hall of Fame member Paul Overstreet and artists Lindsay Ell and Craig Campbell will all be performing. The team was able to partner with Operation Encore who will be bringing in military veteran songwriters JB Brown and Tyree Woods.

The full line up includes:
Lucas Hoge, Paul Overstreet, Lindsay Ell, Craig Campbell, Phil Barton, Forest Whitehead, Trent Tomlinson, Cameron Bedell, Tim Gates, Tyree Woods, JB Brown

Over the two days, the country songwriters will also be performing at Play Bar and Mango’s Bar in Hopkins. Festival goers can use the free shuttle service being offered by Jaguar Reef to get to Mango’s Bar while Play Bar is a short walk away from the lodge. Expect these performances to be up close and personal, as you sit, stand, and sway just feet away from these award winning songwriters. There will be no jostling around, no toes getting stepped on, and no chance to miss out on these incredible performances.

Book your stay at any of the resorts on the Jaguar Reef property, the official venue partner, including Almond Beach Resort, Colonial Inn, Villa Margarita, and The Lodge at Jaguar Reef.

Tickets can be purchased online or at any of the three newly added ticket outlets: The Belize Collection main office in Belmopan, The Lodge at Jaguar Reef in Hopkins, or Umaya Resort in Maya Beach, Placencia. For in-person purchases, call +501-822-3850 or email concierge@thebelizecollection.com

Bring out your finest country gear, bedazzled country boots, and your most stylish country hats for two days of live performances from a star studded Nashville lineup. Since we’ll be sipping cocktails on the golden beach next to the Caribbean Sea listening to our favorite country songs, your trusty flip flops, denim shorts, or sundress will do just fine.

There’s still time to join us for the inaugural Belize Songwriter Festival this May 19 – 20 at The Lodge at Jaguar Reef, Hopkins for two days of drinks and country music on the beach.

Sponsors for the event include:

Go All Out for Mom this Mother’s Day

Let The Belize Collection Help You Out

Last year you left the pancakes on the griddle a minute past perfect and soured the orange juice with too much rind then took a while to do the dishes, so she ended up doing them herself. Don’t repeat those mistakes this year and give Mom the day she deserves by treating her to a decadent weekend at any of The Belize Collection’s resorts this May for a Mother’s Day she’ll tell everyone about for years to come.

After a first night’s rest at the resort, you rouse the kids from bed, brush their teeth and ensure they all get dressed. You then quietly make your way out the room, but not before leaving a copy of the new book Mom’s been wanting to read on the nightstand while she sleeps. You give her all the time she wants to indulge in the lushness of luxury bedding. As she wakes up, she’ll take note of the book and the quietude you’ve gifted her and know the day will be a good one. Once Mom has made her way through her morning routine, she finds you all waiting for her to get the day going.

She’s not feeling in the mood for food just yet, so asks if you all would mind taking a walk for a while. As you walk along the beach at The Lodge at Jaguar Reef in Hopkins or Umaya in Placencia, or the trails at The Rainforest Lodge at Sleeping Giant, you ask her about how she slept, how she’s feeling about the day, and you take note of the radiance she exudes as she outlines her desires, the directness and consideration of them leaving you profoundly touched to know someone so tender and brilliant.

Appetite enlivened from the walk, you all go to the resort’s main restaurant for the Moms + Mimosas brunch special. For this annual event, each of The Belize Collection’s restaurants has its own unique menu to complement the scenery and vibe.

At the Grove House at The Rainforest Lodge at Sleeping Giant, Mom can try the ‘Jungle Hearts’, heart of palm filled with an airy cheese mousse and topped with smoked ham and sorrel jelly. Those staying at Placencia’s Umaya Resort can visit Restaurante Laguna and go for the ‘Coconut French Toast’, french toast infused with coconut, garnished with caramelized bananas and cashew nuts, a dish with just the right amount of sweet. Visitors to the Paddle House at The Lodge at Jaguar Reef can delight in the perfection that is the ‘Croissant Sandwich’, slices of roasted ham and locally sourced cheese tucked into a flaky croissant roll.

Regardless of which resort you choose to visit, Mom and company can imbibe in the bubbly goodness of perfected mimosas made of a blend of champagne and freshly made orange juice. Have a round or two to the woman that weathered the family through both turbulence and ease with unmeasurable grace as you sneak bites of each other’s plates, laughing all through the first half of the day.

From there, it’s now time for Mom to receive the massage you prebooked for her. An hour with an expert masseur and she’ll be feeling rejuvenated and ready to take on the afternoon’s activities.

This is the perfect time for you to visit the Village Gift Shop where you can find a variety of locally sourced products that cater to Moms all walks of life. At The Rainforest Lodge at Sleeping Giant, you can find unique handbags crafted by Belizean makers Twig & Pearl, Emilio Perera, and Zyania Alonzo, and a variety of clay earrings from Belizean jeweler Sol.

After the massage and your covert shopping excursion, you reconvene the family for a leisurely afternoon. Sleeping Giant guests can relish in a leisurely hike through the resort’s jungle trails with plenty of plants and gentle animal life to enchant you.

If you’re at The Lodge at Jaguar Reef, this is the perfect time to visit the Big Dock Ceviche Bar where you can partake of ceviche made right in front of you. Go between bites of ceviche, dips in the Caribbean Sea and lounging on the dock as you wile away the afternoon. Visitors to Umaya can relax at the resort’s swim-up bar and try out a variety of cocktails and mocktails made of exclusive infused rums and fresh juices.

As the day begins to wind down, Mom leans over to you and grabs your hand before telling you simply ‘Thank you.’ Nothing else needs to be said as you share in this moment of appreciation, knowing that all the day’s events can’t compare to all she’s done to make your house a home, and make life more than surviving another day.

And if you’d like to go all out for Mom, there’s still time to take advantage of The Belize Collection’s ‘Just for Mom’ package, a 2-night stay at any The Belize Collection resort that includes a bottle of champagne on arrival and a massage.

The Belize Collection Celebrates Earth Day with Launch of Coffee with Conservationists

The Belize Collection is known worldwide for its commitment to sustainability and conservation, pushing the hospitality industry to reimagine how luxury can exist amid dynamic ecologies.

The Belize Collection recognizes that conservation allows guests to enjoy their resorts, but not many may understand all the work that goes into preserving Belize’s wonders. They realized they were well positioned to meet that gap. The marketing and management team invited several conservation organizations to speak with their guests at The Rainforest Lodge at Sleeping Giant and The Lodge at Jaguar Reef about the multi-tiered work conservationists in Belize do every day.

Now The Belize Collection is bringing those conversations to a wider audience by launching a new monthly YouTube series called ‘Coffee with Conservationists.’

From the Grove House to your house, these conversations provide an accessible point of entry for anyone interested in getting to know more about what Belize’s conservation organizations do to protect the unique and endangered environments that comprise Belize. You’ll learn about what inspires the work of the organization, how passion for animals and the environment ignited action, and how you can better support the efforts of these vital organizations.

‘Coffee with Conservationists’ kicks off with a conversation featuring Conservation Program Manager Jamal Andrewin-Bohn of The Belize Zoo and Tropical Education Center. Andrewin-Bohn discusses the role of The Belize Zoo and Tropical Education Center in protecting and rehabilitating Belize’s native wildlife. From its humble origins as the extension of a 1983 film project shot in the Central Belize region where the zoo now resides, the Belize Zoo has become a vital part of Belize’s ecological education thanks to the efforts of founder Sharon Matola (1954-2021).

The Belize Zoo resides in the Maya Forest Corridor, which serves as a vital migratory route connecting the southern Maya Mountains to the northern Selva Maya. The zoo recently purchased 1000 acres in the Maya Forest Corridor in the name of Matola, reaffirming the organization’s commitment to protecting Belize’s abundant wildlife.

In the interview Andrewin-Bohn also explains how, globally, zoos are moving away from models based on displaying species from around the world for entertainment to one that centers animals’ needs in the landscapes that suit them. In this respect, The Belize Zoo has long been an industry leader, featuring solely animals from Belize that were orphaned, injured, or in some other way in need of additional care unavailable in their natural habitat. The Belize Zoo also regularly reintroduces animals able to enter the wild once rehabilitated as part of its devotion to supporting the wildlife populations of these incredible animals.

Asked how the public can support The Belize Zoo and Tropical Education Center, Andrewin-Bohn invites people to volunteer with the zoo to provide the many behind-the-scenes activities necessary to care for the animals and their habitats. The Belize Zoo also accepts monetary donations and offers a unique ‘Adopt an Animal’ program where you can give money to support a species of your choosing, a great gift option for the animal lover in your life.

Every month, ‘Coffee with Conservationists’ will bring you a new video you can enjoy along with your favorite cup of joe. Learn about Panthera’s work monitoring wildcats in Belize, or join Jamal Galves, Belize’s own manatee man as he talks about his passion for protecting manatees and their habitats. The full line up includes: 

  • Jamal Andrewin-Bohn, Conservation Program Manager, The Belize Zoo and Tropical Education Center
  • Janelle Chanona, Vice President, Oceana Belize
  • Nikki Buxton, Executive Director & Rehab Manager, Belize Bird Rescue
  • Jamal Galves, Belize Program Coordinator, Clearwater Marine Aquarium Research Institute
  • Emma Sanchez, Country Coordinator, Panthera Belize
  • Sharon Young, Country Director, Blue Ventures
  • Dr. Marisa Tellez, Founder/Executive Director, Crocodile Research Coalition
  • Kirah Forman-Castillo, MSc., Belize National Coordinator, MarAlliance

The Belize Collection has been fortunate to have worked with various local, internationally recognized conservationists developing new ideas and strategies on how humans can become better stewards of this unique country, work that constantly motivates us to do the same. The work of these conservationists will inspire you to think more deeply about how you can better aid the work of conservationists in your daily life from reducing your consumption of plastics that harm animals to supporting policies that preserve sensitive ecologies.

To ensure you never miss an episode of ‘Coffee with Conservationists’ be sure to subscribe to The Belize Collection’s Youtube channel where you’ll also be able to see the collection’s other enthralling video features.

‘Coffee with Conservationists’ is a gentle and necessary reminder that while we relegate Earth Day to an annual celebration, every day invites us to deepen our connection with the environments that give us all we need to live, thrive, and luxuriate.

Paranormal Sightings at The Rainforest Lodge at Sleeping Giant

Belize is well known for our traditional folklore. Belizean childhoods are filled with stories involving La Llorona, Anansi, or Tata Duende that we’ll excitedly retell to any interested listener.

As Easter approaches, Belizeans become even more superstitious with age-old instructions to not go swimming on Good Friday or else you’ll turn into a mermaid.

But no folklore is involved in the recent activity being reported by guests at The Rainforest Lodge at Sleeping Giant.

Guests have stumbled upon never before seen carvings in the natural limestone near Rope Bridge 5. While The Rainforest Lodge is expansive, it is unusual for carvings to mysteriously appear with no knowledge by onsite staff or management. Guests excitedly showed photos asking for the background story, but unfortunately, we have no answers.

Secondly, visitors have been alarmed by the sound of children playing coming from the trails at night. While our lodge is family friendly, we never recommend children being near or on the trails unsupervised, especially in the dark! Our staff quickly went to find the children, but not a person was in sight.

Even stranger, guests have been coming to our front desk staff with handfuls of cacao beans. We’ve been informed that guests have been waking up to cacao beans on their doorsteps. While we’d love to be the source behind this – we’re simply not! (This has, however, drummed up great interest in our Maya Chocolate Tour.)

We’re hard pressed to believe this is real paranormal activity, but we’re heeding the stories of our ancestors and looking into the signs. The cacao beans are a strong cultural connection to the Maya as they were once used as formal currency in the Maya civilization.

Historically, Belize was once home to massive and booming Maya kingdoms. Is there a possibility that the lodge was built upon one? Our onsite Maya Ceremonial Cave may provide clues about this.

For everyone’s safety, we’ve called in the professionals to help us solve this case. Our management team has reached out to Zak Bagans, American paranormal investigator, who will team up with Belizean archaeologist Jaime Awe, just in time for April Fool’s Day.

While the random cacao beans and peculiar sounds of children aren’t real, the carvings are! Explore our rope bridges to stumble upon them yourself.