San Pedro Town, Belize (The Open Press) March 20, 2009 -- An unforgettable mix of tropical waterfalls, ancient Mayan ruins and deep limestone caves, Belize is a sought-after destination for eco-tourists. Belize supports key ecotourism principles by designating forty-two percent of the country as protected green zones and supporting community-based tourism projects that directly benefit small traditional communities.
Ambergris Caye, Belize's largest island and sought after destination for Belize vacations, is internationally renowned for its spectacular marine eco-system just minutes offshore in the Belize Barrier Reef, the largest living barrier reef in the Americas. But visitors often neglect a diverse number of thriving eco-systems on land within one compact area.
One of the most convenient means to explore the island's terrain is to take a leisurely golf cart ride on the rugged sandy road just north of the island ferry in San Pedro Town. Riders will find a profusion of tropical scenery to satisfy even the most astute nature lover, from wetlands and coastal savanna to sandy beaches and littoral forest. A must for bird-watchers is a visit to Bacalar Chico National Park & Marine Reserve, where nearly 200 species have been spotted.
Additional ecotourism adventures are available on the Belizean mainland. Cave tubing is a popular choice and Belize has a series of vast cave systems. The Mayans believed that caves were sacred passages to the underworld of the spirits and the dead. Evidence of Mayan use, such as pottery, fire pits and religious artifacts, has been found in almost every cave discovered. Cave tubers put on head lamps, splash into cool water and float in individual inner tubes through limestone and crystal formations.
A great way to get a bird's-eye view of the Belizean jungle at Jaguar Paw is a Jungle Zip Line Adventure. Visitors hike through the jungle, strap on a climbing harness and glide along cables or zip lines from one treetop platform to another.
Belize's national parks provide wonderful destinations for bird-watchers. Many consider Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary to be the best bird-watching spot in the country. It is the main nesting site of the endangered jabiru stork.
Many Belize resorts coordinate excursions for vacationers. Guests at La Perla del Caribe, a private nine-villa enclave, can make reservations with Seaduced by Belize, a locally owned, family run business. Many combine cave tubing and zip lining, before returning to their spacious villas. La Perla del Caribe is located minutes away from bustling San Pedro Town.
About La Perla Del Caribe
Located on Ambergris Caye, the largest island off the coast of Belize, La Perla Del Caribe captures the Caribbean ambiance in elegance and luxury. Each designer residence in this private beachfront enclave offers a distinctive architectural style with native exotic hardwoods and tiles, and is decorated with local artwork, antiques and artisan-crafted furniture. The villas are situated on a four acre site which slopes gently to the water's edge on a magnificent stretch of white sandy beach. Close offshore is the Belize Barrier Reef, the largest living barrier reef in the Americas, rated one of the world's top ten dive sites.
