Belize jungle B&B
How this holiday makes a difference
Environment
These cottages have been created with minimal impact to the environment, and maximum benefit to the community.
A small part of the land had been cleared several years before for small-scale farming, and it is only this area which has been re-developed for the cottages and the farm. The lion's share of the area is in its original natural state and, with many large trees and lush vegetation, is home to an array of wildlife including a resident troop of howler monkeys, and occasional jaguar sightings. We grow trees for re-planting on both our and neighbouring land, and propagate native species to attract the wildlife.
We encourage guests to support our "citizen science" howler monkey monitoring programme, the data from which is used by George Mason University. We also support the Belize Primate Rehabilitation Programme, whose work includes the rehabilitation of "Spartacus", a badly-injured baby howler monkey who fell out of a tree at Hickatee one night during a storm.
Best management practices form a vital part of our philosophy, and we have adopted these principles in all areas of operation. We continually strive to reduce energy from non-renewable power sources through the installation of solar panels and a battery bank, and the use of energy-saving light bulbs and other energy-efficient electrical devices. We employ water-saving practices, with efficient shower heads, a linen re-use programme, and the provision of free water bottle re-fills for guests (we do not purchase small bottles of water, but provide guests with insulated bottles for day-trips, and adapt glass bottles for use in the cottage rooms). Solid waste is kept to a minimum: only limited re-cycling facilities exist in Belize and we are therefore constantly mindful of the ‘cradle to grave’ principle and reduce, re-use and re-cycle wherever and whatever possible. Organic matter is composted, and we minimise the amount of packaging and plastic we purchase.
Community
We employ only local staff, and consider staff training an integral element in ensuring long-term sustainability of the tourism industry in Toledo; we are committed to training, empowering and supporting our staff in all aspects of their work. We use only registered Belizean tour operators, who themselves employ only Belizean certified tour guides, to help spread the tourist dollar further, and provide sustained employment.
We are committed to purchasing as many goods locally as possible, and over 90% of our purchases are made within 3 miles of the cottages. We encourage guests to spend their dollars in the local community and at local restaurants, craft cooperatives, with taxi drivers, and to support local initiatives such as the Warasa drumming school (we offer guests free "taster" lessons on a Wednesday night).
We give preference to local (Toledo) and then Belizean produced goods and services, those that are environmentally friendly and from sustainable resources, and those that are eco-labelled and from socially responsible manufacturers. Our purchases cover a wide range of products from our beautiful hardwood floors to the Toledo produced goods in our gift shop, and from our range of local spirits and wines, to the locally-grown fresh fruits and vegetables purchased from PG market to supplement those grown on our farm.
We are passionate about our adopted homeland, and make every effort to participate in community events and programmes – these range from providing twice-yearly month-long agricultural internships to students from the Julian Cho Technical High School, to our organizing the donation of school supplies to Boom Creek Village School, as well as heavy involvement in the organizing of the Toledo Cacao Festival and its resultant Cacao Trail tours which help benefit the cocoa farmers of the District.
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