Scrolling my Facebook Timeline this morning I saw this photo and had to share; it’s Councillor Anna Banner Guy with Belmopan’s First and Current Queens. Clarita Ozaeta won the title of Queen of the Bay in the early 1970s and Melissa Robinson holds the title this year (2015).
We celebrated our one year anniversary early this month with a special giveaway! A big congrats to Christine Valerio for winning our Celebrate & Win Contest! She has won a Photo Shoot with Monica Gallardo Photography! Thank you for celebrating with us Christine! We also take this time to thank all those who supported us this year! We look forward to another great year of serving you!
Located in the capital city (Belmopan) Deidra Deandra – a Belize Graphic Design Company – has offered creative graphic design services to locals for the past year. We have grown in our short lifetime to reach international markets and receive business from various customers in the US.
This coming year, we are preparing to expand our services to develop a print branch. Through this new service, we hope to partner with many more organizations to help take your ideas from the initial design stage to the final tangible product. This is a big step for us and we invite you to stay connected as we grow to better serve you.
Read some of our reviews and consider us for your next project.
I always enjoy the opportunity to share about the country I call home-Belize! These 10 beautiful photos of the piece of earth I call home, highlight some of the natural produce we get from the land, the animals, and the beautiful scenery!
1. Coconut Tree – I took this photo on the beach in Dangriga, Belize. Dangriga is a Town located in the Stann Creek District, Belize. [Download this Free Belize Wallpaper]
2. Waterfall – This Waterfall is located in the Elijio Panti National Park in Belize, a beautiful destination to visit in the Cayo District. The park has several activities including swimming, waterfalls, hiking, nature trails, caves, and Mayan artifacts
3. Mennonite Produce – this photo was taken on a visit to the back-ends of the Mennonite Community, Spanish Lookout, in Belize. I can’t remember the name of the crop planted here but it goes on for miles and is a beautiful site to see. [Download this Free Belize Wallpaper]
4. Manatee – The manatee is a marine mammal that is a protected specie in Belize. This photo was taken at the Swallow Caye Wildlife Sanctuary, the best place to see manatees in Belize. Manatees have paddle-like flippers and can grow to about 13 feet long with 1300 pounds.
5. “E” – I remember taking this photo on a hike through the Elijio Panti National Park. It was quite an exciting find, a naturally formed “E” in the Belize Rainforest.
6. Sunset in the Capital City – This photo was taken in Belmopan, Belize, the Capital City of the country. It reminded me of a Lion King Movie Scene. (:
7. Pink Rose – This beautiful rose was captured right at home in my mother’s garden. She has a variety of them in different colors and I always enjoy taking photos of the newly bloomed ones. Check out some of these same roses in our Mother’s Day Cards Designs. [Download this Free Belize Wallpaper]
8. Sleeping Giant – The Sleeping Giant is a Group of Mountains in Belize located along the Hummingbird Highway. As you can see, the group of Mountains at a point on the highway, resemble a Sleeping Giant, hence the name.
9. White Horse – I took this photo at the Banana Bank Lodge in Belize which is home to over 90 horses.
10. Coconut Apple – Locally known as “Grow-ins,” the Coconut Apple is found inside dried coconuts. It is quite a sweet find. [Download this Free Belize Wallpaper]
The Capital of Belize – Belmopan City, is a beautiful destination to visit on your next Belize trip. Belmopan is located in the Cayo District, Belize and is a short 1 hour dive from Belize City. The City is designed with a Ring Road being encompassing the central area and leading off into every other destination in Belmopan.
Belmopan became the Capital of Belize in 1962 after the former Capitial (Belize City) suffered a great destruction by Hurricane Hattie in 1961. The famous National Assembly Building (photographed above) is a beautiful structure in the main center of the City and was designed to resemble a Pre-Colombian Maya Temple.
The city is known to be a laid back and relaxing place to visit. It is also the safer of the two cities in Belize. Belmopan City is rapidly growing from a quiet destination to a thriving city in Belize as the population, businesses and activities in the city increase. Here are 3 fun activities to do while in the Capital of Belize:
Go Shopping at the Belmopan City Market Day (Every Tuesday & Friday)! Here you’ll find many Belizean made products, locally produced fruits and vegetables, clothing, and local dishes from a variety of cultures. You’ll see farmers, fishermen, artisans, mobile pet stores, tradesmen, furniture makers, and people of all cultures going about their daily activities.
Visit the Guanacaste National Park! Guanacaste is a 50 acre Protected Areas named after the big and beautiful Guanacaste Tree. Among the activities to do at the park are: bird watching, swimming, picnicking and nature trails. This national park is home to tree species such as the Mamey Sapote, Brazilian Firetree, and the Mahogany, Belize’s national tree. Many animals call Guanacaste National Park home, including the Nine-Banded Armadillo, Kinkajou, White-Tailed Deer, and Jaguarundi. It has also a great place for bird watching as over a hundred species of birds have been sighted at the park including the Black-Headed Trogon, Blue-Crowned Motmot, Belted Kingfisher, Black-Faced Antthrush and Red-Lored Amazon. The National Park operates from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm and has an Entrance Fee of BZ $5.00 (BZ $1.00 for Nationals).
Go Horseback Riding at Banana Bank Lodge! They cater to different levels of experience. They also have a nice swimming pool for adults and children. It is a lovely place to stay as well if you’re wanting to stay in a destination surrounded by the jungle!
PS – If you’re looking for a great place to eat, a favorite of mine is Formosa (Nim Li Punit Street, Belmopan City). It has a nice atmosphere and they are consistent in serving great food!
Are you planning a trip to Central America? Then the ATM Cave Belize is your next stop! The ATM Cave Belize is a beautiful part of Belizean History that will be one of your most adventurous experiences!
Actun Tunichil Muknal (Cave of the Crystal Sepulchre) is a cave in Belize, near San Ignacio, Cayo District. I is notable as a Maya archaeological site that includes skeletons, ceramics, and stoneware. There are several areas of skeletal remains in the main chamber. The best known is “The Crystal Maiden.” This is the skeleton of a teenage girl, possibly a sacrifice victim, whose bones have been calcified to a sparkling, crystallized appearance.
Many of the Maya artifacts and remains are completely calcified to the cave floor. One artifact, named the “Monkey Pot”, is one of just four of its type found in Central America. The cave is extensively decorated with cave formations in the upper passages.
Animal life in the cave includes a large population of bats, large freshwater crabs, crayfish, catfish and other tropical fish. Agouti and otters may also use the cave. These and many other species are quite common in river caves of this size in Belize.
National Geographic names the ATM Cave Belize the #1 Sacred Cave in the world and says “After visiting the ATM Cave Belize you may feel that you have been through your own epic test. A tour to this site involves hiking, wading, and underwater swimming, but nearly a mile (1.6 kilometers) underground you will reach the resting place of the “crystal maiden,” a complete female skeleton that sparkles from eons of crystal calcification.”
Add the ATM Cave Belize to your Bucket List! It is an experience you will never forget!
Source: Wikipedia / “Actun Tunichil Muknal“. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons.
The La Ruta Maya Belize River Challenge is a 4-Day Canoe Race traveling a river route across the country of Belize. The route runs West to East along the Macal and Belize Rivers and is a total of 170 Miles! At one point in Belize’s history, this was the only link between beautiful San Ignacio, in the foothills of the Maya Mountains, and the bustling port of Belize City.
This is a race for everyone, not just professional racers. There are 8 divisions to choose from: Male, Female, Mixed, Masters, Dory, Intramural, Pleasure Craft, and Family Adventure Race.
The race occurs each year in March, coinciding with Baron Bliss Day. The teams, which race for station prizes along the way, battle for the major cash prizes awarded at the end of the race.
Below are beautiful photos of the 2015 La Ruta Maya Belize River Challenge.
See More La Ruta Maya Photos or Purchase from Danny Chung Photography.
The La Ruta Maya Belize River Challenge was founded by Cayo Tropical Fruits Ltd. with great support from many Belizean corporations and organizations such as The Belize Tourism Board , The Lodge at Chaa Creek resort, and the San Ignacio Resort Hotel.
If you are interested in obtaining more information about the race, or would like to field a team visit the La Ruta Maya Belize Website.
Garnaches is a Quick & Tasty Belizean Recipe – Make it in 3 Easy Steps!
I made some Garnaches this morning for breakfast and they were delicious! If you’re looking for an easy Belizean Recipe, plus something easy, this is a good option.
You’ll need:
– 1lb Fried Corn tortillas (Pre-fried bags or soft corn tortillas and fry at home – cooking oil needed)
– 3oz Cabbage (shredded)
– 2oz Onions (diced – place in hot water for 1 min)
– 1 Cup Cooked Red Kidney or Black Beans (mashed/blended/Re-fried canned beans)
– 1 Cup Grated Hard Cheese
– 1/2 Cup Vinegar
– Salt, Black Pepper + other favorite seasoning to taste
1. Mash/Blend cooked beans, season and fry.
2. Remove the onion from hot water and place in bowl with cabbage and vinegar.
3. Put beans on fried tortillas, then cabbage, onions, and cheese.
There you go – Belizean Garnaches in 3 easy steps! Enjoy!
PS – I like to add a little Cilantro to Step 3 simply because I love the taste of it!
