| Aquamarine waters help drain the tension as you skim | | | | bank. The riverbed is littered with debris of leaves and |
| above the treetops along the shoreline of Belize. The | | | | branches, recycling life. A sea otter suns himself on a |
| single-prop, 12-seat Cessna drops onto the worn and | | | | rock up ahead as a snake bird dives for fish. |
| bumpy paved runway, barely 100 yards flanked by | | | | Welcome to Jungle Camp, the Belizean jungle. Tall, |
| water at the landing and stopping points. A tight | | | | arthritic-looking redwood trees reach for the sky |
| turnaround and you're headed to a local airport the | | | | offering an ecosystem for some jungle habitants. A |
| size of a postage stamp. Within minutes fresh, local | | | | clear, unspoiled stream brings visitors from the |
| produce and mail are loaded, your pilot signs the | | | | uncivilized world into remote areas of the bush by |
| logsheet and manifest and he's preparing for takeoff | | | | canoe and kayak. Beautiful and unusual flowers and |
| on the long driveway. During this short landing to | | | | plants, as well as a few spiders and snakes quietly |
| take-off time, native animals have been known to | | | | make this their home. An easy and rewarding paddle |
| graze on the runway, locals will have to shoo them | | | | welcomes you into a private sanctuary where |
| away. | | | | tropically colored toucans, dancing butterflies and black |
| Two more landings and twenty minutes later you're | | | | howler monkeys peacefully co-habitat. |
| landing in the small village of Punta Gorda, surrounded | | | | A canopied labyrinth with about a dozen |
| by spectacular vistas of private and protected | | | | thatched-roofed cabanas sit 20 feet above ground, |
| rainforest. A secluded resort is nestled among the | | | | quietly tucked away in the jungle. |
| lightly treaded nature trails, wild bush, hidden caves, | | | | A damp, green, woodsy aroma wafts under your |
| tropical waterways and centuries old archeological | | | | nostrils. A narrow ribbon of light is barely visible over |
| sites. Your professional guide will pick you up and | | | | the canopy of trees; ceiber, palm, and redwoods. Off |
| whisk you to the resort for a fruity, refreshing | | | | in the distance morning songs from the kingfisher and |
| beverage. At your leisure wander up the stone | | | | hummingbirds are chirped across the river. The beam |
| walkway, amid hummingbirds and tropical flora to your | | | | from your flashlight catches something on the ground. |
| two-story, hand carved and built cabins, replete with | | | | In the soft dirt are tracks. Fresh, after the rain, one |
| verandas and mosquito netted beds. | | | | after another heading down the trail. Upon closer |
| Enjoy a morning bike ride along the nature trail with | | | | inspection you can make out the definition of these |
| your guide and picnic lunches. Visit the Wildlife rehab | | | | heavy, but clear paw prints. A jaguar has been |
| center, Ballum Na, at Indian Creek where you can see | | | | prowling near the camp. Other, smaller tracks are that |
| a bright, beautiful toucan, a pair of jaguars and a black | | | | of the Tapir, the national animal. |
| howler monkey, who will hold your hand with her soft, | | | | The jungle, or bush as locals refer to it, is home to |
| petite hands as she hangs by her tail. | | | | almost 600 species of exotic birds, mammals and |
| Two archeological sites are nearby documented as | | | | plants. |
| far back as 790 B.C. Nim Li Punit (Big Hat) was | | | | Paddle or ride a power boat out of the jungle to Moho |
| discovered in the 198o's where 26 Stelas were | | | | Caye. Your private oasis awaits you. Watch the |
| unearthed. It is believed that these Stelas were | | | | dolphins play nearby as you dock on the sandy beach. |
| monuments depicting their life. A religious quarter is at | | | | A few mangrove and pine trees offer shade to well |
| the top of rock formations. This pyramid style build-up | | | | camouflaged iguanas and visiting humans. Beautiful |
| was made without any mortar. A grassy area in the | | | | conch shells line the path to your thatched-roof, tent |
| middle appeared to be a popular sport game with two | | | | cabana. Relax on your private veranda in an |
| men and a ball. | | | | adirondack chair or at the handcrafted redwood dining |
| Later, step into a canoe or kayak then relish a quiet | | | | facility. Respite for man and nature. Miles of teal-blue |
| paddle on the Golden Stream river, through one of the | | | | ocean east towards the sunrise and slumbering |
| world's few natural rainforests. Your guide will point out | | | | mountains to the west. |
| various, birds, flora, fauna and any animals you might | | | | From cave exploring and jungle hiking to snorkeling |
| encounter; the gold and white anteater, sea otters or a | | | | with porpoises, stingrays and near the largest natural |
| few bats sleeping on a tree trunk. Vines hang leisurely, | | | | reef, come see the world through emerald colored |
| draped over trees and across the narrow waterway, | | | | glasses. |
| while nocturnal bats sleep on a ceiber tree on the | | | | |