activities
Birding at duPlooy's:
The Cayo District of Belize is well known for its abundant bird life and duPlooy’s Jungle Lodge could not be better placed. With its rich mixture of habitats and equally varied avifauna, more than 300 species have been recorded within five miles of the lodge.
Professional bird watchers are always coming to duPlooy's and telling us that we have the best location for bird watching in the area.
Set in secondary growth rainforest on the edge of the Macal River, duPlooy’s offers an unparalleled opportunity to get close to forest birds. The lodge is built on the edge of a fairly steep wooded incline, and our unique canopy walk takes you straight into the canopy and amongst birds not normally encountered at ground level. The canopy walk extends out from the bar - forest birding has never been so civilized!
Each morning we put out a tempting plate of fruit and throughout the day the birds will come and feed just a few feet from our guests as they enjoy lunch or a drink at the bar. Early morning is best though, and one of our bird guides is always on hand to help with identification over the complimentary tea and coffee. Species such as Collared Aracari, Wood Thrush, Blue-crowned Motmots and several tanagers are regular at the fruit table, usually in numbers, bickering over the melon!
Other visitors to the fruit include Gray Catbird, Clay-colored Robin, and the noisy Plain Chachalacas that will also double as your daily wake-up call! Whilst around the deck, you will invariably find pairs of Rose-throated Becard, Masked Tityras and several flycatcher species in the canopy, especially if one of the trees is fruiting.
As well as the deck birding, there are many genuine rainforest trails at duPlooy’s that offer more possibilities for true forest birding, and the recently opened trails in the outlying forest are potentially even more exciting. Parrots, trogons, toucans, honeycreepers, wood creepers, puff birds, tinamou, and many more highly prized birds are all out there, just waiting to be found. The cacophony of tropical sounds is constantly punctuated by the screech of a parrot, and underpinned with the cooing of White-tipped Doves and Red-billed Pigeons.
The river and the forest trail that runs parallel have obvious advantages to birders, with the addition of many more species including swallows, herons, cormorants, five species of kingfisher, and the stunning and often comical Gray-necked Wood-Rail. The river is also a good place to see a dashing Bat Falcon.
The Belize Botanic Garden offers a different habitat again, the lawned areas and plentiful flowering and fruiting trees being home to various hummingbirds as well as species of more open habitat. Flycatchers abound, orioles and anis adorn the trees, and pygmy-owls scowl, whilst the grasses and undergrowth are alive with buntings and other seed-eaters.
The "inland lagoon", complete with bird hide, is an obvious focal point for birders. Look out for jacanas, Least Grebe, Blue-winged Teal, sandpipers, egrets and the odd water thrush or two.
Along the approach road to duPlooy’s, the open fields and crops are excellent feeding grounds for many species. Large flocks of seed feeders such as grassquits and buntings can be found along the roadside, raptors hunt over the fields and perch on roadside posts, and egrets, swallows, martins, flycatchers and doves are everywhere. The sorghum crop is a particular favorite of the parrots.
The forest and surrounding lands offers excellent night birding as well, with several species of owls and nightjars screeching, hooting and purring their way through the night.
Canoeing on the Macal, Mopan & Belize Rivers:
Paddle around near the beach, work your way upstream and drift back, head for San Ignacio Town or kayak on the Mopan. You will enjoy the sites along the Macal, Mopan and Belize Rivers so make sure you sign up for some canoeing, tubing or kayaking.
Macal River: San Ignacio by canoe:
You can do this either combined with Cahal Pech, Xunantunich, Tropical Wings or El Pilar or on your way out to the airport on your last day (flight time permitting). Depending on the season (dry or rainy) and your canoeing skills this will take you about 1 ½ - 3 hours. It is downstream so it’s a nice way to spend the day if you are tired of driving around bumpy roads. The Macal is fairly lazy river (except when flooded) and there are only a couple of rapids so even those without canoe experience can enjoy the trip.
Macal River: Natural History Center and Butterfly Farm by Canoe:
A fun and informative half-day canoe trip, best of all - no driving. Look for a large concrete landing, this is Chaa Creek where you can tie up and follow a path up to the resort, from there ask someone to point you in the direction of the Butterfly farm and Natural History Center. Canoe back up when you’re ready. You can also go there by inner tube, just arrange a pick up time beforehand.
Macal River, Flour Camp Cave by Canoe:
You can drive to Flour Camp Cave, explore the cave, picnic and then set off for home (aka duPlooy's) by canoe. This is a 2-3 hour canoe trip downstream. This area of the Macal is a lot rockier so it is a bit more challenging than the drift to San Ignacio. During the dry season it dries up quickly making a canoe ride down more walking than canoeing so we do not recommend this trip when the river is too low or too high, otherwise it is a lot of fun on a pretty section of river plus you can combine canoeing with a beautiful cave in one great trip. It is not exactly a hair raising adventure but it offers some rapid thrills!!!
Belize River, Canoe Trip:
The Mopan and the Macal Rivers meet just out of San Ignacio and form the Belize River. If you think two rivers must be better than one you may want to try a trip on the Belize River. This is a guided canoe trip and offers a lot in the way of wildlife sighting; you will usually see monkeys, crocodiles, lots of birds and possibly even a tapir.
You meet at duPlooy's office and travel to "More Tomorrow" village where you will set off downstream with a guide who will point out the scenes and creatures you encounter along the way. It is a downstream journey so you will be picked up and driven back to duPlooy's at the end of the day. If you are feeling really wild, arrange for an overnight camping trip.
Jaguar Paw, Cave Tubing:
This is a fun and relaxing day. Spending 4 hours floating in an inner tube down a river in and out of caves with a headlamp on. Pretty darn neat. The one drawback to this trip is the dreaded cruise ship people. Yes, when cruise ships come in you can find yourself sharing the cave with about 100 or more other people, not so darn neat.
PS: Cruise ships and ecotourism DON’T mix!
Mopan River, Clarissa Falls Tubing or Kayak Trip:
Another good relaxing/not much driving trip. About a 1.5 hours kayak or 2-hour tube trip. You can do Xunantunich (see Ruins) or Tropical Wings Nature Centre before setting off on this trip. You will board your vessel of choice in the picturesque town of San Jose Succotz and begin the float. The Mopan River is a bit racier than the Macal River; still, unless there is flooding; all levels of tubers (including yams) and kayakers should be fine on this float.
Disembark at a resort and restaurant located beside about a 4-6 foot drop known as Clarissa Falls. You can choose to 'shoot' the rapids or get off the river before them and watch the alarmed expressions of those who do. Some excellent cooks run Clarissa Falls so if you brought some spare change order some enchiladas before we pick you up and return you to duPlooy's.
Horse riding at duPlooy's:
General Riding
If you just want to do some casual sightseeing from the back of a horse you can ask your guide to take a leisurely ride across the river and around the farm roads to enjoy the view and the day.
Butterfly Farm and Natural History Center by Horseback:
About a 45minute to 1-hour ride, this is a nice destination for a half-day ride. It is all by road. You don't have to cross the river to get there. Chaa Creek has a natural history museum to teach you about geology, nature, archaeology and the history of Belize. This is followed by a tour of their butterfly farm. Although this butterfly farm has only one species it is the spectacular Blue Morpho, a large electric blue butterfly (surprise! it's not really blue! but we'll let them explain this scientific fact).
Slate Carvers' by Horseback:
Venture across the river on horseback towards the village of San Antonio. On the way you will visit the Magana brother’s work place. It is about an hour and a half to the Slate Carvers' and once there you can purchase or admire their art. Just heed our warning and do not buy items larger than your horse. Usually a half day, but can be a full day ride if you meander much.
Cristo Rey Falls by Horseback:
Also across the river, this ride takes you through the sleepy village of Cristo Rey to the Cristo Rey falls. This is a pretty little spring, not a religious waterfall as the name would suggest. It is a nice ride and you get to swim when you get there. Round trip is about 3 hours. Not recommended if too dry or too wet because of the river rising when wet and the falls being too small when dry. A full-day or half-day trip depending on how much you hang out and swim. Take a picnic or cash to buy lunch at Faldi's restaurant.
Belize Botanic Gardens by Horseback:
If you are with small kids or not really sure if you and horses were made to be friends you may want to try an hour ride around the Belize Botanic Garden. Check out some plants and slowly learn to pry your fingers off the saddle horn. If you enjoy this you may want try something more challenging later!
Massage:
What better way to end the day or spend the day? After a day in the saddle or scaling Mayan ruins you may want to book a massage, facial or other body treatment in the office. Try to arrange the day before but if you forget or find yourself in urgent need we can sometimes arrange a massage with just a few hours notice. Go to the bar at the time of your massage and the masseuse will come and take you to the palapa. A sarong is the recommended attire but wear whatever is comfortable for you.
Trails at duPlooy's:
Head down to the river and look out for a trail on your left, just before you get to the beach. This path will take you along the river and end in the Belize Botanic Gardens. From here either exit back to the hotel or backtrack along the river. If you are just using the botanic gardens to exit the trail you don't have to pay the (very reasonable) entrance fee, but if you enjoy any part of the walk out we encourage you to put it on your bill as it is a worthwhile conservation project that appreciates your help!
While roaming you will definitely see birds but you might see other visitors as well. At the end of the canopy-walk several iguanas have taken up residence and you can watch them lounging on tree branches. Grey-foxes, armadillos or gibnuts can be spotted on an early morning or evening prowl on the grounds or in BBG. A tapir (Belize's national animal) was twice seen strolling by La Casita and a kinkajou (extremely cute animal), is often seen in the summer evenings evening right off the deck.
Belize Botanic Gardens:
While you are here, visit the garden. The (tiny) fee charged covers unlimited entrances during your stay and there isn't a lovelier place to stroll in the early evening or morning. Inside the garden is a Maya medicine trail, native orchid house, a bird blind on the pond, lots of tropical fruits and flowers, a rainforest walk, palms and lots more tropical splendor.
The entrance to Belize Botanic Gardens (BBG) includes a map of the garden and all the plants are labeled but if you want more information there are a few ways to see the garden. We have self-guided tour booklets one is a Maya medicinal trail and the other is a general garden walk. You can take a guided walk, focusing on either of these subjects or you can let your guide know if you have a particular area of interest. If you want to see the place in style and out of the heat take a guided horse and buggy tour. The buggy tour covers all the garden highlights. All tours last about 1 - 2 hours depending on your interest.
We don't carry on about the garden just for kicks. Botanic gardens are important resources for the preservation of biodiversity and excellent arenas for conservation education. Belize Botanic Gardens is no exception. As part of the Botanic Gardens for Conservation International (BGCI) and Caribbean Botanic Gardens for Conservation (CBGC) the BBG staff work to promote conservation and conservation education through many projects. Ken duPlooy, the garden founder, has been awarded international recognition for his contribution to biodiversity for creating Belize Botanic Gardens.
Mayan Sites in Belize:
There are many Mayan archaeological sites close to duPlooy's.
The ancient Maya created one of the world's great civilizations with monumental, astronomically-aligned ceremonial spaces, within which rituals and political theater could be performed.
The population of Belize was thought to be considerably larger during the Maya period than it is today; the plethora of Maya sites in the country is testimony to this. Today about two million direct descendants of the Maya live in the Yucatan, which is only one-fifth of the estimated population at the peak of the Maya civilization.
The Maya were never united politically, existing in an almost perpetual state of warring independent cities. In spite of this, though, they produced a complex system of hieroglyphs and accumulated an impressive library of scientific information and historical records. While the culture of the Maya was responsible for such impressive and inspiring architecture as Tikal, the cruel and blood-thirsty religious practices were based upon pain, suffering, sacrifice and self-mutilation.
The knowledge and skills of the Maya were primarily to be found among the higher echelons of society; the priests, nobles and the well-to-do were the only ones to have access to the advantages of Maya civilization. The peasantry lived simply on the land and did not share in the lifestyle of the city.
It is possible to discern a pattern in these sites which helps us reconstruct the history of the highly creative but warlike Mayan people. For example, it is suggested Cahal Pech, above San Ignacio, rose to preeminence in the Preclassic period before surrendering its dominion to the neighboring people of Buena Vista, and later, during the Classic period, to that of Xunantunich. Belizean archaeologists liken this to the warring local fiefdoms of medieval Europe.
Belize clearly lay in the Maya heartland: not only are some of the earliest sites found in the country, but the recent discovery of glyphs at Caracol, apparently portraying a military victory over Tikal, suggests that some of the Belizean centers were supreme in the region.