Adrenaline junkies get ready for the ultimate adventure duo: Ziplining high above the jungle canopy and later floating through cavernous sanctuaries where Mayas once performed their sacred rituals with only your guide and headlamps to lead the way. Check out more details here.
Wilbert has been with Ka’ana from the onset of the company in 2007, but has been a specialized tour guide even longer than that. He is an outgoing people-person who loves nature and the great outdoors (to say the least)! I caught up with him and shot off a few questions just before he headed off to his newest adventure of the day.
What’s the best part of your job?
The best part of my job is showing off my beautiful country and sharing some of its secrets with guests the way I would with my own family. Knowing that many of them have never been in a jungle environment before makes me even more eager to teach them as well as learn a bit about the world they come from. Its a win-win situation.
What are some of the popular spots most people like and why?
ATM caves, Tikal, Xunantunich & Cave tubing are the most popular tours. People love it because they are having fun as well as learning even while they are immersing themselves in the Maya culture.
I’ve heard many guests comment that you are a walking encyclopedia. Where do you get your knowledge/inspiration?
(Laughing heartily) I believe my own grandfather is the real walking encyclopedia, I’ve learned so much from him while growing up right here in the heart of Maya country – and I am an actual Maya descendant! I add to my knowledge by reading history, watching documentaries on TV and believe it or not, also from my guests. I still truly believe that I learn something new everyday and my biggest inspiration – the love of my country, the land and my family.
I live by my own motto – “I do what I love, and I love what I do!”
(CNN) — Protected rainforests, Maya ruins, Caribbean beaches and the longest barrier reef in the western hemisphere. Add English as the official language and the widely accepted U.S. dollar, and you can get a great vacation on easy mode in Belize.
Still, with so much to do, it can become a lot of work to fit it all in. Travelzoo editor Andrew Young recommends taking on just a little bit of this country in the heart of Central America at a time, and offers this list of his five top spots to get you started.
The Blue Hole
Just off the coast of Belize lies an underwater paradise for novice snorkelers and veteran divers. The Blue Hole is world-renowned as an open-water diving spot. During the Pleistocene era, the Blue Hole was a giant cave on dry land. The stalactites and stalagmites remain and are staggering sights through the crystal blue water.
Ambergris Caye
Ambergris Caye is the largest island of Belize, accessible via a small airplane from the mainland of Belize. Believe it or not, the best way to tour Ambergris Caye is by golf cart. Drive around and stop to see mangrove trees, the Belize Barrier Reef that almost touches the shore andlagoons teeming with crocodiles.
Maya ruins of Lamanai
Some use Belize as the entry point to Tikal, the famed ruins in Guatemala, but it is also home to several ancient Maya cities. One of the more interesting is Lamanai, which was still occupied by the Maya when the Spanish first arrived. The cultural collision is forever noted here, between the pyramids and the ruins of two Spanish churches.
Caves Branch River tubing
Geologists recently stumbled across a vast subterranean network of Maya ceremonial caves. At the Nohoch Che’en Caves Branch Archeological Reserve, guides will lead you across jungle pools to the caverns filled with artifacts like sacrificial skeletons. The spiritual underwater history lesson is a must-do.
Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary
Interested in the chance see a jaguar up close and personal? The Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary is the world’s first jaguar sanctuary. And, it’s also a campground where you can pitch your tent, go hiking, and listen to a symphony of jungle sounds.
Know what you are doing for Valentine’s? We are hosting a special night with a menu to match and a side of live jazz with Tricia Gabourel. RSVP here: reservations@kaanabelize.com or call 824-3350
We’re so very proud of our little garden in bloom right now. We are even more proud to be able to show you where many of the ingredients for your meals come from – all fresh, all organic. We are currently harvesting potatoes and carrots and giant tomatoes, sweet peppers and arugula. Broccoli and cauliflower will be ready pretty soon. Your visit to Ka’ana is not complete until you check out our garden.
We’re loving Trip Advisor’s review of Awe-inspiring places to visit (especially since Belize’s Blue Hole is also featured)! Commentaries are all real reviews from visitors to these places.
1. Antelope Canyon, Arizona, United States
“This is a photographer’s paradise. Pictures rarely do it justice.”
2. The Great Blue Hole at Lighthouse Reef, Ambergris Caye, Belize
“Here’s a great landmark… one of the top ten scuba diving sites in the world.”
3. Angkor Wat, Siem Reap, Cambodia
“The biggest and most stupendous of all the temples.”
4. Trolltunga, Odda, Norway
“Unbelievable… long hike, but once you get to the Troll’s tongue it is instant gratification.”
5. Golden Circle Route, Reykjavik, Iceland
“This scenic driving route through southwestern Iceland features excellent scenery and major sights.”
6. Moraine Lake, Alberta, Canada
“Spectacularly beautiful and the backdrop of the mountains makes it just stunning.”
7. Kyaikto (Golden Rock), Yangon, Myanmar
“Visiting the Golden Rock is an adventure… view from the mountain ridge is fantastic.”
8. Fushimi Inari Shrine, Kyoto, Japan
“It’s amazing to walk in those red tunnels… it all feels ancient and magical”
9. Uluru, Northern Territory, Australia
“The sunrise/sunset and the way the rock changes color is just amazing…”
10. Jiuzhaigou World Heritage Site, Sichuan, China
“It’s highly unlikely you will see landscapes like this anywhere else in the world.”
