HOW TO GET HERE: Visitors can fly to Punta Gorda on Maya Island Air or Tropic Air. Highways to Toledo are paved and offer scenic views along the four-hour drive from Belize City. Traveling by bus includes stops at major towns.
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WHAT TO DO: EXPERIENCE MAYA LIFESTYLES: Mayan families enjoy sharing their culture with you. Learn to make tortillas in a traditional home, listen to the tranquil sounds of the Maya harp or marimba being played by elders. Meet new friends and share new experiences. Perfect for families with children. EXPLORE MAYA SITES AND CAVES: Nim Li Punit and Lubaantun are two Maya sites definitely worth a visit. Nim Li Punit means “Big Hat” and Lubaantun is Maya for “Place of Fallen Stones.” Visit Hokeb Ha Cave near the village of Blue Creek, which is Maya for “where water enters the earth.” VISIT THE SNAKE CAYES: Made up of four different islands, the Snake Cayes are perfect for a day trip of kayaking, snorkeling, or just relaxing on the beach. There are several established dive sites as well. The Snake Cayes are also home to hundreds of sea birds and endangered manatees. CAST YOUR REEL: The waters off Toledo offer some of the best fishing in Belize. Fly, trolling, spin; it’s all available year round. There is an abundance of game fish like bonefish, tarpon, and permit that live in the coastal waters of Southern Belize. Guides are expert local fishermen who can take you to their favorite spots. BIRD WATCHING: With its abundant wetlands and rainforests, bird watchers will be hard-pressed to find another region that offers such vast birding opportunities. There are nearly 500 species recorded in Toledo, including birds like the Western SlatyAntshrike, Paltry Tyrannulet, and Violet-crowned Woodnymph. Early-morning birdwatching is sure to delight. DE ST I N AT I O N BE L I Z E .CO M
PHOTOS BY DEMIAN SOLANO
Traffic gets light south of the Independence turnoff; a pickup every ten minutes, a commuter bus every hour. Besides these few vehicles, it’s just you, the Southern Highway, and the jungle on both sides. Outside of Punta Gorda, the majority of Toledans live in picturesque jungle villages, working the land and cooking over open fires as they have for generations. Toledo has our nation’s largest Maya population, but many Garifuna, Creole and Mestizo people call the district home (as do an increasing number of North American immigrants). Toledo is equally ecologically diverse. Those who love diving, snorkeling, fly-fishing and sailing will find Belize’s best kept nautical secret in the deep south. Inland adventurers can spend days in the jungle kayaking, river-tubing, exploring caves and visiting Maya ruins like Lubaantun and Nim Li Punit. Maya life in Toledo goes far beyond ancient stones. Toledo’s Maya homestay programs bring visitors into the homes of local families, where they take part in daily activities, crafts and annual events like the Deer Dance festival. Other cultural opportunities–such as traditional chocolate making–abound! Toledo is quickly becoming a Cacao producer of global note; our annual Chocolate Festival brings Chocolate lovers from around the globe. And though our Dangriga friends may disagree, Punta Gorda may be the finest town in Belize to study traditional drumming and drum-making, thanks in no small part to the number of renowned Garifuna and Creole drum-masters currently calling the town home. Accommodations in Toledo range from luxurious eco-resorts tucked away in the jungle to quaint family-run inns and seaside hotels in Punta Gorda. Wherever you stay, you’ll find a people and place as diverse as the nation itself.