Tropic's View - Vol. 15. Edition 1

view TROPIC’S THE

OFFICIAL

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Vol 15, Edition 1

2014

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Welcome Aboard

Welcome to the 15th edition of Tropic’s View and to Tropic Air. 2013 was another good year for Tropic Air. We launched service to Cancun, Mexico, and Roatan, Honduras. This brings the number of international cities we serve from Belize to four. In November, we also launched service between Placencia and San Ignacio, a first for either municipality, fulfilling our pledge to continue to grow air service between the major tourism destinations within Belize. Today we serve 11 domestic destinations with more than 185 daily flights. That is more than anyone else, and something we are proud of.

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© 2014 Tropic Air Limited. Cover Photos: (Ed. 1) © Jose Luis Zapata, (Ed. 2) © Chaa Creek

2013 also saw Tropic Air acquire a full motion flight simulator. This simulator, is part of Tropic’s strategic plan to focus on giving our staff the best training possible. It also represents a major investment for the company, and a first for the country of Belize.

We are extremely proud that Tropic Air has built a solid reputation, not only as The Airline of Belize, but as a strong Belizean company with over 250 dedicated employees. As we continue to evaluate other service opportunities both locally and regionally, we will likewise invest in our people, aircraft, equipment, maintenance and terminals. All with the goal of providing you, our customers, world class service each and every day.

We hope you have a pleasant flight today, and thanks for flying with us.

Sincerely,

John E. Greif III President

Steve Schulte Chief Executive Officer

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About Belize

HISTORY Independent since 1981, Belize covers 8867 square miles and has a little over 350,000 residents of Mestizo (Spanish - Indian), Creole (African - European), Maya, Garifuna, Chinese, East Indian and European descent. Bordered by Mexico to the north, Guatemala to the west and south and the Caribbean Sea to the east, the topography ranges from mountains to sea level mangrove forests where three atolls and the largest barrier reef in the western hemisphere are dotted with hundreds of islands (called cayes).

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Entry A valid passport is required for all. Some nationalities require visas.

Foreigners leaving are also required to pay a departure tax. Retirees and investment citizens are welcome, though a specialized immigration process is required.

Currency The Belize dollar is pegged at BZ$2 to US$1. US dollars are accepted widely. ATMs are available countrywide, and most merchants will accept major credit cards.

Time Zone Belize is in USA central standard time (GMT -6); daylight saving is not observed.

Language English is the official language.

However, Spanish is widely spoken, as is the English Creole dialect. Garifuna, Maya (Ketchi, Mopan), East Indian, Mandarin, and Hindi are also spoken in the culturally specific areas.

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Where We Fly

Belize City Belize City is the hub of transportation, commerce and culture. The Museum of Belize, The Bliss Institute and The House of Culture (housed in a 19th century colonial Governor’s residence) all showcase stunning ancient artifacts and © Belize Tourism Board historical memorabilia. Visit St. John’s Cathedral, the oldest Anglican Cathedral in Central America or watch sailboats rock gently near the hand cranked Swing Bridge. Get close to jaguars and other native species at the Belize Zoo, indulge in an airboat ride through Manatee Lagoon or climb the Temple of the Sun God at Altun Ha. Offshore, take a boat to St. George’s or Goff’s Caye for snorkeling and manatee spotting. Tropic Air serves both the Belize Municipal (TZA), and the larger Phillip Goldson International Airport (BZE).

Belmopan Referred to as “Garden City”, Belmopan was established as Belize’s capital after Hurricane Hattie in 1961. Here you will find the seat of government and its agencies along with foreign embassies. Belmopan is also one of the destinations to fly to if you’re looking for inland adventures and natural beauty of the Cayo District. In the Mountain Pine Ridge, you will find Thousand Foot Falls, Rio Frio Caves, Rio On Pools, and beautiful caves and rivers. Cayo is also home to some of the most famous Maya sites. Don’t forget La Ruta Maya River Canoe Challenge every March, the inland Blue Hole, horseback riding, canoing, hiking, cave tubing, zip-lining and birding. © Belize Tourism Board T H E

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CaNCUN, MEXICO Situated on the south-east coast of Mexico on the Yucatan Peninsula, Cancun offers something for everyone. There are eco parks, ancient Maya sites, white powdery sand beaches and turquoise waters with all the water sports you can imagine. Enjoy fabulous restaurants, a throbbing nightlife and great shopping. Cancun also offers excellent connections for those wishing to avoid the USA on their way to and from European cities.

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Caye Caulker Situated 21 miles northeast of Belize City and 11 miles south of Ambergris Caye, Caye Caulker is the epitome of a laid back lifestyle. June is famous for Lobsterfest which celebrates the opening © Belize Tourism Board of the lobster season. Front Street is full of brightly colored wooden houses, shops, restaurants and small hotels. The Barrier Reef is clearly visible from the shore and a snorkeling visit to Shark Ray Alley is highly recommended.

Corozal Corozal town occupies the foundations of the ancient Maya city of Santa Rita, the remains of which can still be visited. Another Maya site, Cerros, overlooks the white capped Corozal Bay. Corozal was traditionally the heart of the country’s sugar in© Belize Tourism Board dustry, and sugar cane fields are still abundant in the surrounding countryside. Not far from Corozal are the picturesque fishing village 2 0 1 4

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of Sarteneja and the Shipstern Nature Reserve with its abundant flora and fauna.

Dangriga Home to the Garifuna, Dangriga is famous for its drums and punta music. South Water Caye, Tobacco Caye and Glover’s Reef atoll are a short boat ride from here. Hopkins village, a 40 minute drive from Dangriga, is a quaint, quiet fishing village that has grown in popularity over the last few years. The surrounding marsh landscape is home to jabiru storks and other interesting birds. Stretching across nearly five miles of sandy palm strewn beach, Hopkins and its distinct culture, is home to hundreds of Garifuna families and many unique resorts that combine the best of the Maya Mountains, the beach, and the reef.

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Flores (Tikal) Flores, Guatemala is home to the grand Maya site of Tikal. Deep in the Peten jungle of Guatemala, it ranks among the most significant archaeological discoveries of the region. Three thousand stone temples, palaces, and other structures date back thousands of years.

Tikal is a place for marveling at the amazing accomplishments of the Maya civilization and the splendors of the surrounding jungle. The area also presents an excellent opportunity to see toucans, spider and howler monkeys among other wildlife.

Guatemala City Guatemala City is the economic, governmental and cultural capital of Guatemala and the largest city in Central America.

The city itself is a sprawling bustling metropolis. In addition to a wide variety of restaurants, hotels and shops the city has art galleries, theatres and museums.

It offers all the sites and sounds of a modern city sprinkled with important historic sites. Just a short drive away and worth a visit, are the beautiful towns of Antigua and the wonders of Lake Atitlan.

ORANGE WALK (TOWER HILL) Orange Walk Town is the second largest town in Belize. With a population of about 13,400, it is the capital of the Orange Walk District. It is located on the left bank of the New River, 53 miles north of Belize City and 30 miles

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(50 km) south of Corozal Town, and is considered the gateway to the Lamanai Archaeological Reserve. In addition to Lamanai, Orange Walk is also the historical home to the sugar industry. Even today in “Sugar City”, this industry continues to thrive, and plays a vital role in the local economy.

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Placencia The 16 mile long Placencia Peninsula in southern Belize is also home to the communities of Maya Beach, and Seine Bight. Placencia village itself, boasts the narrowest main street in the © Belize Tourism Board world, according to Guinness World Book of Records. Here too, Lobsterfest is a popular celebration in June. In February, the Placencia Sidewalk Arts Festival takes place.

April and May see the arrival of the magnificent whale shark and diving or snorkeling with them is a not-to-be-missed experience. From here, you can also explore Monkey River and the Cockscomb Basin or sail to many of the southern cayes. Laughing Bird Caye National Park is just a short boat ride away.

Punta Gorda PG as it is locally known, is the largest town in the fishing and agricultural focused Toledo District. The surrounding areas are full of traditional Mayan villages where visitors can interact with the local Maya people, spend the night in traditional houses and eat tasty “caldo” and corn tortillas.

Visit Toledo in May and experience chocolate and wine at The Cacao Festival. For the adventurous, some of the largest cave systems in the world can be found nearby. On Wednesday and Saturday, the market on front street showcases produce from local farmers and handicraft items from indigenous Mayan artisans.

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ROATAN, HONDURAS Situated 30 miles from mainland Honduras, Roatan is the largest of the Bay Islands. Measuring 40 miles long and surrounded in coral reef, it is famous for its diving (especially its sea walls, shipwrecks, and even a submerged airplane).

Its beautiful waters and white sandy beaches are a vacationers paradise. The island’s inland attractions include horseback riding, biking and two canopy tours.

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SAN IGNACIO / Benque (MAYA FLATS) Located in western Belize, San Ignacio, serves as the capital of Cayo District. It got its start from mahogany and chicle production in the Colonial era, but has gradually evolved into the center of commerce

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and tourism for western Belize.

Visit the area to see its many Maya sites (including Cahal Pech, Caracol, and Xunantunich), caves such as A.T.M, and other sites such as the Mountain Pine Ridge, Tapir Mountain Reserve and the Macal River. Cayo is also home to many award winning resorts and nature programs (like the Green Iguana Project).

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San Ignacio, and its sister towns of Benque Viejo del Carmen (on the border with Guatemala) and Santa Elena also serve as a hub of agricultural activity. In recent years, oil has been found in the areas settled by the Mennonites, and this has also led to a burst of economic activity.

San Pedro San Pedro is the main town on Ambergris Caye, the most northerly and largest of the 200 cayes off the coast of Belize. It is a T H E

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world-class diving and snorkeling destination, with numerous dive sites, for all skill levels, on the barrier reef, just a 20 minute boat ride away. Hol Chan Marine Reserve is abundant with fish and a snorkeler’s dream.

Shark-Ray Alley allows visitors to get up close and personal with friendly nurse sharks and stingrays. The island’s clear, shallow waters and prevailing winds are ideal for windsurfing, sailing and kite surfing. North of the island, the Bacalar Chico Reserve is an adventurer’s paradise. The lagoon on the leeward side provides an excellent opportunity for birding. There is even a small Maya site, Marco Gonzalez, on the south end of the island.

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Photos © Belize Tourism Board

San Pedro town has a unique feel and offers sophisticated international cuisine in beach side restaurants, mixed with local cafes and bars serving traditional Belizean food and drinks.

The island also has many award winning hotels, spas, tour operators and resorts. The town streets bustle with local artists and craftsmen displaying their wares. It is also the home of Tropic Air. T H E

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SAN PEDRO SULA, HONDURAS San Pedro Sula is located in the northwest corner of Honduras, about 60km south of the Caribbean coast. With an estimated population of 802,598 in its metro area (2010), it is the second largest city, after the capital, Tegucigalpa. It is considered the industrial center of Honduras, and serves as the capital of its region.

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The city serves as a major transportation hub for the rest of the country, while economically maintaining its base in light industry and the commercial production of coffee, bananas, beef, sugar cane, tobacco, and forestry. San Pedro Sula generates two-thirds of Honduras’ GDP and offers some of the best shopping in Central America.

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Islands of Belize T H E N O R T H E R N C AY E S

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The 386km long coastline of Belize is dotted with numerous cayes inside the reef and three offshore atolls. These cayes (pronounced keys) are small sandy islands formed by ocean currents depositing sediment usually to an outcrop of old reef. This sediment is composed almost entirely of skeletal remains of plants and animal. Soil and vegetation may develop latRADISSON FORT GEORGE er as a result of deposits of sea HOTEL & MARINA bird guano. The ecosystems of these islands are very fragile and under constant threat, both manmade and from natural disasters. Many of these cayes have romantic and evocative names and they vary in size, vegetation  102 AC rooms most with a and development. view of the Caribbean Sea  Business Class Rooms, Sleep Ambergris Caye is the largNumber ® beds, free WiFi, est and most developed caye spa, fitness center & tour desk in Belize. It was originally part #2 Marine Parade, Belize City, Belize of the peninsula that stretched 1-800-333-3333 www.radisson.com/belizecitybz into Mexico, until the Maya dug a canal to enable access from East to West. It was named af2 0 1 4

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ter the large deposits of ambergris found here. The main town of San Pedro was named after Saint Peter, patron saint of fisherman and though this was originally a small fishing village, it is now largely a tourist destination popular for its superb diving, eclectic resorts, lively community, nightlife and, of course, its spectacular fishing.

To the west, and scattered behind Ambergris, lie several cayes that remain largely undeveloped because the shallow water surrounding them prohibits access from larger vessels. Many of these provide nesting habitats for seabirds. Here you will catch a glimpse of the colorful Roseate Spoonbill. Fly fishing for tarpon, permit and bonefish are also very popular in this area.

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South of Ambergris is its laid back sister island, Caye Caulker. It still maintains its sandy streets and the motto No Shirt, No Shoes, No Problem is very much alive today. One of the most popular places to hang out is The Split. It is an area where the island was cut in half by Hurricane Hattie in 1961. © Belize Tourism Board

Stretching still further south lies Caye Chapel on which there is a privately owned golf course complex, and St. George’s Caye. Originally called Cayo Cocina by the Spanish, it adopted its present name in 17th century when the British settled there. After many tussles, the Spanish were finally overthrown at The Battle of St George’s Caye on September 10th, 1798. This is still celebrated as a national holiday in Belize, and there is a mounted cannon on the beach here to commemorate this historic day.

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Moho Caye is the closest island to the mainland and to Belize City. Evidence of Maya civilization has been found here in numerous shell mounds.

Nearby, the 9000 acre Swallow Caye Wildlife Sanctuary encompasses the Drowned Cayes, Gallows Point and Swallow Caye. The sea bed here is predominantly turtle grass, the favored food of the West Indian Manatees that make this place their home.

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Goff’s and Rendezvous Cayes are the archetypal desert islands. With white sandy beaches and coconut palms, they stand right on the reef, and have become a popular day trip destinations.

Belize is home to three offshore atolls Š Belize Tourism Board and, because of their relative isolation, some of the most spectacular diving and fishing in the country can be experienced here. Lighthouse Reef Atoll, 50 miles off the coast, is the outermost atoll and home to the world renowned Blue Hole and Half Moon Caye, famous for its red footed boobie birds.

Turneffe Atoll is the largest of the atolls at over 30 miles long and 10 miles wide, and at 25 miles from the coast is the closest to the mainland. It is also home to the Elbow, one of the many famous dive sites in Belize.

So as you fly around Belize with us, be on the lookout. These places can be fun to spot, identify and of course, photograph the individual islands. If you are lucky, you may spot manatees, sharks and rays and even the source of your dinner, the lobster trap!

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Belize is home to three types of the ancient creatures that we know as the sea turtle; the Green Turtle, the Loggerhead and the Hawksbill. Since Ambergris Caye has long been recognized as an important nesting site for the first two types, the balance between development of beach areas and conservation has become important.

Bacalar Chico and the beaches between Robles and Rocky Point are areas where the nesting is most concentrated. In 2012, 43 nests were observed in this area. In 2013, biologists were excited to find that the hawksbill was also making this their nesting ground and the nest count had increased to 77. Great progress for threatened species.

Although there are many natural dangers to the turtle nests (beach erosion, predation and high tides among others) much of the threat is sadly due to humans through development, introduction of sea walls, artificial lighting and garbage, all of which serve to undermine the safety of the nests. Unfortunately too, driving vehicles along the beaches where turtles are nesting can disturb and devastate the nests. So be on the lookout for designated Turtles Nesting signs indicating fragile areas that are not to be disturbed.

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The female turtles using Ambergris Caye lay their eggs in the beach sand above the high tide mark, building the nests with a paddle like motion of their back flippers. Hatching takes about 50 – 60 days, with the young digging themselves out of the nest before heading to the sea. A turtle’s sex is determined by the temperature of the sand.

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If you want to find out more about turtle nesting, Hol Chan Marine Reserve has a very informative, fun and child friendly display about the turtles at their offices. Just ask anyone in San Pedro Town for directions.

Remember, the oldest sea turtle fossil dates back nearly 112 million years, so be on the look out for these living fossils as you enjoy your vacation in Belize (Thanks to Kirah Foreman, Marine Biologist at Hol Chan Marine Reserve for the story. For more information, on their turtle program contact HCMR@btl.net).

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About Us

Founded in 1979 by John Greif III with just a single airplane and two employees, Tropic has steadily grown to become the largest and most experienced airline in Belize. It now employs over 250 staff and offers over 190 daily scheduled flights.

Since its inaugural flight 34 years ago, Tropic Air has been a leader in the introduction of modern aircraft technology in the domestic market in Belize. It has played a key role in the promotion of the tourism industry within the country, and has always been committed to the growth of this sector. Tropic Air is dedicated to the highest quality of customer service, delivered with a sense of warmth, friendliness, individual pride, and company

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spirit. The success of our business strategy requires us to build on these foundations by focusing each day on the business, leisure and cargo markets and by driving efficiency and effectiveness.

Cargo is an important part of the airline’s business. Tropic provides scheduled cargo service to all its destinations, offering clients same day transportation of mail, packages and perishable items. Cargo charters are also available.

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Tropic Air operates nine modern Cessna Grand Caravans (208B), two Gippsland GA8 Airvans, and one Cessna 172. These aircraft are configured for three to fourteen passengers. Tropic has a fleet replacement and expansion program with four more 208B, glass cockpit equipped, Caravans on order.

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Tropic also believes in giving back. It supports the development of the communities it serves through health, sports, drug prevention, education and community projects. We support the development, expansion and growth of the wider tourism industry of Belize through promotional initiatives locally and internationally.

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Tropic Air continues to grow its routes and plans to continue to expand on its infrastructure, with new terminals and terminal improvements, in addition to an expansion of its maintenance facilities.

With other international carriers increasing service to Belize, Tropic’s future growth continues to look promising.

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Our Featured Tours

Maya, MENNONITES & MEDICINE Fly west to Belmopan and take a short drive to the Barton Creek area. See the traditional way of life of the Mennonite community, and learn about traditional forest medicine, folk remedies and healing techniques from a local healer as she escorts you through her rainforest home.

Sample seasonal fruits fresh from the organically grown trees on the property. After lunch, take a guided canoe adventure into Barton Creek Caves to learn about the formations carved by water and time and see evidence of ancient Maya sacrificial use. Enjoy lunch and take a refreshing dip before your return flight.

Cave TUBING & AIRBOAT ADVENTURE Take a quick flight into Belize City, where you will be met by your guide and driven to the edge of the mangrove swamps and your airboat adventure. Skim through the coastal forest at 40 miles an hour seeing crocodiles, iguanas and other bird life. After this exhilaration, it’s onward to the eastern end of the Caves Branch river system and the famous caves of Nahoch Che’en. Your guide will lead you on a short “soft” hike through the rainforest to one of the “Jaguar Paw” cave entrances. Be on the lookout for paw prints of the guardian of the caves, the Jaguar. Enjoy the cave formations and spot evidence of ancient Maya use as you drift on your inner tube down the slow moving river. Enjoy lunch at the cave exit before you are escorted back to Belize City for your return flight home.

BLACK HOLE DROP This adrenaline adventure has just been added. Check with your hotel, resort, tour operator or Tropic Air for more details or to book!

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Final Thoughts 38 © Belize Tourism Board

Whether you are reading this at the beginning of your vacation or as you are leaving on your way home, we hope you have had or will have a fantastic time. There is so much to do in the countries we serve, on land, sea, and of course, in the air!

Next time you visit Belize, remember that there are always new places to see, discoveries being made and tours and attractions taking shape. In addition to the popular Maya sites such as Lamanai, Altun Ha and Xunantunich, “new” sites such as Cerros in Corozal and Nim Ni Punit in Toledo are rising in popularity. If you’ve seen the world famous Blue Hole, try the other “Blue Hole”, inland, near St Herman’s Cave. If you have been inspired by Actun Tunichil Muknal (ATM) cave, try a trip to Barton Creek Cave or test your nerves with a Black Hole drop, both of which have been added to the Tropic Tour lineup for 2014. Don’t forget that in addition to Ambergris Caye and Caye Caulker, there are hundreds more cayes to visit. You can now even take a quick trip over to Roatan. And the list goes on and on.

Belize is so diverse, that no matter how many times you visit, you will always find something new to do and discover. See you next time and feliz viaje!

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