By visiting this area, students will be witness to a pristine
habitat that will soon be permanently changed. They will
also be making a difference, by giving a Belizean student
the gift of seeing and learning about this very remote area
before it is gone.
Participants in our field schools gain a valuable intercultural
exchange opportunity, and help to shed light on this unique
and greatly endangered watershed environment. Not only will
students be treating themselves to a real wildlife adventure
experience in one of the most unique and pristine broadleaf
forest river flood plains in the world, but they will also
be helping to promote awareness by giving the gift of education
to others.
DAY 1 |
Arrival |
AM: |
Arrival at Belize International Airport
Overland Transportation 2 hours west to San
Ignacio
Pick up participating Belizean students. |
PM: |
Las Cuevas Research Station
Group lunch - Then 4 x 4's transport us 2
hours south to the Chiquibul Research Station located
at the edge of the Chiquibul Forest Reserve. |
Eve: |
Discussion: Chalillo Dam and the Environment
|
DAY 2 |
Canoe Down the Upper Raspaculo Branch |
AM: |
Paddle downstream in inflatable canoes to reach
the Raspaculo - Macal River confluence.
Discussion: The Unique Ecology of this Forest -
Fieldwork: Evaluate readily visible wildlife populations |
PM: |
Overnight Excursion to an unexcavated Maya archaeological
site |
Eve: |
Set up Riverside Camp - Observe and listen to nightlife
|
DAY 3 |
Paddle the Upper Macal to the Chalillo
Dam Site |
AM: |
Discussion: Evaluating this portion of the river's
unique floodplain ecology.
Fieldwork: Further evaluate wildlife & fauna - Short hikes inland |
PM: |
More Downstream Paddling - Observing more wildlife & fauna |
Eve: |
Set up Camp near the proposed location
of the Chillao Dam
Discussion : What will be lost and how? What can be done?
|
Day 4 |
Option #1 |
|
Return to Civilization - Program Ends |
AM: |
Overland 4 x 4's transports us back to San Ignacio
(1 hour)
Belizean students depart
Transport by road east to Belize International Airport (2 hours) |
PM: |
Return home or to onward destination - Program ends |
|
|
|
Option #2 |
|
Mollejon Hydroelectric Facility |
AM: |
Tour the Mollejon Hydroelectric Facility
See for yourself how a dam works and how it impacts the Macal River |
PM: |
Transportation to Martz farm
for overnight |
|
|
Day 5 |
Eco-Tourism |
AM: |
Rest, Relax & Enjoy one of Cayo's Eco-Resorts
located along the Macal River. |
|
|
Day 6 |
Program Ends |
AM: |
Transportation by road -Two hours eastward to Belize
Internat'l Airport
Return home or to onward destination - Program ends |
