The day began with a Joyful Inn hearty breakfast at 7am. Then we were off to be “rangers for a day” at the Golden Stream Corridor Preserve. We hiked through steamy Belizean jungle, with a guide, Rosendo, and documented any mammals and birds seen. A highlight was seeing the track of a large jaguar on the trail. Another highlight was learning how palm thatch roofs are made. Rosendo explained that building a roof was generally a community effort and a thatch roof will last 6-7 years. He cut a huge palm leaf with a machete and had students split the palm in half. He then showed how the fronds could be turned correctly to channel water off a roof. Other creatures were observed along the way, such as a tree frog and leaf cutter ants. The plant life was simply stunning!
Joyful Inn
Learning about the Preserve and
How to be a Ranger for a Day
Rosendo, our Guide
Large Jaguar Track
Learning How Palm Leaves are Harvested for Thatch Roofs
Leaf Cutter Ants
Group Ranger Survey Results
Nim Li Punto, meaning “Big Hat”, is the Mayan archeological site that we visited after a lunch at the Preserve. We were all spellbound by Herbie’s storytelling of Mayan culture and the search for more about their history.
Nim Li Punto Mayan Ruins
Herbie explaining Mayan History
Tomb Discovery
Scott Jones keeping an eye on us all.
Lots to learn while in Belize! I love that huge palm leaf. I wish you had a picture of a thatched room so I could see how the palm leaves are used. Maybe you can still get a photo of that?
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