The Heart of Toledo adventure Trail is a collaboration between the Destination Planning department at the Belize Tourism Board and BTIA members and other small businesses owners in central Toledo. Rob Hirons from the Lodge at Big Falls who has been involved with the project from its inception said, "It is a great example of collaboration between the Tourism Board and small business owners in the area. BTB has the resources and the locals have the knowledge and this project brings the two together in a way that could be a model for future tourism trail developments." Kevin Gonzalez, Director of Destination Planning along with his colleagues Clive Myers and Arlo Cansino worked on bringing the project to fruition at the Belize Tourism Board.
The trail comprises a range of cultural, adventure and natural history experiences located around the loop that runs north from Big Falls village, west through the villages of Silver Creek, San Miguel and San Pedro Columbia around to the Dump junction at mile fourteen and back to Big Falls. There is a brochure that includes a map with the locations of each home or business and a description of what to expect. Once on the road each place is indicated by a green Toledo Adventure Trail sign. These two things make it really easy for visitors from Belize or overseas to design their self-guided route taking in the attractions that appeal to them.
If you are looking for pure adventure then Big Falls Extreme Adventures offers its sixstage zip line, while the Lodge at Big Falls offers kayaking trips from San Miguel village downstream to the lodge itself using its siton- top Hobie kayaks. Both Extreme Adventures and the lodge offer river tubing along the same stretch of river. At one place a creek enters the river from a hot spring on the hillside. Guests can get out and wallow in the warm pools just above the point where the two waters join. One mile north of Big Falls you take a left turn off the Southern Highway on to the dirt road that leads to Lubaantun. The first village you reach after half a mile is Silver Creek where you can visit the home of Florentina and Miguel Choco a Kek'chi Mayan organic farmer and member of the Toledo Cacao Growers Association. He has a kitchen garden of about an acre that has an enormous variety of fruits and vegetables. These include two types of cocoa (cacao). The first is the one cultivated for export to make an international brand's 'Mayan Gold' chocolate. The second is called Balaam and is the same variety that was used as a form of currency by the ancient Maya.
Further along the road in the village of San Pedro Columbia there is another Mayan organic cacao grower, Eladio Pop, who runs the Agouti Farm. Eladio's house is in the village and his plantation just a little way outside. Guests can eat lunch at his home and have the opportunity to roast and grind cacao to make a cacao drink.
The Toledo Botanical Arboretum of Alfredo and Yvonne Villoria is a fascinating collection with a huge variety of fruiting and flowering plants and trees. The Cal and Chiac families of The Living Maya Experience offer fascinating and fun cultural experiences while, between San Miguel and San Pedro Columbia, Florencio Mes keeps alive Mayan musical traditions and instrument making and is pleased to welcome guests.
Lisa White Kile of Columbia River Co-operative offers the only butterfly farm open to the general public in Toledo and visitors can walk among the Blue Morpho butterfly and other species and learn about their life history. Look for their sign close to the turn off to Lubaantun Mayan site. Birders can contact the Lodge at Big Falls to go birding with Steven Choco their local Kek'chi Mayan guide whose membership of the Belize Bird Records Committee is testament to his expertise.
The trail includes places to eat. There are four in Big Falls itself. Call and make an appointment to visit the Cal's Living Maya Experience and you can help in the preparation of a delicious Mayan vegetarian meal.
Further along the road Coleman's restaurant offers a Belizean buffet from midday until around five in the afternoon. Big Falls Extreme Adventures is another spot to find a traditional Belizean lunch. Otherwise call The Lodge at Big Falls and visit them for a lunch menu with a focus on salads and sandwiches, pizzas and burgers.
If you are looking for accommodation then try The Lodge at Big Falls, Bak-a-Bush guest house and the Toledo Ecotourism Association Guesthouse in San Miguel village. These are all along the Heart of Toledo trail. Outside the area of the eco-trail you can also find rooms at the Farm Inn another twelve miles further west near San Antonio village or at Tranquility Lodge in Jacintoville closer to Punta Gorda.
The Heart of Toledo Adventure Trail brings many exciting experiences together in one accessible sixteen mile circular loop. Contact the Tourism Information Center in P.G. (+501-722-2531) for more information and to get individual phone numbers for businesses along the trail. The brochure will be published very soon and be available from the information centre.
A previous version of this article appeared in The Toledo Howler, the voice of tourism in southern Belize.