La Milpa Field Station

Overview

Description

Nestled deep in the sub-tropical forest of northwestern Belize and renowned for being the largest private reserve and second largest single protected area in the country, the Rio Bravo Conservation and Management Area is located only two-and-a-half hours away from Belize City. With a mission to conserve biodiversity and promote the sustainable development of Belize through proper management of the Rio Bravo Conservation and Management Area, Programme for Belize, the organization managing the La Milpa Field Station, is tasked with protecting the 240 species of trees, 70 species of animals, 400 species of birds, and 12 endangered animal species including the jaguar, the black howler monkey, and Belize’s national animal, the tapir.

Programme for Belize links environmental education with human-nature interaction through a vision to provide visitors with an enlightening, low-impact experience in the rainforest. Every year, about 300 international students visit Rio Bravo to participate in our Tropical Forest and Marine Ecology Programme, which offers an exceptional wildlife experience in forest and marine ecology education.

Guests visiting the La Milpa Field Station experience first-hand the rich history of the Maya civilization through a tour of the breathtaking and majestic La Milpa Archaeological Site, the third largest archaeological site in the country of Belize. In 1996, the site received international recognition when a royal Maya tomb was found and a male skeleton adorned with a jeweled necklace was unearthed on its grounds. The La Milpa site is only one of 60 Mayan sites found in the Rio Bravo Conservation and Management Area.

Other activities at La Milpa include hiking nature trails, jungle trekking, and birding. Avid birders can compile a list of more than 150 species during a three-day trip. Visitors can also spend the day in the nearby Mestizo and Mennonite villages for a taste of Belizean culture.

La Milpa uses state-of-the-art “green technology”, featuring 100% solar powered energy, no-flush composting toilets, rainwater collection systems, and grey water storage and recycling systems. Accommodations include private baths with hot and cold running water, and charmingly rustic and private thatched-roof cabanas or comfortable dormitories.

Rooms

14

Making a Difference

Number of employees: 55

Percentage of local employees: 100%

Programme for Belize aims to provide environmentally sound economic alternatives to the villages surrounding Rio Bravo through its tourism development activities. We have invested a lot of energy and resources on community development throughout northern Belize. We encourage local artisans and cultural groups by including excursions to the villages in the travel itineraries of our visitors. With proper management, this will become a significant and sustainable source of revenue for Programme for Belize and surrounding villages.

Conservation education and awareness is no longer considered a separate management program, but is dispersed as a component within all of Programme for Belize’s conservation projects. Consequently, Programme for Belize has conducted workshops and education seminars in the villages surrounding its lands to educate residents on the importance of protecting the flora and fauna of the Rio Bravo. Programme for Belize continues to use this important and interactive approach to gain further consensus and support for its goals.

Programme for Belize achieved recognition for its eco-tourism programme in 2000, and it was honored with the “Ecotourism Showcase” award for demonstrating the success with which ecotourism can be used as a sustainable development tool, particularly to benefit conservation.

All income generated from our tourism activities is redirected into the conservation of the Rio Bravo Conservation and Management Area, and your visit to Rio Bravo can help directly in the conservation of a biologically diverse ecosystem otherwise destined for destruction.

Rates

$101 – $150

Per person/per night price includes accommodations, three meals, and two guided tours.

For more information about rates, please visit:

• www.pfbelize.org/lamilpa_rates.html (available in English).

Getting There

Nearest international airport: Belmopán (BZE)

Travel time to nearest airport: 2.5 hours

Additional Information

Date This Information Was Provided

September 2009.

Photo courtesy of La Milpa Field Station, Belize, for SustainableTrip.org.