Toledo District has much to offer - diverse habitats, large nature reserves, ancient Mayan ruins, picturesque traditional villages, rivers and waterfalls and an extensive cave system. The largest Mopan Maya village of San Antonio is less than 2 miles away. The beautiful stone Roman Catholic church on the hill, with it's stained glass windows, is surrounded by the classrooms of the primary school established some years before the church was built. Walking past the school you will hear the children reciting their lessons, and when the school bell rings they tumble out of the stone walled classrooms to play on the football field across the road. On a quiet Sunday morning you can hear the church bells ringing in the distance from The Farm Inn.
The Farm Inn makes use of the services of the most knowledgeable tour guides in the district to ensure that you get the best possible experience, whether you want to go fly-fishing in the permit capital of the world, Punta Gorda, or explore the depths of some of the lesser known caves to uncover their secrets, or check off that elusive rainforest bird from your checklist.
For the hardened adventurer, take part in the Ya'axche Conservation Trust's Ranger for a Day program, hiking the pristine jungle with park rangers patrolling the vast reserve to protect the fauna and flora from poachers and illegal farming activities.
Birders can walk our easy trails to spot a variety of birds from the understory edge of the jungle through to canopy species or travel further afield to increase the species count. Within a twenty mile radius the habitats change dramatically from coastal forest through swamp lands, savannah grasslands to high forest. Join the team counting migrating raptors at Cattle Landing from October to December annually.
CAVING Toledo District is considered to have the most extensive cave system in Belize, although not as widely advertised as other regions. From the cave swim of the Blue Creek Cave system, to the stunning beauty of Tiger Cave near San Miguel, this unique adventure will leave you inspired and energised like no other. We work with acknowledged expert guide Bruno Kuppinger who not only leads his groups into the dark, secret depths of remote and mysterious caves, but brings them all back, intact but forever altered by an experience like no other.
FISHING AND SNORKELING The Port Honduras Marine Reserve encompasses many mangrove cays. More remote than the cays further north, the fish are more plentiful. A little further east is the Sapodilla Cayes Marine Reserve where the snorkelling is sublime.
JUNGLE ADVENTURE Spend a day hiking old Mayan trails connecting villages before roads were built; or take the jungle survival expedition, hiking in a remote part of Toledo, spending the night in the jungle, eating what you have gleaned from the forest with utensils you have made yourself, and then build your own sleeping shelter.
Mayan Ruins
Two well-known Mayan ruin sites are located within 12 miles of The Farm Inn. Lubaantun is the largest and renowned as the place where the famous crystal skull was found. Along the road to Lubaantun is the very interesting Chaos Oasis earthship. Nim Li Punit is a little further away but worth the drive - a very recent discovery at this ruin is the second largest jade pendant found in Belize, inscribed with historical text. This discovery may hold the key to the mysterious abandonment of many of these ancient sites in Belize.
Within walking distance of The Farm Inn is the lesser known site of Uxbenka, only very partially excavated enhancing one's understanding of the amazing work done by archeologists.
HOME VISITS
Visit a Mayan home in the village of Big Falls for an interactive experience seeing how the Maya lived 50 years ago, using what the jungle provides to fashion furniture, make medicine and feed their families. See how jungle plants are used to provide the fibres for making hammocks and baskets and learn to weave a basket.
DRUMMING
At the Warasa Drumming School in Punta Gorda learn how to make drums and play them, a very popular family activity.
It is with great sadness that we announce
The Farm Inn will be closed for business until further notice.
Also available: Volleyball, badminton, croquet, boulle, darts, mini-pool table & table tennis
ON SITE ACTIVITIES
.BIRDING
Take a chance and venture into the beautiful Toledo District for an uncommon birding experience. From jungle to coast, there is never a dull moment. Even in the heat of the day a knowledgeable guide will find elusive species along the trail between the tall trees of Blue Creek.
The area of Cattle Landing, near Punta Gorda is a well-known migratory corridor for multitudes of raptors annually, and we encourage birders to visit from October to December to join in the daily count.
Join the monthly get together of birders, members of the Toledo Belize Birdwatchers Club for a couple of hours of early morning bird watching at different locations. Professional bird guides share their knowledge and enthusiasm.
CULTURAL TOURS
• Mayan ruins
• Home visits and craft demonstrations
• Drumming
• Chocolate tours
PARROTS, TOUCANS, TROGONS AND MUCH MORE
Stay at The Farm Inn and have easy access to an incredibly diverse range of habitats, from the edge of the Caribbean Sea near Punta Gorda to the tall peaks of the Maya Mountain range. Wide trails on the property with various fruit trees, tangled undergrowth and tall trees make this an ideal location to find the species common to lowland broadleaf forests.
Visiting warblers abound from January through April, tanagers are around most of the time as are flycatchers. Mot-mots start the dawn chorus, followed by raucous chachalacas while various pigeons and doves add their mournful notes. Hummingbirds squeak and in the distance the haunting call of a tinamou entices you along the trails in the hope of sighting this shy bird. White-collared manikins snap their wings in the leks along the trails, while various trogons sing in the trees, and then curiously watch you watching them.
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Check our e-bird list (The Farm Inn) for more information on commonly sighted birds. Visit the rice fields at the foot of the hills leading to The Farm Inn, where /*wood storks, roseate spoonbills and various herons are easy to spot, while kingfishers join roadside hawks perching on wires to spot their prey in the pools near the road.
ADVENTURE TOURS
• River tubing
• Caves
• Diving and snorkeling
• Fishing
• Jungle hikes
• Birding