Tacogirl Belize blog Est. in 2007
  • –
  • Home
  • About Belize
    • My Move to Belize
    • Living in Belize
    • Belize Tourism Board
    • Blog Press
    • tacogirl.com testimonials
  • Flights to Belize
    • Flying in Belize
    • Flights From Belize
    • Duty Free Belize
    • Aerial Tours
    • World Nomads Travel Insurance
  • Belize Vacation
    • Vrbo Belize – A Paradise within a Paradise
      • Vrbo Ambergris Caye – Sunshine, Luxury & Fun
      • Vrbo San Pedro – Food, Fun, and Adventure
      • Vrbo Placencia – A True Getaway
      • Vrbo Hopkins Belize – Experience Culture
    • Ambergris Caye Accommodations by Price
    • Belize Resorts and Hotels
    • Pet Friendly Hotels
    • Belize Vacation Deals
  • Flight Discount
    • Big Belize Travel Deal
  • Travel Store
    • tacogirl Recommendations
    • Easy Donations
    • Eco Friendly Belize
  • Fun Activities
    • Getting Around Ambergris Caye
    • Google Maps Guide
    • Fitness
    • Things to do in Belize
    • Belize Excursions and Tours
    • Voluntourism
  • Travel
    • Central America
    • Yucatan
  • Home
  • Belize Weather
  • Belizean Food
  • Restaurants by Price
  • Beach Bars
  • Nightlife
  • Discounts
  • Hand Up
    • SAGA Humane Society
    • RRR Emergency Response Team
    • Island Road Safety
    • Road Safety Assessment
Tacogirl Belize blog Est. in 2007

You came to the right place for Belize Resources and Information.

  • –
  • Home
  • About Belize
    • My Move to Belize
    • Living in Belize
    • Belize Tourism Board
    • Blog Press
    • tacogirl.com testimonials
  • Flights to Belize
    • Flying in Belize
    • Flights From Belize
    • Duty Free Belize
    • Aerial Tours
    • World Nomads Travel Insurance
  • Belize Vacation
    • Vrbo Belize – A Paradise within a Paradise
      • Vrbo Ambergris Caye – Sunshine, Luxury & Fun
      • Vrbo San Pedro – Food, Fun, and Adventure
      • Vrbo Placencia – A True Getaway
      • Vrbo Hopkins Belize – Experience Culture
    • Ambergris Caye Accommodations by Price
    • Belize Resorts and Hotels
    • Pet Friendly Hotels
    • Belize Vacation Deals
  • Flight Discount
    • Big Belize Travel Deal
  • Travel Store
    • tacogirl Recommendations
    • Easy Donations
    • Eco Friendly Belize
  • Fun Activities
    • Getting Around Ambergris Caye
    • Google Maps Guide
    • Fitness
    • Things to do in Belize
    • Belize Excursions and Tours
    • Voluntourism
  • Travel
    • Central America
    • Yucatan
0

Jungle Play – 4 Amazing Tours Plus 2 Unofficial Ones

by tacogirl 29/07/2016
written by tacogirl 29/07/2016
Tropic Air flight from San edro to Belmopan

Not only did we feel welcome by Caves Branch and their staff, we felt welcome by our environment. Everywhere we turned we saw something unique and interesting. Sometimes it was hard to see the same thing twice because we had a multitude of choice before us and so many different lush jungle pathways to explore.

Aside from eating and lounging, Aimee and I had already decided to do some tours while there. and we were both very happy that 3 of them were onsite. The others (including our flight) were all closer than many peoples workday commute.

While it is not a deal breaker for me, nearby tours is a big draw on vacation, especially if I am not going to be somewhere for long. In this case 3 days went fairly fast. When our tour consultant was signing us up, he was all smiles at my indecision between which tours to take and wanting to just relax and enjoy the jungle without going any further than the walk to the dining hall, then back to our room. Every-time we did that walk however, we took our own tour time and studied the gorgeous botanical and wildlife around us.That few minute distance could take an hour if you wanted. There is so much to see and so many cool pathways to get distracted by along the way.

We ended up doing 4 official tours; cheese tasting, soap making, night time jungle walk and river cave. Of the for official ones, three were onsite and the last was about a 15 min drive, if that. Our 2 unofficial tours were the flight and the famous Farmhouse Deli. I included them as they rated equally as exciting and adventurous in a different way.

Now onto the good stuff and all our fun, educational and tasty adventures 🙂

Cheese Making Tour

Long before we arrived anywhere near Caves Branch Jungle Lodge I was excited for this tour, although I had already been getting my fill at the dinner and breakfast buffets I wanted more tasters 😀

The cheese making tour was also as big a deal as the cheese. The crux of the biscuit (heart of the matter) as to why we were really there and more specifically curds. Three small groups of us had been asking and patiently waiting for curds and Poutine parties. We also wanted to learn more about the process and the people that go into making their delicious cheeses.

Gloria, Clarabel and Ms. Odelia are the lovely cheese ladies. They make 13 cheeses on site including: ricotta, quark, mozzarella, with plain milk or Guyanese with cream, soft ripened, cottage cheese (made to order as it only lasts a week), 8 aged Trappist European style cheeses, old grey bender Belgian style, spressa (similar to Parmesan), northern Italy style, provolone, feta, triple cream, aged in 2 ways; outside for harder or in clear containers for softer and their famous Mr. Stinky blue cheese.

As far as ageing time goes, 8 oz. is aged 4 months, 13 oz. 6 months and 10 pounds is aged for 2 years. The milk and cream used to make the cheese comes from the Amish Mennonites about 15 – 20 min away.

Raise your hand if you can say that about the ingredients for the last cheese you ate?

I raised mine while enjoying my own version of a farmhouse deluxe grilled cheese sandwich made with – molasses brown bread, avocado, curds and Mr. Stinky cheese that my friend Debbie Klauber gifted me. Yumilicious all toasty and gooey – I love my panini press.

Caves Branch Belmopan Belize

Sampling delicious cheese and learning about the process from start to finish

Caves Branch Cheese Tour Belmopan Belize

Cheese aging room

Soap Factory

After our Cheese tour we moved onto the soap factory. I am a liquid soap girl but I was interested to see the process and check out all the scents they offer. Nice smelling bar soap is great way to keep your dresser drawers smelling fresh. They have a variety of  fresh and delicious scents produced onsite – green apple, jasmine, lemon eucalyptus, lavender, bergamot, musk, lemongrass, tea tree lemon and vanilla.

Caves Branch soaps are handmade in a modest upstairs room at the lodge by the same ladies who make the cheese. During our visit to the production line, we learned that the soaps are made on Saturday’s and the cheese are made the remainder of the week.

The soaps are all made with simple ingredients and the procedure basically goes as follows: They melt glycerin, add fragrance and pour into a PVC mold they custom made. It then gets frozen overnight before being cut with a custom tool before being packaged for distribution.

In addition to being used and sold in house and at the Farmhouse Deli, they have a total of 10 resorts in Belize who offer their soap line. The best part, the proceeds go towards the youth project Belize National Youth Chess Foundation (BNYCF) and other community endeavors.

Ian Andersons Caves Branch Belmopan Belize

Onsite Soap making

Night Time Jungle Walk

My travel companion Aimee and I both agreed the night tour was a must. After laying in bed loving listening to it, we both wanted to get up close with what the jungle darkness had to offer.

Thelma was our fearless and knowledgeable leader and Hector was the end wrangler and made sure those of us taking pictures did not fall behind in the dark.

It was a guarantee that we would see some sort of creepy crawlies if we looked close and of course we all hoped to see more. While we did not see any big animals, we did see some very cool small ones and learned some interesting facts along the way.

Among the things we saw were centipedes, a red rump tarantula, wolf spider, cicada, lightning bugs and lots of leaf cutter ants.

Two interesting jungle facts we learned:

  • Cicadas live underground feed on roots of trees and have a 17 year lifespan. On our way in, Thelma pointed out one that was hanging from a branch and starting to emerge from its cocoon. She made sure to tell us that by the time we got back, there would be a noticeable color change. She was right. – it is hard to tell from my picture though.
  • It is the female leaf-cutter ant that carries the leaf. Small ants ride on the leaf and their job is to inspect for fungus.

What a cool experience it was watching nature doing it’s thing unfazed by a bunch of quietly nosy tourists, taking pictures and learning how night time in the jungle worked from our wonderful Belizean guides.

Ian Andersons Caves Branch Belmopan Belize

Webbed creepy crawlier on our night jungle tour

 Niight jungle tour at Ian Andersons Caves Branch

Moving onto some bird watching

Cidadia before and after

Cidadia before and after

Ian Andersons Caves Branch Belmopan Belize

Lightening bug and frog

Caves Branch night jungle tour Belmopan Belize

Busy leaf cutter ants and a quiet centipede

River Cave Expedition

We both wanted to do an off site tour, but at the same time we were not up for a marathon, so cave tubing was the perfect solution. Our guide Pablo was fantastic and the group we took the tour with were a lot of fun too. Pablo made the experience a incredible and educational adventure. While in the cave he made sure to point out various wildlife, bats, silk worms, catfish and of course a few creepy crawlies.

We got to do some climbing as well and see 2 different Maya artifacts in the cave. It was very cool.

Those are not the only tours close by, go the Ian Anderson’s Caves Branch adventure tours page to see what other fun things you can do, and to learn more about the place.

Ian Andersons Caves Branch Belmopan Belize

Very short drive and minimal walking to get to River Cave

River Cave tour Ian Andersons Caves Branch

Heading into the cave

 Caves Branch Belmopan Belize

Cricket enjoying condensation and sparkled rock formation

 Caves Branch Belmopan Beliz

Lots of small bat caves within the big one

Interesting Cave Rock Formations

More sparkling and unique rock formations

Ian Andersons Caves Branch Belmopan Belize

Exploring Maya history inside the cave

 River cate tubing in Belmopam Belize

I loved that we stopped for a picnic lunch in the cave before tubing our way out

Farmhouse Deli Tour

Our last Belmopan land tour was a definite highlight of the trip  – meat and Cheese 😀

In fact as I think about our time there, I want their grilled cheese something fierce right now. I love it when foods set off the craving factor for me and I was totally glad I saved half for when I got home. It was just as yummy after a fast warm-up in my sandwich press.

If the following menu description does not make your mouth water along with the top right picture below I do not know what will.

Grilled Three Cheese Sandwich – Artisan provolone, Roquefort blue (Mr. Stinky) and mozzarella melted over their fresh baked multi-grain bread and served with homemade mustard, pickled egg, sauerkraut, pickled sweet red cabbage, coleslaw and a half sour pickle.

Ian Anderson's Farmhouse Deli

Lunch at the Farmhouse Deli

Farmhouse Deli Belmopan Belize

Our piles grew as we shopped before and after lunch

Aerial Tour

I know many of you love the journey just as much as the destination. We were momentarily considering flying to Belize City and going by land to Belmopan. We both agreed a full aerial adventure was better and decided to fly direct on Tropic Air from San Pedro Airport to Belmopan.

This was a tour we were glad to take twice and both enjoy seeing the divercity of the countryside from above. From farms and fields to jungle and sea, it is an amazing trip where ever you are flying in Belize.

Tropic Air flight from San edro to Belmopan

We Had an Amazing Time

I would like to thank Rhoda for inviting us to Caves Branch and Ian Anderson for the invitation to come back when we saw him at the last Truck Stop Farmers Market.

I know some of you may be thinking along with an invitation, the review is always glowing. This is not always the case. To read my one unmentionable (at the bottom of post) and see more of what the 50,000 acres of Caves Branch looks like visit my Jungle Love write up. It is filled with lots of great pics and good information.

If you are interested in a jungle Adventure and want a bit more input from other people, read Caves Branch Traveler Reviews on Trip Advisor. They are currently rated 4 1/2 Stars and have earned them by far.

Ian Andersons Caves Branch Belmopan Belize

Staff were more than more than happy to show us intersting things on our daily grounds tour

Related

tacogirl

Laurie Norton grew up dyslexic and was very challenged by the school. She never dreamed she would move to Belize and become a writer. A year after her move to Ambergris Caye, Laurie became an entrepreneur and professional writer starting tacogirl blog in 2007. Since then she has helped many people plan their vacations or move. She also has been published in Great Destinations Belize Guidebook, Moon Guide to Living in Belize, Insight Guides, Island Magazine several times and USA Today. Currently Laurie resides in downtown San Pedro and enjoys being a "city girl" on a tropical island.

previous post
Helpful Tips and Issues With ATM Use at Belize Banks
next post
Tropical Storm Earl Likely Outcome of Invest 97-L

You will also like

Small Group Dive & Snorkeling Tour

08/10/2021

Mini Shipwreck Adventure

19/06/2020

Spring has Sprung at Marco Gonzalez Maya Site

29/03/2019

Half Day Bird Watching Boat Tour

07/03/2019

Private Island Camping on Goff’s Caye

07/11/2018

You Want Me to do What?!?

19/05/2018

2 Tickets to Paradise on SEA’S d DAY

31/12/2016

Which is Better Mid Morning or Sunset?

19/12/2016

Fastest Way to Lamanai

28/11/2016

Whole Lotta Love

18/11/2016

Leave a Comment

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Search Belize by Category

belize specialist certificate

Duty Free Discount

Find tacogirl On Facebook

Find tacogirl On Facebook
tacogirl Belize blog
tacogirl Belize blog
5.0
Based on 51 reviews
powered by Google
review us on
Delvin Kelly
Delvin Kelly
18:38 22 Jun 22
I just returned from my trip to Belize in mid-June 2022. I had been planning the trip weeks / months in advance and... Laurie (taco girl) wasextremely helpful in preparation for my trip. Her intimate knowledge as an expat who was ONCE a tourist, really helps because she is able to share first hand knowledge of how a tourist can explore Ambergis Caye like a "temporary local". An example of this, was she recommended 2 yoga classes for my wife to enjoy while on vacation that we would not have known about otherwise and the class was far better than a class arranged by a hotel, as you get the local experience not a staged one. In addition, she was helpful in providing recommendations for dinner and sharing some discounts she has arranged with local retailers. Reviewing the taco girl blog and reaching out to Laurie is like having a tour guide, but more important a tour guide that KNOWS Belize.read more
G
G
22:52 16 Jun 22
From the perspective of a couple preparing for a permanent move to Belize, Laurie has been enthusiastically helpful in... both answering our questions and connecting us with local resources for our move. Highly recommend you contact her and make use of her valuable services!!!read more
Darrell Moore
Darrell Moore
13:15 18 Apr 22
Laurie was super helpful in providing places to eat, things to do and best yet had ongoing blogs that allowed us to... look back on other places that she pointed out. A fantastic resource for both first time and return visitors of Ambergris Caye!read more
B W
B W
18:01 08 Feb 22
Fantastic service .I needed to find a place where I could buy a local sim card as my UK sim doesnt work in belize and... Tacogirl put me on the right path .Decided to walk across town and discovered so much more in beautiful San Pedro.Many thanks.BWread more
Kristi Palm
Kristi Palm
20:40 12 Oct 21
We have been using TacoGirl for what feels like decades when planning our trips to Belize! It has only been a few... years but she is the first place we stop to see what is happening in our favorite vacation spot. She knows all the best spots to get away and do so many fun things - whether it is relaxing or exploring! We are planning our next trip with our twins and she was the first person I reached out to. Knowing we have a resource like her, makes trip planning a breeze!read more
D Zep
D Zep
12:39 01 Oct 21
Found tacogirl while doing some research on an upcoming trip to Belize. This is the place for all the information you... need to plan your vacation. Incredibly helpful and responsive. I sent an email with lots of questions and received a very quick and detailed response that helped us finalize our plans.read more
Kelley Adams
Kelley Adams
20:19 21 Sep 21
We have been following TacoGirl for years now and before booking any trip to San Pedro we check to see what is... currently happening. We love the emails to let us know when a new blog has been posted. Keep up the great work Laurie, we feel like we know you.read more
Pamela Nixon
Pamela Nixon
18:36 20 Sep 21
I first got my Passport in 2012 and Taco Girl was my first connection back then Great then and Marvelous Now! She's... blossomed and developed into a wonderful contact for any and all information Belize. She goes above & beyond to respond with information that you need whether visiting Belize or relocating! I wasn't able to fund the move then but now that I have much more equity I am doing it.This time she was the 1st person I reached out to! Now I am selling and moving to Belize. She responds immediately! Like I do in my Pet Sitting Business! I was so impressed I followed her all this time. And was not disappointed!Pamela Nixonread more
Chris S
Chris S
17:12 17 Sep 21
Wanted to give a shout-out to tacogirl belize for helping us! She is a plethora of knowledge and was super helpful and... responsive in helping us find longer term stay on the island. Thank you so much for your help!read more
Ty Willingham
Ty Willingham
01:47 20 Aug 21
I've spent the last month exploring Belize. I'm retired & seriously considering moving down to Belize permanently from... the US. I contacted the local San Pedro expert "Taco Girl" to help me get started in finding an apartment to rent. With her help, I've located several places that meet my needs & budget requirements. Thank you Laurie!read more
Greg Cox
Greg Cox
18:58 04 Aug 21
I am very glad I found you and asked you a question about a spice in Belize. You helped me figure out the name of it... and where i could buy it. You went above and beyond to help. Thanks again.read more
Katherine Jones
Katherine Jones
18:41 02 Aug 21
I am so grateful for the time and energy Laurie has taken to share about her experiences traveling to and living in... Belize as well as provide thorough recommendations for planning a trip there. I was so thankful (and honestly surprised) that Laurie took the time to respond to several of my questions via email. I highly recommend reading Laurie's blogs and helping to support her business. Thank you Laurie!!read more
Greg R
Greg R
02:12 29 Jun 21
tacogirl was very nice to share her knowledge with us and assisted with planning our trip to Belize; thank you for the... help and info, it was helpful and allowed us to plan utilize our time accordingly while both on the mainland and islands of this great country.read more
Katherine Carlson
Katherine Carlson
18:46 02 Jun 21
As a Canadian—tired of long winters—I cannot wait to spend some time in Belize. I haven't set foot yet, but I am... yearning for lots of Caribbean adventure. Thanks so much to tacogirl for her endless enthusiasm and generosity of spirit. She is a constant stream of up-to-date information. Her knowledge and love of the area is priceless, and I will need her expertise for future endeavours!read more
Kathleen Ward
Kathleen Ward
18:29 02 Jun 21
We started coming to Ambergis Caye in 2014 and stumble on to Tacogirls blog, so glad we did! We used her 15% discount... at The Premier Duty-Free shop in the airport! It worked great all we did was let them know we read it on her blog . She has great information awesome pictures, we have tried several places she has recommended, all were amazing. Highly recommend reading her blog. Kathleenread more
ksniegoc1
ksniegoc1
17:45 02 Jun 21
It was my first time visiting Belize and San Pedro so naturally I had a ton of questions when it came time to planning... the travel. Taco Gril's blog was an invaluable source of information for all the travel questions in Ambergris Caye. I was able to learn a lot of basic information, as well as many tips and tricks. In addition when I reached out to Taco Girl for advice on finding a local photographer and a restaurant recommendation, she was very quick to respond and gave me many helpful suggestions. She also provided a lot more information from a local's point of view, which was much for valuable than than a typical guidebook. Thanks to her helpful suggestions we were able to celebrate my daughter's birthday at a nice restaurant, and had a great photo family session with a local photographer. I'm very thankful for all her resources and knowledge.read more
Myra F
Myra F
01:30 25 Mar 21
I started coming to San Pedro Belize in 2007 and that is when I met the online presence of Taco Girl. Her blogs on the... island and area are very personable and informative. She gives out promo codes from time to time so watch out for those. You cannot go wrong with someone who was a tourist and now lives here for quality info. Thanks Taco Girl for helping make my trips memorable!read more
Corey Holm
Corey Holm
04:38 25 Feb 20
I take the seniors from our academy to Belize every year for their senior trip. One of the first people I contact when... I start planning the trip is Laurie with TacoGirl Belize. She knows the island of San Pedro better than anyone else out there. Trust me, I have looked. If you are looking for the best restaurants, hang outs and shops then Laurie help plan your vacation.read more
Carol Taylor
Carol Taylor
15:53 24 Feb 20
Love Taco Girl Blog @LaurieNorton!I've been reading this blog since I started visiting Ambergris Caye in Belize almost... 10 years ago. It is filled with helpful up-to-date information and recommendations that I wouldn't necessarily find on my own. Laurie Norton's knowledge and extensive network on the island provides her with the ability to share perks/discounts/coupons with her readers, which come in handy year after year. Things on the island change daily - new businesses pop up constantly and LaurieNortonstays on top of these developments. Whenever I plan my return trip to the island, I always check her blog first - and I recommend you do the same. Trip Advisor ain't got nuttin' on Taco Girl!read more
Heidi
Heidi
20:01 20 Feb 20
Laurie's blog is my official “go to” source for tourist and local information on San Pedro. Of course, it’s always nice... to see her guides on “what to do” in San Pedro, but I also appreciate her “insider” advice and human interest stories on what it’s like living as a local on the island. There is so much information it's amazing! Thank you Laurie!!!read more
Nick Goodman
Nick Goodman
21:23 30 Nov 19
I am considering a move to Belize and I have serendipitously found tacogirl.....what a treasure! She is full of great... advice, helpful hints.....knows everybody on Ambergris Caye and has a thousand useful recommendations and suggestions. Whether you are planning a vacation or relocating, you should make use of the many services she has to offer…..read more
KellyDivePhotography
KellyDivePhotography
20:58 30 Nov 19
I’m so pleased to see tacogirl's blog on Google. Laurie's blog is my official “go to” source for tourist and local... information on San Pedro. Of course, it’s always nice to see her guides on “what to do” in San Pedro, but I also appreciate her “insider” advice and human interest stories on what it’s like living as a local on the island. I especially enjoy her guest articles, providing a different perspective of all things San Pedro. Her tipping quide is a classic, and don’t forget her Tropic Air flight code and on-island discounts. You’re not up-to-date with what’s going on in San Pedro if you’re not regularly reading tacogirl's blog.read more
Sandra Godfrey
Sandra Godfrey
15:58 23 Nov 19
I have known Laurie (Taco Girl) for several years. She has been a wealth of good information for me in all of my... pursuits in Belize. I highly recommend her for any services you may require.read more
William Jones
William Jones
13:39 06 May 19
Do yourself a favor. Read this BEFORE any trip to San Pedro - Ambergris Caye or Belize in general. Not saying “do what... everyone else says”, but Laurie has frank and honest info which will make your stay in country a little more fun, a little more informative, and often at a great cost savings. Best thing: it’s unbiased, honest, and factual. Personal note: thank you for your personal tailored help in answering mine (and my wife’s) questions.read more
Kimberly Robinson
Kimberly Robinson
18:28 03 May 19
Taco Girl (Laurie) is amazing. She has so much knowledge about Belize and has great connections with many of the... businesses in Belize. Because of her connections she is able to offer many perks and discounts that you wouldn't have been able to find otherwise. She is super responsive and I always go to her for all my travel needs. From golf cart rentals, to spas, to places to eat. She's got the inside scoop on all!read more
Michael Rieck
Michael Rieck
20:22 21 Apr 19
Since 2003, my wife and I have been to Ambergris at least once a year to experience the fantastic diving. About twelve... years ago we me Tacogirl on a blog giving us discounts on golf carts, local airfares, and restaurants. Over the years we have grown a friendship and I look forward to her weekly blogs about he changes on my favorite home away from home. The island changes every year, and she always shows you what to see, do, and eat.read more
Next Reviews
js_loader

 

 

Belize Humane Society

 

 

john mcafee story

 

 

 

 

 

Get the latest posts by email

Tripadvisor logo

Search Belize by Month

Facebook Twitter Instagram Linkedin Flickr Youtube

Belize Blog Est. 2007

belize travel specialist

ABOUT ME

I took the plunge and moved to San Pedro Town on the Island of Ambergris Caye, off the coast of Belize, Central America. Originally from Canada, I made the life-changing move to escape winter for good (in 2006) after one three week vacation. If you have any questions or want Belize help planning and booking, please feel free to contact me.

SPARKING MY DESIRE

A few childhood memories that shaped my desire to move to Belize from a young age. Sailing in the Virgin Islands, seeing a rainbow out the window of an island hopper as we flew from Virgin Islands to Puerto Rico, Christmas in Hawaii and many trips to Florida.

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Linkedin
  • Flickr
  • Youtube
  • Email

tacogirl.com San Pedro Belize © 2021 Content of this website may not be used elsewhere without permission. Sitemap


Back To Top

We noticed you're visiting from Canada. We've updated our prices to Canadian dollar for your shopping convenience. Use United States (US) dollar instead. Dismiss