Francis Ford Coppola’s famed resorts in Belize, Blancaneaux Lodge and Turtle Inn, announced today that they have formalized a partnership with Alexandra Cousteau’s Blue Legacy, an environmental foundation that works to engage mainstream audiences on global water issues. Cousteau, the granddaughter of renowned environmentalist Jacques Yves-Cousteau, will travel to Belize in spring 2012 in order to explore and film critical environmental issues for a worldwide audience.

Committed and dedicated to fostering best practices in ecotourism and sustainable travel, the Coppola Resorts will host the Blue Legacy group during their stay in Belize. By leveraging Coppola Resorts' valuable relationships with the area's conservation partners and key influencers, Blue Legacy will gain a special insight into the management of Belize’s protected areas and will seek out views from a wide range of community stakeholders. Read More

After many years of searching for a nest of the elusive Solitary Eagle by the Belize Raptor Research Institute (BRRI) and Blancaneaux Lodge, a stunning discovery was made on June 30th, 2011. Roni Martinez, Conservation Officer at Blancaneaux Lodge and member of the Belize Raptor Research Institute, assisted by Matt Allshouse, Stacia Novy and Audrey Martin of The Peregrine Fund, found an active Solitary Eagle nest in some of the steepest terrain in the Mountain Pine Ridge. The nest contained a single chick, which was at least two months old and getting ready to fledge the nest.  Bird Life International estimates the entire wild population of Solitary Eagles at fewer than 1000 individuals and currently the IUCN lists the species as Near Threatened, but may be up-listed based on further evidence of decreasing population size and trends.

The Solitary Eagle is a rare and local resident with a small population size within its broad, but patchy distribution from Mexico to Argentina.  All aspects of its natural history, breeding biology, and population demographics are unknown. Before the discovery of this nest, only two others had ever been found. Both findings were in the 1940’s and 1950’s in Mexico and sadly the eggs and adults were collected for museum specimens from both nests, and no nesting data was collected. The discovery of this nest is a big step forward in the conservation of the Solitary Eagle as we can now begin to understand this unknown species and its requirements, so that management strategies can be implemented and its conservation status can be better understood. The Belize Raptor Research Institute currently studying the nest, is setting plans into motion to protect the area where the nest was found and establish it as a Nature Reserve with access only for research or educational purposes. Stay tuned for updates, as BRRI raptor biologists are in the field studying the chick before it fledges the nest!

Turtle Inn is now offering two exclusive scuba diving packages throughout 2011 and 2012 giving adventurers the opportunity to explore a magnificent variety of coral and marine life along the Belize Barrier Reef. Choose from either a 4-night or 7-night vacation package. All excursions will take place from Turtle Inn’s brand new dive boat, Miss Ellie.

Francis Ford Coppola’s Turtle Inn is located in Belize's coastal village of Placencia. One of the world’s greatest scuba destinations, Belize is one of the few dive spots on the planet that can boast the return of the largest fish in the ocean year after year. During the full moon weeks of May and June, the Whale Shark will glide through our waters giving divers and snorkelers the unmatched opportunity to share the ocean with them in close quarters.
 
To book packages please call toll-free
(800) 746-3743, of email info@coppolaresorts.com

Turtle Inn’s brand new dive boat, Miss Ellie, successfully took its maiden voyage last weekend and is now transporting resort guests along the Caribbean’s largest barrier reef for scuba and snorkeling adventures.

Named after owner Francis Coppola’s wife, Eleanor, the boat is 46 feet long, which is almost 50% larger than the resort’s previous dive boat, yet is far more fuel efficient thanks to a fiberglass hull. She also has two 350 HP, V8- 4 stroke outboards, making her one of the fastest boat in the area, cutting travel time to and from the reef significantly. Other new features include GPS, a “fish finder,” a fly bridge with shaded area, rod holders for deep see trolling, a rinse tank for camera equipment, full head (bathroom) with a fresh water shower and capacity for up to 25 guests.

Miss Ellie is also equipped with the latest safety features, including VHF marine communication, first aid kits, life support oxygen, life vests, diver down flags, and of course, a captain that knows and respects the sea.  Additionally, all dive trips are led by a licensed Tour Guide who is also a PADI Divemaster or a certified PADI Instructor.

We invite you to come aboard the Miss Ellie soon and explore the magnificent variety of coral and marine life in one of the world’s greatest scuba destinations.

Eddie Tzib and Roni Martinez from Blancaneaux Lodge have been helping researcher Charles Britt and Marcial Cordova of Wildlife Conservation Society of Guatemala with the ongoing research of the Belize population of Scarlet Macaws. 

This year’s project included trapping individual Scarlet Macaws and placing Telonics satellite telemetry collars on them. Although this is a slow process covering a large area, the goal was accomplished over a two week period, and now three adult Macaws have been fitted with the satellite transmitters. These collars are already sending in data on the daily movements of the birds and will be key in finally deciphering the exact migration route of the Macaws over the Maya Mountains. Over the next two months, monitoring expeditions will continue as the breeding season draws to an end.

During the expedition, illegal poachers were documented climbing some nests, which prompted intervention by FCD (Friends for Conservation and Development) National Park Rangers. The threat to the survival of this isolated and declining species remains, and Blancaneaux Lodge is committed to helping the respective authorities and researchers in their constant battle to save it from extinction.

Khristina Bonham, a Conservation and Biodiversity Masters student at the University of Exeter, has been working with ECOMAR Belize on the newly formed Turtle Watch Program. Last month she visited Turtle Inn, and for six days gave informative presentations to the guests, conducted water surveys for sea turtles and trained at our dive shop on how to report sightings in the future. Below are the journal entries from her stay. Read More

Our three Central America resorts have all received new tour vehicles in a continuing effort to create an outstanding guest experiences across all our services, equipment and facilities.

Blancaneaux Lodge and Turtle Inn in Belize have each received two vans (Toyota Hiaces to Blancaneaux, Nissan Urvans to Turtle Inn), with one Hyundai van going to La Lancha in Guatemala. The delivery of the new vans will elevate the comfort and quality of our vehicle fleets, providing guests with an even better tour experience.

Above: One of Blancaneaux Lodge's new Toyota Hiaces.

Ryan Phillips of Belize Raptor Research Institute (BRRI), with support from Blancaneaux Lodge's Roni Martinez and Eddie Tzib, has successfully captured and radio tagged one female and one male Stygian Owl (pictured right) at two separate locations in the Mountain Pine Ridge.

The female, who was tagged first, was followed for two days. She moved around low branches and her movements indicated that she may have been scouting for a nest site. Her movements have been recorded by GPS in order to getter a better understanding of the use of roost and hunting sites.

Phillips will be posting an update on the capture and monitoring via the Belize Raptor Research Institute website now that he is on his way back to the United States. Learn more at http://www.belizeraptorresearch.org/.