Toledo Ecotourism Association (TEA), Belize

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Toledo Ecotourism Association (TEA), Belize

5 May 2009 2 Comments

(From PLENTY1 YouTube Channel) The Toledo Ecotourism Association (TEA) is a group of Mayan and Garifuna villages located in the rainforest and other endangered eco-systems in the southern part of Belize.

The TEA operates guesthouses in ten villages (nine Mayan and one Garifuna) and its trained guides lead visitors on jungle tours, cave exploration, canoe trips and village tours.

The mission of the TEA. is to create jobs in the villages, keep tourism to a manageable level, and educate visitors about the beauty and value of the indigenous cultures and the environment that the native people inhabit. more…

2 Comments »

Peter Kumble said:

Hello:

I am a professor at the University of Massachusetts. I along with my colleague, Elizabeth Brabec, have brought students to stay in the Mayan Village of San Jose and San Antonio, Toledo District in recent years. The visit was exceptional and the students felt that the experience of staying in the village and taking meals with individual families was the best experience that they could have had.

I am currently working with the NGO called Pro Peten from Flores, Guatemala to develop improved site designs for the Naj Tunich cave at the Mayan village of La Compuerta, near Poptun. I mentioned to the village elders that the experience that I had in Belize – staying in the village and eating with families – was a great experience and perhaps a similar model could be tried at La Compuerta. We are preparing a report and I have some questions for you:

1. Advertising – how do you do it and how do potential visitors get in touch with you?
2. How do you manage the village stay? How are funds redistributed to each family?
3. Who comes to say? What kind of visitors typically?
4. How are monies managed? In a common bank account? Cash only basis?
5. Some families choose to participate in the visitor / meals experience. How are they compensated for this?
6. What are some of the other activities that are offered? I seem to recall nature hikes, story telling, etc.
7 The village appeared to be very clean. At La Compuerta, there is a bit of trash and garbage all over. How do you keep San Antonio and San Jose so clean? Where is the trash taken?
8. How are the organized selling of crafts made by the children coordinated?

Thank you so much and I very much look forward to hearing back from you.

Sincerely,

Peter Kumble

# 14 April 2010 at 11:42 am

TEA said:

Hello Peter:

Thank you for your inquiry into our association and projects. We are currently in the process of making updates to our plan and will be posting them on the web. When this is complete are relevant information to your questions will be available. We would be more than happy to put you on our mailing list so you can be made of aware of when this is finished.

TEA

# 14 March 2011 at 10:20 am