Eco-Tours boat ramp | Informal Campsite

Belize

Details

Verified:: about 1 year ago
GPS:: 18.02356, -88.55342
Altitude:: 0.0 masl
Website:: www.lamanaiecotours.com/
Contributor:: crossamerika.wordpress.com

Amenities

Electricity:: Yes - At Sites
Wifi:: Yes - Average
Kitchen:: Yes
Restaurant:: No
Showers:: Yes
Water:: Non-Potable
Toilets:: Running Water
Big Rig Friendly:: Yes
Tent Friendly:: Yes
Pet Friendly:: Yes

Something not right?

Description

at the boat launch of Eco-Tours in Orange Walk. Price: Free when booked boat trip to Lamanai ($ 50 pp).

Photos

Why? By checking in after you’ve visited a place you let others know this place is still functional. You can also add or correct any information.

Add To Favorites

Latest Check-Ins

March 30th, 2023 by martin.koci1

One word Horrible! We met Errol, the owner randomly in front of supermercado and this was the worst thing that could have happened to us.

We did not go for the boat tour, but spent 2 nights and did other tour. We spent 2 nights and did a tour with Errol's friend, apparently a 100% great hunter and amazing tracker and 4x4 rider, so the goal of the overnight tour was to spot jaguars, the guide said "will not be a problem".

So I spent 1 night in area and 1 on "tour" and my wife and daughter 2 nights at site. Nights at site were horrible, noisy, dusty, full sun and both days at 3.30am local cocks from Errols "farm/workshop/restaurant/landfill/parking start their concerts and you are 100% guaranteed no sleep at all after 3.30am.

But the tour was the real problem. We agreed on the price of 150usd (not expensive in my opinion, if it really was all night searching) and Landy James (the super hunter) claimed the price is also because he needs to take 2 helpers to clear the track and that we are talking about serious 4x4. At 1pm we left, no helper, as he suddenly changed his mind and did not need them "but their salary remained and price did not change", of course. Firstly we visited their 4x4 workshop, they had a modified Ram 1500 and I could not believe my eyes, everything they touched was screwed up totally and on top of that was that rear leaf springs were mounted upside down so they were bent upside!! and the limit leaf worked as a bow!. I just stared and couldn't make a noise than ehhhh. This should have been an immediate stopping point for me, but I so much wanted to see jaguara after searching for months that I was blind.

Then we left to forest in a Mitsubishi Montero 1 mile away from scrapyard. The car was barely moving. Landy required more money for gasoline as this car eats more than the truck he wanted to take originally but somehow wasn't available. I said ok and off we went. Track was simple, no offroad at all, and after a few hours he decided to take a spot as a camp. We parked, set up chairs and binoculars etc and I asked about schedule. Answer was we wait until dark and start walking and searching. The real dark was about at 8pm so I asked what is next. He replied that actually the best time is when the moon sets down which is 2 am, nothing to see now and told me to take a nap (6 hours nap! on night tour).

And then he just went to sleep and slept until 2 am snoring so much that any jaguar would run away. I was circling around with a headlight but couldn't do much. At 2am we went searching. After 15min of walking, he claimed this is a great spot and we need to wait here a little. He laid on the ground and slept until sunrise. I already knew that this was 'game over' long ago so I just did nothing. In the morning at around 6am he claimed this is the best time and we walked for about 30min. And that was it.

He slept 9 hours out of night tour. I didn't even believe it was possible but in 16 hours including daylight we did not see a single! animal except birds. Of course no jaguar, but nothing, not even a mouse! 😃 He even tried to convince me that tracks of something with paws roughly 2cm was an ocelot while the paws were half of our home cat.

Not a single sorry, nothing. Maybe the biggest disrespect to the client I have ever witnessed in my life. From the minute he took his money he didn't even think about searching jaguar, but only about how to somehow pass the night, get rid of me and keep these 150usd.

By the way Mrs Errolls Eco tours property is a landfill covered by mud. Eroll explained to me proudly how he got the land for free and only covered the landfill with soil and started his "business". Below you while heading on tour or enjoying your drink is 5 to 10m of pneumatics right in the jungle river. And he uses 2 stroke engines with 3mpg on some of his boats, explained to me by mechanics, proudly.

So the word "Eco" in his tours name departing from landfill burned deep in river and heading for adventure with 50x higher emissions than standard 4strike engines is, in our opinion level infinity of hypocrisy.

So after 2 sleep less nights, 1 lost day and 150 wasted usd we are finally leaving this place and it feels sooo good!