La
Milpa Field Station lies nestled deep in the forests
of northwestern Belize. This field station is located
only three miles from the third largest archaeological
site in Belize. In May 1996, the La Milpa Archaeological
Site received international attention with the finding
of a royal Maya tomb which unearthed a male skeleton
adorned with a jeweled necklace. The La Milpa Archaeological
Site is only one of at least sixty other archaeological
sites found on the Rio Bravo.
Given
the rich archaeological heritage found on the Rio Bravo,
Programme for Belize in collaboration with Boston University
and the University of Texas (San Antonio) has established
two long-term archaeological research projects. Through
these projects we expect to learn much more of how the ancient
Maya civilization evolved, was organized and sustained and
why most of its centers eventually collapsed throughout
the region. Serving as the base of Programme for Belize's
two archaeological research projects, La Milpa Field Station
has evolved as the center of archaeological research on
the Rio Bravo.
Guests
at La Milpa Field Station can choose to stay in either charmingly
rustic and private thatched-roof cabanas or a state-of-the-art
'green' dormitory. Our four double-unit cabanas are constructed
of local hardwoods and palm thatch. These units feature:
Private
bath with hot and cold running water
Screened windows which provide a feeling of openness
A
loft space
Daily
housekeeping
And
a private veranda.
The
'green' dormitory sleeps a total of thirty guests and features:
Solar powered energy
Composting
toilets
And a grey water storage and recycling system.
Food
at La Milpa is sure to satisfy even the most discriminating
palate. La Milpa's Dining Room serves three meals daily,
deliciously blending local cuisine with North American cuisine.
La Milpa's menu is sure to equip visitors for each day's
activities, whether the activities include birding from
sunrise to sunset or just simply relaxing in a hammock all
day.
The
education center, comprised of a conference/training room
and library, is a popular spot where visitors enjoy evening
lectures by visiting researchers or browse through a selection
of reference materials. The education center also serves
as an excellent site for conferences, workshops and retreats.
The La Milpa Field Station is a birder's paradise. With
only an area about the size of Massachusetts, Belize has
an avifauna of more than 540 species of birds.
The Rio Bravo is home to 392 species of the country's total
avifauna.
Avid
birders can therefore compile a list of more than 150 species
of birds over a three-day visit to La Milpa Field Station.
Hiking nature trails and jungle trekking are the
order of the day at La Milpa. The field station is surrounded
by a system of nine trails.
Of
the nine trails, three are interpreted trails. Common mammal
and bird sightings on the trails and around the field station
include: agoutis, howler monkeys, spider monkeys, peccaries,
coatimundis, tracks of jaguars and ocelots, ocellated turkeys,
toucans, crested guans, hummingbirds, euphonias and much
more.
To experience the beauty of the people of Belize, we highly
recommend a day visit to one of the neighboring Mestizo
villages. On your village day, you will taste local food,
capture the colors and vibrance of the people through a
cultural presentation and learn about the history of the
Mestizo through a special presentation on medicinal plants.
From
February to August, guests visiting the La Milpa Field Station
have the opportunity to meet the archaeologists working
on the Rio Bravo and learn from them more about their work.
Your archaeological adventure can also include a tour of
breath-taking and majestic Maya sites on and off the Rio
Bravo. For the more adventurous who would like to participate
in the archaeological research being conducted on the Rio
Bravo, we recommend Programme for Belize's Archaeological
Project which is a structured archaeological program comprised
of lectures and field work led by Dr. Fred Valdez from the
University of Texas (San Antonio).
For
driving instructions to La Milpa Field Station from Belize
City click
here.
Given
the rich archaeological heritage found on the Rio Bravo,
Programme for Belize in collaboration with Boston University
and the University of Texas (San Antonio) has established
two long-term archaeological research projects. Through
these projects we expect to learn much more of how the ancient
Maya civilization evolved, was organized and sustained and
why most of its centers eventually collapsed throughout
the region. Serving as the base of Programme for Belize's
two archaeological research projects, La Milpa Field Station
has evolved as the center of archaeological research on
the Rio Bravo. 
Private
bath with hot and cold running water
Of
the nine trails, three are interpreted trails. Common mammal
and bird sightings on the trails and around the field station
include: agoutis, howler monkeys, spider monkeys, peccaries,
coatimundis, tracks of jaguars and ocelots, ocellated turkeys,
toucans, crested guans, hummingbirds, euphonias and much
more. 
From
February to August, guests visiting the La Milpa Field Station
have the opportunity to meet the archaeologists working
on the Rio Bravo and learn from them more about their work.
Your archaeological adventure can also include a tour of
breath-taking and majestic Maya sites on and off the Rio
Bravo. For the more adventurous who would like to participate
in the archaeological research being conducted on the Rio
Bravo, we recommend Programme for Belize's Archaeological
Project which is a structured archaeological program comprised
of lectures and field work led by Dr. Fred Valdez from the
University of Texas (San Antonio).