The drinking water provided in your room is commercially purified water. The main water cooler container is in the dining room. Please refill your coolers provided for use in the rooms as you require. To reduce our waste generated, we do not sell individual water bottles, however you may refill your personal water bottles necessary for hiking at any time from the main dining room cooler.

The main water supply for the La Milpa Ecolodge and Research Center comes from an aquifer well that is 475 feet deep! Water is pumped to our holding tanks where it is chlorinated and then gravity fed to output sources in the various buildings on the station grounds. This water is safe for all hygienic and sanitary purposes.

A butane water heater provides hot water at all times for our cabana baths and shared dormitory baths. Please check the water temperature before standing under the shower to make sure it safely meets your needs. Please notify your field naturalist or site manager if you experience any problem.

The La Milpa Ecolodge and Research Center is located in a remote location in the country and thus our phone and fax system is very costly.

Please use this service to a minimum since only one line is available. If you need to make an international call, please request to buy a Belize phone card. Cards from the USA will not work on the local phone system.

Please bear in mind that the main line available at the station is also used to conduct and carry out normal business operations on a daily basis. We request therefore that you kindly confirm availability of its use with the Manager.

Your safety and security of your personal property are of the utmost importance to us. Please take advantage of the suggestions here and also review our Helpful Hints and Safety Tips located on Page 15 of our in room directories.

Our remote location and invaluable staff integrity makes for a secure environment for your personal belongings. We do not issue keys, but we can provide one at your request. You should carry your money on your person as a guarantee. The Site Manager can also secure small valuables in the station’s safe.

Additionally, you must be aware that there is a free flow of traffic along the La Milpa road from our neighboring property and every precaution helps to ensure the safety of your valuables.

If you travel to the Lodge in your own transport you should ensure that all the doors and windows are properly secured once you have parked in one of our designated parking areas. Do not leave valuables inside your vehicle. Remove these and secure in your room. While we make every effort to ensure the safety of or guests by controlling the traffic that flows in and out of the property, PfB cannot be held responsible for your vehicle or its contents.

We do not provide an on site laundry service. We have all our linens laundered at the Mennonite laundry just outside the property on the way to the Blue Creek Community. However, if you will be with us for an extended period, you can use the Mennonite laundry service. The charge is Bze $3.50/load or one pound of clothes. Please check with the naturalist guide or Site Manager about this service.

Do not collect any cultural or natural material from the area. This is illegal and contrary to ecotourism principles. Do not deface any prehistoric or modern structure.

Do not litter. We have garbage receptacles in each room and around the station in main buildings. Please hold unto your garbage until you can dispose of it in one of these receptacles.

Walk quietly and talk softly while hiking. This will give you the best opportunity to spot wildlife.

Early morning and late afternoon walks are good times for spotting wildlife. However, luck also plays a role in what your see during your stay.

Do not admit anyone into your room without first verifying who it is. If a person claims to be an employee of the Ecolodge, verify the identity of the person and their purpose for entering your room. Do not allow entry unless this is provided.

Close the door securely behind you whenever entering your room. Use all of the locking devices provided on your doors.

Do not draw attention to yourself by displaying cash, valuables or jewelry.

Note your location in the field station and determine your route of escape in the unlikely event of fire or other emergency. Notify the staff immediately if there is a fire, smoke or any emergency.

In the event of a fire, move quickly and calmly to the nearest safe exit and leave the building.

If you are traveling with children, provide adult supervision and know their whereabouts at all times.

If you notice any situation which is suspicious or causes you concern, report your observations immediately to the Site Manager.

Sunburn
Even when it is cloudy the sun can cause serious damage to the skin, particularly if you are of a fair completion. Use sun block, shades and a hat when you are out in the open.

Dehydration
The hot weather can also cause water loss which can lead to serious dehydration. Always carry a water bottle with you when you are out in the field and sure to take sips of water continuously throughout the day (even if you don’t feel thirsty).

Dressing for Field Activities
The clothes you wear should reflect the activities you are undertaking. Dress appropriately for sun and rain, and while out on the trails, hiking boots or shoes with good traction are recommended. Wear long pants to prevent insect bites and scrapes. Long sleeve shirts, insect repellent, hats and bandannas can also be used to protect against bugs. Chiggers are present in the grassy areas so keep on the paths as much as possible.

Trails
The trails have been cut so that you can access the tropical rainforest in safety. Please do not wander off the trails because it is very easy to get lost. The thick vegetation easily confuses your sense of direction and prevents sound from traveling, even short distances. Sign out in our Trail logbook if you are going out without a staff field guide and inform a staff member where you will be at all times.

Plants
Many tropical plants have predator defense mechanisms such as poisonous saps, stinging hair or sharp spikes. Don’t touch any plant unless you are sure that it is safe to do so.

Insects
Mosquitoes are present at La Milpa, especially early on in the morning and evening, and after a good rain. Short jackets are biting flies which can be a nuisance here and will leave little red spots on your skin. Ticks are also present in grassy areas. Use a good insect repellent which contains the chemical ‘DEET’, and wear pants with elastic ankles tucked into your socks to prevent insect intrusion. Treat your insect bites with rubbing alcohol to prevent infection and reduce itching, or try one of the rainforest remedies available in the gift shop.

Ants are everywhere in the rainforest. Many can be quite offensive and will bite or sting if they are disturbed. Army ants travel in swarms and if you find yourself in one of their pathways, move out of the area swiftly. Some plants provide food and shelter for stinging ants that ward off predators in return. Avoid touching species which employ ants for protection such as the trumpet tree and bullhorn acacia. If you feel an uncomfortable itch accompanied by a growing bump under the skin it could be a botfly larva, known locally as ‘beef worm’. Although it is harmless, the larva inflicts sharp, needle-like sensations as it grows and can become a nuisance. You can kill the beef worm by blocking the air tube using nail polish and squeezing the dead larva out of your skin.

Scorpions
Some people react more adversely to scorpion stings than others, so avoid them altogether. Scorpions like cool, dark hiding places, so check your clothes, boots and bedding before they come into contact with your body. Remember, a scorpion will not bother you unless it feels threatened.

Snakes
Out of fifty four snake species in Belize, only nine of them are venomous. Like scorpions they won’t bother you unless they are disturbed, but it is possible to inadvertently provoke them. Snakes tend to like holes, the buttress roots of trees, and the coolness of a fallen log or the underside of a fallen cohune leaf. Remain alert and always use a flashlight after dark. In the unlikely event that you are bitten by a snake, you should immobilize that part of the body immediately and inform a member of staff without delay. We will activate our emergency procedures to airlift you to the city for medical attention and administering of anti-venom at one of the main hospitals.

Hurricanes and Electrical Storms
Hurricanes are not common in Belize, but if a hurricane is approaching, advanced notice will be given. At La Milpa we have a hurricane preparedness plan to ensure your safety. During an electrical storm the best advice is simply to stay indoors.

Fire
No burning of any kind is permitted in the buildings. The student dorm is equipped with smoke detectors, and a Fire Procedures Plan is posted in each bedroom. Please read the information carefully so you know what to do in the event of a fire.

Medical Emergency
Special procedures are in place to ensure that anyone requiring emergency medical treatment is swiftly evacuated by airlift from the field station to one of the main hospitals in the city.