Footsteps of the Mayans, Chicleros and woodcutters

Footsteps of the Mayans, Chicleros and woodcutters

this tour starts at 8am and it's a 4 hour tour

What to bring:
-packed breakfast and/or lunch  
-bottled water and/or snacks  

What to wear:  
• comfortable clothing and running/hiking shoes 

Take a guided tour that will immerse you in the culture of some of the earliest tradespeople in Belize. Learn about traditional Mayan crafts such as slate carving, bead making, and pottery. These trades are still practiced today, and there are several local people who will be eager tell you more about their craft. Your guide will give you a history of the chicleros- the workers who extracted chicle from the sapodilla trees by hand. Learn about the process of tapping the trees for chicle, which was used for chewing gum, dental supplies, and surgical tape. Your guide will take you to the statue of the chiclero, located in Benque Viejo del Carmen, which is dedicated to these hard working people. Lastly, you will learn about the woodcutters of Belize. The early woodcutters were known as Baymen, and logging was a huge industry in Belize. During the 1700s and 1800s, Baymen exported thousands of tons of logwood back to England. Enjoy this informative and interesting tour describing some of Belize’s earliest industries.