The 33 acre Maya Organic Farm is an integral part of the Chaa Creek Reserve; It provides freshly harvested produce for The Lodge at Chaa Creek and the Macal River Camp.
The farm integrates traditional Maya farming with more advanced systems of irrigated raised beds of composted soil fed with nutrients derived from natures store house.
Few people, including our native Belizeans, understand the complexity of the Mayas organic farming techniques.
The indigenous Maya have survived for over 2000 years on subsistence farming for home use, barter, and sale as the backbone of their existence. They have used resources supplied by nature to nourish the soil and protect their crops from insect devastation. Costly chemicals were simply not an option and their continuing methodology has clearly stood the test of time..
As part of our many onsite activities we offer guided horseback riding tours to the Maya Farm where our guests get the opportunity to experience how the Maya farmed.
You get to see all the different fruits and vegetables that are grown and the different organic farming methods with soil enrichment that are used based on a five-year rotation plan using Makuna beans and Lucina as nitrogen fixers.
Cacao, root crops, and vegetables planted on the farm oftentimes can only be found in the older Mayan settlements.
Freshly harvested organic fruits and vegetables from our traditional Maya Farm are complimented by local dairy and meat products to create a distinct flavor of the Caribbean and Latin American region.
Special requests and dietary restrictions can be accommodated by notifying our Front Desk.
Meshack Yahani Eliah , Naturalist Guide