and Mayan Wood Handicraft Center is Located in the Maya Center village, on the access road
of the World's only Jaguar Preserve and next to the women's
craft and ticket center. We are centrally located around
many tourist destinations such as Placencia, Dangriga,
and Punta Gorda, just a stone throw away.
I
am Julio Saqui, your tour guide. As a freelance
tour guide, who really love what I do, I spent 13 years
of my life working for major tour companies, hotels and
resorts. I have thought others like me, the art and technique
of tour guiding for three years. Currently, I am the President
of the Stann Creek Tour Guide Association.
My love for nature and people, has prompt me to start
my own little business and share my homeland to visitors
and friends. I am Mopan Mayan and grew up and trained
in the Cockscomb Jaguar Reserve. Thanks to my parents,
who were the first to settle in this area in 1970, we
now have The Maya Center Village. Since then, the
developments accomplished in Maya Center Village, are
by my family's direct care and input and have been referred
to as "The Pillars of Maya Center", by many
fellow villagers.
Since
the establishment of the Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary
in 1984, the village has become more tourism oriented.
Many visitors have explored the area, but very few of
our villagers have benefited. My goal is to change this
with the establishment of Cockscomb Maya Tours
and
Mayan Wood Handicraft Center, to create employment for tour guides, taxi operators,
arts and crafts centers and restaurants to local Mayan
entrepreneurs in the Mayan village. Our Handicraft Center purchases handmade souvenirs from local indigenous craftsmen and sell them
in our craft center.
We sell whole sale and retail to other gift centers.
This venture is community based and as always I have my
people at heart. I support and encourage community based
Eco-Tourism, where local indigenous people benefit directly.
All our tour guides are Mayans and these people, who live
in the jungle of Belize know their homeland best! Booking
your tours with Cockscomb Maya Tours, guarantees
you the best experience and you are directly contributing
to our economic development. Contact
us today, and we'll be happy to show you around
the JEWEL we live in Belize!
In
an effort to complete his studies and searching for a
place where wild cats lived, Dr. Allan Robinowitz visited
Belize in 1984. Cockscomb was that place, with a small
number of the world's second largest cat -the JAGUAR.
The Jaguars were becoming close to extinction, however,
the establishment of the COCKSCOMB BASIN WILDLIFE SANCTUARY
JAGUAR PRESERVE in 1986 has helped to increase the
population of these endangered cats.
Much
logging was in process in 1976 to 1984 but since the closing
down of the logging company, most Mayan workers were left
unemployed. They decided to make the cockscomb mountains
their home and named the village Quan Bank because of
the large number of Crested Quans used 
for food. The mayans
were well established and enjoying the beauty of the area
when they were informed to leave the area because it would
be used for the Jaguar Preserve, something very new to
them. They were removed from the area and relocated to
the already well established Maya Center village.
In 1986, the Cockscomb Basin wildlife reserve was officially
made a national sanctuary. This became home to many species
including the Jaguar and other wild cats such as the Puma,
Margay,Ocelot and the black jaguar. It is estimated that
over 80 resident Jaguars are in the area. Belize’s
national animal, the endangered Baird’s Tapir also
inhabit the Basin and over 290 different species of birds
have been recorded. This reserve is also home to many
species of trees such as Santa Maria, Nargusta, Rose wood,
Mahogany and Negrito. The area provides the country with
three major rivers (sittee river, South Stann creek River,
Swasy River and other streams), which makes it a very
important water shed.
