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Tropical Education Center

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  • Mile 29 on Western Hwy.
     Belize City, Belize
    +501-220-8003Website
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gandjwhite
gandjwhite
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3 out of 5
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Tropical Education Center

  • February 15, 2006
  • Rated 3 of 5 by gandjwhite from Rapid City, South Dakota
Tropical Education Center

If you need a place to stay near the Belize Zoo, there is only one choice, and it’s not a bad one either…

The Tropical Education Center was my first stop during my 3-week jaunt through Belize. It takes just about 30 minutes by bus from Belize City. The zoo is about midway between Belize City and Belmopan, the capital. If you are wise (as I wasn’t), you will want to ask the bus driver to let you off at the Tropical Education Center, NOT THE ZOO. Although they appear on maps to be directly across the highway from each other, they aren’t. And if you are carrying heavy bags, as I was, you won’t enjoy the burning-hot walk along the highway from the zoo bus stop back to the Tropical Education Center (which, by the way, is back towards Belize City, in case you do have to walk it). The walk is almost a mile.

Once you get to the gate, which is the only gate you will come to, there will be a small sign and a larger sign warning you of the fierce guard dogs on the premises. I was a little apprehensive about the sign but walked on down the road from the highway to the Education Center anyway. Luckily, the dogs weren’t there. (They belong to Sharon Matola, the founder of the zoo, and they pretty much stay with her all the time.) In fact, once I got to the Tropical Education Center, there was not one single person anywhere to be found. I waited and waited and finally a van showed up. It was Sharon Matola herself! As they were about to go out for dinner, they invited me to go with them, and I accepted the invitation. When I got back, it was dark and still nobody was around, so I just picked a room and settled in.

The next morning, I found myself still alone. So, I walked around and found a little trail to hike on. It was very peaceful and quiet until I ran into Sharon and her dogs out hiking as well.

The accommodations are small but nicely maintained. There was no electricity, but oil lamps are provided. There were two beds. A shared shower/bathroom was a short distance from the rooms. That’s about all you’ll find at the Tropical Education Center. Rooms are supposed to run $17.50/night. (You also have the option of a $35 guesthouse or $6 camping, and there is a kitchen somewhere you can rent for $1). I never did find the person I was supposed to pay. Overall, the place feels very lonely and deserted, but it’s cheap and comfortable for the most part.

From journal Belize--3 Weeks on a Budget

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