Toledo

Toledo is the southernmost district of Belize with the capital in Punta Gorda. It shares border with Guatemala to the West and South, with the Sarstoon River forming the southern boundary, and the Bay of Honduras and its offshore cayes to the East. Toledo features rainforests, extensive cave systems, coastal lowland plains and offshore cays. The district has many villages, including Monkey River Town and the Toledo Settlement, the Maya villages of San Pedro Columbia, Blue Creek, Indian Creek, Santa Cruz, San Antonio, San Jose, San Felipe and the Garifuna village of Barranco. Toledo has numerous national parks and protected areas, and is also an important cacao growing region. Toledo is also known as the friendliest district in Belize. It offers diving for divers of all levels of experience. One of the most important fish nurseries in the Caribbean is The Port Honduras Marine Reserve with its mangrove coast, hundreds of protective cayes and extensive lagoons. There is a rich diversity of marine life including large schools of young fish and a wide variety of colorful marine invertebrates like sponges, shrimps and tunicates. One of the best places for diving is the Snake Cayes, which is located just northeast of Punta Gorda, rising from the relatively deep inner lagoon of the Belize coastal zone. The Snake Cayes site consists of a group of four small islands - West Snake Caye, Middle Snake Caye, East Snake Caye and South Snake Caye. The marine life is unique and influenced by the run off from the many rivers of the region as well as the deep clear waters of the Caribbean Sea. Coral reefs surround many of the islands which are perfect for snorkeling and diving. The reefs of Sapodilla Cayes lie far offshore, about 64km/40mi east of Punta Gorda. The Sapodilla group of islands lies atop the extreme southern boundary of Belize Barrier Reef. Hunting Caye is one of the most beautiful beaches in Belize and an important turtle nesting beach. Inside the barrier reef grow extensive fields of lettuce corals. This area is home to dolphins, turtles and the occasional whale shark. Night diving is quite remarkable in this area.