Punta Gorda Reader Updates

* EL PESCADOR TOLEDO
Off the Southern Highway, 3 miles from Punta Gorda

Tel: 501-722-0050
E-mail: info@elpescadorpg.com
www.elpescadorpg.com
The best resort in Toledo District and among the best in the country. As the
name suggests El Pescador was originally conceived as a fishing lodge and in
this is unrivalled, with guests boasting record catches of permit, tarpon,
snook and bonefish but increasingly it’s gaining a reputation for wildlife
tours. The hilltop location is simply stunning, with breathtaking views over
the Rio Grande valley and Paynes Creek National Park to the ridges of the Maya
Mountains in the distance. The spacious wooden cabins, set in beautifully
landscaped grounds, are superbly furnished and each has a private deck,
allowing you to enjoy the luxuriant forest and abundant birdlife. The
octagonal main building, housing the restaurant and bar and overlooking the
pool, also has a fully-equipped tackle shop with a fly-tying workshop. A
funicular tram leads down through the forest to the river bank, where boats
and guides wait to take anglers to the cayes, and kayaks and canoes are
available. From the observation deck you could watch dozens of bird species,
from toucans to king vultures, and from the trails you might see howler or
spider monkeys, or even an ocelot or a jaguar all live in the grounds here.
$$$. Peter Eltringham, February 2003, an entry in the upcoming Insight Guide to Belize, updated by Peter.

* TRANQUILITY LODGE

Southern Highway/San Felipe Road
Jacintoville
PO Box 118, Punta Gorda
Toledo District
Tel: no phone at present
e-mail: cherob7@yahoo.com

This new hotel, set in spacious, orchid-filled gardens, is located just off
the Southern Highway, seven miles from the sea at Punta Gorda. It’s very
convenient for visiting the Maya villagers and ruins of Toledo and the
southern cayes of Belize. The air-conditioned rooms are on the ground floor of
a thatched building; above is a beautiful restaurant with all-round
screens, allowing panoramic views. Tranquility is popular with bird-
watchers over 200 species have been seen in the grounds and a gorgeous,
rock-lined creek serves as a natural swimming pool. US$50 double, inc.
breakfast, other meals available. You can camp here, there's a backpacker special
rate if they get off the bus and walk in, only 300 yards from road.)
Peter Eltringham, February 2003

* One day we took a trip, by boat, to Punta Gorda to see the local market. We spent the morning walking around "people watching," then walked several blocks up the hill to PUNTA CALIENTE where we ate lunch. This was without a doubt the best lunch of our trip. We ordered the special, which was pan-fried snapper, and it was outstanding. They had the whole place decorated for Valentine's Day and gave us each a balloon as we left ... and a hug! On the trip back to Placencia, we made a stop at a small lagoon where there lived a man called "Hard Luck Charlie." Seems he was an expat who moved there. At one time HE had a wife and children living there with him. They built a small house and another building which serves as the kitchen.She kept having babies, and, as the story goes, after the twins were born, her parents swooped down and took her back to the States. Charlie became quite a local character, living there alone, drinking lots of rum, and receiving visitors whenever someone stopped by. A few years ago, he met a woman named Patty, who eventually moved in with him. On January 2 of this year, he left to take a friend to Punta Gorda and did not come home. After a day or so, Patty became concerned and a search was started. She found him near his boat, drowned. The word is that he had fallen out of the boat, probably hitting his head. Charlie is buried there near the lagoon (Patty and a friend buried him) and now everyone is calling her "Hard Luck Patty." She told us she was going to try to stay there lone and take care of the place, maybe start a bar and small restaurant for the few sailboats that anchor there. I admire her spunk! Mary Hood Pearlman, Asheville, North Carolina

* LETTER FROM THE SEA FRONT INN: We have been enjoying your magazine for several months and would love to invite you to come down and see what we are doing in the south here. We have been doing a healthy amount of business since our grand opening on Nov. 7th of 98. Recently some of our guests, (a group of 5 adults & one teen) cried when they left and have since emailed twice to tell us that it was the very best vacation that they have ever had and that we were all so great that they can't even tell their friends about it as there are no words. Another family that was recently here said that they had been going to Placencia (staying at a very nice place) for 4 years but their 3 days with us was the best and they would be back. Anyway, I am sending a little information about the hotel that we send to people who are inquiring by e-mail. The Sea Front Inn is located on Front Street on the edge of Punta Gorda Town and is built specifically with the tourist in mind. It is a hand-built, four-story building using many of the local hardwoods. As the name implies, we are located on the sea which offers spectacular views and delicious breezes. Our third-story restaurant makes you feel that you are dining in a rosewood forest above the sea. We offer local and international cuisine. All of our furniture is handcrafted here at the Inn by skilled local laborers. Each hotel room has a different theme and local hardwood to express it. Each room has a/c, cable TV, private bath with hot & cold water. Our room rates: For a room with one double bed, US$50. For a room with 2 double beds--US$60. For 3 double beds--US$70. We also have an economy room with a set of bunk beds in it for US$40. These prices have the gov't tax already included. A continental breakfast is included with each room (the exception is groups). We can help set up land and sea tours and are agents for Tropic and Maya Island Air. We can also set up packages to Guatemala which is only a 50 minute boat ride from Punta Gorda. There is so much to see in the district of Toledo,Belize: waterfalls, Mayan ruins, caves, rivers, Mayan and Kekchi villages with English speaking Indians, uninhabited islands with white sand beaches, the coral reef which invites scuba diving or snorkeling, swimming and sport/fly fishing. Thank you, Carol at the Sea Front Inn, February 1999