Seafront Inn takes the top prize at the Eco-Challenge

The 7th Eco-Challenge Kayak Race saw 33 teams total participating in this much anticipated annual event.
Early Saturday morning, the teams gathered at the lagoon side of the island, ready to start the 42-mile, 2-day race.
Teams paddled through the many lagoons of Northern Ambergris Caye, up to Bacalar Chico and down to Robles Point.


Teams camped overnight and the next morning, the race continued to the finish line at Central Park.

There a large crowd anxiously awaits to see who will be the first to cross the finish line.

That doesn't mean that the first to cross the line are the winners. The winners are determined by the times logged over the 2-day course of the race.

This year's Senior first place winners are from Seafront Inn ($3k plus 1 round trip ticket on Tropic Air).

Following in Second Place was Tortugas de Coco Beach ($2k plus 1 round trip ticket on Tropic Air), and third place, A Toda Madre ($1k plus 2 round trip tickets on Tropic Air).

In the Junior Division, the first place was taken by Gonzalez Finishers, followed by El Pescador with Second Place, and third place, Searious Boys.

Congratulations to all the participants and winners!!

The purpose of the race is to promote awareness, protection and conservation of mangroves, lagoons, reefs and the diverse species found in these natural habitats.

Thanks to the organizers of this great event, and see you in 2012!!

Read more in this week's The San Pedro Sun...

Mangrove plants removed from the San Pedrito Park

The removal of mangrove trees from within the proposed area for the San Pedrito Park have raised concern for some residents in the area, as they had foreseen the use of the trees as a shaded area for children and patrons of the park.The San Pedro Sun contacted Mr. Severo Guerrero, Councilor responsible for Parks who explained, “The plans for the park include trees which will be planted at various locations within the park. There was a need to remove the mangrove trees that were located in the area as they didn’t fall within the plans for the park”.
He further informed us that the remainder of the mangroves will be trimmed in an effort to discourage individuals who might want to use the park as their base for drug use and other illegal activities.

Boat runs aground near lagoon side Ambergris Caye

Reports reached our office of a boat that had ran ashore around 6:30pm tonight. In our initial investigations, we were able to contact the operator of the San Pedro Water Jets express, who was confirmed that a boat belonging to his company was in fact involved in a minor accident when the boat ran into shallow waters.

No casualties were recorded. Reports are that the boat had arrived from Chetumal carrying international passengers en route to Caye Caulker. The passengers were scheduled to take a connecting boat that was leaving San Pedro en route to Belize City at 5:30pm (with a stop over in Caye Caulker).

Due to the absence of Immigration Officers at the terminal, the passengers were made to wait and they missed the final boat leaving the island. Another boat was secured, and it was this vessel that ran into shallow waters somewhere to the western part of San Pedro, around the Port area, en route to Caye Caulker.

About five boats were dispatched to the area to assist the passengers, assuring that they arrive at their destination and render assistance to the boat. Further details of this incident will be posted as they become available.