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Spanish Bay Conservation & Research Center
"If ya drink di watta, ya mus com bak"*
Spanish Lookout Caye
Belize, Central America
Email: hugh@belizediving.com
Total Immersion into Private Island Living
Spanish Lookout Caye and Spanish Bay Conservation and Research Center were purchased by the Hugh Parkey Foundation for Marine Awareness and Education in 2004
as a venue for our Educational Outreach Programs. This 187-acre private caye is now home to:
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*Nowhere in Belize
is this famous Creole proverb more true! Spanish Bay Conservation & Research Center shares Spanish Lookout Caye
only with Spanish Bay Marine Research Station. We cater to scuba divers,
snorkelers, canoeists, fishermen, birders, nature photographers, shellers, naturalists,
marine scientists, and just about anyone who enjoys the marine environment.
The Island |
The Resort |
The Facilities |
The Research Station |
Contact Us |
The Wildlife |
Photos |
References
Spanish Bay has proudly hosted MARINE SCIENCE RESERCH PROJECTS
through these non-profit organizations:
Earthwatch
Manatees in Belize Research Project |
Elderhostel
Coral Reef Monitoring Project
Elderhostel
Bottlenose Dolphin Project |
Oceanic Society
Coral Reef Monitoring Project
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The Island
SPANISH LOOKOUT CAYE is an island
far away from the crowds, a short mile inside the largest barrier reef in the Western Hemisphere.
Belizean owned, this 187
acre mangrove island is located at the southern tip of The
Drowned Cayes, which lie just east of Belize City. Protected by The Belize Barrier Reef, with
local dive sites unknown to others, Spanish Lookout Caye is part of a unique
tropical ecosystem that includes seagrass beds, mangrove islands, and coral reefs.
This
environment is home to many marine birds including our resident osprey, roseate spoonbill,
mangrove warblers, mangrove swallows, golden fronted woodpeckers, great blue herons,
great egrets, little blue herons, whimbrels, white ibis, yellow crowned night herons,
kingfishers, reddish egrets... just to name a few!
Manatees and dolphins are regularly
seen foraging near the island. Juvenile reef fish, seahorses, lobster, and
mollusks live among the red mangrove roots and seagrass beds. Tarpon and barracuda often come into
the bay to feed on the abundant silversides. Click on image to the left to see a plot
of the island.
The Resort
OWNED AND OPERATED BY THE HUGH PARKEY FOUNDATION FOR MARINE AWARENESS AND EDUCATION, SPANISH BAY CONSERVATION & RESEARCH CENTER offers a UNIQUE experience in
private island living. Conveniently located just 10 miles east of Belize City and 1 mile west
of the 2nd largest barrier reef in the world, Spanish Lookout Caye is an island rich in
Belizean history... Enjoy your very own private hideaway. Twelve large sun-washed cabanas are
perched over the Caribbean Sea, allowing you to sleep in the comfort of sea breezes and
the gentle sounds of lapping water. Spanish Bay Conservation & Research Center has developed only about 10% of the
187 acres known as Spanish Lookout Caye. Extreme care has been taken to preserve our
pristine environment, which is also home to Spanish Bay Marine
Research Station located on the
west side of the island. As a guest you can walk,
snorkel, and/or canoe much of the island in comfort. From your front or back deck, you
can spend hours observing fish and other marine life in natural mangrove lagoons --
it's like having the world's
largest aquarium at your door!
The Facilities
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The Natural Pool
Enjoy a swim or snorkel in any of our Natural Pools around the island, which are havens
for elusive seahorses and juvenile reef fish such as blue tangs and sergeant majors! Take a
tour through the mangrove cayes in search of manatees, dolphins, and herons. As evening draws near,
take a walk across the island to watch the sun set into the Karst Hills on mainland Belize, only
10 miles west...
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The Dining Room
Experience local Belizean cuisine as well as a variety of international dishes featuring
fresh fish, chicken, pasta, tropical fruits & veggies, rice & beans, johnny cakes & fried jack, homemade soups and salads. Some
of the ingredients are grown right on the island and the fish are caught nearby. The beautiful
dining room/lounge is a comfortable place to gather and discuss the adventures of the day...
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The Cabanas
Retire in the evening to your Cabana over the water. Each double room has it's own private
bath with hot & cold shower, two double beds, ceiling fan, and semi-private deck. Enjoy the
sea breeze and watch the wildlife activities as you let life's worries float away on the
Caribbean tide. Persistent observers might even see a dolphin or manatee...
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In addition to comfortable living facilities, we have complete recreational facilities
including a dive shop, boats of different sizes to meet your private or group needs, and
licensed tour guides. We are especially proud of our guides who are not only licensed but
have spent most of their lives making a living from Belize's Caribbean waters. They know
all the hiding places for dolphins, manatees, lobster, conch, and fish!
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Dolphin Pod
Spend one day on a natural history tour around the Drowned Cayes. Keep a sharp eye out for
our friendly dolphins. Our tour guides are also research assistants for the scientists at
Research Station. They even know the names of some of the dolphins...
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Goff's Caye
Spend another day picnicing, snorkeling, and fishing at Goff's Caye, one of Belize's
protected areas. This coral island gem of the Caribbean is picture post card perfect, and
only 20 minutes from Spanish Bay Conservation & Research Center. Snorkel and dive sites are both excellent...
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Manatee Tour
The most famous manatee viewing area in Belize is Swallow Caye. As the half-way point along
your natural history, it's a great place observed manatees from your tour boat.
If you are lucky, perhaps Clair - a most friendly manatee - will drop by to say "Squeak"...
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Spanish Bay Marine Research Station
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Pink House
Pink House, a landmark on all Belize navigation charts, serves as the all purpose gathering
place for marine scientists while being hosted by Spanish Bay Conservation & Research Center. It's our kitchen,
dining room, lecture hall, and laboratory...
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The Dormitory
The Dormitory sleeps 12 and is specially designed to catch Caribbean breezes from
both directions. After a hard day's work in the field we often enjoy the elusive "Green Flash"
at sunset and the dramatic lights of Belize City on the horizon...
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The Meaning of Life
Our rustic way of life (solar power and rainwater) is conducive to long discussions
and deep thoughts about science and nature as we contemplate
the meaning of life during exquisite sunsets over the Caribbean...
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Want to know more about the Manatee Research Project? Visit our Earthwatch Webpage at:
http://www.earthwatch.org/expeditions/lacommare.html
The Wildlife
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Manatees
The Drowned Cayes are important habitat for Antillean manatees. This mother and calf
are foraging along the mangrove roots. It is common to see manatees foraging in
the seagrass beds on the west side of Spanish Lookout Caye...
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Marine Birds
The island is home to an incredible diversity of marine bird life. This Roseate Spoonbill
is just one of dozens of species found foraging in the mangrove lagoons...
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Coral Reef Systems
The ideal location of Spanish Lookout Caye places you in the center of one of the worlds most
diverse and exciting habitats. The Belize Barrier Reef is only a 10 minute boat ride east...
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References
- Dennis and Eleanor Hubbard, Boulder Colorado: "We had an extraordinary Elderhostel experience at Spanish Bay in Belize. The accomodations, food, and excellent research
assistants provided the backdrop for an incredible time counting dolphins and manatees. Spending a whole week on a boat and then
seeing the nose of a manatee was spectacular and well worth it. It's a very unique way to see wild life and another culture; we highly
recommend it."
Contact Information: Spanish Bay Conservation & Research Center and
Hugh Parkey Foundation, Email:
hugh@belizediving.com;
Mail: Hugh Parkey's Belize Dive Connection, P.O. Box 1818, Belize City,
Belize, Central America. Phones: 501.223.4526 (in Belize); 888.223.5403 (Toll Free); 501.227.8808 (Fax).
Website hosted by
Caryn Self Sullivan. Please feel free to contact
Caryn for references and help in making arrangements for your visit. Photographs
by John Patrick Sullivan, Kecia Kerr, Caryn Self Sullivan.
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