PHILANTHROPY

Beyond the Reserve

Preserving Maya Heritage

Chan Chich means "little bird" in Maya, and honoring that heritage runs through more than just our name. The lodge stands on an unexcavated Maya plaza we help protect rather than disturb, and our architecture nods to the ancient city beneath and around us. In the kitchen, regional flavors, Maya, mestizo, and Garifuna among them, bring an authentic taste of Belize to the table, and in the evenings, storytelling keeps Maya narratives and traditions alive for guests who want to listen. Even our approach to farming is meant to honor the land these traditions come from.

Close-up of an ancient carved stone with intricate Mayan glyphs and symbols.
Two women dressed in traditional Mayan attire with colorful floral embroidery and large floral headpieces, smiling outdoors.
Carved stone sign reading Chan Chich, with a carved figure in a headdress, set in a ring of stones in the garden

Investing in Our Community

Our commitment extends beyond the rainforest to Sylvester Village and the wider community that many of our team members, and their families, proudly call home. These communities are an essential part of Chan Chich's story, and supporting them is an important part of our responsibility.

One way we do this is through our support of Casey Community School, helping provide primary education for local children. We believe education plays a vital role in building stronger communities while inspiring the next generation to appreciate, and protect, Belize's extraordinary natural heritage.

Guests wanting to contribute to the school during their stay can bring the following:

  • General School Supplies:
    Book Bags, Colored Pencils, Dry-Erase Markers, Glue Sticks, Markers, Pencils, Pens, and Solar Calculators

  • Reference Materials:
    (English) Dictionaries

  • Flash Cards:
    (English and Spanish) Alphabet, Math, and Word

  • Text/Reading Books:
    (English) Age-Appropriate Story Books

  • Art Supplies:
    Acrylic Paints and Paint Brushes, Craft Glue, Craft Scissors, Watercolor Paints and Paint Brushes

  • Computer Hardware/Software:
    Tablets and Working Laptops

  • Educational Games/Toys:
    Bananagrams, Chess Sets, Connect Four, Puzzles, and Scrabble

  • Sports/Outdoor Activity:
    Netball/Basketballs and Soccer Balls

  • Clothing/Shoes:
    New or Gently Used Children’s Shoes

  • First Aid/Health:
    Antibiotic Ointment and Band-Aids

  • Health/Personal Grooming:
    Antibiotic Ointment and Band-Aids

Chan Chich also welcomes researchers, conservationists, and professionals working throughout the Belize Maya Forest, creating opportunities to share knowledge that benefits both the rainforest and the people who live alongside it.

Finally, we hope every guest leaves with more than unforgettable memories. Through meaningful experiences in the rainforest, encounters with wildlife, and an understanding of the history of this remarkable place, we hope to inspire a deeper appreciation for conservation, and the role we all play in protecting it for future generations.

A large leafy tree in front of a red-roofed building on stilts with a wide porch, on a green lawn under blue sky
Two-story building on stilts behind a sign reading The Casey Community School, with palms and a large tree
A teacher writing a lesson on a blackboard while two students sit at their desks
A gravel road between grass verges and dense trees, with a house in the distance

Giving Back: Our Conservation Partners

Each year, Chan Chich contributes to organizations working on rainforest conservation, wildlife rescue, and rehabilitation across Belize, among them:

  • Belize Wildlife & Referral Clinic

  • Belize Bird Rescue

  • ACES Wildlife Rescue

  • The Belize Zoo

  • The annual Run for Jaguars

  • Clearwater Marine Aquarium Research Institute, Belize (CMARI-Belize)

  • The Belize Audubon Society

  • The Belize Tourism Industry Association

  • The Belize Hotel Association

  • The Belize Birding Festival

  • The European Nature Trust

What Your Stay Supports

Every stay at Chan Chich helps fund the reality of keeping 30,000 acres protected, the guides, the reserve roads, the utilities, and all the ordinary upkeep conservation costs from day to day. We don't attach a fixed percentage or a per-night figure to that, but without guests visiting the lodge we would not be able to continue to maintain these protected lands.

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