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Bullet Tree Falls History
Bullet Tree Falls is located on the Mopan River at the foothills of the Maya Mountains just 7 miles from the massive Mayan site of El Pilar. From the time of contact with the British and Spanish, the area encompassing Bullet Tree Falls continued to be inhabited by the Maya. Over 100 years ago, the community of Bullet Tree was established by indigeneous Maya from the greater Peten region of Guatemala as well as refugees from the Caste War in the Yucatan. The early settlers worked as loggers of primarily mahogany, and chicleros, collecting the resin from the sapodilla trees to sell to various firms to make chewing gum (chicle). It is a Spanish speaking village although most know and converse in English as well. The picture to the right is of Mike's father, Rafael Chuc - one of the original chicleros from Bullet Tree.
Area Attractions and Activities
El Pilar: Located just 7 miles from Bullet Tree Falls along the Guatemalan border, El Pilar is a massive Mayan site roughly three times the size of Xunantunich and once home to around 20,000 Maya. It is currently the target of a unique management plan instituted by Dr. Anabel Ford that seeks not only to excavate and preserve the monuments, but also to conserve the forest around it "as a garden". In addition to educating visitors about the archaeology, this latter effort entails educating visitors about the medicinal and household uses of the plants and thus keeping this knowledge alive.
Masewal Forest Garden Trail: Walk this marvelous trail with Don Beto Cocom as he describes all the ancient plants and trees of the Maya and their medicinal uses. A fun option is to tube down the river back to your lodge from here.
Horseback Riding with Bullet Tree Rides: Located directly across from Cohune Palms, go horseback riding along the Mopan River or up the jungly road to visit El Pilar.
Biking and Tubing: Cohune Palms River Cabanas rents bikes and inner tubes to explore the area. Canoes are also available.
Birding: If your timing is right, you can probably see a couple of keel-billed toucans right at Cohune Palms. Otherwise, all of the plants and the jungle nearby attract all types of birds throughout the day. The paths and quiet roads through the village and along the river also make excellent places for birding.
Sports: Football is definitely the favorite sport in the village. Bullet Tree boasts a few great teams that are always finishing in the top three in the Cayo District. Often the village will have an all day round of football games and food for sale to benefit the teams.
Restaurants
Cabanas del Sol is located just across from the football field on Bullet Tree Road. This is the newest restaurant/bar in town that serves Belizean food - rice and beans and barbecue. This is a popular bar with locals, expatriates and tourists alike. On the weekends they have karaoke or a live band.
The Riverside is a large thatch restaurant/bar situated right on the banks of the Mopan River just across the bridge on Bullet Tree Road. They have live music on the weekends drawing big crowds from around the Cayo District.
First-Stop Tavern is another popular bar, primarily with the locals, and is also just across from the football field.
Go listen and inevitably dance to the music of the Bullet Tree Boyz - a local band (Mike plays the drums) that plays every Saturday at Legends on Bullet Tree Road. Here is where you definitely get some real Belizean nightlife.
Annual Festivals
Easter Fair: Bullet Tree Falls celebrates Easter Sunday and Monday with traditional dances and contests - the Greasy Pole, the Greasy Pig, and the Hog Head Dance. They also have a canoe race from San Ignacio to the bridge at the Riverside Tavern. There is usually a dance with a live band in the evening.
Fiesta El Pilar: Amigos de El Pilar holds this festival almost every year. They have local craftsmen and artists selling their wares, and cooks serving up some nice rice and beans, tamales, chips and cheese dip, and other Belizean favorites.
Non-Governmental Organizations
The community group of Amigos de ElPilar is located at El Be Pukte Cultural Center right on the Bullet Tree Road before you cross the bridge over the Mopan River. This is a great place to stop and get information about Bullet Tree as well as tickets and trail maps for El Pilar.
The Bullet Tree Environmental Group is a group of locals that started their own monthly clean ups of the river and the surrounding area as well as focusing on larger needs of the village such as garbage pick-up. They are in the process of applying for NGO status.
The Bullet Tree Capoeira Group is a group of teens learning the ancient Brazilian martial art of Capoeira and teaching it to the youth. They often do demonstrations for people and are willing to teach anyone interested. You can inquire at any one of the local resorts.
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