National Geographic - wildcam Belize

Belizean Barrier reef featured in National Geographic including animals and wildcam Belize Video.

Follow link below:

http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/wildcambelize/

Friday Afternoon Club

For the last two Fridays we invited local San Pedro businesses to join us at Sueno for the Friday Afternoon Club. We had almost fifty people in attendance between the two events, from businesses including Tropic Air, Maya Island Air, San Pedro Sun, Ambergris Today, Belize Bank, Polo's Golf Carts, Fido's, the radio station, etc. Last Friday's sunset was fabulous.

As published in The San Pedro Sun on Nov 13, 2008

Sueño Del Mar’s
“Friday Night After-Club”
A glimpse at luxurious, carefree Caribbean living...

Nestled in ultimate seclusion, miles
away from the bustle of San Pedro
Town, lies the tranquility of Sueño del
Mar. The resort and the residences
invite guests to work on their tan and
enjoy carefree living. But, if you are
not familiar with Sueño del Mar and
would love to get a first hand look at
what it offers, then visit them for a nice
Come on over …Sueño del Mar invites you
sunset party. Complete with drinks,
hors’ dourves and a walk through the
grounds, a sneak peek at one of the
suites, Sueño del Mar welcomes you
home.

Sueño, being a membership residential
club, has many activities for their
guests to enjoy. This past Friday, invitations
were sent out for a night known
as “Friday Night After-Club”. Guests
boarded Sueño’s boat at the Fido’s dock
and were on their way up Ambergris
Caye’s shoreline. Dotted with palm
trees, the landscape was like glimpses
of paradise.

Once at Sueño, you are welcomed

by members, staff and managers of the
resort. They are all eager to show you
what all they and the resort have to offer.
The dock is set up for the party,
complete with mini-bar and snack
table. Tables have been set up so everyone
can watch the sun set over the
palm trees on the West.

While we wait, members graciously
invite us to visit their home, kindly
opening up their doors to the Pent
House Suite. John and Gail Lewis, part
owners of the Suite, show us around
their swanky pad. The décor, the furniture,
architecture, but most of all
view, makes everyone a tad bit jealous
of the Lewis’s, who enjoy the Pent
House two months out of the year.

Our hosts then join us for the walk
through the grounds. Managers inform
us that Sueño still has more to go. The
construction of their second pool has
begun and the buildings continue to go
up. By 2010, Sueño should have completed
all 16 structures which house the
units. However, with “approximately
ten acres of premium Caribbean waterfront,
with over 500 feet of white
sand beach” you can rest assured that
space is not a problem.

We continue over to the restaurant/
bar and pool area. With an infinity pool
overflowing into the shallow swimming
area, people can enjoy the grotto feeling
of the waterfall. The waterfall cascades
into the pool and a bridge takes
you to the restaurant. Once our tour
has completed, we return to the dock/
party area for some snacks. As we all
watch the golden hues of the sky descend
upon the clear turquoise waters
of the Caribbean, conversation flows
as the time seems to fly past. Not only
do we enjoy each other’s company but
Sueño Del Mar are delighted to watch a pair
of spotted Eagle Rays glide by
close to the dock and in synchrony.
Not far behind, a third
seems to follow the same path
laid out by the previous two.

Speaking to investors and
staff of Sueño, we discover
that this sunset bash is just one
of many. Throughout the year
and in the coming months,
Sueño plans on holding other
like events. “Everyone is welcome,”
they say, “to come
and enjoy Sueño del Mar.”

As the day turns to night, we
bid our newfound friends farewell
and promise to return.
For further information on
Sueño del Mar, visit their
website at
www.dreambelize.com or
call them at 226-3534.

The Moonlight Buffet

Members enjoyed a Moonlight Buffet on the beach in the light of the full moon on Thursday night. Mike Coleman and Kevin Meyer hard at work.

The guys in charge!

Tucker's fish

Tucker, son of members Brad and Julie Esty, was so proud to have caught this fish on his first cast off the dock.

La Isla Bonita

Cuban refugees wash ashore near Sueno

Some of us remember when this boat washed up at Tranquility Bay full of Cuban refugees a year or two ago.

A few weeks ago it happened again. A group of Cuban refugees washed ashore just up the beach from Sueno, near Rocky Point.

Rumor has it that 12 people, desperate to start a new life away from Cuban hardship, piled into this little red boat and made a 500 mile journey to our island over 21 days. Among them were 2 nurses, a sculptor, and some children.

Though they started out with 2 motors, both quit and were thrown overboard along the way. A sail was pieced together out of burlap sacs that read "Vietnamese White Rice." Because they made the journey during the rainiest time of year, the rain water that soaked their clothing was wrung out and used for drinking water.

This little red sail boat sits on our beach a mile north of Sueno, as an icon of freedom and a bold reminder of just how good we've got it.

Barracuda!

Member, Debbie Wright and fishing guide, Dilzon with Debbie's big catch!

Enjoying debbie's big catch for dinner!

Spotted Rays

We have a couple of Spotted Rays that like to hang around the pier. Several times a day you can see them swimming right along side the the pier looking for snacks in the sea grass.

Tropical Storm

Well, we weathered the tropical storm just fine yesterday. It stayed to the south of us, hitting only the southern-most point of mainland Belize. We had high water, almost up to the Hobie Cat dock, and some horrendous rain, which will probably continue for several days, but nothing too serious. We've weathered several hurricanes and tropical storms in the last six weeks.

Pibil # 3

This year Sueno starting raising its own hogs for the purpose of a quarterly pibil. In September, Sueno barbecued its third pig. Pibil is the Belizean term for a barbecue on the beach, where they bury the meat in the sand over hot coals. Staff and members together had quite the feast.

Year-round member, Tammi Coleman and my wife, Jessica at the Pibil.

Here's where we buried and cooked the pork.

Only one pig left for Decemeber's Pibil. Then it will be time for some new piglets.

Sueno del Mar Beach Clean Up

- Press Release - On the morning of August 7, as the warm sun rose over the beaches of North Ambergris Caye, a group of about 25 persons all from different origins, came together under one ideal - "Beautify our Beach".

Miss Gloria Franklin with the help of Raul from Green Reef Foundation invited the whole neighborhood of North Ambergris and at 8:30a.m. everybody gathered at the palapa at Sueno del Mar. Sharing smiles and laughs, everybody walked down the beach, bagging all plastic, glass and all kinds of drifted garbage from the beach.

As the sun rose so did the temperature; this was no drawback for our island lovers. One and all sharing the same love for the beach, carefully picked all kinds of trash, bagged it and set it to the side of the road.


Three full pickup loads of garbage were disposed and now the beach clearly shows the great difference made by a group of friendly neighbors whom all truly showed their love and passion for the beauty of our paradise.

Many of the club members had their own schedule to enjoy their stay here in Belize and when the opportunity came to show their love for our land, they did not hesitate to volunteer and walk down the beach and cleanse it from the garbage. Many of these volunteers enjoy daily early morning runs along the beach and what better to enjoy the view than to have a cleaner beach to have fun with.

The morning concluded as everyone sat on the same table to have a great BBQ chicken lunch and egg salad prepared by Raul. The laughs and smiles of satisfaction were pretty obvious as everyone enjoyed the feast.

In the quest for cleanliness, we had as motivational lead Miss Gloria Franklin, Club Member at Sueno del Mar, Mr. Raul from Green Reef Foundation, Greg "turtle man" and his family. Sueno del Mar Club Members who Joined the Clean-up are:

*Gillard Kosina, Kay Robertson, AG Robertson, Bobbi Moran, Joe Moran, Karen Walker, Eric Walker, Janessa and Charelle Walker, Mark and Cheryl McDonald, Maria & Kevin Solloway, Jenn & Steve Malvitz.

*From 4 miles south of Sueno Del Mar, Arvid & Tammi Krymne.

*1/2 mile north of Sueno at NOVA shrimp farm: Oscar "Pelon" and Chavo

*Tranquility Bay also joined in the effort with the support of some of the staff.

*Miss Gloria Franklin was given a unique cutting board which was more of an artwork piece as a token of recognition for her enthusiasm.

Words are not enough to thank everyone who joined in the effort to clean our little piece of heaven.

Ambergris Caye Local Building Authority Applauds Sueño Del Mar’s Beach Reclamation Efforts

- Press Release, Ambergris Caye Local Building Authority, August 12, 2008 - The Sueno del Mar project is an undeniable example of co-partnership development with the San Pedro Town Council and in particular the San Pedro Building Authority. Fidel Ancona, a born Sanpedrano and ground businessman of Sueno del Mar, is quietly and without any fanfare showing all other developers how an otherwise artificial and sterile structure can ensure a dimension beauty intensely ecological and warm.

Instead of the normal sea wall developers construct today, Fidel has used the locally available materials and measures to do the impossible. With an intimate knowledge of tides and beach nourishment, he has used the concept of planters to arrest soil and beach erosion in such a way that that the planters blend with the beach and forms and integral part of the protection process.

Sueno del Mar, and Fidel Ancona is demonstrating how a mutually beneficial alliance with the San Pedro Town Council and Ambergris Caye Local Building Authority can end up in a win-win situation for all and in particular the beautiful island of San Pedro.

New Sales Office in Town

As we prepare for our busy season here in Belize, we have added a new extension to our sales team in town, our friend Maurice, who will be in our new sales office by the beach, in front of the tackle box bar in Town .
























Maurice Rodrigues, native Belizean from the western side of the country, San Ignacio town.

What's new at Sueno?

Landscaping in front of building 1 is off to a good start.

Bring your laptop to the pool or to the Palapa, like member Arlen Mitchel. We now have wireless internet in the Villas and throughout the property. You'll also enjoy a variety of music in the Palapa thanks to a newly installed sound system.

Our second pool, located between buildings 8 & 10, will have beautiful green tile and a waterfall within the next few months. Although we may not have to wait that long to go for a swim if it keeps filling up with rain water the way it has this week.

While the sprinkler system we use to irrigate the grounds is new, its water source, this Cenote, or flooded underground cave, could date back as far as Mayan times. Sueno's cenote is one of only seven on the island. We discovered it when we cleared the land for development.

Need anything at all while you are at Sueno? The Member Services Desk is centrally located in the Palapa. Elder, our well-known concierge, spends his time here, booking tours, planning day trips, answering members' questions, and checking out DVD's and snorkel gear, that is, when he isn't out snorkeling or sailing with the members. The administration offices, inlcuding mine and Kevin's, are now located near the Palapa/pool area as well.

The foundation has been laid for the Towncenter. The three story building will include a general store, a dive/fishing shop, numerous 3 bedroom units (encompassing buildings 8 & 9 on either side), adminisitration offices, and numerous hotel-style rooms for visitors. While construction of the Towncenter is temporarily on hold, we at least have the foundation in place.

At Sueno, we not only produce our own electricity, filter our own water, and dispose of our own waste, but we now grow our own vegetables. Bonito and Pallaso work hard to provide us with fresh tomatos, onions, peppers, lettuce, cabbage, carrotts, cilantro, and more.

This very afternoon our staff members are moving into their new empoyee quarters, located behind the Towncenter. Many of our employees have been roughing it for the past several years, living in less than glamorous conditions. We're poud of the work they do and are happy to provide them with much more comfortable living conditions inlcuding private bathrooms, kitchens, A/C, etc. They deserve it! With time, there will be one or two similar buildings to follow.

Welcome to the Jungle Gym: eliptical machines, excercise bike, free weights & bench, medicine balls, floor mats, jump ropes, etc. All the essentials. I must say, at first I didn't like the idea of an outdoor fitness area, considering the intense Belizean heat and humidity. But once I got here and tried it, I loved it! The Jungle Gym provides the perfect surroundings for a great workout.

Building 10 is complete! We are finishing the final touches in a few of the units.

Buildings 11 is getting close.

Building 12 is off to a good start.

September Celebrations

September is the month in which Belize celebrates its roots and culture. One of most awaited events of the year in Belize is the "Carnival celebrations".
















All ages participated in the carnival with displays of color. Different themes were represented by each band and so were the designs.
















Sueno del Mar made an overnight trip to Belize city to watch the show.

















The streets were crowded as hundreds of people enjoyed watching.

As part of the adventure crew we had Arnie and Amy, Jean Escarpeta, Mr Kevin M. Chris, Sarah and Milton.