About Southwater Caye
The island of South Water Caye has a colorful past. Named by local fishermen for the availability of fresh water to be found in shallow wells on the island, prior to the 1970’s South Water Caye was home to a few local fishermen and summer getaways for several families in the Dangriga area.
Pelican Beach Resorts has facilities in 2 locations on the island both of which are flavored with Belizean history.
The Pelican’s University is located near the center of the island with full facilities for student groups. The University building was originally a farm house built in the 1930’s and towed out to the island in sections in the early 70’s to build the dorms and dining facilities. The Frangipani House (or “Grey House”) is the oldest structure on the island and is rumored to have a friendly ghost the Grey Lady in residence.
On the southern end of the island the Pelican’s Pouch - the main lodge, was originally built as a convent for the Sisters of Mercy in the 1940’s and used as a secluded retreat. Connected to the convent via a wooden walkway was a separate building known as the “Bishop’s house” was a separate building connected to the convent via wooden walkway. Then, the second floor of the lodge was one large dormitory style room with two rows of single beds, nightstand, and kneeler. At that time, the order still wore voluminous black and white habits and while the nuns were in residence, island residents and local fishermen would attend daily Mass and stay away from the south beach (known then as "Sister’s Point") while they had their afternoon swim.
Several of the cottages still bear hints of the past as they were either originally constructed as caretaker’s residence or transported from Dangriga where they had been the home of the resident colonial doctor in the 1930’s and 40’s.
The owners of the Pelican Beach Resorts have
enjoyed the simplicity and natural beauty of South Water Caye and Carrie
Bow Caye and its surrounding habitat for several generations and are eager to
share that experience with you. In keeping with our commitment to preserving
this fragile island environment we have adopted several conservation practices
in our operation:
Water: Our water supply is provided by rain water collected from the roof and stored in large cisterns with 12 v pumps and a pressure tank providing pressurized water to basins and showers.Taking an “Island Shower” is important:
Turn the water on - Rinse
Turn the water off - Get Soapy
Turn the water on - Rinse
Power: We use the sunshine during the day to charge the bank of batteries in our photovoltaic system and a combination of 12v and limited 110v are used for lighting, refrigeration and fans. There are no electrical outlets in the rooms and cottages and you are asked to keep on only those lights that are needed. With heavy use or overcast days, cottage batteries may have to be re-charged via a small generator.
Population and Logistics: Being 14 miles from Dangriga, our staff live on site. Supplies and staff come from Dangriga on boats that are scheduled several times weekly.
Waste disposal: Toilets are state of the art composting toilets in order to minimize the usage of fresh water and, the possible contamination of ground water supply through the use of septic tanks. These toilets are quite simple to use and require either a pint of water or a cupful of compost sprinkled in the toilet after each use. Organic materials are either composted on the island or burnt, while solids are returned to the mainland.
We hope that your stay with the Pelican Beach Resorts will be an enjoyable and genuine Belizean experience in terms of history, nature and hospitality!
South Water Caye Marine Reserve
With South Water Caye located inside the South Water Caye Marine Reserve, our location offers excellent opportunities to explore any of the coastal gardens, ten mangrove cayes and two large mangrove ranges within this acre marine reserve.
Along the northern border of the marine park lies Man-O-War Caye, an island covered in tall red mangroves, which is the nesting habitat of the seven crowned bird sanctuaries in Belize. The island supports up to 350 nesting birds, including one of the ten largest colonies of the Magnificent Frigate and Brown Boobies in the Caribbean.
Further south lies the Smithsonian Institute of Marine Research on Carrie Bow Caye, where every aspect of the marine environment in Belize has been studied and documented. The area between Carrie Bow and Wee Wee Caye is called the sand bores. These sand bores rise from the sea floor 30 to 40 feet from the sea floor also breaking the surface in many locations. These exposed bores are used by sooty terns as nesting grounds, and the deep areas between the bores are habitats to barracuda and rays. Sink holes and pinnacles, ridges and huge pillars, caves and sand troughs are all represented within a very small area.
One of the most impressive areas for diving within the South Water Caye Marine Park is the "Drop Off". The drop off is a spectacular ridge running the entire length of the park. The longest unbroken stretch of the barrier reef lies within the park boundaries. And the areas among the mangrove cayes are some of the most biologically productive habitats in Belize.
The marine park fees, collected for your stay on South Water Caye, help to protect and manage Belize’s largest marine protected area.
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