La Cascada

 Everywhere that I travel, and live, I try to get the local perspective on the best things to do, to eat, and to drink.  Here in Gallon Jug there has been almost unanimous agreement from everyone I've asked on all three:  the best thing to eat is rice and beans - a national obsession, the best thing to drink is Belikin - the beer of Belize, and the best thing to do is go to the Cascada. 
The Cascada had been on my radar since my first day in Gallon Jug, the problem was figuring out what exactly the Cascada was, and how exactly to get there.  Opinions varied greatly on both.
To me the word cascada brings to mind a cascade, or waterfall, but while quizzing people on the Cascada waterfall never came up.  Instead, most descriptions included a river, a 20 to 50 foot deep pool of water, and a cave.  

Getting to the Cascada was also grounds for great debate.  Due to the logging that has been part of the history of the area known as Gallon Jug going back hundreds of years to when the Spanish, British, and Maya were all staking claims to the land, there are trails going seemingly randomly all throughout the jungle - many of which supposedly go to, or near the Cascada.  After repeatedly asking multiple sources I was able to identify THE road to the Cascada, an old logging trail about 5 miles drive from the the loft.

 Recently when a friend visited I made arrangements to head to the Cascada with some colleagues from the village who'd been there before.  When our 'guides' fell through at the last moment, due to a broken down vehicle, we decided to go ahead with the trip, being advised to bring along a machete and a roll of orange tape to leave behind a trail of 'bread crumbs' to follow back, and the firm warning to NOT stray from the trail. 

As the saying goes, getting there is half the battle.  After finding the right jungle road to go down, we still had a 5 mile drive down a road that is only passable during the dry season.  After 5 miles drive, going over and around downed trees and muddy ruts we came to a 4-way intersection that included the walking trail to the Cascada.

Armed with a machete, orange tape, gatorade, and bug spray we made our way into the jungle, and aside from a 30 minute detour down the wrong trail, we made it to the Cascada no worse for wear, and all the more ready for a swim. 

 The trail to the Cascada is mostly down hill along a ridge overlooking a large ravine. The Cascada consists of a large pool of water/ river emanating from a large cave - a large cave with bats. 

 From the mouth of the cave the water runs through a river channel for about a hundred yards, widening in to a fantastic swimming/ picnic area.

 

I can honestly say that the Cascada is the most beautiful freshwater place that I have ever swam.  I also gained some big time credibility when I told my students that I was brave enough to make the jump from above the cave into the pool below, which is about 15 feet deep by my estimation.

 

 Though there is no waterfall to be seen, I think it is safe to assume that during the wet season, when it is not possible to get to the Cascada, there is probably an impressive waterfall that runs through the ravine and over the cave.
Since my initial visit to the Cascada I've made a return trip by bike, which was fantastic.  I also gave friends directions to the Cascada, which resulted in them getting lost for an hour just trying to find the road into the jungle, and being chased by spider monkeys on their way back to the car after swimming.  
If you go, be prepared for an adventure!