Can anyone provide an up-date on the Marco Gonzales site? Is it open to the public? Are guides available? I would like to photograph the site in it's current state of excavation in late December.

AJ, I sent you a PM.....Can't wait to see your work!

Contact Jan, she is in charge

Thanks for the info. I have e-mailed Jan for the details. Hopefully the bugs are not too bad in late December. Bug juice has a nasty ability to dissolve camera parts!

AJ, we use a product called Sawyers' Lotion. It is quite effective and non-intrusive.....Some of the Deet stuff will remove nail polish.....I apply the Sawyers after my morning shower and I am good for most of the day; And yes against the noseeums. They make some for clothes and equipment.... It was also quite effective during our tour; allowed us to enjoy the sites. A link below;

OOOOOPS! This had too much information....Sorry guys! Please google...Amazon Sawyers lotion

Thanks Judyann - I will check out Sawyer's Lotion.

Which No. Sawyers JudyAnn? They have several versions.

I am sure the place is very soggy,hopefully the sun will come out and the island will dry out.Next time we fly over we will try to get a picture.Jan would know, next month it should have dried up,if it would stop raining.

Just a heads up on the Sawyers products,

Their products containing permethrin is NOT for topical use, it is a clothing spray.

Some of their products contain DEET. Several use a proprietary formula that releases the DEET over time. The slow release formulation is inteneded to keep the repellent effective for longer times but was also intended to precluse a rapid migration of DEET across the skin/blood barrier which is what causes the DEET taste that is objectionable to many people.

Caution should be taken to read the labels on these topical repellents products. At least one of the slow release formulations is refered to as the Premium Slow Release Family Insect Repellent and from what I can tell it contains DEET as well.

Sawyer also makes a 20% picaridin product which has been touted as being as effective as DEET.

Here is Sawyers FAQ & Info page

In my quest to find my own perfect "noseeums nostrum" I'll be giving these a try

We did get a bit off track from Marco Gonzales....However, on the Sawyers front.....Bear great research...I'm a little more simple in my studies; I put it on if it works I keep using it. We use the Premium time release....I do keep a small version with me in case a sudden attack begins; like right at dusk. Let us know how you weather with this product. Again I like it because I'm not spraying randomely about my body and it keeps the nail polish in tack...Good Luck!

Marco Gonzalez Maya Ruin Site Ambergris Caye

It’s not easy organizing a major volunteer effort from another country but Heather is pulling it together and in spite of the enormous challenges ahead of her. She managed to round up 8 of us to go collect and bag mangroves that were brought back to Karina’s house in San Mateo for future transplanting to help detoxify the soil and preserve the environment.

The mangrove collection at Marco Gonzalez Maya ruin site was a lot of fun and it was great to spend time with everyone that is getting involved in the San Mateo Sanitation and environmental education project.

While in search of black mangrove seedlings, Jan Brown gave us a tour of Marco Gonzalez Archaeological Reserve and explained about it’s rich Maya history. We could see pottery shards everywhere, mountains of conch shells and even some human remains. The ground is very high and I could just imagine how much has yet to be discovered under our feet.

While we were doing our mangrove collecting, Valentine Rosado showed up to help us. I had met Valentine before on a trip to Bacalar Chico, so I knew how knowledgeable and environmentally friendly he is. What I did not know was how involved he has been very involved in mangrove transplanting projects and has been working in different areas on the island to help get new mangrove plants growing. He brought us some red mangrove propagules which are oblong and slightly curved, kind of lima bean shaped. Propagules resemble seed pods but they are actually undeveloped root structures. Propagules become fully mature plants before dropping off the adult tree and are distributed by water until eventually embedding in the shallows.

On the way home Valentine suggested we stop off at Kakaw, Belize chocolate factory so he could take us on a mini field trip and show is some of his red mangrove replanting work. He explained how the mangroves grow inside the tubes and pointed out one that was just peeking out of the top.

I will be doing a Maya site specific Marco Gonzalez post soon and highly recommend a tour with Jan if you are staying on the island. Do not forget your bug spray, pants and a light shirt helpful protection as well. This tour is not strenuous but I would still say it is geared more towards adventure seekers – about 1/4 mile walk to the site from the entrance.

Click here to read the rest of the article and see more photos on Tacogirl's blog!