Exploring Southern Belize: A Journey into Nature and Culture

May 2024

Our Belize adventure began in the remote Toledo region at Copal Tree Lodge, a luxury eco-lodge within a 16,000-acre rainforest preserve. We enjoyed an immersive nature experience with friendly staff and abundant wildlife, including howler monkeys and toucans. We connected with fellow visitors and explored Belize’s history, focusing on Mayan civilizations and rural life.

We toured Eladio Pop’s traditional organic cacao farm, learning the chocolate-making process and enjoying a delicious cacao drink and traditional Belizean meal. We also visited Ho-keb-Ha Cave in Blue Creek, swimming in its crystal-clear waters. Our trip featured kayaking, yoga, poolside relaxation, spa treatments, and a river cruise through the jungle with stunning sunset views. We explored Nim Li Punit archaeological reserve, marveling at the impressive Mayan stelas.

At Santa Cruz Village School, a rural primary school without electricity or running water, we met local officials and students, donating a water tank and supplies for sustainable agriculture education. Continuing, we enjoyed an oceanfront breakfast at Umaya Resort, ziplining at Mayflower Bokawina National Park, and learning traditional drumming in Hopkins. We concluded with snorkeling and scuba diving at Laughing Bird Caye, witnessing Belize’s vibrant marine life and reef restoration efforts.

Resident Curated Experience Trip:
The Philippines

September 2019

Keeping in line with the Storylines Guiding Principles, this was the first trip for Storylines brand ambassadors to personally curate experiences for all our future residents to enjoy.

By invitation from the Department of Tourism in the Philippines, a group of future residents and media embarked on an epic journey full of adventures.

The fourteen days were packed with amazing activities such as hiking an active volcano in Talisay, visiting one of the seven wonders of nature - the Underground River in Puerto Princesa, swimming with the whale sharks in Oslob, a river cruise in Loboc, seeing the chocolate hills (which look similar to Hershey’s kisses) and visiting a tarsiers sanctuary in Bohol.

The Storylines group also visited the Eskaya community in Cantaob, Sierra Bullones. They are a small tribe of just a few thousand that live in the mountains of Bohol who believe that people originated from a butterfly called Pinya Paypay Pling. We donated e-readers for the village library as well as backpacks full of school supplies.

The two weeks spent together as a group lead to friendships for life and a longing to share the experience and spread the word about the exciting adventures that await in the Philippines.

On way to undergrond river near Puerto Princesa

Bohol village happy snaps with the local tribes people

Resident Curated Experience Trip:
Andalucia Spain

June 2022

Prior to the pandemic, Storylines hosted our first curated trip for Founders Circle members to the Philippines to discover and help curate on-shore experiences for our future residents. Invited by the Department of Tourism in the Philippines, the trip was an incredible success, providing invaluable insight into the region and a tantalizing taste of what’s to come as residents of one of the world’s only private residence ships.

Eight Founders Circle members explored the beautiful and historic Andalucía, Spain this month along with a travel writer and a Storylines representative. Being a Storylines brand ambassador is not such a bad gig, mind you! The ultimate goal for these trips is to create truly unique experiences for the entire Storylines community to discover when the ship sails in the region.