Half Moon Caye Monument gets facelift after Hurricane Lisa

The Half Moon Caye Natural Monument received significant damage thanks to Hurricane Lisa in November 2022. But since then, the Belize Audubon Society-managed attraction has received important infrastructure upgrades, making it easier for the park’s managers and thrill-seekers to access the site. Marty Alvarez is the BAS’s protected areas manager there, and he explains how the Protected Areas Conservation Trust (PACT) was able to help.

Marty Alvarez, Protected Areas Manager, Half Moon Caye: “And on November 2nd 2022 Hurricane Lisa made landfall passing through Half Moon Caye before making its way to Belize City. Here on the island as you notice we have a lot of coconut trees and we sustained some damage on the island, most of it was infrastructural damages which include damages to the pier, several lumber and several planks were removed and a small portion of the pier got damaged based on the water level and of course the wave factor the surf and everything. Apart from that we also had damages to the gift shop as you can see as well as the Osprey building. What also got damaged was the pavilion building as well as the wash house for the camping ground area. So these damages are now repaired thanks funding by PACT. 

Under the PACT project entitled Restore Tourism Operation at Half Moon Caye Natural Monument Post Hurricane Lisa rehabilitation of key tourism infrastructure have been fully repaired at Half Moon Caye. This includes the pier, Osprey Building, Pavillion, wash house and Half Moon Caye welcome sign. Realignment of funds were also granted by PACT to rehabilitate BAS Office parking lot which was also affected by Hurricane Lisa.

Because tourism operations are restored we now have income generation for most of our tour guides, our stakeholders that us the facilities example the camping ground, the gift shop and so forth.”