Tapir Mountain Nature Reserve has a rainforest dedicated to the preservation of one of Belize’s strangest looking mammals, the pig-like tapir. If you want to learn more about native wildlife, it’s easy to find nature tours that include a visit to the Belize Zoo, where you can see rescued animals including a jaguar. Follow guides down paths through the jungle and arrive at Maya ruins like Xunantunich and Cahal Pech. You might take a boat down a river to see the waterfall-studded banks of the rainforest. Tapir Mountain Reserve is also home to Actun Tunichil Muknal Cave, a cave that contains several artifacts and the remains of a human sacrifice. Traveling south from San Ignacio, there’s an interesting change from jungle to broadleaf forest within the boundaries of the Mountain Pine Ridge Reserve. You can take hikes to the Rio Frio Cave and a gigantic, 1,000 foot (305 m) tall waterfall.

Belmopan is the capital city of Belize, and within an hour of Belmopan you can see some of the country’s lovely reserves — home to some of the nation’s rarest animals. At Five Blue Lake National Park, you can wade through the clear blue water to get to a tropical island that blooms with orchids. Follow a guide to see sinkholes and caves, and learn more about the mystery behind the lake’s occasional disappearance. See over 200 species of bird in St. Herman’s Blue National Park, home to the easily accessible St Herman’s cave and its sparkling stalactites. There’s also a bright blue swimming hole in the middle of the jungle — jump in and experience the tropical bliss that lays hidden in Belizean rainforests!

Punta Gorda sits right on the coast, surrounded by dense rainforest. This is a beautiful area for birdwatching and nature walks. Go for an exciting swim in Río Blanco National Park, where you can jump from a small bluff into a clear swimming pool fed by a powerful waterfall. This is an important reserve — it’s managed by local Mayan villages, and has saved 105 acres (42 ha) of rainforest from loggers. Exploring the nearby jungle comes with other rich rewards, like the Mayan ruins of Lubaantun, where you'll see trees growing out of the partially crumbled temples. Near Punta Gorda, you can spend your nights at lodges nestled in the jungle. These are homey, welcoming environments with all the amenities you would expect from a larger hotel. More excitingly, staying here puts you near both the Maya mountains and the coastline.