Can I Expect To See Wildlife in Belize?
You will definitely see wildlife while you are in Belize. Belize has a tropical climate and many protected areas.
The Maya Mountains is an excellent place to see birds and monkeys. Take an edifying hike through the Mayan Mountains where a guide can help you spot keel-billed toucans, blue crowned motmots, trogans, woodpeckers, and hummingbirds — to name just a few. Check out the trails in the Mountain Pine Ridge Reserve.
Belize is home to the Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary, where jaguars have established a healthy population. It’s unlikely to see a jaguar, but there’s plenty of bird watching to do, and lots of lush forest trails. Keep an eye and ear out for the Montezuma Oropendola.
While you’re hiking, you may hear warnings to look out for a poisonous brown snake. The fer de lance is known as a “Tommy Goff” in Belize, and it is venomous but quite rare.
Go snorkeling and scuba diving to see Belize’s thriving marine ecosystems. The Belize Barrier Reef is a protected natural wonder, and is the second-largest coral reef in the world. Besides the barrier reef, Belize also has a smattering of small islands and atolls that you can visit to explore wetlands. Hol Chan Marine Reserve on Ambergris Caye is one of the top places in Belize to take a boating tour to look for sharks and manta rays. Travel to the isolated Bacalar Chico Marine Reserve by boat for a rare opportunity to see both nesting sea turtles and manatees.
There’s also the Belize Blue Hole, an underwater cave that’s a favorite destination for scuba divers. While the hole itself doesn’t have an impressive variety of wildlife, the Lighthouse Reef that surrounds it attracts a wide variety of tropical fish and sharks.
Related Questions
- I Want a Nature Vacation. Where Should I Go in Belize?
- How Much Does It Cost to Visit a National Park or Reserve in Belize?
- Are Belize's Parks and Reserves Well Developed?
- What Should I Wear or Bring to a National Park in Belize?
- Where Are Belize's National Parks & Reserves?
Wildlife Attractions in Belize
If you want to see animals, you've come to the right place. Belize is home to wildlife sanctuaries, nature reserves, and zoos where you can see a range of wonderful creatures. After flying into Belize City, make a stop at the Belize Zoo, which extends over 29 acres (12 ha) and includes over a hundred animals, all of which are orphaned and native to Belize. You can spot troops of monkeys at the Community Baboon Sanctuary, or search for big cats - including jaguars, pumas, and ocelots - at the Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary. In each of these places, you'll have ample opportunities to see bird species, and will probably encounter frogs, insects, and reptiles as well. Guided tours of the following attractions will provide you with additional information about the wildlife of Belize.
Maya Mountains
The Mayan Mountain region beckons the outdoor adventure seeker. Recognizing the value of healthy ecosystems, the Belize government has set aside much of this region as protected areas. As a result, the environment here remains very healthy and untouched, with abundant wildlife and native vegetation. The Mayan Mountain region of Belize spans the west of the Hummingbird Highway, and the area that borders the Western Highway.
Ambergris Caye
Ambergris Caye is Belize’s largest island and the most well known destination in Belize. Located at the northern end of Belize’s waters, a small channel dug by the Maya separates Ambergris Caye from Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula. The narrow, 25-mile (40-km) long island is surrounded by the Caribbean’s aquamarine waters and consists of mangroves, lagoons, and the laid back town of San Pedro, which sits upon a low sandy plateau near the southern end of the island.
Bacalar Chico Marine Reserve
The Bacalar Chico Marine Reserve is located on the northern tip of Ambergris Caye and is only accessible by boat. This 23-square mile (60-sq km) reserve consists of sinkholes, meandering creeks, inter-island lagoons, coastal mangroves, seagrass beds, and coral reef. Visitors to the coral reef can expect to see manatees, nesting sea turtles, spawning groupers, deep water conch, and reef species. Flourishing bird populations also live throughout the reserve, providing travelers with outstanding birding opportunities.
Blue Hole National Park
The Blue Hole is undoubtedly Belize’s most recognizable attraction. Located at the center of the Lighthouse Reef Atoll, this incredible sinkhole measures 1,000 feet (300 m) across and sits in the center of a small circular reef.
Hol Chan
The quick ride out to Hol Chan Marine Reserve makes this the most popular half-day tour for visitors staying at Ambergris Caye and Caye Caulker. Set aside in 1987, this reserve covers an area of 3 square miles (7.8 sq km) and is found off the southern tip of Ambergris Caye. As a result, this area of the Belize Barrier Reef supports healthy populations of fish and colorful coral. Turtles, nurse sharks, grouper, jacks, reef fish, and barracuda are just a few of the species you might see here. The reef ranges from 10–30 feet (3–9 m) deep and most guides take snorkelers along the outer edge of the reef. While this site is great for beginner snorkelers, as well as divers, swimmers should pay attention to currents which can be strong throughout the reserve.
Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve
Set aside in 1944, the Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve is Belize’s oldest and largest protected area, spanning 300 square miles (777 square km). Unlike other parts of Belize, where tropical vegetation dominates the landscape, the reserve consists of primarily Honduras pine, a Caribbean species of pine tree. The reserve is characterized by deep ravines, large granite outcrops, rivers, and vistas.
