Belize Islands is regarded a land of wonders.
From Mayan ruins to the world famous Blue Hole, Belize is the perfect place for anyone who
wants to explore and experience natural wonders and historical heritage together.
Especially for nature lovers, there is plenty to see in every nook and corner of the
Belize Island. It is simply a paradise for botanists, ornithologists, ichthyologists and
zoologists. Here are some popular natural reserves and wildlife sanctuaries which are
‘must visit’ places.
Chiguibul National Park
It is the largest national park in Belize located in the Cayo District. This park consists
of hundreds of square miles of intact forest rich in both flora and fauna. Popular species
found inside the park include Kinkajous, Ocelots, Margays, Jaguars, Ocellated Turkeys,
Baird's Tapirs, Spider Monkeys, and King Vultures.
Burdon Canal Nature Reserve
The Burdon Canal Nature Reserve is a popular low lying basin located in the Haulover Creek
delta. The river is permanently waterlogged with either saline or fresh water depending
upon the location. The area is full of various reptiles such as Crocodiles, Lepidoptera
and Odonata. The surrounding forest area is a heaven for people who come to Belize
especially to enjoy birding.
Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary
This wildlife sanctuary is a nature reserve of 400 square kilometers located in
south-central Belize. It was established in 1984 in a way to protect the forests, fauna
and watersheds found on the eastern slopes of the Maya Mountains. In fact, this is the
first wilderness sanctuary designed for the preservation of Jaguar. This beautiful
wildlife sanctuary is full of plant species such as Pine, Mahogany and Cedar.
Blue Hole National Park
Blue Hole National Park, spread over an area of some 575 acres is located near the
Hummingbird Highway in Cayo District of Belize. Managed by the Belize Audubon Society,
this park is a beauty in itself due to its unique features such as underground streams,
rivers and sinkholes. The park is home to over 200 species of birds and animals. The
popular amongst them are species such as the Northern Nightingale-Wren, Ocelot, Jaguar,
Piratic Flycatcher and Red-legged Honeycreeper.
Paynes Creek National Park
Located alongside the Monkey River in the Toledo District of Belize, Payne's Creek
National Park which is nature reserve was created in order to provide protection to the
flora and fauna of this area. There are four popular Mayan sites that have been discovered
in the Park till date.
Guanacaste National Park
This popular national park is spread over fifty-acre parcel of tropical forest. Initially,
it was known as a Crown Reserve, but later on it became a completely protected area under
the jurisdiction of Belize Government.
The park is maintained by the Belize Audubon Society. It park derives its name from the
giant Guanacaste or Tubroos tree that are available in huge numbers inside the park. Over
one hundred species of birds can be seen inside the park along with variety of mammals and
reptiles.
These are many more nature reserves and wildlife sanctuaries in Belize apart from these
eight most visited ones. With so many interesting places to see, any nature lover would
surely have the time of her life visiting the Belize Islands.
To make your Belize mission trip or vacation, a memorable one, plan your holiday
beforehand by taking help from a reputed tour operator specializing in tours in the Belize
Islands. The advantage of going through a travel and tour operator is that they take care
of organizing your lodging and itinerary - from booking your rooms to selecting good
tourist spots in Belize, and so on, making sure that you get to enjoy your holiday fully
in Belize Island.
Edward Wilson is a well-known travel journalist based in Belize Islands.
He has written extensively on vacation options in Belize including Belize
jungle vacations,Belize birding,Belize Cuisine and many more things.
Learn more about Belize by visiting our other Belize Pages:
