Thanks to its unique history and diverse geography, Belize enjoys one of the most diverse natural environments on the planet. The islands and offshore reefs are teeming with fish, sharks, rays, and sea turtles while the rainforests and jungles of the interior are home to monkeys, crocodiles, giant iguanas, tapirs, and jaguars.
Below are 5 amazing nature and wildlife tours to do on your vacation to Belize:
Monkey River
Start this tour at the eponymous Monkey River Village where the Monkey River meets the Caribbean and board a boat to slowly steam upriver into one of the most diverse natural landscapes in the country. Along the way, you’ll learn about indigenous wildlife in the area and the medicinal and historical use plants by local peoples.
Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary
The reserve is most famous for being the location of the first dedicated jaguar conservation effort, but visitors can spend days hiking through the interior to spot hundreds of species of singing birds, insects, reptiles, and mammals like deer, tapirs, and monkeys that call the reserve home.
The Inland Blue Hole and St. Herman’s Cave
Located in Belize’s eco-tourism western Cayo District, this park with a lengthy name attracts visitors to its naturally bright blue swimming spot. But this national park over 500 acres in size is home to a bounteous diversity of flora and fauna, including 200 species of birds like the piratic flycatcher, red-legged honeycreeper, and slaty antwren.
The Silk Cayes
In Belize, islands are referred to as “cayes” (pronounced “keys”) and one of the most beautiful regions of the offshore reef is the Gladden Spit and Silk Cayes Marine Reserve approximately 22 miles (36 km) off the coast of Placencia. This area of the reef is one of the only places to dive and interact with whale sharks as well as spot enormous colonies of migratory birds.
Laughing Bird Caye
One of Belize’s smallest national parks (just 1.8 acres in size), Laughing Bird Caye has been a protected area since 1981 to protect the astonishing diversity of coral, marine mammals, and birds that live in and around the island, including the endangered brown pelican, magnificent frigate, and laughing gull that gave the caye its name.
Laru Beya
Laru Beya resort is located on the gorgeous Placencia Peninsula in southeastern Belize close to all of the nature attractions listed above. Featuring beachfront suites and lovely rooms, Laru Beya is a great place to enjoy a nature walk around the peninsula or relax in style with gourmet food at the on-site Quarterdeck Restaurant or sip on fresh-made cocktails at the resort’s bar.
