Belize- A Perfect Destination for Nature Lovers

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.

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