The Best Places To See Wildlife In Belize | Wildlife in Belize

The Best Places To See Wildlife In Belize

BEST PLACE TO SEE WILDLIFE IN BELIZE

Belize is 30 times smaller than the US state of Texas, but it’s blessed with some of the densest biodiversity in the world. And that’s true both on land and in the water. As the second-largest barrier reef in the world, the Belize Barrier Reef is home to nearly 1,400 species — and it’s been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Meanwhile, the 8,867 square miles of terrestrial habitat include multiple ecosystems. While there are few species uniquely endemic to Belize, the importance of the country as a gateway between Mexico and Central America along with its high density of pristine and virgin rainforest makes it the last bastion for many animal species. Belize is committed to conservation, and that means that there are a ton of places to go if you want to see wildlife. If you’re finding yourself lost when planning your Belize trip, let us help you narrow down your options.

Belize Wildlife

Places to See Marine Life

Gladden Spit: From March through June, Gladden Spit is one of the best places to swim with whale sharks. These big, gentle giants migrate to this small reserve off the coast of Placencia to feast on the eggs of local fish, but it’s a popular snorkeling and diving site with rich biodiversity even if you do miss the seasonal shark migration.

Hol Chan Marine Reserve: One of Belize’s most popular marine reserves, Hol Chan offers a combination of coral reef and mangrove forest environments. But it’s most famous for a section of the reserve known as Shark Ray Alley. If that name terrifies you, don’t fret. The nurse sharks in these waters are perfectly harmless, and the Southern stingrays are not aggressive at all.

Gales Point: A network of rivers and tributaries help feed the rich cycle of life in Belize, and that makes the inland lagoon at Gales Point a promising place to visit for animal lovers. The main purpose of this reserve is to protect the vulnerable Antillean manatee population, but it’s also home to majestic sea turtles and a population of over 300 different bird species.

Laughing Bird Caye: The gulls that gave this island its name aren’t as abundant as they used to be, but there’s still a healthy bird population that includes gulls, herons, and pelicans. If you’re lucky, you might even catch sight of one of the dolphin families that regularly pass through. Despite its modest size, Laughing Bird Caye is also home to lobsters and a colorful variety of reef fish.

Best Places To Watch Wildlife
 

Places to See Terrestrial Life

The Belize Zoo: If you want to see as many animals in as little time as possible, the Belize Zoo offers the best opportunity. Less than a mile from Belize City, this is a great place to get a taste of the local wildlife before venturing to more exotic locales or to catch a glimpse of the animals you might have missed while exploring. Highlights include tapirs, margays, and jaguars. As the passion project of the much-beloved local environmentalist Sharon Matola, you can be comfortable knowing that the staff at the Belize Zoo are committed to the well-being of the animals under their care.

Advertisment

Cockscomb Basin Jaguar Preserve: Cockscomb Basin is the world’s first park designed for the preservation of jaguars, but you’re more likely to see these elusive cats at the zoo than at Cockscomb Basin. Your best chance is to take one of the night tours of the preserve, but there are plenty of other animals to spot during your visit. These include other wildcats like pumas and ocelots as well as less fearsome wildlife like tapirs, peccaries, and deer.

Community Baboon Sanctuary: This small sanctuary is proof of what can happen when a group of locals band together to try and preserve the land they love. Overseen by a committee of seven women from seven of the surrounding villages, this sanctuary was designed to protect the local population of black howler monkeys, which the local population refers to as baboons. And while these monkeys might not resemble the baboons you’re familiar with seeing on nature documentaries, they’re sociable creatures that now have a population of thousands spanning the sanctuary’s 3,315 hectares of land. Monkeys aren’t hard to find on the sanctuary’s grounds — and neither are exotic birds, crocodiles, and other interesting wildlife.

Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary: The wetlands at Crooked Tree demonstrate the fascinating blend of biodiversity that occurs where marine and terrestrial ecosystems collide, but it’s also one of the best places to go birdwatching in the country. Roughly 300 different bird species call this sanctuary home during different times of the year, but the best way to explore this sanctuary is to get out on a canoe and take a tour.


Get a copy of The Ultimate Belize Bucket List! Written by Larry Waight, a local with more than twenty years of experience in the travel industry, the book is packed with tips, information, and recommendations about all of the best things to see and do in Belize.
Featured Belize Resort
Advertisment
Featured Tour Company
Advertisment
Real Estate Opportunities
Advertisment

Comments

Advertisment
Advertisment
Advertisment

Login

Welcome! Login in to your account

Remember meLost your password?

Don't have account. Register

Lost Password

Enable Notifications OK No thanks