BELIZE: BELIZE CITY AND PARKS

HISTORIC BELIZE CITY - Belize City is the largest city in Belize, with a population of over 60,000. It offers the visitor an unusual combination of rustic, old-fashioned Caribbean charm and bustling modernity. The Belize river meanders through the middle of the city; and twice a day, the city's swing bridge closes to allow sail boats to pass. There are many traditional street vendors selling fruits, vegetables, arts and crafts in the city's public squares, especially in the colonial marketplace on Saturday mornings. Visitors can purchase handmade wood furniture made by the Mennonite community and many kinds of craft items from the National Handicraft center, as well as from the vendors who congregate near the Belize Commercial Center.

CROOKED TREE WILDLIFE SANCTUARY - Located 33 miles northwest of Belize City and just 2 miles off the Northern Highway, the Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary provides an opportunity to view some of Belize's fascinating wildlife. Established in 1984 for the protection of resident and migrant birds, the sanctuary consists of a network of inland lagoons, swamps and waterways. During the dry season (October early May) thousands of birds congregate here. Most notable, perhaps, is the jabiru Stork, the largest flying bird in the Western Hemisphere, with a wing span of up to twelve feel Also to be seen are a variety of herons, grebes, pelicans, ducks, vulum, kites, ospreys, hawks, sandpipers, kingfishers, gulls, tems, egrets, swallows and numerous others. The variety of habitats at Crooked Tree also provides food and homes for a diversity of other wildlife such as rare black howler monkeys, crocodiles, coatimundi and iguanas

GUANACASTE PARK - Guanacaste Park is a fifty acre parcel of tropical forest located in the Cayo District, at the ' juncture of Western Highway and Hummingbird Highway, approximately 2 miles north of Belmopan. The park derives its name from the giant Guanacaste (tuberous) tree, one of the largest trees found in Central America. It can reach a height of over 130 feet, with a diameter in excess of six feet. In addition to the Guanacaste there are many other species of trees growing In the park including Raintree, Mammee Apple, Bookut, Quamwood, Cotton Tree, Cohune Palms and Mahogany, the National Tree of Belize. An abundance of wildlife can also be seen in Guanacaste Park including jaguarundi, kinkajou, paca, armadillo, agoutk white tailed deer, iguana, and several species of bats and opossum. Over one hundred species of birds have been spotted including Blue-crowned Motinots, Blackfaced Trogon, Smoky-brown Woodpecker, Black-headed Trogon, Squirrel Cuckoo, Bright-rumped Attila and White-breasted Wood-Wren.

COMMUNITY BABOON SANCTUARY AT BERMUDIAN LANDING- The Community Baboon Sanctuary was established in 1985 to protect one of the few healthy black howler monkey populations left in Central America. The black howler monkey, known locally as the 'baboon,' is an endangered species found in Belize, southern Mexico and isolated areas of Guatemala. Most landowners in the 18 square mile sanctuary have signed pledges signaling a commitment to make their farming practices work in unison with the needs of the monkeys and other wildlife, thus protecting the howlers' habitat. 

SHIPSTERN NATURE RESERVE & BUTTERFLY BREEDING CENTER - The Shipstern Nature Reserve is located on 22,000 acres of land in the Corozal District. This is the only protected area in Belize which includes the more seasonal northern hardwood forests, saline lagoon systems and mangrove shorelines. The Shipstern Lagoon is very shallow and forms an important habitat for many wading and fish-eating birds. Between the forest and lagoons are wide belts of savannah, occupied by white tailed deer, brocket deer and tapir. While nearly 200 species of butterflies can be seen within the reserve, a Butterfly Breeding Center has been established to concentrate on the development of 25 of these species.

COCKSCOMB BASIN WILDLIFE PRESERVE - The Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Preserve is located in southern Belize near the town of Dangriga. Originally declared a Forest Reserve in 1984, two years later a portion of it was set aside as a preserve for the jaguar, a protected species which densely populates the Cock-scomb Basin area. The third largest member of the cat family, jaguars can grow up to six feet in length, usually exceeding 200 pounds. Approximately 150 square miles are now protected as the world's first jaguar preserve. Besides the jaguar, Cockscomb Basin is home to such other cats as the puma, ocelot, and jaguarundi. Local wildlife includes otter, brocket deer, peccary, agouti, paca, anteater, armadillo and the national animal of Belize - Baird's tapir ("Mountain Cow'). 

RIO BRAVO CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT AREA - The Rio Bravo Conservation and Management Area (RBCMA) currently consists of 202,000 acres of sub-tropical moist forest, located in the northwest corner of Belize in the Orange Walk District. Areas of upland broadleaf forest, swamp forest, palm forest, savanna and marsh can be found In Rio Bravo. Partly due to its remoteness and the fact that hunting has been actively eliminated in recent years, many endangered species can be found here, including: black howler monkeys, Central American spider monkey, five cat species - jaguar, puma, ocelot, margay and jaguarundi, tapir, white collard peccary, occellated turkey and brocket deer. And, for bird watchers, as of November 1991, ornithologists recorded 355 species of birds in the greater Rio Bravo area. 

THE BELIZE ZOO - The Belize Zoo is located approximately 30 miles west of Belize City and is home to over 100 species of native Belizean animals including the tapir, black howler monkey, scarlet macaw and jaguar. The Belize Zoo offers visitors the opportunity to see these unique animals In their natural habitat. 

BLUE HOLE NATIONAL PARK & ST. HERMAN'S CAVE - The Blue Hole National Park is located 12 miles south-east of Belmopan. Through and under the Blue Hole National Park flow some of the upland tributaries of the Sibun River, one of Belize's principal waterways. Much of this central area of Belize is limestone of Cretaceous age and includes such karstic features as underground streams, rivers, sinkholes and extensive subterranean cave systems. The Blue Hole is a popular recreational spot where subterranean water, on its way to the Sibun River, emerges into the base of a collapsed sinkhole. The sink itself is said to be about I 00 feet deep and is roughly 300 feet in diameter. The pool, about 25 feet deep, is filled with sparkling turquoise water, chilled by a long underground journey. St. Hermans Cave is located 400 meters from the Hummingbird Highway and is accessible via a hiking trail from the Blue Hole.  

MOUNTAIN PINE RIDGE - The 300 square mile Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve ecosystem is found nowhere else in Central America. Here you will find a scenic combination of cool pine forest, tumbling streams, lush river valleys, numerous caves and waterfalls. The air is cool; and there are many birds and sometimes large numbers of butterflies. The area has many sections of whitewater rivers, waterfalls, and cave systems. Hidden Valley Falls is the tallest waterfall in Central America; the views are spectacular. It is approximately nine miles from the reserve's main entrance east to the falls and this road is often impassable in the rainy season and no one should attempt it without a 4 wheel vehicle. Rio On Pools - About 8 miles southwest of the top of the falls, the road crosses the Rio On River. The giant rocks through which this tributary passes create little waterfalls amidst deep pools. Rio Frio Cave and Nature Trail - The Rio Frio Cave is the largest river cave in Belize, extending for half a mile. The cave is easily reachable from the road, or via the Rio Frio Nature Trail a few miles away. This cave is inaccessible during the rainy season, and damp even in the dry season.