Half Moon Caye Natural Monument*

   Half Moon Caye, located at the southeast corner of Lighthouse Reef Atoll, was the first reserve to be established by the National Parks System Act of 1981. One of the main reasons it was designated a Natural Monument was to protect the rare red-footed booby bird and its rookery. The magnificent frigate bird shares the rookery and some 98 species of birds have been recorded on the caye. The endangered hawksbill and loggerhead sea turtles lay their eggs on the caye's southern beaches.*

Hol Chan Marine Reserve*

   Hol Chan (Mayan for "Little Channel") is a cut in the barrier reef, some four miles southeast of Ambergris Caye. Established in 1987, this five square mile reserve was the first of its kind in Central America. This site is a popular snorkeling day trip from both San Pedro and Caye Caulker.*

Laughing Bird Caye*

   This World Heritage Site, located thirteen miles southeast of Placencia, is a superb spot to swim, snorkel and dive. The caye was named for the large number of laughing gulls that originally inhabited it, but the birds had virtually abandoned their rookery due to human encroachment. To assist the birds in reestablishing their presence, the government has installed buoys to mark the boundaries of the reserve and to provide anchoring points for dive operator's boats. Since it is illegal to fish or collect coral within the reserve, the marine life is flourishing once again.*

Shark-Ray Alley*

   Located in the Hol Chan Marine Reserve, this dive site is becoming one of the hottest marine attractions in the Caribbean. Schools of colourful fish dart about and southern stingrays and huge nurse sharks will come right up to you. Feel free to swim and snorkel, and take advantage of this unique opportunity to watch and photograph an awesome display of grace and beauty provided by Mother Nature.*

Belize's natural history has always been its most precious resource, and has become a virtual paradise for botanists, herpetologists, ichthyologists, mammalogists, ornithologists, and zoologists. With the support of numerous environmentally conscious organizations such as the Audubon Society, the Smithsonian Institute, the World Wildlife Fund, and many zoological societies, Belize has become an internationally recognized leader in preservation and conservation.*

Belize Zoo and Tropical Education Center*

   The best opportunity to see Belize's native animals in their natural surroundings is at the Belize Zoo. Instead of cages with bars, the wildlife here live in a park-like setting within large fenced enclosures, under shady forest canopy. Although originally founded to house retired animal movie stars, it has now become home, refuge and rehabilitation center over 125 species of Belizean wildlife. Animals that cannot be reintroduced to the wild are maintained in a natural setting at the zoo, and become an integral part of an ongoing program to educate people about the natural history of Belize.*

Blue Hole National Park*

   The Blue Hole National Park, located 12 miles southeast of Belmopan on the Hummingbird Highway, is a popular picnic and swimming spot. Here, water on its way from a tributary to the Sibun River emerges from a collapsed karst  sinkhole and forms the pool, from which the park receives its name. It is a beautiful sapphire blue, about twenty five feet deep and empties into a stream that runs a short distance through a natural jungle setting, then disappears into a large underwater cavern.*

St. Herman's Cave*

   Within the Blue Hole National Park is a cave that was used by the Maya during the Classic Period. Pottery vessels, spears, and torches are among some of the artifacts that have been recovered by the Institute of Archaeology. From the nature trails and observation tower visitors can become acquainted with the many birds, animals, and flora that inhabit these 575 acres of primary and secondary forest.*

Community Baboon Sanctuary*

   Through the combined efforts of tourism, conservation and education the Community Baboon Sanctuary, located 27 miles outside of Belize City, supports the only stable and healthy population of "baboons" or black howler monkeys in the world.

   Zoologist Dr. Rob Horwich established this habitat in February 1985 while he was conducting a survey on howler monkeys.

   Howlers, which are named such because adult males make a raspy growl sound that can be heard for miles, had been hard hit in recent years due to shrinking habitats, hurricanes and disease.

   In an effort to preserve the black howler's natural habitat and create the reserve, Horwich mobilized the support of 150 landowners and eight villages and established private ownership of the area by the locals. He then made two simple requests – that the landowners refrain from cutting 66 feet of natural foliage on either side of the banks of the Belize River to preserve the howlers diet, and that they leave small-forested strips between pathways for aerial avenues.*

The Cockscomb Basin*

   Belize is notable for its wildlife conservation efforts. One of Belize's primary wildlife preservation projects is the Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Reserve- the first and only jaguar reserve in the world.

   The Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Jaguar Reserve is located in Southern Belize below jagged peaks of the Maya Mountains. In 1984, Dr. Alan Rabinowitz from New York Zoological Society sponsored a two- year field study of jaguar conservationism in the Cockscomb Basin, living among the Maya and tracking the jaguars. Based upon his findings. Cockscomb was established as a Wildlife Sanctuary in 1993 to preserve these beautiful creatures and other indigenous wildlife. 

   The Reserve, which encompasses over 100,000 acres of the most beautiful tropical rainforest anywhere, is honey-combed with a maze of trails, creeks, and tributaries.

   Jaguars are the third largest members of the cat family in the world. Besides Belize, many habitats from the Americas to Argentina have seen the number of jaguars dwindle in recent years due to hunting and forest clearing. The Cockscomb Basin however, has the highest density of jaguars recorded anywhere in the world with numbers reaching 500.

   In addition to the jaguar, the Cockscomb Basin's versatile ecosystem protects a good percentage of Belize's plant and animal species such as the ocelot, margay, and the puma. Kinkajous, pacas, brocket deer, iguanas, boas, and red-eyed tree frogs are also found within the Reserve. About 290 bird species have been recorded in the Reserve, including toucans, agamies, scarlets, macaws, herons, and king vultures.*

Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctury*

   The sanctuary, established for the protection of resident and migrant birds, is located 33 miles northwest of Belize City off the Northern Highway in the Belize District. The large network of inland lagoons, swamps, and waterways provides both the abundant food sources and the safe resting area that is necessary to support a large and diverse population of birds, the most notable being the Jabiru Stork. With a wingspan up to 12 feet, it is the largest flying bird in North America, and Belize has the largest nesting population of Jabiru in Central America. They begin arriving in November to nest in the lowland pine savannas. After the young fledge, during the months of April and May, the birds from northern and central Belize congregate at Crooked Tree and Mexico Lagoons. When the rains come, the birds leave to return again the following year. The sanctuary also provides a home for the black howler monkey. Morelet's crocodile, coatimundi and several species of the turtle and iguana.*

Five Blues Lake Park*

   Five Blues Lake National Park, located in the forest-covered foothills of the Maya Mountains, is a pristine tract of karst terrain, honeycomb with unexplored cave system and teeming with spectacular wildlife. The park was established in 1992 as a showcase for the region's amazing biological diversity and rich cultural heritage. It encompasses over 4,000 acres of prime tropical forest and preserves a wealth of natural and archeological features. Five Blues is only a single lake, but its waters appear in a variety of vibrant blue hues. The lake is a cenote, a collapsed cave system, and its cool waters run 200 feet deep and cover approximately 10 acres.*

Guanacaste Park*

   This 52-acre tropical forest reserve at the junction of the Western and Hummingbird Highways near Belmopan was named for the giant guanacaste (tubroos) tree growing near its southwestern edge. Over 1oo species of birds have been spotted in the park and the visitor's center has informative displays on the trees, mammals and reptiles that make their home there. Guanacaste National Park offers a relaxing introduction to the tropical forests of Belize because it is easily traversed, has well marked and maintained trails and many of the trees and plants are labeled for easy identification.

Mountain Pine Ridge*

   Due west from the reserve are the Maya ruins of Caracol, largest in Belize. The ancient city claims the tallest man-made structure in the country, a 140 foot- high temple. Near Chiquibul in the Vaca Falls area, enter Chechen Ha cave and climb up to secret ledges filed with enormous Maya pottery. A vigorous 20 minute jungle hike leads to the cave. Waterhole Cavern (Bat Cave), in between the Chechen Ha Area and Black Rock canyon, is a subterranean wonder.*

Rio Bravo Conservation and Management Area*

   This 260,000 acre reserve is located in the northwest corner of Belize in the Orange Walk District. It is managed for conservation, scientific research, sustainable-yield timber harvesting, non-timber forest product extraction, eco-tourism, and educational purposes by the Programme for Belize, a private, non-profit Belizean organization. The area consists of broadleaf forest, swamp, palms, savannah, and marsh. Due to its remote location and prohibited hunting, many endangered species including the black howler monkey, Central American spider monkey, jaguar, puma, ocelot, margay, jaguarundi, tapir, peccary, ocellated turkey and Brocket deer have found refuge within the reserve. Also a bird watcher's paradise, ornithologists have recorded over 344 species of birds. In addition to the abundant natural history, over 40 Maya sites have been discovered within the RBCMA. The largest center is at La Milpa which ranks only below Caracol and Lamani in size.*

* Source: "Belize, The Visitor Guide" , published by The Belize Tourism Board, January 2004. Information provided by the Permanent Mission of Belize to the OAS.

* Source: "Treasures of Belize" Belize Tourism Board. USA Public Relations and Advertising Agency, Richartz Fliss Clark & Pope; provided by the Permanent Mission of Belize to the OAS.