Tailormade Holidays in Belize

The Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary is Belize’s best-known wetland system. Its complex network of lagoons, creeks, swamps, broadleaf forest and pine savannah offer an incredible diversity of habitats which provide a haven for birdlife. During the dry season thousands of waterbirds congregate including Jabiru, the largest flying bird in the Americas, while migrants assemble to seek shelter before their long migration back to North America. Exploration of the board walks might also reveal such species as Snail Kite, (the world’s most specialised raptor), Yellow-headed Amazon, Roseate Spoonbill, Boat-billed, Chestnut-bellied and Agami Heron, Bare-throated Tiger Heron and Sungrebe. Other wildlife of the reserve includes Central American River Turtle, Morelet’s Crocodile, Green and Spiny-tailed Iguanas and Mexican Black Howler Monkey, and these can all be seen with relative ease from boat trips through the reserve.

Offering a stark contrast to the balmy Caribbean coast to the east of the country, the western, inland sector of Belize provides a fascinating variety of habitats from pine forests and sense broadleaf jungles, to lush river valleys and rugged mountains. Some of our favourite wildlife lodges in Belize are located in this area, many in their own private reserves where species including Baird's Tapir, Jaguar, Ocelot and White-nosed Coati can be found. Although these large mammals are highly elusive (especially the big cats), the birding is very good and a visit to Mountain Pine Ridge is usually productive for species including Azure-crowned Hummingbird, Orange-billed Sparrow, Orange-breasted Falcon, Stygian Owl, Black-and-white Hawk-eagle and King Vulture. Those interested in culture will also be in their element here, as three of Belize's most impressive Mayan sites (Lamanai, Xunantunich and Caracol) are located within the forests nearing the border of Guatemala.

The Cockscomb Basin is the world's first Jaguar Reserve. Although Jaguar are very elusive in this corner of southern Belize, the reserve comprises one of the country's largest tracts of protected forest which provides an essential wildlife corridor. Scarlet Macaw, Keel-billed Toucan, Emerald Toucanet and King Vulture are some of the impressive avian inhabitants of the forest, as well as an abundance of amphibians and reptiles including the endangered Red-eyed Tree Frog. The Cockscomb Basin also benefits from being well positioned, and is easily accessible from the beach resorts of Dangriga or Placencia, from the inland lodges, or en route from neighboring Guatemala. During a typical visit to the reserve one should hope to find Crested Guan, Great Curassow, Ruddy Quail-dove, Great Tinamou, White-collared Manakin, Passerini's Tanager, Dot-winged Antwren and Chestnut-headed Oropendola.  

The southern settlements of Dangriga, Hopkins and Placencia offer endless stretches of white sandy beaches skirting the emerald Caribbean Sea. These sleepy fishing villages all have strong Creole and Garifuna influences and the area is known as the cultural capital of Belize. The 15-acre island of South Water Caye, just 14 miles east of Dangriga is our favourite option for those seeking an island escape. With just three properties in the island, guests can enjoy snorkeling straight off the beach. The diving is also excellent as the reef drops to 2,000 feet just 30 yards from shore. Between the months of March and June Whale Sharks pass through the coast off Placencia, and diving and snorkeling excursions can be enjoyed in search of these gentle ocean giants. 

Of the 200 coral cayes off the coast of Belize, Ambergris is the largest and most populous. The 25-mile island is a magnet for snorkellers and divers wishing to explore the largest barrier reef in the northern hemisphere. The Hol Chan Marine Reserve is one of the finest areas for snorkeling and diving, with plentiful staghorn corals and sea fans supporting an amazing array of fish, turtles and stingrays. Shark Ray Alley is a particularly celebrated spot where swimmers will find themselves encircled by numerous friendly Nurse Sharks and stingrays. Day trips can also be organised to the Blue Hole, a huge underwater sinkhole over 125 metres deep, where divers will marvel at the giant stalactites and dripstone sheets. Although there is a general absence of marine-life within the Blue Hole, there is the possibility of an occasional Hammerhead, Black-tip or Tiger Shark passing through. 

Belize works exceptionally well in combination with its landlocked neighbour Guatemala, and despite the tumultuous relationship between the two countries, it is still very easy to travel across boarders. Although Guatemala spans almost the entire western border of Belize, the two countries share very little in the way of language or culture, so an extension to Guatemala allows for a particularly varied holiday. The Mayan archaeological site of Tikal is easily accessed from Belize, and offers a wonderful combination of rainforest birds and mammals with outstanding archaeology. 

Central America is rightly considered one of the world’s best areas for wildlife. Despite its relatively tiny size – a small, tapering strip of land, dwarfed by the two continents it connects – the region contains some of the greatest concentrations of biodiversity on Earth. Bordering Mexico to the north and Colombia to the south, the seven Central American countries collectively offer an unrivalled set of natural history experiences. Although Costa Rica and Panama are probably the most famous, and certainly the most popular, wildlife destinations in the region, they are far from the only worthwhile nations to visit. In particular, Honduras, Guatemala and Belize provide the best of both worlds – an opportunity to leave the beaten tourist track, while also encountering many of the region’s most iconic species.

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