Stretching from the eastern slopes of the Maya Mountains down to wetlands and then the Caribbean Coast of southeastern Belize, the Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary is one of the country’s most beautiful, unspoiled areas.
Measuring more than 150 square miles (400 square km) in size, the Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary has no roads, automobile traffic, or residences, making it the perfect place to see Belize’s nature at its finest.
Located approximately 30 minutes from Placencia and 15 minutes from Hopkins Village, the Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary is home to a wide variety of wildlife, including approximately 200 jaguars. The reserve is home to the world’s only dedicated scientific and conservation program to help preserve these rare animals in their natural habitat. Indeed, the IUCN and World Wildlife Fund have declared that the Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary is performing vital work in protecting jaguars as well as four other big cat species indigenous to Belize.
Other attractions in the Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary include colorful insects, hundreds of species of birds, reptiles, amphibians, and mammals. The diverse landscape includes verdant hills, lush wetlands, and thick rainforests, making it an excellent place to see and explore nature.
The tour includes a brief orientation upon arrival, followed by a scenic hike along a well-marked trail. Participants will get to see fragrant flowers, exotic plants, colorful birds, and several different animal species, including potentially black howler monkeys, tapirs, gibnuts, and peccaries.
This tour also includes a stop at one of the amazingly beautiful waterfalls inside the reserve as well as the chance to enjoy a refreshing swim or a fun slide down one of the natural waterslides created by the falls. The tour can also include an inner tube trip down a section of the pristine South Stann Creek River and a delicious packed lunch.