Highlights
- Jaguar Reserve
- Victoria Peak
- Variety of Flora & Fauna
- Camping
- Waterfall
About Location
A haven for the endangered jaguar, Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary covers 128,000 acres of rainforest in the Cockscomb Range of the Maya Mountains. With the neighboring Bladen Nature reserve to the south, jaguars have a combined 250,000 acres to roam free of worry from poachers. This haven makes Belize the most jaguar-populated country in the world.
Want to get a glimpse of a jaguar? The best way for a chance to see one is by going on an evening guided tour. If night hiking and giant predators are not for you, there are plenty of animals to see during the day, including pumas, margays, ocelots, kajous, deer, peccaries and tapirs. Not to mention birds, Cockscomb has over 300 different species at any given time, including Keel-Billed Toucan, King Vulture, several hawk species and scarlet macaws. As a side note, Cockscomb is also home to several bugs and insects, so be sure to bring bug spray and long clothing.
Features:
Camping, Parking
Tours & Shuttles
Enjoy nature at its best, as we hike up the lush forest of the cockscomb basin, a jaguar reserve. The hike may be challenging to some, but the view along the way will all be worth ... moreit. As the end of the 1.5 hrs hike you get to jump into some refreshing water, sorrounded by nature at its very best.
This adventure is located in the Stann Creek District of Belize, so to get there we must take a drive through the scenic Hummingbird highway, and enjoy the beauty it has to share. Join us on this wonderful adventure in southern Belize.
Bird watching can be enjoyed all year round outside the heat of the day. Belize has well over 500 residential and migratory bird species with 80% being residential. Whether you are ... morean experienced ornithologist or a birding beginner, Belize is a birdwatcher’s paradise.
The thick vegetation of the reserve is home over 300 species of birds that have been recorded. By many accounts, Cockscomb Basin offers some of the best birding in Belize. Certainly, the most productive times for birding are early morning and late afternoon.
Hike through the pristine and diverse Maya Mountains of Belize, have the chance to view a plethora of terrestrial animals such as jaguars, margays, fer-de-lances, howler monkeys and ... moreother interesting creatures along with medicinal plants and lush greenery. You will have the option of having a short and easy hike to Ben's Bluff waterfall to take a refreshing waterfall shower and can also continue on to a more vigorous hike to the top of Ben's Bluff. Once there you will have a majestic view of the Maya Mountains and the Belizean coast as you see for miles the Beauty that is Belize. Coming back we also have a series of exciting natural slides that you can take up until the halfway part of your hike.
You also have the option of adding a calm river tube through the Maya Mountains, with the chance to view howler monkeys and boa constrictors hanging on to the majestic trees by the river bed.
Experience the Rainforest while you explore the Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary. The world’s first reserve of its kind! Through Dr. Alan Rabinowitz's ecological studies conducted ... morebetween 1982 and 1984, it was observed that the Cockscomb Basin contained the highest population density of Jaguars ever recorded. Therefore in 1984, the area was initially declared a forest reserve with a “No Hunting” ordinance to protect the large Jaguar population and their habitat. It was later declared a wildlife sanctuary in 1986.
While at the preserve, we hike well-established trails through the rainforest learning about the flora and fauna. Along the way, one may see evidence of Jaguars and other mammals such as Howler Monkeys, Tapir or Peccaries (wild pigs). The preserve is also a haven to over 300 bird species making it an added attraction to the avid Bird Watcher. We will also have the opportunity to take a refreshing swim at one of the waterfalls’ pools and for the more adventurous will allow additional time to trek to the summit for a spectacular panoramic view of the basin. After a picnic lunch we gather “inner tubes” and life vest, proceed to South Stann Creek River to finish our expedition tubing down the gentle river while taking in the scenery and spotting wildlife and more birds.
Our Cockscomb Basin waterfalls jungle hike tour starts off just 45 minutes drive out of Hopkins Belize. This hiking tour includes a stop at a waterfall inside the reserve, this is ... morewhere you can enjoy a refreshing swim.
The park offers a wide variety of hikes of varying lengths and difficulty, including to Ben's Bluff, which has a spectacular view of the entire Basin, and to a waterfall where you can enjoy a refreshing swim. It is also known for its spectacular waterfalls, mountain views, nature trails, and rich diversity of over 290 species of birds. The tracks of wildcats, tapir, deer, and other wildlife are often seen on hiking trails. As jaguars and other cats are nocturnal, it is unlikely that you will see them, but you can spot fresh tracks. The Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary is home to the jaguars, pumas, ocelots, margays, and jaguarundis as well as tapirs, deer, and monkeys.
Enjoy a combination of nature and culture at a low cost. Enjoy the refreshing waters of the waterfalls and river at Cockscomb Wildlife Sanctuary. Followed by a cultural adventure through ... morethe footsteps of the Garifuna ancestor. Surely unforgettable.
The Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary established in 1990 is world renowned for being the first jaguar reserve.Besides being the home to Belize's largest cat, the sanctuary protects ... morethe headwaters of two major river systems and supports an abundance of hardwood vegetation and a diverse faunal assemblage.Over 128,000 acres of lush jungle are ringed by the spectacular Cockscomb Mountains.Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary is home to all five (5) of Belize's cats: Jaguar, Puma, Margay, Jaguarundi, and Ocelot. It is estimated that over 80 resident Jaguars are in the area. Belize's national animal, the endangered Baird's Tapir also inhabits the Basin and over 290 different species of birds have been recorded.This tour is ideal for nature lovers and intrepid travelers.
Get a chance to be up close and personal with the majestic jaguar.
The Cockscomb Mayan Adventure Tour The Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary established in 1990 is world renowned for being the first jaguar reserve. This "one of a kind" nature park ... morewas established as a result of jaguar studies conducted in the area by Alan Rabinowitz (aka “The Indiana Jones of Wildlife Protection”). Besides being the home to Belize's largest cat, the sanctuary protects the headwaters of two major river systems and supports an abundance of hardwood vegetation and a diverse faunal assemblage. Over 128,000 acres of the lush jungle is ringed by the spectacular Cockscomb Mountains.
Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary is home to all five (5) of Belize's cats: Jaguar, Puma, Margay, Jaguarundi, and Ocelot. It is estimated that over 80 resident Jaguars are in the area. Belize's national animal, the endangered Baird's Tapir also inhabits the Basin and over 290 different species of birds have been recorded. This tour is ideal for nature lovers and intrepid travelers.
Drop off & Pick up at Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary*
Pickup from the requested area in Hopkins
Arrival 45 minutes after
Pickup from Cockscomb at the time requested
Arrival back at your requested destination
Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary is recognized internationally as the world’s first jaguar preserve. It is also known for its spectacular waterfalls, mountain views, nature trails, ... morethe rich diversity of neo-tropical birds, and the occasional encounter of land animals such as Gibnutt, coatimundi, and various wildlife.
This adventure requires a 1 hour + mins drive from Placencia where we stop at a Mayan Village where one can purchase traditional Mayan Art. A 6 miles off-road drive follows before arriving at the reserve, where we commence our tour with a nature hike looking for wildlife, discovering medicinal plants, and learning about the Park’s history & efforts to save Jaguar. Afterward, guests can enjoy a refreshing tube float down the river for almost an hour and a hike to a waterfall for an invigorating swim in its cool mountain waters.
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