Belize has some wonderful places to visit. Along with your volunteer service, why not take advantage of being here and enjoy some of these beautiful and interesting sites?

Jaguar Creek Area
Jaguar Creek Reserve
Our facility is in the midst of our own private jungle reserve of 700 acres so there is plenty of property to explore. Boa Constrictors, Howler Monkeys and Keel-billed Toucans call this home.

The Creek
Close and very refreshing–especially in the middle of a hot afternoon–Jaguar Creek flows out of a cave, meanders through jungle and then goes back underground.

Trails
Trails wander around the creek of Jaguar Creek, out to Blue Hole and through the Reserve.

Blue Hole National Park
This park with its 574 acres of tropical forest is run by the Belize Audubon Society and is home to over 250 species of birds, huge trees, caves and some magnificent limestone karst topography. The Visitor Center, with exhibits, picnic facilities and bathroom make it a great place to start. St. Herman’s Cave is not only a long, dark (about 1/4 mile) fascinating cave, it is also an important Mayan archeological site. The Observation Tower requires a vigorous hike, but the view makes it worthwhile. The Blue Hole - This is a fantastic tropical swimming hole with water 25 feet deep. This grotto is a limestone sinkhole (a collapsed cave) with an underground river flowing from it. The Hummingbird Loop Trail - Starts (and ends) near the Blue Hole.

Guided Cave Exploration
Hike or float along a river through a cave. Either way, you’ll be able to see Mayan artifacts where they have lain for centuries, cave life and beautiful cave formations. A short drive from Jaguar Creek.

Hummingbird Homestays
Several Ke’tchi, Maya and Hispanic families open up their homes in Armenia Village to visitors for a fee. You have the opportunity to eat the same food and sleep the same way they do. The host families will likely befriend the members of your group and are willing to introduce them to their way of life - a way of life very different from the normal North American experience.

Belmopan Area: The Nation’s Capital
The Market Area, Busses, and the National Buildings
This area is the central part of Belmopan. In the buildings around the parking lot, which serves as the center of the market, there are fresh fruit and produce stands, a “finger-licking” BBQ chicken stand, and small shops in market stalls. Busses leave the nearby bus station going to Belize City, San Ignacio, Dangriga and beyond. Off to the side of the market is a collection of modern looking cement buildings. These are national government offices. This area of Belmopan is especially active on market days, which are Tuesday and Friday.

Guanacaste National Park
Managed by the Belize Audubon Society, this 50 acre park is at the junction of the Western and Hummingbird Highways and gets its name from a huge Guanacaste tree that escaped the axes of the last century. The Guanacaste tree is on a short trail that passes by the Belize River. There is also a new and very nice swimming and sunning structure on the river here.

Belize River Birding
A nearby lodge on the banks of the Belize River has a wonderful bird observation tower on a large pond. Montezuma’s Oropendula, Red-lored Parrots, Boat-billed Herons and many more birds are here.

Beyond Belmopan
Cahal Pech Mayan Ruins
This is a small site, but an interesting one because it is easy to visualize the people actually living in the dwellings and around the temple. Excavation is ongoing - so you might see archaeologists in action.

Xunantanich Mayan Ruins
A major tourist attraction, the main temple structure, El Castillo, rises 130 feet. Climbing it gives you a great view of the local countryside and a peek across the border into Guatemala. You may want to consider hiring a guide. They offer great insight, historical stories and even a little humor to the visit.

Macal River Canoe Trip
Canoe down the Macal River; it’s a great way to see the river the way it should be seen. You may see a bit of white water - but nothing extreme. Birds are abundant and you’ll very likely see Iguanas basking on tree trunks. You’ll probably swim too!

Barton Creek Cave Canoe Trip
This is an afternoon or morning trip - but you won’t know which while you are in the cave! Your guide points out fascinating formations as you paddle and drift through the darkness. This is a very unique trip.

The Butterfly Farm
Many different species of butterflies are studied and captive bred in this large greenhouse. The butterflies are gorgeous and it is a fascinating visit.

The Belize Zoo
On the way to Belize City spend at least an hour here. It started with a few animals cast off after a movie, has grown, and is now a center of environmental education for the entire country. A must see.

Reef and Beach
Belize has the world’s second largest barrier reef and so is a snorkeling and diving paradise. There are about 200 islands along the reef; some are reserved for wildlife, most are uninhabited, and a few have been developed for the tourist industry.

Caye Caulker
A small island with recreational options, restaurants and lodging. Simple and inexpensive. Snorkeling is very good and manatee watching is an option.

San Pedro/Ambergris Caye
A major tourist attraction. More expensive and developed than Caye Caulker. Snorkeling is very good. Diving can be arranged from here.

Tobacco Caye
This very small island barely rises above the barrier reef. It is a popular destination and is literally full of places to stay. Good snorkeling.

Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary
This is a great wildlife viewing site. It is run by the Belize Audubon Society and is one of the premiere bird watching spots of the country. It’s one of those places best seen with a guide and boat since most of the 3,000 acres is wetlands.

Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary
This is about 20 miles southwest of Dangriga, is 102,000 acres large and run by the Belize Audubon Society. It was set aside as a reserve for jaguar and the numbers here are probably higher than anywhere else in Belize.

Mountain Pine Ridge
The Maya Mountains, of which Mountain Pine Ridge is a part, are geologically and biologically unique because they are elevationally isolated from their surroundings. Plants and birds are different here due to the granite and metamorphic rock base (as opposed to limestone elsewhere) and the cooler and higher environment. This trip goes up into the pine-covered forest of this region where there are superb examples of differing types of forestry management. Currently much of the pine forest is affected by the Pine Bark Beetle and so is dying. Four wheel drive may be needed.

Caracol: The Belizean Tikal
This huge Mayan site is 17 kilometers square, but there is a central area and that is the main attraction. There is good evidence that Tikal was once defeated by Caracol, and the tallest human structure in all of Belize is here - not in Belize City. There are huge temples and a nice entrance museum that explains what you will be seeing. This is a site of active restoration and investigation - so you may see archeologists at work. Four wheel drive may be needed since it is in the Mountain Pine Ridge area.

Guatemala: Tikal National Park
This is a world-class archeological site as evidenced by the cosmopolitan nature of the tourists that throng to this special place. Several huge temples rise out of the jungle mist and the area teems with wildlife. It will take you all of one day to see only some of what there is here. This is a must see if you are in the area.