MONKEY RIVER

Just 12 miles south west of Placencia lays the Monkey River, a naturalist’s paradise.  Travel by boat along the coast, weaving through a maze of mangroves estuaries in search of manatees which are often seen playing in the water.  After just 30 minutes you will arrive at the mouth of the Monkey River.  Your guide will then slowly meander upstream, where he will point out numerous species of birds and animals, and answer any questions you have on the area.  Look out for iguanas napping in the trees or turtles and crocodiles sunning in the water.

At about 3 or 4 miles up river you will take a hike through the locally cut forest trails in search of a chance to get a close up view of the howler monkeys that call this fascinating river home.  Along the trails your guide will also educate you in the medicinal uses of the surrounding flora and fauna.  Once back at the river you have a chance to go for a refreshing swim.  Then it’s back down river to enjoy a local lunch at one of the village’s family-run restaurants along with a tour of Monkey River Village – a Creole fishing village.

Wear a bathing suit with light weight cover up and sturdy shoes or sandals, that you don’t mind getting wet and dirty.  Don’t forget to bring your camera, sunscreen, sunglasses, a hat, towel and insect repellant!  Binoculars and a field guide are a plus if you have your own.

 

PRIVATE ISLAND SNORKELING or Overnight

French Louis Caye is a small mangrove island located 8 miles offshore, with exquisite coral reefs and facinating mangrove ecology.  Once used as a fishing camp by the locals, it has now been adapted for tourists, while still preserving the flavor of the local camp.  The mangrove environment is the nursery of the sea.  The mangrove roots offer protection for the infant sea life, and the leaves supply food.  Because of this rich ecology the snorkeling is outstanding, both in the mangrove jungle and on the pristine coral reef that completely surrounds the island.  The area is well populated with hundreds of varieties of fish, sea creatures and all kinds of soft and hard corals.  If you search the mangrove roots one can observe an amazing array of sea creatures, including octupus, sea worms, sea anemones, tiny fish, crabs, lobsters, sea horse, starfish and more.

While staying on the island you can also make use of the kayaks, simply hang out in a hammock and do some bird watching or relax on the beach and do some sun bathing.

For those overnighting you have a choice of living in a simple wooden house with an equipped kitchen, all cooking utensils, stove and butane refrigerator, a small dining area, nive covered porch and a seperate bedroom with a queen bed and a bunk bed or you can go more romantic and stay in a tent on the pristine coral sand found on the caye.  A bath house nearby offers a tiled hot shower and toilet facilities.

In either case a watchman/cook/guide will cater to your every need.

XUNANTUNICH AND INLAND BLUE HOLE


The name, according to one interpretation, means "Maiden of the Rock" in the Yucatec dialect. It is pronounced " Zoo-nan-two-nich." It was the first site in Belize to be opened to the public, when the road and a ferry were built in 1954.

DETAILED ITINERARY

The day is long and the ride is on three major highways in Belize. The scenery is breathtaking and there are many opportunities for picture taking. The Hummingbird Highway is the most scenic of all. Lots of birds can be seen and there may be a chance of seeing Belize’s National Bird, the Toucan. We depart Placencia at 7:00am with approximately a three hours ride to the site of Xunantunich. We enter the site using a manually operated ferry to cross the Mopan River.

Xunantunich is located at San Jose Succotz Village in the Cayo District, eight miles west of San Ignacio Town. Here we begin the first leg of our tour with a knowledgeable local tour guide. Xunantunich was a major ceremonial center during the Classic Period (300-900 AD). The site is composed of six major plazas, surrounded by more than twenty-five temples and palaces. The most prominent structure located at the south end of the site is the pyramid "El Castillo"(The Castle) which is 130 feet high above the plaza. This was the tallest man-made structure in all of Belize, until the discovery of "Caana" at Caracol. The most notable feature on "El Castillo" is located on the east side of the lower temple. There you will find a reconstructed frieze, a banded stucco decoration, which at one time extended around the entire pyramid.

After the tour we will have lunch at a jungle restaurant. Following lunch, we head back to Blue Hole National Park for a refreshing swim in the sapphire waters of the Blue Hole. We then continue the journey to Placencia arriving at around 6:00pm, just in time for dinner.

What to bring:Sandals, shorts are okay, however pants that can be converted to shorts are perfect for those sensitive to bugs/biting insects, lightweight t-shirt, Swim Suit, towels, sunscreen, hats, water, bug spray, camera and money for entrance fees and souvenirs.

Leve of Diffucultyl: Light

What is included/not included:
Included are local lunches, soda and water.
Not included is US$5.00 per person entrance fee at Xunantunich and
US$4.00 per person at Blue Hole National Park.


 

NIM LI PUNIT ARCHEOLOGICAL SITE

Nim Li Punit was built in the Late Classic Period and is one of the smaller Maya sites. It is well known for the large amount of stelae found at the location. A stela is a large stone with pictures or words carved onto it. The word “Nim Li Punit” was derived from a carving found on the longest of the site's twenty-six stelae, depicting a figure wearing a large headdress. In the Maya Kekchi language, Nim Li Punit means "big hat". The Stela is the longest in Belize and the second longest found in the Maya World measuring 9 meters in length.

Nim Li Punit is located half mile off the Southern Highway, just outside the village of Indian Creek in the Toledo District. The site is accessed using a dirt road that is fairly steep and hilly. Upon reaching the top of a ridge, you will find the visitor center. The visitor center consists of two buildings which are artistically built with huge stone pieces, black corrugated iron railings and old fashioned wooden doors with glass panes. The structure blends in naturally with its surroundings. Inside, many precious artifacts are on display. Several of the displays provide information and pictures about the customs, dress, food, dance, and language of the Maya people.

LUBAANTUN ARCHEOLOGICAL SITE

Lubaanntun means "Place of the Fallen Stones" and was occupied from 700-900 AD (generally the Late Classic Period). Lubaantun is the only known Mayan settlement in Belize in which buildings were constructed without mortar (other settlements exist in Mexico and Honduras, but not Belize).

Lubaantun is the largest Maya site in Southern Belize. It is well known for its unusual style of construction. All of the structures are made of limestone blocks with no visible mortar binding them together. The strength of each structure lies in every hand-cut stone, which was carefully measured and shaped to fit snugly next to each neighboring block.

Eleven large structures tower above five main plazas and three ball courts. Unlike most other Maya ceremonial sites, the existing structures are solid and have no doorways. Another unique feature, not found in other sites around the region, is the rounded corners on the structures. Since no corbelled arches exist, it is believed that perishable materials such as wood and thatch, were used to build superstructures at the highest levels.

Lubantuun is believed to have been an administrative, religious, political, and commercial center, mainly used for occasional festivals, ball games, and other sacred ceremonies. Although no stelae were found here, the site is well-known for its abundance of ceramic whistle figurines. A few burial tombs are also present.

The famous, yet controversial, crystal skull was supposedly discovered in 1926 by Anna Mitchell-Hedges, daughter of archaeologist, F. Mitchell-Hedges, during an expedition on her seventeenth birthday. This perfectly shaped human skull carved from an 8 inch cube of rock crystal is still possessed by Anna who lives in Canada. The origin of the crystal skull remains a mystery.

BLUE CREEK CAVE

One of the most impressive natural sites in the Toledo District is the Hokeb Ha Cave in Blue Creek Village. The cave is a 20 minute hike from the village. The trail is a well marked, sometimes cemented, path which leads to a clearing, where you will find the research station. From this point you will continue with your guide until you meet a wide, dry creek filled with white stones. After crossing the dry creek, you will continue hiking beside the creek heading upstream along the base of increasingly steep limestone cliffs. In a few minutes, a 10 foot waterfall and the main cave entrance appears.

Long vines hang from the sheer rock wall above the cave mouth. The huge cave entrance is carved from the summit of a hill where the Blue Creek bubbles from beneath the ground. The creek runs out of the entrance of the cave, cascading over limestone boulders, under the towering shadows of the surrounding rainforest. Archaeologists have found many Late Classic ceramics potteries, as well as an altar inside the cave, leading them to theorize that the Hokeb Ha cave was used specifically for ceremonial purposes.

DETAILED ITINERARY:

This is a combination tour, either two ruins (Nim Li Punit and Lubaantun) or the ruins and cave (Nim Li Punit and Blue Creek Cave). The tour departs Placencia at 7:30 am with an hour and a half drive to Nim Li Punit. A 2 hour guided tour of the site follows our arrival. Lunch is served at a jungle restaurant in Big Falls Village.

After a nice, healthy lunch we will continue with a 1/2 hour drive to either Lubaantun (if you are doing two ruins), or to Blue Creek Cave (if you are doing the Ruins and Cave tour). Both tours start at 7:30 am and are a full day, going until approximately 5:00pm.

What to bring:Hiking boots, shorts are okay, however pants that can be converted to shorts are perfect for those sensitive to bugs/biting insects, lightweight t-shirt, change of clothes, towels, sunscreen, hats, water, bug spray, camera and money for entrance fees and souvenirs.

Leve of Diffucultyl: Light to Moderate

What is included/not included:
Included are local lunches, soda and water.
Not included is US$5.00 per person entrance fee at any of the Mayan Ruins and US$2.00 per person at Blue Creek Cave.

 

JAGUAR PRESERVE

Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary, established in 1990, is world renowned for being the first jaguar reserve. This “one of a kind” reserve was established as a result of jaguar studies conducted in the area by Alan Rabinowitz in 1984 to 1986. Besides being the home to Belize’s largest cat, the Sanctuary protects the headwaters of the Swasey River, South Stann Creek River and Sitee River Systems and supports an abundance of hardwood vegetation types and a diverse faunal assemblage.

Over 128,000 acres of lush jungle are ringed by the spectacular Cockscomb Mountains. The wonders and diversity are accessible to both the casual visitor and the serious naturalist through a series of nature trails. These trails vary in degrees of difficulty ranging from an easy hour-long stroll along the river to a four (4) day challenge of conquering Victoria Peak. The Victoria Peak trail is only accessible during the dry season and requires a permit and a tour guide which can be arranged through Exotic Belize Tours.

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. The preserve is believed to have the world's highest density of Jaguar as well as several other cat species. Belize’s national animal, the endangered Baird’s Tapir also inhabit the Basin and over 290 different species of birds have been recorded. No wonder why the Jaguar Preserve is leading in birdwatcher’s destination in Belize.

DETAILED ITINERARY

Start your day with a 45 minute drive to Maya Center Village through the banana field and citrus groves. Maya Center is also the entrance to the Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary. We will stop briefly to sign in and to view the beautiful hand-carved slate plaques, baskets, clothing and jewelry made by the local Mayan women. The continuation of the drive is very slow, spent listening to the sounds of nature that surround us. Sometimes the call of a Keel-Billed Toucan can be heard in the distance. An occasional stop will be made for photo opportunities, as well as to view native birds, and even the occasional monkey.
At the ranger’s office, we will check in at the font desk, followed by a brief orientation and history of the park. Next we will visit the original cages built by the founder Alan Robinowitz and stop at the visitor center. The day continues as we depart on a nature trail hike with your naturalist guide. Your guide will take you on several established trails, each with its own unique characteristics. As you walk, the guide will interpret the flora and fauna that makes the preserve such an amazing place.
We will return to the ranger station for lunch and brief rest as the fun continues in the afternoon. After enjoying our home-cooked lunch we pick up our inner tubes and hike to the river. Once there, we will cool off floating down the South Stann Creek River. The current will gently take you away while you take advantage of the opportunities for taking pictures of this breath-taking jungle river float.
After the journey down the river, we will proceed with a hike to the local waterfall for a refreshing swim. You will have the chance to swim under the waterfall and receive a natural massage from the flowing water. The adventure continues with a natural waterslide, created by the flow of the river. We will slide, jump and swim our way downstream. We recommend an underwater camera with flash for this adventure.
The tour doesn’t end till we get back to Placencia or at your resort.

What to bring:iking boots, shorts okay, unless bothered by bugs, then long pants as this is inland trip (pants that zip at the knee to be long pants or short pants), lightweight t-shirt, swim suit, towels, sunscreen, hats, water, bug spray, camera and money if souvenirs are to be purchased.

Leve of Diffucultyl: Light to Moderate

What is included/not included:
Included are home cooked lunch and water
Not included is US$5.00 per person entrance fee.