Belize is rich with history, cultural diversity and natural wonders to explore. There are seemingly unlimited recreational options.
Scuba Diving
Scuba diving and snorkeling are the major tourism attraction in Belize.
The diving is world class. The barrier reef, which runs for 140 miles from
Mexico to southern Belize, provides some of the most amazing and beautiful
underwater experiences in the world.
Water temperature hovers around 80 F year-round. Visibility is 75 - 150 feet.
A special treat, if you're lucky enough to experience it, is the whale shark migration. Every year from March through June, whale sharks migrate to an area off the coast of Belize called Gladdin Spit. Seeing one of these massive but gentle giants is truly an amazing sight you'll want to experience. Click here to see a whale shark video from our dive trip in March of 2006.
Fishing
Belize is unmatched in its
diversity of angling opportunities. Fish the inland rivers for enormous Jewfish
and Cubera Snapper. Huge Tarpon, Permit and Bonefish cruise the shallow
waters of the cayes. Troll outside the reef for Marlin, Billfish, Wahoo, Shark
and Dorado. Permit, Snapper, Snook, Grouper, King Mackerel, Barracuda and more
are plentiful. This is a fisherman's heaven! Contact
Jaguar Reef,
Hamanasi or
many other quality guides for fantastic fishing packages.
Below is a quote from the Belize forums. It is a response to someone who had asked about a good place to go tarpon fishing. The Southern lagoon to which he refers is directly adjacent to and accessible from the Western Lagoon, where Manatee Bay is located. It would be a short 15 minute boat ride from our dock to the river.
posted 03-07-2007
11:11 AM 
I have caught ferocious 'baby' tarpon (20-30lb), as well as barracuda & jack, up a jungle river tributary that flows into the Southern Lagoon. This is a remote spot, far enough away from the major commercial guides that it gets little fishing pressure. Book yourself a room at the Manatee Lodge (www.manateelodge.com), at the end of the Gales Point Peninsula. They'll 'hook' you up with a lcoal fishing guide, John, who has all the gear you'll need for a fantastic jungle-river or lagoon tarpon battle. And the scenery is breath-taking My family & I don't like the commercialism of the more popular cayes, & Gales Point is such a remote village, from back in time, that you will find plenty to do besides shopping and bars. Have fun! |
Also, Cornhouse Creek, which runs by the south end of the Manatee Bay property, flows into this river. We have canoed the creek from the Manatee Bay property to the river. It is a beautiful canoe ride and we saw a manatee at the confluence of the creek and the river.
Cave Tubing, Zip-lining, Hiking, Bird Watching, Kayaking, Mayan Ruins
Belize offers wonderful
opportunities for the outdoor enthusiast and adventure traveler to experience
activities unavailable in most parts of the world. There are many
adventure companies that provide a variety of tour experiences, such as
Caves Branch Jungle Lodge.
The Oceanic Society has a Belize Field Station that offers a wide variety of conservation-based research opportunities and interesting expeditions.
Monkey Bay Wildlife Sanctuary is an environmental education center that specializes in experiential learning programs. Educational and adventure activities include hiking, bird watching, canoeing, swimming, caving and evening campfire drumming.
Red Bank Village, a small town 2 hours south, is the seasonal home to the largest concentration of Scarlet Macaw in Central America. The macaws are seen in this area for a brief period of time each year when they emerge from the forest to feed on the ripe fruit of the Annatto tree. Local Mayan guides provide tours to view the magnificent Scarlet Macaw and other native birds, such as toucans, oropendolas, herons, hummingbirds, and thousands of parrots. The trip would also provide interesting insight into the life of the modern Maya of Belize.
Zoo
The Belize Zoo is not to be
missed. A beautiful zoo that houses more than 125 animals all native to
Belize. A
visit to the zoo is the best way to get an introduction to the animals of
Belize, and to understand why it is important to protect the habitats that
sustain them.
Jaguar Preserve
The Cockscomb Basin Wildlife
Sanctuary and Jaguar Preserve provides visitors the opportunity to see wildlife
in their natural habitat. It is the only preserve in the world created
specifically for the jaguar. Trails are cut through the rainforest to
allow wondrous views and bird watching opportunities. There are 300
different bird species and 55 mammals that inhabit the sanctuary. These
include Scarlet Macaws, Toucans, Red-Eyed Tree Frog, tapirs, and of course, the
jaguar.
To find a tour guide for the one of the many adventure opportunities, visit the Belize Tourism Board website.
