| |
|
Adventures
Hiking
You could hike forever in the jungles of Belize.
Some trails lead you through jungles, others take you to
lakes, caves, rivers, waterfalls, villages, and Mayan
ruins. Some of the best trails go through ancient
Maya cities, where a labyrinth of trails wind their way
past views of temples, pyramids, and green countryside.
River House Lodge is ideally located close to a variety
of excellent hiking locations ranging from short and easy to
long and difficult.
The nearby Cockscomb Basin
Wildlife Sanctuary offers splendid assortment of hiking
through a dense broadleaf forest to view wildlife,
waterfalls, lagoons, and vistas. The trails are well marked
and expeditions can last from an hour to 5 days within
this 160 square mile basin. Victoria Peak can be
reached during a four day hike (only in the dry season
and with a guide).
The River Overlook and Warrie Trails are usually the
best for wildlife. The lower forest and the
re-growth around the sanctuary head quarters (the old
logging camp) are good for birds.
Wardens can
point you to the best spots and sell you an inexpensive
trail map (about $1 US). Bring your swimming
attire and take a dip in the pristine waters of the
park.
Also close to River House
Lodge is the Mayflower Bocawina National Park, which has
an extensive series of trails that are perfect for day
trips. You can swim in one
of the crystalline pools of Silk Grass Creek or enjoy a
soft easy hike to Bocawina falls, a fairly strenuous
hike up to Antelope Falls, a full days hike up the ridge
of Bocawina Mountain, or explore the Mayan sites.
A little further and you
can go visit Davis Falls. You'll hear the
falls in the surrounding forest before seeing this
spectacular 300 foot falls drop over gleaming granite.
At its base is a pool of bubbling water that gets as
deep as 75 feet and is perfect for bathing away the
nearly two hour trek in.
Blue Hole National Park
(at Mile 45 along the Hummingbird Highway) has both
excellent hiking and caving opportunities. The
trails are well marked and maintained and provide
fantastic views (especially from the top of the lookout
tower). After hiking you should take a dip in the
beautiful and refreshing sapphire colored waters of the
Blue Hole (a large sink hole area where waters from an
underground river are exposed). |
 |
Antelope Pool
View from Antelope Falls
Blue Hole National Park
Trails
|
|
|
Factoids:
Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary is
the only jaguar preserve in the world.
Victoria Peak is the highest point in
Belize at 3675 feet. A journey to Victoria Peak takes roughly
5 days and is likely to give even the most hard core jungle trekker
something to think about.
Belize is truly a tropical paradise
and has mild, subtropical weather that varies little throughout the
year, with most of the changes in temperature due to differences in
elevation.
Belize is home to 4,000 species of
native flowering plants, 250 varieties of wild orchids, 700 species
of native trees and 550 species of birds.
You may hike alone but it
is usually better to arrange for a guided tour.
All you need are some directions, comfortable shoes,
hiking boots, insect repellant, food, water, a
camera, and a change of clothes.
A small fee may be
required for entrance into the established parks,
including the Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary, the
Mayflower Bocawina National Park, and Blue Hole National
Park.
|
