Cockscomb rainforest from the Tiger Fern lookout

BELIZE · WILD BY NATURE

Closer to
the wild.

Seven protected places. Countless reasons to slow down, look closer, and leave with a little more wonder.

Find your next adventure ↗ Explore the map ↗

01 / COCKSCOMB BASIN © Cephas · CC BY-SA 4.0

FROM REEF TO RAINFOREST

START WITH WHAT YOU LOVE

What kind of day
are you dreaming of?

A reef encounter, a quiet birdwatching morning, or a forest adventure? Find your starting point, then make it your own.

Reef & island days

Blue water, coastal forest and marine life at Lighthouse Reef.

2 places to explore

Birds & quiet moments

Wetland mornings, seabird colonies and a closer look at nature.

4 places to explore

Forest & mountain trails

Shaded walks, rainforest viewpoints and guided adventures.

4 places to explore

Caves & freshwater

Discover St. Herman’s caves and the inland Blue Hole.

1 place to explore

THE SEVEN PROTECTED AREAS

Choose your adventure.

Fees & planning essentials ↗

All places Reef & sea Forest & mountains Birdwatching Caves & freshwater Stay overnight

Explore the interactive BAS map ↗ Places, photographs, trails & field stories

7 places to explore

LIGHTHOUSE REEF

Blue Hole

Natural Monument

A circle of blue. A world below.

Find on the map ↗

Explore

Half Moon Caye and the surrounding reef.

LIGHTHOUSE REEF

Half Moon Caye

Natural Monument

An island alive with seabirds.

Find on the map ↗

Explore

The forest from the Tiger Fern lookout, Cockscomb Basin.

STANN CREEK

Cockscomb Basin

Wildlife Sanctuary

Follow the forest’s quieter paths.

Find on the map ↗

Explore

The Victoria Peak ridge, photographed in 2010.

MAYA MOUNTAINS

Victoria Peak

Natural Monument

Earn a different perspective.

Find on the map ↗

Explore

The freshwater Blue Hole at St. Herman’s National Park.

CAYO

St. Herman’s Blue Hole

National Park

Where the forest meets the underworld.

Find on the map ↗

Explore

Riverbank forest at Guanacaste National Park, Belize.

BELMOPAN

Guanacaste

National Park

A little forest. A lovely detour.

Find on the map ↗

Explore

Wetland scenery at Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary.

BELIZE DISTRICT

Crooked Tree

Wildlife Sanctuary

Slow down. Look to the water.

Find on the map ↗

Explore

The Great Blue Hole and its turquoise reef rim

LIGHTHOUSE REEF · BELIZE

Some places
change your perspective.

The Blue Hole and Half Moon Caye make an unforgettable pairing: a remarkable marine landscape and an island full of life. Plan them with an experienced operator and give wildlife room to thrive.

Explore the marine monuments ↗ Photo: Agnes Lee · Unsplash

THE WORK BEHIND THE WONDER

From the field.

All field stories ↗

A closer look at the places you visit, drawn from BAS’s own reports and field guides.

The trees behind the seabirds

At Half Moon Caye, BAS’s 2024 census found boobies favoring ziricote and frigatebirds favoring milk berry. Look at the nesting trees, too.

BAS Annual Report 2024 p. 28 ↗PDF · 81 MB

Half Moon Caye →

A wetland that holds floodwater

Crooked Tree holds floodwater from the Belize River. BAS’s 2024 report describes daily water-level monitoring: the wetland matters to communities as well as birds.

BAS Annual Report 2024 p. 29 ↗PDF · 81 MB

Crooked Tree →