E x p l o r e  L a n d  a n d  S e a

  P l a c e n c i a ,  B e l i z e

As you know by now Placencia is already noted for its spectacular marine adventures like snorkeling, scuba diving and fishing, but did you know it is also the ideal base for a variety of inland adventures?

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Monkey River Float and Jungle Trail Walk is a popular trip to – you guessed it – Monkey River! A half-hour boat ride down the coast from Placencia and through a maze of mangroves, which by the way is a great area for spotting manatees, will take you there.

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Crossing over the river entrance sandbar you’ll pass by the village of Monkey River where you will stop to pick up one of the local guides who consider the jungle you are about to enter as their backyard. Meandering along upriver at a slow pace, your guide will point out an amazing amount of wildlife, which on any given day could include boa constrictors, green iguana, crocodiles, and wild deer.

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And lets not forget the birds – this is a bird watchers paradise! Soon you’ll reach the trail that winds back into the jungle which you will follow in search of the elusive Howler Monkey. Get ready to cover your ears - just a few slaps of the broadside of your guide's machete against the trees bring the monkeys to life - their howls can be deafening! When you return to the boat you can take a refreshing dip in the river. Don’t worry, your guide will make sure you are in a croc-free water hole. After cooling off, head back down river for a tour of Monkey River Village – a true old style Creole fishing village – and enjoy a delicious meal at one of the village’s family-run restaurants.

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If you are looking for a bit of “ancient” exploration you will not be disappointed – just a quick hop by boat across the Placencia Lagoon and a two hour van ride along the Southern Highway will bring you to the Maya Ruin sites of Nim Li Punit, discovered in 1976, and Lubaantun, discovered about 1903. Once great city-states of the Mayan World, these partially excavated sites help to provide you with the backdrop for the incredible tales your guide will tell you of days long past. Tales of Xibalba, the Mayan Underworld, and tales of the brother heros and their many challenges to their gods. Standing in the silent courtyards you can almost feel the ghosts of the past .

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About an hour’s drive from Placencia, is the Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary, home of the world's first Jaguar Reserve. Although it is rare to see a jaguar (they are nocturnal), you can be sure they are watching you as you feel their presence while exploring their home. The Cockscomb sanctuary is also host to a number of different species of birds, plants and other wildlife. After hours of hiking trails filled with the likes of iguanas, peccaries, deer and other four legged friends, cool off under the refreshing waterfall, or swim in the clear, fresh water of the stream before heading home.
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For nature lovers and adventurers alike,
Placencia is exactly what you have been looking for!

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