Nestled in a 29 acre sanctuary located only 30 miles west of Belize City, over 125 native Belize animals are helping to educate an audience of the necessity of preserving the natural habitat that has helped to place Belize at the top of the eco-tourism list. Begun in 1983 by Sharon Matola, the Belize City Zoo has gained international recognition for its efforts to teach future generations an attitude of respect and responsibility for the diverse natural habitats and species in Belize.
Visitors walk on a network of raised gravel paths through natural savannahs and transplanted rainforests to different exhibits complemented by humorous, hand-painted signs that call attention to the varying habitats and endangered status of each animal. Those desiring to see theses magnificent creatures including howler monkeys, jaguars, and toucans must be patient and have a keen eye since the thick cover of the vegetation in these large enclosures often makes spotting these animals a bit of a challenge. The interactive informational exhibits along the way and the innovative visitors’ center help inspire children and adults alike to learn about these native creatures and make this zoo one of the most kid-friendly attractions in Belize. A large attraction is the celebration of April the tapir’s birthday, in which kids from all over the country come to help feed her a cake made of vegetable mash!
The Belize Zoo, cooperating also with the Tropical Education and Research Center adjacent to the sanctuary, has experienced great success in raising environmental awareness in Belizeans and visitors alike to work towards respecting and restoring the deteriorating habitats that harbor these spectacular species of wildlife. A small gift shop is also open to the public and visitors will want to bring a hat for the hot midday sun and a bottle of water. The zoo operates daily and is open from 9 am to 5 pm.
Kelly and Rhenee were excellent to work with on planning our trip. The logistics all worked smoothly and everyone was friendly and on time. Our accommodations were very good, particularly the incredible Patagonia Camp in Torres del Paine! Our guides on every excursion were outstanding and made the hikes memorable! Overall we had a wonderful trip with incredible memories!
Scott Gibson
1 day ago
Adventure Life is definitely a first-class safari tour company, and our representative was Franny Friesz. First of all, she responded immediately after we contacted Adventure Life. We told Franny that we had never been on a safari, and she was more than eager to offer a mountain of information about the trip. She informed us fully about all the ups, downs, and all arounds! She even prepared a number of packages for us to review -- even after we made changes to the areas we wanted to explore. Friendly, helpful, professional, and extremely knowledgeable -- these words describe Franny, and what a wonderful trip she prepared! We couldn't have asked for better service than Franny of Adventure Life. We HIGHLY recommend her and her outstanding company! Bon Voyage!
Prima Burke
2 days ago
The staff at Adventure Life made planning my family's trip to the Galapagos Islands as easy as possible. They listened to what we were hoping to experience and made thoughtful suggestions about how to accomplish our vacation goals while meeting the needs of travelers ages 17-76! They patiently answered questions and follow up questions in the months leading up to the trip. They helped us trouble shoot and customize the trip in every way possible. The logistics involved in traveling from Boston to the Galapagos are innumerable. The Adventure Life staff helped us arrange every detail and the team they assembled in the Galapagos was tremendous. I have never done a trip this big before and after working with Adventure Life this time--would not hesitate one second in working with them again.
Jennifer Howard Schroeder
3 days ago
Kevin got right on our request and had us booked within the week