- Address: Orange Walk, Belize;
- Area: 817 km ²;
- Created: in 1988;
- Website: pfbelize.org;
- Phone: +501 227-5616.
The state of Belize is filled with stunning natural attractions . Despite the small territory of the country, it is in this place that many environmental areas are concentrated, most of which are occupied by magnificent parks and fascinating reserves. One of the most memorable is the Rio Bravo Reserve, widely known among tourists outside the country
History of the Reserve
The Rio Bravo Reserve was established in 1988 as part of a special program to protect many tropical forests from deforestation. It is worth noting that in the late 1980s, a serious ecological catastrophe was projected in Belize , manifested in the massive deforestation of tropical forests, the territories of which were intended for citrus plantations. With the increase in the scale of felling, the area of the exotic jungle quickly declined. Having secured a protected area on the deserted territory, the government of Belize has ensured that after several decades the jungle could fully recover in all its glory.
Rio-Bravo Nature Reserve - description
The Rio Bravo Reserve is located in the northwestern part of Belize at Orange Walk and is the largest ecologically clean area in Belize , which covers almost 4% of the entire territory of this tiny country. The natural area of the Rio Bravo spread its holdings more than 930 square meters. km. A huge area of the reserve is occupied by real wild jungle, which will certainly attract the attention of ecotourism lovers.
Many of the rare representatives of fauna and flora are represented in the Rio Bravo. Here you can find about 70 species of animals and 392 species of birds, see unique plants. The territory of the natural park is inhabited by species that are on the verge of extinction, among which you can list: Central American spider monkey, ocelots, black monkeys howler, tapirs, jaguarundi, jaguars, pumas.
In addition to natural beauty, the reserve can also offer cultural attractions: about 40 sites of traces of the ancient Mayan civilization.
The reserve is allowed a limited number of tourists, on average for the year their number is only a few thousand. Such prohibitions are established in order to preserve as long as possible the special ecosystem of this tropical place.
The Rio Bravo reserve is considered to be one of the most majestic untouched places on the whole planet. Incredible scales, exotic plants and the rarest animals will conquer the heart of any tourist.
How to get to the reserve?
To get to the reserve, you will first need to get to Orange Walk. Nearby are the airports in the following cities: San Ignacio (32 km), Dangriga (58 km), Philip Goldson in Belize City (62 km). From these you can get to Orange Walk by bus or car.