Although tourists often flock to Belize to swim and dive in its warm Caribbean waters, those who venture inland can explore a lush rainforest densely populated with thousands of species of plants and animals. About half of this Central American country is covered by jungle. Several tours will take you into the rainforest to observe the flora and fauna. If you want a guaranteed shot at spotting some of the more elusive animals, you can catch many at the Belize Zoo.
Thousands of varieties of trees, plants and flowers grow in Belize's rainforest. Orchids alone come in more than 250 varieties in Belize, along with other epiphytes – "air plants" that grow on other plants – including flowering bromeliads and aroids. Colorful hibiscuses, poinsettias and thousands of other flowers also sprout in the rainforest. A useful food source is the towering breadfruit tree, which bears a fruit that can be ground into flour. You also can find, and be wary of, the poisonwood tree, which has a toxic sap that can blister your skin.
Birds and Reptiles
Belize is home to at least 543 species of birds, many living within the rainforest. The blue-crowned motmot, distinguished by its long tail with a tennis racket-like tip, is a common find. Other birds include spoonbills, grebes and the jabiru storks, which is the largest bird in Belize and can have a wingspan as big as 8 feet. The rainforest also is home to a wide variety of lizards, iguanas and snakes, including the highly venomous and dangerous fer-de-lance. At the Belize Zoo, you're sure to see toucans, macaws, the harpy eagle and the king vulture.
Five different types of wildcats live in Belize's rainforest. Hunting thinned much of the jaguar population throughout North America, but Belize is still home to one of the largest populations of the leopard-like cats as well as its darker-furred, smaller relative the jaguarundi. The forest also is home to the reclusive margay, a small, nocturnal tiger-like cat that lives in trees. The ocelot, now endangered after years of hunting for its fur, also has a large population in Belize. Mountain lions, known as pumas in Belize, are the largest wildcat in the Belize rainforest. Difficult to see in the wild, you'll see several cats at the Belize Zoo, including a rescued jaguar that was trapped after it was thought to be killing ranchers' cattle.
Howler monkeys, which can shriek loud enough to be heard from miles away, live in Belize, and the Americas' rainforests are the only places to find them worldwide. In Belize, the black howler monkey, an endangered species, is among their ranks. The forest also is home to gibnuts, large rodents that can weigh more than 20 lbs. The long-nosed, raccoon-like coatimundi is one of the more common mammals in Belize. They're often seen near people, as they like to eat scraps discarded by humans. Its relative the kinkajou, a quick, long-tailed animal that lives in trees, also is abundant. The pig-like tapir, also known as the mountain cow, often feeds and swims along the forest's rivers. All of these animals are in the Belize Zoo.
Michael Baker has worked as a full-time journalist since 2002 and currently serves as editor for several travel-industry trade publications in New York. He previously was a business reporter for "The Press of Atlantic City" in New Jersey and "The [Brazoria County] Facts" in Freeport, Texas. Baker holds a Master of Science in journalism from Quinnipiac University in Hamden, Conn.