Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary is the world's first and only jaguar preserve. This spectacular preserve includes over 125,000 acres of pristine rainforest that jaguars, pumas, ocelots, kinkajous, coatimundis and almost 300 species of birds call home.

If you think the sanctuary is amazing in the daytime, imagine how spectacular it is at night. That's when you have a better chance of spotting the shy cats. It's also when you can experience the jungle's unique nightlife.

A Magical Experience

At Untame Belize, we find that our guests love this tour. They describe it as a breathtaking, magical experience. They can't believe the huge variety of animals they get to see in their natural habitat.

Many of the animals only come out at night. These include most of the big cats, foxes, opossums and the mountain tapir, which is Belize's national animal.

Travel Back In Time

As you enter this preserve in the shadow of the Maya Mountains, you'll see and hear the rainforest the same way the ancient Maya did. You'll get a sense of what they experienced before there were cars or electric lights. The deep silence and darkness of a true, untouched rainforest is something few people experience.

What Will You See?

You never know what you'll see in the preserve. We can't guarantee that you'll spot a jaguar or any other creature. These animals are shy, and spotting one is a rare opportunity.

We can guarantee that you'll be deeply inspired. We haven't yet had a guest who was disappointed by this magical, mysterious tour.

Is This Tour Right for You?

This is an ideal tour for any animal lover who wants to experience nature in as true, wild and untouched a setting as possible. It takes three to four hours to arrive at the sanctuary and hike through it.

What Is the Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary?

Cockscomb Basin was established in 1990 as a jaguar preserve. It also protects the upper watersheds of important river systems. The sanctuary is managed by the Belize Audubon Society. It is about 20 miles from Dangriga on the Southern Highway.

Untame Belize Is the Natural Choice for This Tour

Untame Belize is the leader in tours that let you see the wild side of Belize. Contact us today to schedule your night hike of the Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary.

Are you ready for a breathtaking snorkeling or diving experience? Don't miss the chance to swim with whale sharks in Belize.

What Are Whale Sharks?

Whale sharks are the biggest fish in the sea. Adults can grow up to 40 feet long and weigh 100 tons. These massive marine beasts live many years, and those that visit Belize might be 100 years old.

Although they have teeth, whale sharks are not dangerous to humans. They feed on plankton, small fish and the spawn of snappers.

A Rare Opportunity to swim with Whale Sharks in Belize

Whale sharks visit Belize during the spring and early summer. We're lucky enough to be one of their favorite resting and feeding spots as they make their journey across the world's oceans. The best place to see them is in the Gladden Spit, a protected area on the eastern side of the Belize Barrier Reef.

Whale Shark Protection is Serious

Whale sharks are a protected species. Because of this, the government of Belize has put strict limitations on the amount of contact people can have with them. Only tour operators with an official license from the Southern Environmental Association (SEA) can take boats into the feeding area.

There is a limit to how many people can enter the water and how much time humans can spend there. Flash photography is prohibited, and you cannot touch the sharks.

These restrictions are for the whale sharks' benefit. Like many of the exotic marine animals that visit our Barrier Reef, they are precious and rare. We want to encourage them to keep coming back.

Book Early to Get This Opportunity

These restrictions mean you need to book your tour early if you want to swim among these gentle giants of the sea. The best time to catch them is between late March and the end of June.

Snorkel or Scuba Dive

You can choose to snorkel or scuba dive when you visit the whale sharks. Either way, you will have an unforgettable experience. When you book your trip, be sure to only use a tour operator with a SEA license.

Book with the Best at Untame Belize

The best way to enjoy these friendly fish is with a professional tour guide from Untame Belize. Our guides are authorized and licensed by SEA. They have experience swimming with these amazing creatures. Contact us today to book your Belize adventure.

The Silk Cayes are a tangible version of the sort of tropical island paradise people concoct in their minds. Found along the outer rim of the world's second largest barrier reef, the Belize Barrier Reef, the Silk Cayes are a trio of uninhabited sandy islands formed over coral reef, known more formally as the Silk Cayes Marine Reserve. This status means that it is a protected marine site and one of the best places to go for a snorkeling enthusiast.

The most obvious thing about the Silk Cayes is its water, which is akin to glass in its transparency; the water splinters off into five different shades of blue, depending on how deep you go. If you have your feet on the ground, which consists entirely of sand as white as sugar, your view of the surroundings is nothing but ocean; go beneath the weaves and the reason why so many people visit the area swiftly becomes apparent.

A variety of different colors and species of coral runs rampant throughout the Silk Cayes. Because coral populations are a great monitor of marine health, divers and snorkelers will stumble upon a wide variety of sea life that use the coral as a home, hiding place, or ambush spot against prey. The underwater menagerie of the Silk Cayes means that you might find dozens of coral species, entire schools of grouper, endangered species of sea turtle, manta rays, anemone beds, and even a few kinds of shark that are too small to pose any harm to human visitors.

One other animal known to visit the area during certain parts of the year would be the immense creature known as the whale shark. While the name may sound imposing, it comes mostly from their sheer size; whale sharks have been recorded weighing more than the average school bus and as long as 35 feet. For all the power that such a behemoth of ocean life might wield, they are content to swim through the waters with their mouth gaping open, sucking up plankton like vacuum cleaners as they move.

If you are an avid diver or snorkeler and this place sounds just perfect, consider booking a tour with UntameBelize.com.  We have over a decade of experience in the industry and can cover just every possible detail travelers may need, be it a guide, a shuttle or transfer, or just transportation to a place like the Silk Cayes.

Looking for something unique and thrilling to do on your trip to Belize? Consider taking a scenic flight over the Great Blue Hole in the waters off Belize. The oceanic sinkhole can only be truly appreciated from overhead in an airplane.

What Is The Great Blue Hole of Belize?

Appearing as a big blue hole in the middle of the surrounding waters, this phenomenon is actually a sinkhole in the middle of the Lighthouse Reef. It's located about 60 miles from Belize City off the coast. This sinkhole is over 900 feet across and over 400 feet deep, which makes it the largest sinkhole on planet Earth. It became famous in 1972 when Jacques Cousteau brought his ship in to explore the depths of the Great Blue Hole. Later, in 2018, Cousteau's grandson Fabien returned to the hole with a submarine. He and Richard Branson took the submarine to the depths of the hole. The thrilling adventure was then broadcast on the Discovery Channel. The Blue Hole is so big that it can even be seen from space. It's also listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. One of the reasons the hole is so spectacular is due to the different colors of water around it. The dark blue of the hole makes it stand out from the water around it.

Getting To The Great Blue Hole

Belize City, San Pedro and Caye Caulker are all departure points to get to the Great Blue Hole. San Pedro has the easiest point of departure as the airport is right downtown. The most affordable way to get out to the hole is to take a boat. However, as previously mentioned, it won't offer you the same amazing view as flying over it would. Booking a flight over the hole also allows you to see some interesting points along the way. Various shipwrecks, the Booby Bird Sanctuary, Glovers Reef and the Turneffe Atoll are all around the hole. The water is so clear here that it's easy to see even shipwrecks from the air.

What To Know

Taking a flight out to see the hole is dependent on the weather, but fortunately, Belize typically has nice, sunny weather for such a trip. Make sure to arrive early for your flight, and get ready to charge your electronics, if necessary. The interior of the plane will allow you to take great photos, despite the windows. However, if you want the best picture quality, make sure to bring your DSLR. The plane is usually a comfortable temperature, but the ride can be noisy, so you will be provided with headphones. Seating depends largely on weight distribution.

Book a tour package to include a scenic flight over the Great Blue Hole with Untame Belize. We offer a wide variety of tours and adventures, including on land and by sea. Book a full-day tour with a range of activities like horseback riding, ziplining in the jungle, a visit to the Belize Zoo or scuba diving on the offshore reefs.

Laughing Bird Caye gets its name from its previous role as nesting grounds for the laughing seagulls that were local to the area. The area is technically a "faro," a stretch or coral containing a lagoon at its core, less than 2 acres in size and located roughly 11 miles away from the coastline of Placencia. Since 1991, the island has been the foundation of Laughing Bird Caye National Park, a safeguarded nature park consisting of the island and its surrounding waterways; this has made it quit a notable spot for anyone with an interest in snorkeling, scuba diving or marine biology.

Laughing Bird Caye is the bottom island along the Belize Barrier Reef, making it moderately notable as a waypoint for lots of sea creatures coming and going through the reef. The Caye's steep sides an deep channels also make it an excellent venue for diving.

This beautiful caye features a relatively unique variety of geography and terrain types, allowing it to attract a large variety of marine creatures. One of the most notable types of sea life found within the area would be the three coral regions, responsible for the ringed appearance of the reefs. In addition to the central lagoon's large reef, you can find reefs along the outer rim and in several patches within the lagoon. Between the sheer variety of shapes and the waters that go no deeper than 16 feet, this is some prime snorkeling real estate.

As a protected site, the island has no humans living on its premises. This means that there are plenty of creatures to enjoy in an unmolested habitat. While the laughing gulls have mostly disappeared, lots of other avian highlights can be found throughout the region including frigate birds, green herons and, notable due to their current status as an endangered species, brown pelicans. The area's flora is also certainly worth investigating, especially with coconut palms, morning glories, spider lilies and mangrove trees.

Whether you love to snorkel, explore some tranquil waters in scuba gear or just like to explore the more beautiful and undisturbed regions of the planet, you will likely find something at Laughing Bird Caye to make the trip worth it. If even one of the paragraphs in this article sounds appealing to you, then please consider booking your trip with the leading tour company of southern Belize, Untame Belize. You will not regret it!

One of the most colorful and endangered members of the colorful parrot family, the scarlet macaw was first described by naturalist Carl Linnaeus in 1758. Still a favorite among birdwatchers, they are now an endangered species.

From December to March every year, they migrate from their breeding area in the Mayan mountains to Red Bank Village in southern Belize where they feed on local seeds and nuts.  Red Bank draws mature macaws and their chicks to the plentiful food source of the polewood tree, but the birds supplement their food supply with fruit from other trees, such as the wild annatto, prickly yellow, mountain trumpet, cramanthee, and symphonia.

Known for high-pitched screams that allow them to communicate with their groups over many miles, scarlet macaws can live from 75 to 90 years in captivity, although most only live from 40 to 50 years. They often travel alone or in pairs but may sometimes be seen flying in flocks. Poachers pose the greatest threat to the species, but agriculture and development also play a big role in the bird's demise, resulting in fewer than 250 of the endangered parrots remaining in Belize. Scarlet macaws fetch a high price on the pet market and are also sought after for meals in bush camps.

The Friends of Conservation and Development and the Belize Bird Conservation organize teams of volunteers and rangers to camp out near active nests of scarlet macaws in Chiquibul National Park and protect them from poachers and predators.  The teams also rescue chicks from unsafe nests and rehabilitate them before releasing them into the wild. This work has lowered poaching rates by 75 percent, and the scarlet macaw population is slowly rising. The birds prefer high elevations near the banks of rivers, where they lay one or two eggs nestled in the holes of very tall trees.

March is the deadline for viewing the exotic birds before they return to their Mayan Mountain breeding grounds, and we can schedule your visit in time for the tours. Our excursions take you to Red Bank Village in comfortable, air-conditioned vehicles with Wi-Fi access. Car seats and private shuttles are available upon request, and you can relax knowing you’re in good hands. We provide experienced, English-speaking drivers who have completed safety training and are natives of Belize.

Our excellent customer service and our choice of packages mean you can customize your trip to fit your budget and interests. Visit Untame Belize website for more information, and book your adventure now.

The second highest waterfall in Belize, Davis Falls offers visitors a chance to visit one of the country’s most scenic and undisturbed natural sites.  The 500-foot falls, located over a natural pool and surrounded by unspoiled tropical forests is a quiet spot for swimming, picnicking or enjoying nature, and the ride to the falls is an adventure in itself.

How to Get to Davis Falls

The trip to this remote area of southeastern Belize begins with an eight-mile drive over rough terrain in a four-wheel-drive vehicle and ends with a two-mile hike to the falls.  The excursion starts at marker 14.5 of the Hummingbird Highway near Dangriga. The waterfall can be visited all year long, but roads sometimes become inaccessible during heavy rains.

Why You Should Visit Davis Falls

If you’re looking for a remote swimming spot at the bottom of a waterfall, a glimpse of indigenous wildlife, or an adventure through the back roads of the jungle, you’ll find it on your journey to Davis Falls. You can also choose between hiking trails marked with information about plants and animals and tours by guides who show you the sights or explain how natives harvest edible crops like jelly coconuts. With a 75-foot swimming pool sparkling with crystal clear, cool water at the bottom of the falls and the smells of nearby citrus orchards wafting through the air, you’ll enjoy a piece of heaven.

Schedule Your David Falls Tour Now

Whether you come to Belize to visit landmarks of the ancient Mayas, to commune with nature, or to enjoy the thrill of a wild adventure, Untame Belize, an independent tour company licensed to provide International Airport Transfers and excursions, can help you reach your goal.

Our tours will take you to Davis Falls, or to other sites throughout the country, in comfortable vehicles that feature air conditioning and free Wi-Fi. With well-trained drivers, private shuttles, and free car seats for children, we put safety first so you can relax and enjoy your travels. We also offer other advantages:

• A choice of options for different price ranges and interests
• Experience in designing unique adventures
• Outstanding customer service
• English-speaking guides who make Belizean history come alive

A visit to Belize is a one-in-a-lifetime experience. Make sure your trip is everything you want it to be by booking it with Untame Belize.