The Belize Zoo is one of my favorite places in the world. When my friends are in Belize the zoo is on my list of “must see” Belizean attractions.

By Pearlvas

The Belize Zoo is the brain child of Sharon Matola, an American ex-pat who has been in Belize over 25 years had a dream for a zoo filled with 125 animals native to Belize. The zoo is also a favorite filming location as you can from the numerous Travel and Tourism shows that have made an episode there. What makes the zoo so special are the animal enclosures. Rather, than just putting the animals in tiny cells like other zoos, the Belize Zoo has created actual habitat for their animals from the jungle. The animal spaces are big enough so that some days you won’t be able to see an animal because it does not want to be seen—what a luxury for a captive animal!

By michael_schamis

Getting to the zoo is really easy. From the airport or from the cruise ships it’s only about an hour drive. The last time I went to the zoo I rented a car with a friend at the airport and we got there in about 50 minutes. The road to the zoo is well maintained these days and relatively safe. The is little or no traffic once out of the city and other than dodging an occasional pot hole there are no obstacles. The drive to the zoo is also very informative as you get a chance to see the topography of Belize change rather radically, from low lying swamp at the coast, to a steady but slight increase in elevation as you go further in land. Belize is only about 70 miles wide so inland is never far. You will see the Maya Mountains rise out of the horizon on your left, and the jungle will appear. The zoo in on the right! I have found that a perfect day trip is the zoo in the morning, then cool off session cave tubing! Then making your way to San Ignacio, and the Mountain Pine Ridge that the evening is possible.

By michael_schamis

A Quick FAQ:

• The zoo is open daily from 8 AM – 5PM
• Costs about 8 USD
• Takes about 2 hours to tour
• An hour from Belize City and San Ignacio
• 6 hours to Caracol Maya Ruins

You can learn more about the zoo by visiting their web site, and reviewing their FAQ.

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