A visit to the Belize Zoo

When flying into Belize City, travelers will typically avoid the downtown area due to safety concerns and head directly to their jungle or beach retreat.  If it works with your itinerary to include a stop at the Belize Zoo on either end of your trip, I highly recommend it!  I was quite impressed with the scale of the outdoor facility, the variety of species, and the construction and maintenance of the habitats.  Just 30 minutes from the international airport, it makes for a nice stop to stretch your legs and get accustomed to the heat and humidity, with plenty of shade and benches if you catch it on a particularly hot day (like we did!).  

You can find over 150 species within the zoo, many of them native, and all either rescued from illegal wildlife trade or transferred from smaller rehabilitation facilities. It is a wonderful non-profit organization that was started in the early 80s and boasts over 40,000 visitors annually.  It is fully accessible to visitors using wheelchairs, walkers, or strollers. Meander through the winding pathways and be sure to stop at the gift shop on the way out for a local souvenir.