Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve
Hike through the Mountain Pine Ridge Reserve to see beautiful forests. You’ll experience two distinct environments—a tropical forest and a cool pine forest—as you explore caves and swim in the Río On pools.
- Duration:
- 8 hrs
- Available Days:
- Every day
- Schedule:
- 8:00 AM
- Hotel Transport Included
- Mobile Ticket Included
- Offered in English, Spanish
Leave from Chaa Creek for the journey to the Mountain Pine Ridge Reserve. After about an hour and half, you’ll arrive at the reserve’s gorgeous waterfall, which towers at 1,000 feet (305 m) tall. You’ll continue to drive down to Rio Frio Cave, which was formed by many years of the river pounding the limestone. Venture inside the cave to see Maya artifacts.
As you hike, keep an eye out for rare birds like orange-breasted falcon and the king vulture. Orchids grow along the path. After exploring the reserve’s wildlife, you’ll arrive at the Rio On pools. These swimming holes are connected by a series of small waterfalls and offer refreshing, cool waters.
Attraction Visited
Set aside in 1944, the Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve is Belize’s oldest and largest protected area, spanning 300 square miles (777 square km). Unlike other parts of Belize, where tropical vegetation dominates the landscape, the reserve consists of primarily Honduras pine, a Caribbean species of pine tree. The reserve is characterized by deep ravines, large granite outcrops, rivers, and vistas.
Read more:Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve
What to Bring
Long pants, sturdy shoes. hat, sunscreen, bottled water, insect repellant, camera, and rain gear if needed.
What's included
Guided tour.
Transportation
Many of our tours and activities offer transportation pick up & drop off options from several locations and destinations. Options vary by tour, see “BOOKING REQUEST” for full details.
Traveler Comments
Excellent guide, very knowledgeable. Had a great time swimming at Big Rock Falls
Similar things to do
This tour will take you to two different nature reserves in the Maya Mountain region of western Belize. You'll get to see Maya ruins and some of the incredible natural formations that characterize this part of the country. Keep in mind that there is some hiking and climbing involved in this tour, so participants should be at least moderately fit and have no physical limitations.
