Excursions in Belize and Guatemala

The Baboon (Howler Monkey) Sanctuary

January 2011

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It's a pretty good distance, at least time-wise, from Cockscomb to the Community Baboon Sanctuary. There isn't much for restaurants at the Baboon Sanctuary, so we stopped in a restaurant outside of Belmopan to have dinner. On the last leg of the drive they were doing some road work, and we had to slow to a crawl. A car coming the other way threw up a rock which hit the driver's side window of the car and shattered it. So much for locking the car on the rest of the trip...

Belmopan Restaurant Sid and Dona
Belmopan Restaurant Sid and Dona

We got to the sanctuary after dark; fortunately, we had previously arranged for a cabana run by some locals to stay in. We had originally planned to do a night canoe trip to look for crocodiles, but we were too tired and just crashed. The cabana was supposed to have a hot shower, but it wasn't. Ugh. The only reliable hot shower on the whole trip was the sun shower on Malakii.

Howler Howler
Howler with Kid Howler

Howler Howler Howler
Howler Howler Howler

Howler Howler Howler
Howler Howler Howler

One of the best things to do at the Baboon Sanctuary is to take a canoe trip down the Belize River. You're sure to see lots of wildlife, especially large Iguanas.

Belizeriver
Belizeriver

Kingfisher Vulture
Kingfisher Vulture

Heron Heron Heron
Heron Heron Heron

Xxx Bird
Xxx Bird

Iguana Iguana
Iguana Iguana

Iguana Iguana
Iguana Iguana

Howler
Howler

Grey Necked Wood Rail
Grey Necked Wood Rail

We had to get Sid to the airport for his afternoon flight, so we headed off and said goodbye. Then we reversed the trip and drove back to Placencia, where we had arranged to drop off the rental car.

The plan was for Dona and me to spend some time sailing around Belize and relaxing, but it didn't turn out that way, as we found out on our return to Placencia.