Belize Zoo by Night

Enjoy a behind the scene tour at night!

The Belize Zoo is only 30 minutes away from the Black Orchid by car. The Belize Zoo only welcomes animals native from Belize, so you will not see giraffes or lions etc. They all were wounded, abandoned or confiscated from owners who raised them illegally.

It is an exciting experience that I recommend; it will give you the opportunity to see animals by night, like you have never seen them before. Of course, you will not see all the animals of the zoo because some of them are sleeping. For instance, you will see owls, jaguars, puma, tapirs, howler monkeys, kinkajou and a lot of other animals native from Belize.

It is a really special atmosphere because you will have the impression to be in the middle of the jungle at night, with the sounds of all of the animals’ footsteps that we hear during the tour. But do not worry; you are absolutely safe! The atmosphere is much more impressive when howler monkeys start to howl. To give you an idea what it sounds, the shouts of these monkeys were recorded in order to make the roaring of the dinosaurs of Jurassic Park!

Discover Altun Ha

Enjoy a unique experience at Altun Ha! 

Altun Ha is a Mayan archaeological site situated approximately about 40 minutes from the Black Orchid Resort by car. A lot of Mayan sites in Belize were destroyed but fortunately some of them remain, such as Altun Ha, a place where almost 10 000 people used to live. This site is known because this is where archaeologists have found numerous sculptures made from jade. Today, the site is a protected reserve on which archaeologists continue to work. It is possible to climb at the top of the temples for a clearer view of where and how the Mayas lived. You will also have the opportunity to go at the summit of the temple of the Sun God, which is the biggest of the site. It is also the one on which the Mayas made their human sacrifices.

Our guide will be here to teach you more about the Mayan civilization and its history; so do not hesitate to ask him all of your questions!

 At the end of the tour, you will be able to discover some typical souvenirs from Belize. They are mainly hand-made of mahogany by local people. You will find a large variety of art such as traditional masks or small wooden flutes.

Belize City Tours

Enjoy a day in the multicultural Belize City!

Belize City is 30 minutes away from the resort. The city tour is done by van and allows you to discover the lively and colorful streets, an influence coming from the Caribbean. The architecture of the city is colonial style as you will notice from the many buildings. Another major aspect of the city tour is the Museum of Belize where important historical documentations are preserved. There are three different parts of the museum: a part dedicated to the pre-Columbian period and the Mayan civilization, one about the colonial period and the last one, more unusual, is about the insects of Belize!

Do not miss the tour of the Travellers Rum Factory that makes authentic Belizean rum since the 1950s. You will see the manufacturing and the bottling but not the distillation because it is made in another city of the country. At the end of the tour you will have a tasting of the “classics” made by Travellers, and some specialties of your choice. Enjoy!

Meet the Baboons

Spend an enjoyable moment at the Baboon Community Sanctuary and discover the famous Howler Monkeys of Central America! 

The community aims at maintaining the natural environment of the black howler monkey (called "baboon" in the Creole dialect) while favoring the economic development of the nearby communities. You are probably wondering why they are called howler monkeys? Well, it is because in order to protect their territory, males howl and make a sound that we can hear at more than a mile!

The tour lasts approximately one hour. A guide takes you into the jungle in search of the howler monkeys. During your walk, he will present you various species of trees and plants that you will meet.  The guide will call the baboons by speaking to them in Creole and you will have to wait several minutes before their spectacular appearance. It is possible to approach them very closely but do not let them touch you because they can make abrupt movements.

It is a very interesting tour that I recommend, especially to families. Let me give you an advice; do not forget your mosquito protection because they love being in the jungle.

At the end of the visit do not hesitate to write a word in the visitors' book and enjoy the small exhibition of typical objects from Belize, combined with few explanations on the life of the monkeys and the community.