The Golden Stream Corridor Preserve is one of Belize’s most stunning natural areas. If you long for a true taste of nature, take an eco-friendly tour of this wonderful preserve. As an important block of land of just under 10,000 acres, Ya’axché Conservation Trust initially purchased in 1998 to avoid its conversion to citrus and shrimp farming and established as a private protected area. Later, it was expanded to 15,441 acres in 2004. This corridor is critical to the survival of many species including the endangered Baird’s Tapir (Tapirus bairdii) and the Yucatan Black Howler Monkey (Alouatta pigra). It also protects important archaeological sites containing remains of ancient human civilizations and pleistocene mammals.
Protecting Precious Resources
White-lipped Peccaries (Tayassu pecari) walking through a cacao farm in the Maya Golden Landscape. | Photo: Ya’axché
Belize has made conservation a national priority. Its many preserves are safe havens for hundreds of species, including species that are globally endangered. The Golden Stream Corridor Preserve is an important part of this conservation effort. Not to mention, it is one of the last stretches of lowland tropical broadleaf forest in Belize.
Huge Diversity of Habitats
What makes Golden Stream unique is its diversity of habitat types. Golden Stream has 17 separate ecosystems and large numbers of mammals, reptiles, marine life and birds. Golden Stream Corridor is the last forested link between the globally biodiverse Maya Mountains and the coastal lowland forests that connect to Guatemala and the Mesoamerican Biological Corridor. This is one of the most critical ecosystems in the world.
Protecting Resources and Empowering Communities
MGL beekeepers harvesting honey at Maya Mountain North Forest Reserve. | Photo: Sayuri Tzul/Ya’axché
The Ya’axché Conservation Trust manages the Golden Stream Corridor Preserve. The trust works with local Maya villages to develop sustainable ways of using the Golden Stream Corridor’s resources. The trust specializes in preserving forests that are part of the Maya Golden Landscape, a 770,000-acre network of preserves, sanctuaries and Maya communities.
Have a Transformative Experience in the Golden Stream Corridor
You can see this pristine, breathtakingly beautiful landscape yourself with a visit to the Golden Stream Corridor. EcoTourism Belize specializes in day trips and longer stays under the direction of the Ya’axché Conservation Trust. These experiences are unlike anything you’ve experienced. Spend a day patrolling the preserve with a Ya’axché ranger. Go birding in a protected area that’s home to more than 300 bird species. Learn about Maya healing from a true Maya shaman. Visit successful cacao farms that use agroforestry to benefit humans and the environment.
If you want to stay longer, the company offers an off-grid, eco-friendly lodging house right near its field station on the Golden Stream River. There is also a campsite if you prefer to sleep outdoors. Meals are provided by Maya women’s groups using locally sourced produce.
Enjoy an Unforgettable Adventure
Visiting the Golden Stream Corridor is an unforgettable experience you can only have in Belize, while supporting conservation. Get ready to experience life on the wild side in Toledo!
Feature photo:The forested Maya Golden Landscape. | Photo: Sayuri Tzul/Ya’axché
