Hiking in Southern Belize? Don’t Miss These Top Spots and Trails

Fill your water bottles, pocket a snack or two, and lace up those sneakers.  We’re taking a hike!  There’s something supremely satisfying about getting out in nature, working up a sweat, and feeling a pleasant burning in your quads.  Belize is so much more than beach bars and the barrier reef; inland adventures await the explorers that put forth the effort to reach them.  Today we’re talking about my choices of top trails to hike in Southern Belize.

Antelope Falls Trail (Mayflower Bocawina National Park)

Best if You’re Crunched for Time

A strenuous but short trail with two payoffs: a magnificent vista over the jungle and out to sea as well as a refreshingly clean waterfall and natural pool.  If you only have time for one hike in Southern Belize, Antelope Falls trail in Mayflower Bocawina National Park should be it. 

The trail is 3.1km (1.9miles) out and back and takes about 45 minutes each way.  The top third of the trail is the toughest, requiring some scrambling.  The viewpoint atop the waterfall affords a bird’s eye perspective of the tropical broadleaf forest, down to farmland, out to the coast, and on a clear day- even to the offshore cayes!  A few minutes further up, you find a small waterfall and a natural pool for swimming.   

Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary

Best for Birding

Not an official hiking trail, local birding legend, Dave Vernon, says that the best place to spot feathered friends is along the road leading into Cockscomb Nature Preserve.  Meander along the nearly 10km track between Maya Center and the park’s visitors center for the best birding opportunities.  Varieties of woodpecker, kingfisher, toucan, warbler, parrot, and loads more all frequent this area. Grab your binoculars and go early in the morning for some bird watching at the jungle’s edges.

Billy Barquedier National Park

Best for Youngsters

Hiking with kids can present its own unique challenges; they are often more concerned with the destination rather than the journey, so it is best to pick a trail with an exciting feature along the way- like a waterfall!  The waterfall and natural swimming pool in Billy Barquedier National Park is the perfect hike for young beginners.  Just an easy 15-minute-long stroll along the well-marked trail brings you to an irresistibly crisp and clear swimming hole shaded by the surrounding forest.  The cascading waterfall makes a beautiful backdrop for photos.  Pack a picnic and enjoy a leisurely afternoon around the waterfall; there are tables and chairs for visitors to use. 

Big Drop Falls (Mayflower Bocawina National Park)

Best for a Challenge

Test your stamina and steel your nerves for the hike and scramble to reach Mayflower Bocawina National Park’s Big Drop Falls.  Not for the faint of heart, this 9.8 kilometer (6.1 miles) out-and-back hike is hard.  It may take you a bit over 3 hours each way, but you’re almost guaranteed to have the waterfall all to yourself.  The long, arduous trail is made more interesting and challenging by the final descent/ ascent to and from the waterfall which requires you to navigate by ropes and small footholds along a nearly vertical rockface.  Cool off after the scramble with a plunge into the ridiculously refreshing runnel, just make sure you have enough energy to pull yourself back out.

Victoria Peak

Best for Bragging Rights and Ultimate Adventure

The Victoria Peak hike is a 56 kilometer (34 mile) and typically 3-day commitment to summit and return, but worth the intense effort to say you’ve hiked Belize’s second tallest mountain.  Located in the Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Preserve, the 3675ft (1120m) mountain is the highest hike-able peak in the country and provides abundant wildlife and gorgeous vistas in return for the strenuous climb.  Advanced planning is required as you must hire qualified guides to lead you and pack enough supplies for several days on the mountain.

Featured Photo by Quilz Tamay Photography