Belize is one of the smallest countries in the world with the lowest population and population density in all of Central America. However, the low human population and diverse ecosystem make it the perfect place to spot unique wildlife. 

I first visited Belize in the summer of 2017 with the travel company EF Ultimate Break. While the tour I took was not focused on seeing wildlife, it didn’t stop me from observing the incredible wildlife of Belize!

Forest Wildlife in Belize

Over 60% of Belize is covered by tropical forests, allowing a huge number of wildlife species to thrive. While this list won’t include EVERY species you can find, it does include the Belize wildlife I personally saw and some of my favorite species found in the country’s tropical forests.

Anteater

Photo by Lucas Pezeta

I would absolutely love to see a wild anteater. Unfortunately, I did not see one while visiting. Maybe you’ll have more luck! They are typically solitary, making them more difficult to spot and spend most of their days foraging for ants and termites with their long snouts and tongues.

Black Howler Monkey

Photo by Samuel Sweet

I visited a howler monkey sanctuary during my visit to Belize and was so glad I did! The sanctuary, called the Community Baboon Sanctuary, is an affordable way to see protected howler monkeys and other wildlife such as birds, kinkajous, Morlet Crocodiles, and iguanas in their natural habitat. 

Kinkajou

Photo by Neil Bowman

Also called the honey bear, the kinkajou is another species I would’ve been ecstatic to see. However, they are nocturnal and very shy, so spotting them is a rarity.

Toucan (Keel-Billed)

The Toucan is Belize’s national bird and I was lucky enough to spot one flying through the Mayan ruins in Cahal Pech. This was one species of wildlife in Belize I was extremely excited to see!

Tarantula

Tarantulas are found all over Belize due to the tropical climate. However, as large and scary as they look, they are completely harmless! I found one outside of my hotel room in San Ignacio and felt safe knowing the big guy was catching all the bugs around my room!

Jaguar and Puma

Although I never saw one, I heard the growling of jaguars while hiking the Lamanai Ruins. Imagine sitting on top of an ancient Mayan temple and listening to the growls of jaguars in the forest surrounding you! Visitors rarely see the large jungle cats in Belize, but will often hear them hunting in the surrounding forests.

Harpy Eagle

These stunning birds are extremely rare and critically endangered. There are only around 5,000 individuals left throughout Central and South America. Although I didn’t see one, my life would change if I managed to spot a wild Harpy Eagle!

Hummingbirds

Belize is famous for its hummingbirds! The country is home to 26 different species of hummingbirds and has the famous Hummingbird Highway, a scenic road that offers panoramic views of all the different landscapes of Belize and of course, the chance to spot wild hummingbirds.

Baird’s Tapir

Photo by Wrangel

While I didn’t see any tapir in Belize, I did see them in Ecuador! Tapirs are incredible creatures but are shockingly difficult to find in the forests considering their size. Camouflage is everything!

Scarlet Macaw

Photo by Samson Bush

The Scarlet Macaw is probably the world’s most recognizable parrot with its shockingly bright colors and large size. You’ll be able to spot macaws and other parrots easily throughout Belize’s forests, especially if you find a quiet spot to rest and wait for them.

Yucatan Spider Monkey

A playful spider monkey up close on the climb up to the top of Temple IV in Tikal

I spotted a mother and baby spider monkey while hiking in Tikal. While Tikal is technically in Guatemala, the monkeys make their way over to neighboring Belize as well! Be careful with your food, cameras, and other items around these potentially greedy and playful animals!

Snakes

A stunning eyelash viper

Belize is home to more than 10 species of snake. However, some of the most notable would be the eyelash viper, Central America coral snake, Fer de Lance, and the Hognose viper. While some of these snakes are highly venomous, they are absolutely beautiful and I would have loved to spot one.

Wetland Wildlife in Belize

Belize is also full of wetlands and mangroves that are home to dozens of species of wildlife. You can take boat tours through the rivers and mangroves to spot them!

Bats

Can you see the Proboscis Bats on the tree? Hint: look towards the middle of the trunk

I saw multiple species of bats, but almost always needed help spotting them while on boat tours! They blend in remarkably well with their environment and it takes a Belize wildlife expert to spot them among the trees.

Iguanas

Both brown and green iguanas live throughout Belize and are often spotted in the trees and near the water’s edge. In fact, I had to watch where I stepped in Belize City and Orange Walk because there were so many!

Caiman and Crocodiles

Photo by Steven Paton

The rivers and mangroves are also full of small caimans and Morlet Crocodiles. You can easily find night boat tours to spot them, but be careful about swimming in the water and joining a tour that may harm these reptiles.

Belize Barrier Reef Sea Animals

Finally, the Belize Barrier Reef is home to hundreds of species of fish, shark, and other sea life. The reef is the second largest in the world and is one of the most popular destinations in the country for snorkeling, diving, and boating.

Coral

Corals stretching for miles in the Belize Barrier Reef

The reef is made of over 100 species of coral, both hard and soft types. The various colors I saw while snorkeling was incredible!

Rays

You can spot multiple different species of ray in the reefs, including the southern stingray, horshoe ray, spotted eagle ray, and the yellow spotted stingray. I did spot a few stingray while snorkeling and exploring the beaches, but I’m not entirely sure which species I saw.

Sea Turtles

Photo by Belle Co

While the green sea turtle is the most common, you may be lucky enough to spot a loggerhead or hawksbill turtle while exploring the Belize Barrier Reef.

Nurse Shark

A nurse shark I spotted hiding beneath some coral

I was lucky enough to spot a nurse shark hiding under some rocks while swimming around the reefs! While nurse sharks can be rather large, they are rather harmless to humans unless they are provoked. As a general rule, you never want to touch or approach sea life (or any wildlife) without a professional who knows what they’re doing.

Sea Urchins, Cucumbers, and Sand Dollars

My favorite animal I found in the reef…a sea urchin! Remember to only handle wildlife with professional supervision

I loved spotting these fun animals while snorkeling! Invertebrates make up the majority of the wildlife on this planet, and Belize has so many cool ones in its oceans.

Fish

A brightly colored fish hiding in the coral

It would be nearly impossible to list all the species of fish found in the reefs, as there are over 500 species! I, however, did spot a school of Baracuda and colorful fish such as tarpon and angelfish.

If you are interested in spotting a large number and variety of wildlife, especially if you can only visit for a week or two, I highly suggest visiting Belize. The country puts the protection of its wildlife and ecosystems a top priority with over 37% of the land federally protected. The Belize Barrier Reef is also a UNESCO heritage site and the country is full of historical Mayan ruins and archaeological sites. 

 

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