Bird Islands. Cayo Escondido actually consists of two small mangrove islands sitting a couple yards apart. Frigate birds, egrets, boat billed herons, cormorants, and spoonbills roost and nest on this island.The two small islands are surrounded by shallow water; boats must use a long pole to move around the island. Although there is a landing to the island, it is best not to go onshore. When the birds are startled and fly away from the nests, there are plenty of predators waiting to pounce on the eggs and chicks. It is best to just pole around island so the nesting birds are not frightened. You can see the baby birds flying from their nest on first flight. Water around the islands has a distinct green color because of the shallowness and the limestone silty bottom.

Progresso Lagoon. Like many inland waterways in Belize, Progresso Lagoon served as a busy highway for merchants during the height of Mayan dominance in the region. An inland waterway located 12km from the Caribbean Sea in the Corozal District, Progresso functioned as a convenient military look out and post. A more relaxed atmosphere has replaced the energetic trade of yesteryear, but visitors still flock to this region to enjoy the tranquil lagoon waters and its tremendous ecological diversity.

Mayan Sites. Encircling Corozal, Santa Rita may be the most accessible ruin in northern Belize. Because the site resembles the Mayan city of Chetumal (or Chactemal), Santa Rita is believed to be a vestige of this larger metropolis. Santa Rita most likely controlled trade routes to and from Chetumal and other Yucatan cities within present-day Mexico and Guatamala. Mayans inhabited Santa Rita from 2000 B.C. to approximately the 16th century A.D, when residents forced conquistador Alfonso Davila to leave. The city's population slowly dwindled thereafter and finally abandoned the area late in the century.

Nature Reserves.The Nature Reserves represents an important part of the entire park and protected area system of Belize. A visitor can experience all the major habitats of the tropics from the coral reefs and mangroves of Bacalar Chico to the lagoons and wetlands of Shipstern to some of the most pristine tropical forests at Rio Bravo Conservation and Management Area. Thanks to the foresight and management of the Programme for Belize, the Rio Bravo Conservation and Management Area, a 250,000-acre tract of subtropical broadleaf forest, has become a national example of sustained forestry development and conservation.

La Barra Cedar Beach.La Barra Cedar Beach is located north of Chunox Village, just across from Copper Bank at the tip of a peninsula extending into Lowry's Bight. La Barra Cedar beach is a clean and well-manicured area perfect for private swimming and picnicking. Long term plans for the site include a retirement community and a nature reserve. For now, the site is still secluded and undeveloped.


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