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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