The small village of Monkey River Town is your gateway to a boat safari into the heartland of Belize’s pristine nature. The small village, located where the Monkey River meets the Caribbean, has a cluster of wooden homes and a dock where participants will board a boat for the tour. As you head upstream, your guide will point out interesting animals and plants along the way. You’ll learn about the history of the region, occasionally seeing locals carrying on with traditional occupations like fishing.
Along the way, the tour will stop to allow participants to explore the pristine jungle and mangrove forests that lines the banks of the river. The guide will point out traditional plants used for their medicinal properties as well as spotting wildlife like toucans, herons, giant iguanas, tapirs, tarantulas, and monkeys in their natural habitats. After the tour is over, enjoy a home cooked meal at one of the locally-owned and operated restaurants in the village. There may even be time for a quick and refreshing dip in the river before heading back to your departure point.
For tours departing from Placencia, the cost is around $85 U.S. per person. The tour leaves at 8:00 AM and returns at 2:00 PM. For tours departing from Hopkins or Dangriga, the price is approximately $125 U.S. per person. The tour leaves at 6:45 AM and returns at 2:00 PM.
“We kept catch glimpsing of nature on our drive down from Belize City to the coast, so my husband and I signed up for the Monkey River Tour in order to learn more about the fabulous wildlife and scenery in Belize. After getting to the traditional village, we hopped on a boat and headed upstream. Our guide was extremely friendly and knowledgeable, pointing out plants and animals, including a few crocodiles that were sunning themselves on the bank. We also learned about how medicines are made from local plants. The tour stopped to let us head into the jungle a bit which is where we saw howler monkeys. Oh my! Now I know where they got their name! Very interesting and educational tour, definitely recommended.”
– JasonWright, Seattle, Washington