BELIZE NATIONAL PARKS, NATURAL RESERVES, & WILDLIFE SANCTUARIES |
GUANACASTE NATIONAL PARK
Amid majestic trees and abundant wildlife, visitors feel at one with nature. |
ESTABLISHMENT HISTORY
Guanacaste National Park (GNP) is
a 50 acre protected area located
roughly in the center of Belize. It is
located just north of the capital city
Belmopan in the Northeast quadrant of
the Cayo District. GNP was established
as a Crown Reserve in 1973 and gained
National Park Status in 1990.
This 50 acre national park is a segment
of protected secondary growth
tropical forest. It is the most accessible
of the Belize Audubon Society managed
protected areas, located less than two
(2) miles from the capital city Belmopan
at the intersection of the Hummingbird
and Western Highways this makes the
park easily accessed by private vehicles
and bus.
At GNP, the whole family has the
opportunity to experience the beauty of
Belize’s world-renowned biodiversity
only minutes from an urban setting.
The proximity of the park to Belize’s
major towns and cities makes it the
perfect destination for an unforgettable
day trip.
The park’s relatively small size allows
our visitors to come face to face
with the varied wildlife and lush vegetations
at an amazingly short distance
rom the entrance gates. To enhance
your enjoyment, the park boast an education
center with a gift shop, a beautifully,
wooden observation deck overlooking
the river, a refreshing swimming
spot for any age and swimming
experience. We also have to offer sheltered
picnic areas and over two (2)
miles of maintained trails.
Lush vegetation and streaming river attracts
families to come play at Guanacaste Park. |
FOREST COVER
GNP’s forest is secondary growth,
much of it recovering from former use
as pasture. Most of the forest is in the
middle stage of succession. The area’s
dry season gives the forest cover a
semi-deciduous quality.
There are two broad forest types in
GNP: Cohune Palm forest and Broad
leaf Hardwood forest. The Cohune
palm and Broadleaf Hardwood types
are often contiguous or intermixed,
however in GNP the Cohune Palm forest
type is more common. Within the
Broadleaved Hardwood is the riparian forest
association and these trees are found
along GNP’s riverbanks and have adapted
to periodic flooding.
PLANT LIFE
Within the boundaries of the park there
is a tremendous range of plant life to be
seen from the trails. One of Belize’s national
symbols, the exotic Black Orchid,
is amongst the smallest and most respected
to the colossal Guanacaste (Tubroos) tree
from which the park takes its name. This
tree is truly an impressive sight with
its diameter in excess of six feet and
hundreds of the hanging vines and epiphytes
suspended from the upper
reaches of its branches. Between the
branches there are Stinking Toe Bukuts,
Strangler Figs and countless other species
of trees.
ANIMALS AND BIRDS The immense range of plants is mirrored
in the animal community of
Guanacaste.
If luck is on your side, you might be
able to see a Jaguarundi, Kinkajou,
Paca, Nine-banded Armadillo, and
White-tailed Deer along with many
species of bats. There is no shortage
of reptilian life, such as Iguanas up
to four feet long that sun themselves
in the canopy foliage.
Similarly there is plenty for the avid
bird watchers to see, with over 120
species of birds have been spotted in
the park. The majestic Blue Crown
Motmot, can be seen along with the
Black-faced Ant-trush, Belted Kingfisher,
Smoky-brown Woodpecker,
Magnolia Warbler and Red-lored
Parrot to name a few.
CULTURAL GNP has no major Mayan sites,
but wardens while doing trail maintenance
have discovered pottery
pieces and other artifacts. In addition,
there is a suspected chultun, or Maya
underground storage chamber, located
in the north-central part of the
park. To date there have been no investigations
of this chamber by archeologists.
VISITOR’S USE AND PARK RULES: GNP is a day use park. The entrance
fee are BZ$1 for nationals and Bz$5
for non-nationals. The opening hours
are 8:00am - 4:30pm.
To help the Belize Audubon Society
to maintain the park’s pristine conditions
we ask that all the visitors observe
the following regulations:
- Please register at our Visitor Center
- Do not disturb, harm or capture any
animals or birds
- No fishing or hunting is allowed
- Do not disturb, cut or remove any
plants or trees
- Do not liter. Please place trash in
bins provided
- Please do not bring pets into the park
- Overnight camping is not allowed
- Make use of the park’s restroom facilities
- Please stay on the trails at all times
- Firearms are not to be taken into the
park
RECOMMENDATIONS Bring sturdy shoes, long sleeved
shirt, long pants, insect repellent, sunscreen
and plenty of water.
All school groups are welcome, please
register with the Belize City office,
prior to your visit.
BELIZE NATIONAL PARKS, NATURAL RESERVES, & WILDLIFE SANCTUARIES |
Belize Parks Home /
Bacalar Chico /
Bird Sanctuaries /
Burdon Canal Nature Reserve /
Blue Hole National Park /
Great Blue Hole, Lighthouse Reef /
Chiquibul National Park and Caracol /
Cockscomb Wildlife Sanctuary /
Columbia River Forest Reserve /
Community Baboon Sanctuary /
Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary /
Five Blues Lake National Park /
Glover's Reef Marine Reserve / Guanacaste National Park /
Half Moon Caye Natural Monument /
Hol Chan Marine Reserve /
Laughing Bird Caye /
Marco Gonzales /
Mexico Rocks /
Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve /
Payne's Creek National Park /
Rio Bravo Conservation and Management Area /
Shark Ray Alley /
Shipstern Nature Reserve /
Turneffe Atoll /
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