Guanacaste National Park

This is a very small park, about twenty hectares at the junction of two highways outside Belmopan, and it exists because of a single tree: an enormous guanacaste, or tubroos, that grew a divided trunk close to the ground, which made it useless for the dugout canoes loggers wanted from the species, so it was left standing while the rest were cut. It now carries dozens of epiphytes on its branches, effectively a garden in the air. Around it a short trail network runs through riverside forest along the Belize River and Roaring Creek, with howler monkeys, agoutis, iguanas and around a hundred bird species.

The landscape

• The guanacaste tree - the huge specimen the park was created for.
• The epiphyte load - dozens of species growing on its branches.
• The riverside trails - a short loop along the Belize River.
• The swimming spot - on the river at the bottom of the trail.

When to go

December to April is the dry season. Early morning is best for birds and for howler monkeys, which are audible from the road. It takes about ninety minutes and works as a stop on the drive between Belize City and San Ignacio.

Things to know

It is tiny and sits at a busy highway junction, so traffic noise carries through the whole park. Ninety minutes covers it. Facilities are minimal. It is worth a stop rather than a journey, and the river swimming spot varies in quality with water levels.

Nearby

Belmopan is five minutes; the Belize Zoo is half an hour east.

Key facts