Mountain Pine Ridge

Mountain Pine Ridge is 300 square miles of granite and pine, smack in the middle of the otherwise tropical Cayo district of Belize. This area is so atypical for Belize that it almost seems like a divine miscalculation. Its magnificent vistas, gorges, caves, and waterfalls are what makes this such a popular destination. With maximum elevations of nearly 3400 ft, the pine forest is cooler, and drier than the rest of the country has a completely different ecosystem and supports its own array of flora and fauna.

Outdoor activities abound here, with spectacular natural attractions like Rio on Pools, Hidden Valley Falls (aka, 1000 Foot Falls), and the incredible Rio Frio Cave. Cave tubing, zip-line exploration, and even a canoe trip to the Xunantunich ruins, which runs through the fascinating Mennonite community of Barton Creek, are just a few of the day trips that are available here, in addition to the great hiking, and bird watching. A road trip to Caracol, the mother lode of all Mayan sites, is also a very popular option in this area.

Accommodations in Mountain Pine Ridge include spectacular Jungle lodges that offer elegance and harmony the beautiful natural surroundings, exemplified by Francis Ford Coppola’s 5-star Blancaneaux Lodge, which is consistently in the top rankings of all resorts in Central and South America, by Travel and Leisure, and other credible travel publications.

The Mountain Pine Ridge lodges can be a nice respite from the heat and humidity of the Belize coastal destinations, and also has access to more stunning, and diverse attractions than just about anywhere else in Belize.