PLACENCIA AREA INLAND ATTRACTIONS
Nuevo Mundo

GENERAL INTRODUCTION PLACENCIA
For a stress free break from the hustle and bustle of city life, venture to Placencia.  Basking in the sun on secluded white sand beaches, floating by an array of brilliantly colored tropical fish in the clear blue waters, or simply enjoying the shade cast by overhead palms while relaxing in a hammock are the activities that fill your day in peaceful Placencia.  This charming rural pueblo has a population of only 500 making it the picture-postcard perfect destination.  The easiest way to Placiencia is a 45 minute flight on one of the several commuter airlines from Belize city.

MONKEY RIVER RESERVE
Picture yourself on a river safari winding your way south through the cool refreshing mangroves of the Monkey River Reserve.  On this adventure of a lifetime, you’ll drift down the waterways while experiencing a plethora of rich wildlife.  Various tropical birds, manatees, iguanas, and howler monkeys reside in the jungle which hugs the banks of the river with limbs of rainforest trees dangling overhead.  The rare toucan, colored by bright orange hues rimmed by red, green, yellow, black, and brown tints, is only one of the spectacular species making its home in the Monkey River Reserve.

COCKSCOMB BASIN WILDLIFE SANCTUARY AND JAGUAR RESERVE
The Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary is located in Southern Belize just below the jagged peaks of the Maya Mountains Cockscomb Range.  The area was closed to hunting and declared a forest reserve area in 1984 to protect its endangered jaguar population and other wildlife.  In 1990 the sanctuary was expanded to include over 100,000 acres of forest.  Ruins of ceremonial sites indicate that the ancient Maya also inhabited this verdant and plentiful basin at one time.

The Cockscomb Basin’s diverse ecosystem houses a large percentage of Belize’s flora and fauna.  Endangered species such as Ocelots, Margays, Baird’s tapirs, Scarlets, and Jaguars, the largest number recorded, all inhabit the Cockscomb basin.  Other mammals inhabiting the Cockscomb Sanctuary include: the Tayra (a 10 to 15 lb. weasel-like animal), Otter, Coati, Kinkajou, Brocket deer, White-lipped and Collared Peccary, Agouti, Paca, Anteater and Armadillo.

MAYAN RESERVE OF LUBAANTUN
The Mayan Reserve of Lubaantun, also known as the “Place of Fallen Stones” lies northwest of Punta Gorda and one mile past the village of San Pedro Columbia.  The Pyramids, remiscent of a more primitive past, are made with an interesting technology of precision-cut stone blocks cleverly fitting together with no mortar to bind them.  This ancient ceremonial center is distinct from other ruins due to its unusual style of construction typical only of southern Belize.

NIM LI PUNIT
Nim Li Punit is thought to have a special relationship with nearby Lubaantun, as determined by preliminary excavations of the site.  A 9 meter tall carved stelae, the tallest carved stelae in Belize or perhaps in all of the Mayan area, is one of 8 carved stelae found at Nim Li Punit.  Buses travel from Belize City to Punta Gorda, except on Sundays, however they bypass the site which is an additional 15 minute walk from the road.  Nim Li Punit is situated just off the Southern Highway about 25 miles north of Punta Gorda Town.