Monkey River Boat & Hike

TOUR

Belize Jungle River Tours

Cruise along the Placencia Lagoon for a 45 minutes boat ride down the coast from Placencia through a maze of lush tropical mangroves. Before reaching the mouth of the river, be on the lookout for endangered manatees that are commonly spotted here!

Monkey River Boat Cruise & Jungle Hike

To the south lies Monkey River, a birdwatcher’s paradise up a tropical river. Much of Monkey River has been declared a Special Conservation Area, with howler monkeys and toucans in the forest, and manatees at the mouth of the river. The tour starts on an early morning ride on the lagoon, through the mangroves that protect us from erosion and creates a home for birds and fishes. Along the coastline, we will head further down south on the Caribbean Sea and then up Monkey River to the home of the Howler monkeys.

Upon arrival at Monkey River Village, you will cruise upstream for about 3 to 4 miles. The meandering boat ride upstream is slow giving you ample time to observe. Here, you will have the opportunity to see iguanas as they lounge lazily on the tree branches, get close to tropical birds as they sing and swoop through the maze of jungle green, spot occasional crocodiles looming from the edge of the river banks, and listen as the famous howler monkeys loudly holler at you.

Soon you’ll reach a jungle trail which you will venture out on foot in search of howler monkeys. Get ready to cover your ears – just a few slaps of your guide’s machete against the trees bring the monkeys to life – their deafening howls can be heard for over a mile. Your guide will also point out the medicinal properties of the surrounding flora and fauna. When you return to the village for a Belizean dish at a family-run restaurant and interact with the locals of this quaint fishing village.

This tour is included as an option in the Best of Belize Adventure Add-On.

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“Jason was born in the Monkey River town and grew up on the river, so his knowledge and history of the area was superb. Jason has eagle eyes for pointing out the flora and fauna. He could find iguanas and crocs that we would never have noticed, and he positioned the boat for some awesome pictures. The best part was obviously the Howler monkeys. The sound was nothing less than prehistoric.”