Belize
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Waterfall between rocks and forest flowing into a pool.

Belize · Cayo District

Mountain Pine
Ridge.

Caracol, pools, waterfalls and caves

See what to do (5)Destination map

Photo: Ronald Plett

Before you go,
understand the place.

The Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve, south of San Ignacio, has pools, waterfalls and caves such as Rio On Pools, Big Rock Falls and Rio Frio Cave; further south, inside the Chiquibul Forest Reserve, lies Caracol, the country’s largest archaeological reserve, run by NICH. Near the reserve entrance is the private Green Hills Butterfly Ranch.

Best time to go
The Atlantic hurricane season runs from 1 June to 30 November, although a cyclone can form outside that period (Government Press Office, 28 May 2026). The United Kingdom advises following warnings from the National Meteorological Service of Belize and the NEMO emergency agency. Canada places the rainy season from May to November, with flooding that can cut roads; the United Kingdom mentions flooded temporary bridges in the south, particularly in Stann Creek and Toledo.
Getting there
This guide does not calculate road routes or travel times and offers no arrival points. The sources read mention no public transport to the reserve or to Caracol; a travel blog (8 Sep 2026) suggests a rented 4×4 or a tour operator.

Two ways to explore

Themed guides

Places grouped by theme, to plan your day.

  • 3 places

    Pools, waterfalls and caves

    Rio On Pools, Big Rock Falls and Rio Frio Cave, in the forest reserve; only travel blogs about them were read.

    Open the full guide
  • 2 places

    Caracol and Green Hills

    The Maya site of Caracol, run by NICH, and the private Green Hills butterfly ranch, with unconfirmed status.

    Open the full guide

The place, in context

Everything you can do

Closed or restricted places are included and flagged, so you know what to expect.

Showing 5 of 5 · 5 unconfirmed, flagged

Nature and jungle · 2

  • AdventureStatus unconfirmed

    Rio Frio Cave

    Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve. The pin is the «Rio Frio Cave C» cave mouth in OpenStreetMap; it is not the visitor entrance.6.9 km in a straight line from the regional map centre

    Entry
    Not confirmed
    Hours
    Not stated
    Booking
    Not stated

    A limestone cave carved by the underground Rio Frio River, with an entrance over 20 m (65 ft) high; a travel blog (8 Sep 2026) says it is one of the few caves in Belize you can explore without a guide.

    Status not confirmed: only travel blogs were read; the Forest Department’s website could not be opened. Check before you go.

    Source: Thoroughly Travel – Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve (blog; 8 sep. 2026) · 2026 · +1

    Practical details and sources
    Entry
    Free, according to a travel blog (8 Sep 2026); no official source was read.

    Tip: According to the blog, the dirt road gets very muddy and is often impassable, and most people park by the road and walk about a mile. In 2025 another blog reported the road closed until the next dry season, with access on foot.

    Nearby: Rio On Pools (3.3 km) · Big Rock Falls (6.9 km) · Green Hills Butterfly Ranch (13.6 km)

    Sources: Thoroughly Travel – Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve (blog; 8 sep. 2026) · Nayawalk – Mountain Pine Ridge (blog; actualizado el 7 sep. 2025)

  • WildlifeStatus unconfirmed

    Green Hills Butterfly Ranch

    Near the entrance to the Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve, according to a travel blog. The pin is the ranch in OpenStreetMap; it is not the entrance.20.2 km in a straight line from the regional map centre

    Entry
    adult US$20
    Hours
    Mon–Sun 9:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
    Booking
    Not stated

    A private butterfly ranch with about 30 native species in a large flight area, on a 250-acre forest property where it has recorded 316 bird species, according to the ranch.

    Status not confirmed: the ranch publishes hours and prices on an undated page. Check before you go.

    Source: Green Hills Butterfly Ranch (consultada oct. 2026) · 2026 · +1

    Practical details and sources
    Entry
    Adults US$20 and children US$10, according to the ranch, which does not define the age of a «child».
    Hours
    Monday to Sunday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., public holidays included, according to the ranch.

    Nearby: Barton Creek Cave (5.1 km) · Big Rock Falls (7.2 km) · Cahal Pech (11.9 km)

    Sources: Green Hills Butterfly Ranch (consultada oct. 2026) · Thoroughly Travel – Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve (blog; 8 sep. 2026)

Lakes, rivers and waterfalls · 2

Living culture · 1

  • CultureStatus unconfirmed

    Caracol

    Inside the Chiquibul Forest Reserve; NICH puts it 50 miles from San Ignacio and a travel blog about 40. The pin is the site in OpenStreetMap; it is not the entrance.20.2 km in a straight line from the regional map centre

    Entry
    non-resident adult BZ$25
    Hours
    Not confirmed
    Booking
    Not stated

    The country’s largest archaeological reserve: its Caana complex, some 139 ft high, is the tallest building in Belize, and at its peak the city covered about 38 square miles with 80,000 to 100,000 people, according to NICH.

    Status not confirmed: NICH publishes its hours and fees in its shop, undated, and no official source on road access was read. Check before you go.

    Source: NICH – Caracol, entradas y horario (tienda oficial; consultada oct. 2026) · 2026 · +4

    Practical details and sources
    Entry
    Non-residents: BZ$25 (the «minor» category too, with no age given) and free for children under 5; residents: BZ$15, free for children under 12 and for Belizeans aged 65 or over, according to NICH’s official shop.
    Hours
    Hours unconfirmed: NICH’s Caracol ticket page contains a description of Cahal Pech and lists 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with the last tour at 2:00 p.m. and departure expected by 3:00 p.m. We could not confirm that those hours apply to Caracol. Check the hours with NICH or your operator before you go.

    Tip: Canada (15 June 2026) notes higher crime near the Caracol ruins, close to the border with Guatemala. No official source read describes the road or any checkpoints on the way: ask NICH or your operator before you go.

    Sources: NICH – Caracol, entradas y horario (tienda oficial; consultada oct. 2026) · NICH – Caracol (13 jun. 2024) · NICH – Condiciones de venta y de visita (consultada oct. 2026) · Thoroughly Travel – Caracol (blog; 8 sep. 2026) · Gobierno de Canadá – Belize travel advice (15 jun. 2026)

Mountain Pine Ridge · Practical guide

Practical tips

  1. A travel blog (8 Sep 2026) says there is a checkpoint at the reserve entrance where visitors’ details are often noted, that it is not always staffed, that entry to the reserve and its natural attractions is free and that many inner roads are still unpaved and get muddy.
  2. Caracol’s hours are unconfirmed: NICH’s ticket page mixes information about Caracol and Cahal Pech. No official source read describes the road or any checkpoints on the way: ask NICH or your operator before you go.
  3. Green Hills Butterfly Ranch charges in US dollars (US$20 per adult) and NICH charges for Caracol in Belize dollars (BZ$25 for non-residents): compare them in the same currency.
  4. In 2025 a blog reported the road to Rio Frio Cave temporarily closed by the rains, with access on foot, and advised consulting local operators in bad weather: ask about road conditions before you go.

Safety and precautions

  • The United Kingdom (June 2026) notes that Belize has one of the highest per capita murder rates in the world and that gang violence is concentrated in Belize City, particularly south of the Haulover Creek (Southside); tourists are not normally the targets, but anyone nearby could be affected. It warns of theft from tourists in San Pedro, Caye Caulker, Placencia and San Ignacio, and of armed criminals in remote forested areas near the border with Guatemala, which are patrolled by the Defence Force, with no reported incidents involving tourists.
  • Canada (15 June 2026) advises a high degree of caution throughout Belize due to high levels of violent crime and to avoid non-essential travel to Southside Belize City, south of the Haulover Creek, due to gang and drug-related violence. It notes higher crime in border areas such as Melchor de Mencos and Chetumal, and near the Caracol ruins, close to the border with Guatemala.
  • Emergencies: 911 (Belize Police Department); 922 for anonymous reports. The United Kingdom also lists 90 for ambulance, fire and police.

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to visit the Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve?

A travel blog (8 Sep 2026) says entry to the reserve and its natural attractions is free; no official source was read.

How much is the entry to Caracol?

According to NICH’s official shop: non-residents BZ$25 (the «minor» category too, with no age given) and free for children under 5; residents BZ$15.

How far is Caracol from San Ignacio?

NICH puts it 50 miles from San Ignacio, inside the Chiquibul Forest Reserve; a travel blog gives about 40. This guide does not calculate routes or times.

Mountain Pine Ridge · Practical guide

Sources consulted

Information checked in . Prices, hours and rules change: confirm them with the official source before you travel.

  1. NICH – Caracol, entradas y horario (tienda oficial; consultada oct. 2026)2026
  2. NICH – Caracol (13 jun. 2024)2024
  3. NICH – Condiciones de venta y de visita (consultada oct. 2026)2026
  4. Thoroughly Travel – Caracol (blog; 8 sep. 2026)2026
  5. Thoroughly Travel – Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve (blog; 8 sep. 2026)2026
  6. Nayawalk – Mountain Pine Ridge (blog; actualizado el 7 sep. 2025)2025
  7. Green Hills Butterfly Ranch (consultada oct. 2026)2026
  8. Reino Unido (FCDO) – Belize: safety and security (12 jun. 2026)2026
  9. Gobierno de Canadá – Belize travel advice (15 jun. 2026)2026
  10. Belize Police Department (consultada oct. 2026)2026

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