Belize
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Piers and boats on calm water beneath a sunset sky.

Belize · Placencia

Cockscomb and Laughing Bird Caye

The Cockscomb jaguar sanctuary, run by Audubon, and Laughing Bird Caye National Park, on the reef; both with unconfirmed status.

2 places2 unconfirmed, flagged

  1. 1

    WildlifeStatus unconfirmed

    Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary

    Off the Southern Highway, about 20 miles south of Dangriga; from Maya Center it is 6 miles along an unpaved road, according to Audubon. The pin is the sanctuary in OpenStreetMap; it is not the entrance.31.5 km in a straight line from the regional map centre

    Entry
    non-national, per day BZ$10
    Hours
    Daily 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
    Booking
    Not stated

    Recognised as the world’s first jaguar preserve, with waterfalls, mountain views, trails and a wide variety of birds; it has cabins and campgrounds, according to the Belize Audubon Society.

    Status not confirmed: Audubon publishes fees and hours on undated pages. Check before you go.

    Source: Belize Audubon Society – Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary (consultada oct. 2026) · 2026 · +2

    Practical details and sources
    Entry
    Non-nationals BZ$10 per day and nationals BZ$2.50, according to the Belize Audubon Society; it is paid at the Maya Center Women’s Group gift shop or at the sanctuary office.
    Hours
    Every day, including weekends and public holidays, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., according to the Belize Audubon Society.

    Tip: In wet weather, Audubon recommends and considers a four-wheel drive necessary for the road. A local blog (Nov 2025) says some hikes require a guide and that there are no guides at the sanctuary.

    Sources: Belize Audubon Society – Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary (consultada oct. 2026) · Belize Audubon Society – Protected Areas, preguntas frecuentes (consultada oct. 2026) · Nayawalk – Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary (blog; actualizado el 18 nov. 2025)

  2. 2

    WaterStatus unconfirmed

    Laughing Bird Caye National Park

    About 12 miles off the coast of Placencia, some 30 minutes by boat, according to Belize Adventure, a travel website. The pin is the national park in OpenStreetMap; it is not a dock.31.6 km in a straight line from the regional map centre

    Entry
    Not confirmed
    Hours
    Not stated
    Booking
    Not stated

    A reef national park named after the laughing gulls that used to breed there; it is one of the seven marine protected areas declared a World Heritage Site in 1996, according to a travel website (2022).

    Status not confirmed: only travel and operator websites were read; the Tourism Board’s denied access. Check before you go.

    Source: Belize Adventure – Laughing Bird Caye National Park (web de viajes; 17 nov. 2022) · 2022 · +1

    Practical details and sources
    Entry
    No official fee was read: the Tourism Board’s website denied access. Ask your operator whether the trip includes it.

    Tip: The park has special rules that operators explain before you get into the water, according to a Placencia operator.

    Sources: Belize Adventure – Laughing Bird Caye National Park (web de viajes; 17 nov. 2022) · Captain Jak’s – Snorkel Laughing Bird Caye (operador; 12 jun. 2025)