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Mountain
Pine Ridge National Park - Day Trip
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Rio
On Pools
One
of many Great Stop in the Park.
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By
4 Wheel Drive Rental Car
OR
By Guided Tour
The 300 square
mile Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve is reached via the
Georgeville turnoff at mile 65 of the Western Highway. After wending
your way through miles of tropical jungle, you suddenly find yourself
in a forest of tall, thin pine trees growing out of sandy dirt grasses
and wildflowers. The Mt Pine Ride ecosystem is found nowhere else
in Central America. Cool air, many birds, large numbers
of butterflies. The area has many sections of whitewater rivers,
waterfalls, and cave systems.
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Mountain
Pine Ridge Forest Reserve
Rio On Pools, Rio Frio Caves, Caracol and more
Your
Mountain Pine Ridge day generally should include Rio Frio Cave,
Rio On Pools (SHOWN ABOVE) and either Thousand Foot Falls,
or Caracol, the
largest Maya site in Belize, or a Mennonite Village.
Rio
Frio Cave, Do bring a flashlight if you want to go all the
way through. On the other side look for a well maintained nature trail
which leads to another cave, Cuevas Gemelas. Other caves nearby.
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Rio
Frio Cave's 65' arched entryways leave
you in awe. Openings at both ends makes flashlights unnecessary
for viewing the cave's formations. A stream flows through the cave
forming pools & falls. There's a large beach area surrounded
by room size boulders. Everything is big in this cave!. It's a 1/4
mile through to the exit, another impressive opening.
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Thousand-Foot
Falls, is a routine stop on many tours.
It is believed to be the highest waterfall in Central America and
is actually over 1,500 ft to the bottom. A viewing platform overlooks
the falls. There is a short scenic trail around the escarpment for
taking in the valley view.
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Caracol:
the most extensive Maya, site known in Belize, 30 sq. miles of thick,
high canopy forest. It comprises a Classic period complex: many
pyramids, 5 plazas, an astronomical observatory. Estimates are 180,000
people lived in the area at the city-state's peak, 700AD. Over 35,000
buildings have been identified, highest pyramid 139' high.
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Rio
On Pools are a continuous series of pools
formed by large granite boulders. Many
of the pools are connected by small waterfalls. The smooth surface
of the boulders make
natural water slides and a great place for a swim or a hike.
Hidden Valley Falls, also known as 1000-foot Falls.
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Along
the Way Barton Creek Cave access is through a picturesque Mennonite
farm community.
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Barton
Creek Cave
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Pottery
and Skeletal Remains
Mennonite
Horse and Buggy
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Big Rock
and Five Sisters Falls are locate
" d within
a short distance of each other. The falls are located at
Five Sister's Lodge (small admission fee to swim). Big Rock
is more off the beaten path.
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Laughing
Jaw and several other caves are located nearby. The trails are marked
and you
can explore them on your own, or with a guide.
Green Hills Butterfly
Ranch research center and Botanical Collection. There are more than
25 species of butterflies on display in the breeding facility and landscaped
flight area.
Maya Art Museum
has slate stone carvings made by the Garcia Sisters on display .
Geography
of the Reserve
Think Colorado or
Georgia Pine Forests! Then surround it with a Semi-Tropical Rainforest.
Some theorize this out-of-place ecosystem is the remnants of a
volcanic island that long ago collided with the mainland. This
unusual pine forest covers nearly 300 square miles of unpaved roads
and nature trails. The karst limestone terrain is especially
suited for hiking, biking, horseback riding and caves.
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ST36497
