New trail means greater access at Blue Hole
Many Belizeans have visited the popular attraction known as the Blue Hole on the Hummingbird Highway. But not so many are familiar with the five hundred and seventy-five acres of jungle covered hills and caves that surround the deep blue pool. Today a new trail was officially opened, which links the park’s varied attractions that make Blue Hole an even better place to visit.
Janelle Chanona, Reporting
It was a piece of ribbon tied between two trees, but to the Friends of Blue Hole National Park it was a very big deal. The crowd had gathered to visit Blue Hole’s newest addition: Dusky Antbird Trail.
Built entirely by staff and volunteers, the Dusky Antbird trail can accommodate even the most amateur of hikers. Wide and free of obstacles, it meanders through thick and scenic broadleaf forest.
The trail is about a mile long and you can hike it in about a half an hour, but you’ll definitely need more time if you want to check out some of the park’s three hundred species of birds.
Managed by the Belize Audubon Society since it opened in 1986, records show that every year Blue Hole National Park welcomes more than ten thousand paying visitors, plus five thousand school children who visit free. Park Director Patrick Scott Jr., says the new trail will be safer for tourists, who previously had to brave the hot sun, driving rain or treacherous road to get from the visitor centre to the Blue Hole. And now they get to kill two birds with one stone.
Patrick Scott Jr., Park Director, Blue Hole National Park
“It’s good for birding. Most of the birds usually hang out on the hill range in the hillside on the bottom. And the most common bird on the trail, that’s the reason why we name the trail, Dusky Antbird Trail.”
“We have other birds like Tanigers, Trogons, the Seed Eaters, even you can see the Keel-Bill Toucan early in the morning or late in the evening.”
But in the middle the day, at the end of the road, hikers welcome the sight of the always-cold water of the Blue Hole…still the highlight of the park.
But protecting such national treasures, and the hundreds of species of wildlife that call them home, will always be an uphill climb. The Belize Audubon Society says it will continue to push for conservation through concerted efforts.
Patrick Scott Jr.
“The Blue Hole National Park will be linked to the Sibun River Forest Reserve by the Eden Conservancy. It will be donated by Jaguar Creek: Target Earth, C.I.L., they had some agreement and they will be donating over to Belize Audubon, so we have to do something like co-management. But first we have to do a kind of agreement with the Government of Belize because for it to become a National Park it has to be for the Government of Belize.”
Janelle Chanona
“Why is that important, why is that linkage necessary?”
Patrick Scott Jr.
“It’s necessary so the wildlife can have a bigger corridor to roam about, and also it’s good to protect these areas for the headwaters. So you have good drinking water downstream once the headwater is protected.”
Located just twelve miles from Belmopan, Blue Hole National Park is just one of eight areas managed by the Belize Audubon Society on behalf of the Government of Belize.
Locals pay two dollars to visit Blue Hole National Park while foreign tourists pay eight. Students with ID and children under thirteen enter free.
