Baboon Sanctuary

Jungle Adventures

Baboon Sanctuary
The Baboon Sanctuary is unique to Belize. This is a great activity for kids, as you get "Up Close & Personal" with various monkey troops.

Duration: Half Day
Note: This tour is typically paired with another half day tour, making for a full-day activity.
Departure Time: 6:30 a.m. at dock
Returning: 4:30-5:00 p.m.
Included: Cold bottled water, sodas and a light snack are included in most tours. Transportation to & from the site, as well as a licensed tour guide. Full day activities typically include lunch, half day activities DO NOT.

What to Bring: Camera, cell phone, personal medications (for the day), light rain jacket or windbreaker, sunscreen, insect repellent, sunglasses, hat. Back pack with long pants and shirt that allow for movement and can get wet, good walking shoes (sneakers or hiking boots), a full change of clothes, and personal toiletries. Cash for paying the park fees (if applicable) and tipping your guide.

Parental Note: Strollers and young children typically don't work well with many of the jungle activities. Be sure to ask about height and age requirements before booking any activity.

Note: The gear not included in the tour, can usually be put on a credit card, with park fees needing to be paid in cash.

Description: The Community Baboon Sanctuary (CBS), near Bermudian Landing, is located about 30 miles from Belize City, along the Belize River. The Community Baboon Sanctuary is a cooperative effort of several private landowners (many of whom are) subsistence farmers, conservationist, and biological researchers. Their common aim is, to preserve an extensive forest habitat, for a large population of wild primates (locally referred to as baboons).

The Baboon Sanctuary, allows you to experience the world of the Howler Monkeys in their natural habitat. This is a great family adventure, and kids just love getting “up-close & personal” with the monkeys. The orientation begins at the quaint museum located on site. Here you will find a number of good exhibits on the Howler Monkeys, the history of the sanctuary, and several other interesting things about Belize’s wildlife. Included with the admission is a one hour guided nature walk, where you will be introduced to a resident troop of Black Howler Monkeys. Along the way, guides will also impart their knowledge on the many jungle plants, which the ancient Maya people used for medicinal purposes. Due to the lush vegetation, many of these plants (found along the trail), are also the monkey’s favorite foods.

The sanctuary was established in 1985 by primatologist Dr. Robert Horwhich, plant ecologist Dr. John Lyon and local founder Fallet Young. The CBS Women’s Conservation Group is the managing organization and it consists of an advisory council and a seven member women executive committee that represents the seven villages in the area. With everyone pulling together, the sanctuary has now grown to an impressive 12,980 acres of territory that safeguards the Black Howler monkeys, so they can multiply and thrive. Since the establishment of the CBS, the Howler Monkey population has grown to well over 3,000.

The trees are full of beautiful, colorful birds, so if you’re a bird watcher, this may be of interest to you. Don’t worry about catching a glimpse of these monkey’s, you’ll probably hear them before they see you.

     The Black Howler Monkey, known as Baboon in Creole, is one of the largest monkeys found in the Americas! They are found only in Belize, Mexico, and Guatemala, and one of the healthiest populations is right here in our sanctuary!
   The Community Baboon Sanctuary (CBS), originated when several small Belizean villages (in the Belize rural valley), banded together to protect the Belize Black Howler monkey's. Locally known as baboons, in the area.
     The CBS was established in 1985 by primatologist Dr. Robert Horwhich, plant ecologist Dr. Jon Lyon and local founder Fallet Young, to protect the diminishing Black Howler Monkey population.
     The CBS Women's Conservation Group is the managing organization of the CBS which consists of an advisory council and a seven member women executive committee representing the 7 CBS village. Since the establishment of the CBS, the Black Howler Monkey population has grown to well over 3,000.
     Onsite there is a small museum and visitor's center. Here you will find a number of good exhibits on howler monkeys, the history of the sanctuary and other wildlife.
     Included in the admission fees, is a one hour guided nature walk, where you will get "up-close & personal" to a resident troop of black howler monkey's. Along the way, the guide will also impart his knowledge, of the many jungle plants (which the Mayan's used), for medicinal purposes.
     This area is also full of birds, therefore a great bird watcher's spot.