Wildlife· Ambergris Caye· Other Caribbean

Bacalar Chico National Park & Marine Reserve

18° 8.5′ N · 87° 51.8′ W

The wild northern tip of Ambergris Caye, protected since 1996, where mangroves, lagoons and reef run up to the Mexican border; all five of Belize's wild cats have been recorded here along with crocodiles and manatees. Part of the Belize Barrier Reef World Heritage Site.

Belize Barrier Reef

Practical

Land park about 51 sq km plus a marine reserve of 15,530 acres (Wikipedia). The ranger station sits on the ruins of the old Maya trading post of Chac Balam (Wikivoyage). Most visitors come by tour boat from San Pedro; the north end is remote with no services, so a yacht visit needs settled weather, careful eye-ball navigation in shoal water and a check-in with the rangers. Fishing restricted by zone.

Best for

Remote mangrove and reef wilderness on the Mexican border

Nearby