MANATEE ENCOUNTERS
The Manatee Encounter adventure includes
observing the Antillean manatee at the Swallow
Caye Marine Reserve. We use a long pole to move
through the reserve so we do not disturb this
important area for this endangered animal. This is a
resting area for the manatee as it moves between
feeding areas. Often when we arrive the manatees
are in the area, however, sometimes we must wait
for them to return from feeding. The largest
population of Antillean manatees are found within
the waters of Belize. There are five strongholds in
Belize where the manatees can be sighted: the New
River, Belize City & the Swallow Caye Marine
Reserve, Gales Point, Placencia, and Punta Gorda.
Manatees are vegetarians that consume up to 20%
of their body weight daily and hence get the
nickname 'Sea Cow."
MANATEE & DOLPHIN ENCOUNTERS
On the Manatee & Dolphin Encounter tour we first
visit the manatees and then search for Atlantic
bottlenose dolphins in the mangrove channels of
the barrier islands. The Atlantic bottlenose dolphin is
often sighted feeding in the coastal areas. These are
intelligent mammals that are curious when
encountered, but not always in the mood for
visitors.
WILDLIFE ENCOUNTERS
Our Wildlife Encounter Tour includes the above
tours, but begins with a cruise up the Belize River
and ends with snorkeling on the largest barrier reef
in the Western Hemisphere! This tour is very
popular since it includes a little bit of jungle and sea
while your in Belize for the day! Families really
enjoy this trip as there's something for everyone.
The Belize River was the main highway in Belize until
the turn of the century when roads were built.
Great steamships used to run between Cayo, Belize's
westernmost town that borders Guatemala, and
Belize City. Before the steamships were in use, the
Maya similarly used the Belize River as a key
transportation route between their inland cities and
coastal settlements. Many of the river settlements
are now much less populated. Evidence of
settlement along the Belize River are the numerous
mango farms that line the river banks and the
occasional breadfruit tree.
Several species of reptiles can be observed along the
jungle river. The American crocodile is often
observed "sunning" along the river bank. They are
shy around vistors and will often escape
underwater. The Central American river turtle is
occasionally observed resting on logs along the river
bank. These reptiles are similarly shy and will retreat
to the safety of the river in an instant! Green
iguanas are vegetarians that are observed resting on
the branches of the tallest trees. They reach 5 feet
in length and vary in color green to orange.
Exotic bird species include the keel-billed toucan,
boat-billed and great blue herons, jabiru and wood
storks, roseate spoonsbills, kinfishers, egrets and
many more. Exotic plants and trees encountered
include the royal and cohune palms, and logwood,
which was used in the 1800s as die for clothing.
The mangrove communities found along the coast
and offshore islands are the nursery grounds for our
commercial fishery species. Lobster, fish, and
shrimp use the the prop roots of the red mangrove
for shelter and also as a feeding ground.
Coral reefs are magnificent complexes of coral, sea
creatures and fish. For more information on the
coral reef please see the Barrier Reef Snorkeling
description.
The Belize River and Barrier Reef Snorkeling are
excellent additions to your Wildlife Encounter trip as
you get a glimpse of the jungle and it's inhabitants
and also the amazing underwater world.
The Manatee Encounter adventure includes
observing the Antillean manatee at the Swallow
Caye Marine Reserve. We use a long pole to move
through the reserve so we do not disturb this
important area for this endangered animal. This is a
resting area for the manatee as it moves between
feeding areas. Often when we arrive the manatees
are in the area, however, sometimes we must wait
for them to return from feeding. The largest
population of Antillean manatees are found within
the waters of Belize. There are five strongholds in
Belize where the manatees can be sighted: the New
River, Belize City & the Swallow Caye Marine
Reserve, Gales Point, Placencia, and Punta Gorda.
Manatees are vegetarians that consume up to 20%
of their body weight daily and hence get the
nickname 'Sea Cow."
MANATEE & DOLPHIN ENCOUNTERS
On the Manatee & Dolphin Encounter tour we first
visit the manatees and then search for Atlantic
bottlenose dolphins in the mangrove channels of
the barrier islands. The Atlantic bottlenose dolphin is
often sighted feeding in the coastal areas. These are
intelligent mammals that are curious when
encountered, but not always in the mood for
visitors.
WILDLIFE ENCOUNTERS
Our Wildlife Encounter Tour includes the above
tours, but begins with a cruise up the Belize River
and ends with snorkeling on the largest barrier reef
in the Western Hemisphere! This tour is very
popular since it includes a little bit of jungle and sea
while your in Belize for the day! Families really
enjoy this trip as there's something for everyone.
The Belize River was the main highway in Belize until
the turn of the century when roads were built.
Great steamships used to run between Cayo, Belize's
westernmost town that borders Guatemala, and
Belize City. Before the steamships were in use, the
Maya similarly used the Belize River as a key
transportation route between their inland cities and
coastal settlements. Many of the river settlements
are now much less populated. Evidence of
settlement along the Belize River are the numerous
mango farms that line the river banks and the
occasional breadfruit tree.
Several species of reptiles can be observed along the
jungle river. The American crocodile is often
observed "sunning" along the river bank. They are
shy around vistors and will often escape
underwater. The Central American river turtle is
occasionally observed resting on logs along the river
bank. These reptiles are similarly shy and will retreat
to the safety of the river in an instant! Green
iguanas are vegetarians that are observed resting on
the branches of the tallest trees. They reach 5 feet
in length and vary in color green to orange.
Exotic bird species include the keel-billed toucan,
boat-billed and great blue herons, jabiru and wood
storks, roseate spoonsbills, kinfishers, egrets and
many more. Exotic plants and trees encountered
include the royal and cohune palms, and logwood,
which was used in the 1800s as die for clothing.
The mangrove communities found along the coast
and offshore islands are the nursery grounds for our
commercial fishery species. Lobster, fish, and
shrimp use the the prop roots of the red mangrove
for shelter and also as a feeding ground.
Coral reefs are magnificent complexes of coral, sea
creatures and fish. For more information on the
coral reef please see the Barrier Reef Snorkeling
description.
The Belize River and Barrier Reef Snorkeling are
excellent additions to your Wildlife Encounter trip as
you get a glimpse of the jungle and it's inhabitants
and also the amazing underwater world.
| Red mangroves at sunset |
$71.50 Manatee Encounters
Trip takes about 3 hours and includes a snack and soda/water.
Trip takes about 3 hours and includes a snack and soda/water.
$82.50 Manatee & Dolphin Encounters
Trip takes about 4 hours and includes a snack and soda/water.
Trip takes about 4 hours and includes a snack and soda/water.
$104.50 Wildlife Encounter Tour
Trip takes about 5-6 hours and includes snorkeling equipment and instruction, lunch and
soda/water. Also offered as a private charter at $702 that can accommodate up to 8
persons.
Trip takes about 5-6 hours and includes snorkeling equipment and instruction, lunch and
soda/water. Also offered as a private charter at $702 that can accommodate up to 8
persons.
Wildlife Encounters...
| SEA SPORTS BELIZE |
| 83 North Front Street PO Box 1234 Belize City, Belize TEL: (501) 223-5505 Email: info@seasportsbelize.com www.seasportsbelize.com |
Wildlife Encounters...
| Belize Tourism Board Licensed Tour Operator and Tour Operator of the Year for 2005! |
