We had heard from multiple people (including guides) that the Scarlet macaws arrived early this year, so a friend organized a
trip for several of us. (During most of the year the birds live in Chiquibul National Park, but January through March they can
be found eating specific fruits in the trees near Red Bank.)
Two carloads of us drove down to Red Bank and picked up our tour guide from Scarlet Macaw Bed & Breakfast.
We stopped at one spot along the road when the guide saw several Scarlet macaws in the trees in the distance. After they
flew off we walked further down the road and then hiked up a big hill to overlook the valley.
These little red berries are one of the fruits the birds come to eat.
Almost to the top... None of us was expecting a big hike.
We were rewarded with the sight of several Scarlet macaws.
Unfortunately, it was overcast, so the colors didn't turn out in our pictures. Only when the birds were flying against the
backdrop of the green trees could you see their full glory - like big flying rainbows.
Ah, the love of a mother and daughter.
When the birds left the area we hiked back down the hill to go to our next location.
Walking the road back to our vehicles.
Our next stop was the Mennonite community of Roseville. This meant a river crossing, which, again, nobody was expecting.
Thankfully both drivers had vehicles that could make the crossing. However, we missed taking a picture of the sign at the entrance to Roseville which said "Come Well Dressed". We assume that's because it's a Mennonite community who wants people dressed modestly - fair enough.
We didn't take pictures of any people, but this cow didn't seem to mind our photographs.
Walking toward the hillside where the Scarlet macaws hang out. That is our Maya guide, Rogelio, on the left.
More cattle to greet us at the end of the road.
We saw lots more Scarlet macaws (that didn't photograph well), plus this Toucan (in the center).
A dam on one of the Mennonite farms.
Homemade hydro power.
One last sighting of Scarlet macaws before we left. They squawk loudly, so you hear them coming from a long ways away,
and you have plenty of time to look around and find them.
Rogelio took us to their nearby family farm for a brief tour.
Unfortunately, nobody can remember what our guide called this fruit.
Rogelio compared this fruit to cacao, but the flavor is more like melon. It was good, but we
all agreed that the fruit of cacao is better.
Our very last stop was the "zip line" that people would use to get to and from Roseville as a shortcut, or when the water in
the river is too high to cross.
We were fortunate that someone was crossing back from Roseville (with his bicycle in tow), so we got to see how it worked.
The first half of the trip is quick thanks to gravity, but for the second half of the trip you have to pull yourself across.
Everyone raves about The Belize Zoo. We did know that it houses only rescued, native Belizean animals that cannot (for various reasons) be released back into the wild, so it seems to be one that we can support. Cara thought her mother would like it, and we had never been, so it seemed like someplace we had to visit.
In researching plans for her mother's visit, Cara found that the Zoo offers a Director's VIP Tour. That's where the Zoo founder and director, Sharon Matola, personally takes you on a tour of the zoo, and you get to get up close and personal with several animals.
While we waited for Sharon to arrive we were greeted by a man with this large boa. He asked
if we wanted to hold her, and Deedra jumped at the chance.
Cara at one time had a red tailed boa constrictor, so she wasn't scared either.
Sharon arrived and off we went.
King vulture
This deer lacks an enzyme or something that lets the antlers molt properly, so the layers just keep building up for him.
These are the same kind of deer we have in Indiana.
You get to go inside the enclosure with one of the tapirs and feed him. (It's definitely a him - can you see his "parts" hanging down to the ground? That came out as soon as we started feeding him his favorite food.)
We stopped and fed the other tapirs over the fence.
Next we threw bananas over the fence to the spider monkeys.
On the ground the spider monkeys were walking and running upright.
In the trees the spider monkeys were fast and agile.
Deedra feeding seeds to Charlie, a Scarlet macaw.
In the cage behind is this guy's brother, George, and he was curious about our interaction with his sibling.
This was the only non-native animal in the zoo, but the bird needed to be rescued, and Sharon
could not refuse.
Can't remember what kind of parrot this was with the blue head.
A red-lored parrot in the front.
Coatimundi (aka "quash")
A troop of coatimundi like to all be covered in the same scent so that they can recognize each
other. However, they can't produce their own scent, so they must find something in nature to use.
Here at the zoo, apparently they have chosen a men's perfume called "Bod Man" as their
favorite, so Sharon would come up to the fence and say "Bod Man is here", and the quash all
come running. She sprinkled some of the perfume on the ground, and they dove in, rubbing the
scent all over themselves.
There was even one albino coatimundi.
Jaguarundi
We got to go inside with Panama, the Harpy eagle, and feed him.
He looks intimidating, but he was quite gentle taking the food (rat meat). He later roused for Deedra (shaking out his
feathers), and Sharon said that's a sign he's happy and likes you.
Next door was the female Harpy eagle, but she's not nearly so friendly, so you don't go inside with her.
The female is bigger than the male. The zoo tried to release this one back into the wild, but she
kept coming back, so they let her stay.
Crocodile (American crocodile, we think - the larger of the two species here)
Junior Buddy, the jaguar
Notice the little cage behind the logs? We'll get back to that in a moment...
Yes, you get to go inside that little cage in the jaguar's habitat for an incredible experience!
Not only do you see him closer than you've ever seen a big cat...
He also kisses (licks) your forehead!
Jabiru stork
This bird is huge, though our pictures don't show that well.
Runt, the Keel-billed Toucan (the national bird of Belize)
We got to go inside with him and feed him watermelon!
Apparently they found an abandoned egg, and this crocodile hatched from it, so Sharon raised this crocodile from birth.
Cara wasn't so sure about this at first...
But this crocodile was truly super docile and liked being petted.
He would close his eyes when you petted his head or front feet.
Crested guan
Barn owl
The feathers were super soft and downy.
He had several toys, but apparently this was his favorite.
Puma
Peccary
Another spotted Jaguar
This doesn't normally happen in nature, but these wild vultures came to live here voluntarily, and the peccary apparently
decided to go along with it.
The zoo grounds are really beautiful and lush.
Ocelot
Pelicans - these guys were both missing an eye.
Spotted jaguars
These are actually two males living together, which does not normally happen in the wild.
At the end Sharon signed one of her books about Junior Buddy the Jaguar for Cara's mother. Sharon took her time with us and seemed to really enjoy the tour as well. We highly recommend this tour if you get the chance.
Below is a long 18 minute video that is little cuts of each of the animals we saw on the Directors Tour.
Cara loved this quote on the wall at the zoo.
After the zoo we headed to our hotel room at Black Orchid Resort, which is along the river in a village called Burrell Boom.
We saw howler monkeys the last time we stayed here, and again we were not disappointed.
