Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary Day & Night Hiking Guide

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The Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary, located in the tropical forests of the Stann Creek District, is famous for being the first Jaguar Preserve in the world and a top hiking destination in Belize.

The nature reserve spans over 128,000 acres, making it one of the largest protected areas in all of Belize. An estimated 200 jaguars live in the preserve, however, they are shy and the chances of seeing jaguars when hiking are slim. But don’t let that keep you away since there’s plenty of plants and wildlife to see!

Hiking the Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary and Jaguar Preserve

Visitors can explore dozens of hiking trails at the Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary and Jaguar Preserve where they’ll discover spectacular waterfalls, beautiful mountain views, and plenty of wildlife beyond the rare jaguar sighting. The wildlife sanctuary is home to numerous plants and animals, including margays, deer, ocelots, pumas, howler monkeys, tapirs, and around 330 species of native and migratory birds.

Here are day and night hiking guides to the Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary:

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1. Day Hiking Guide

Getting to the Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary and Jaguar Preserve involves driving down the Southern Highway for about 20 minutes from Hopkins, or 35 minutes from Dangriga, until meeting the turnoff point to the lovely traditional village of Maya Center. The Maya Center Village serves as the entrance to the wildlife sanctuary.

There are a number of tour operators that can take you to the Cockscomb from Hopkins, including Hamanasi Adventure & Dive Resort. Hamanasi’s tour shuttle typically leaves at 7:00 AM, heading down the Southern Highway for about 20 minutes before stopping for a bit at Maya Center Village, where you can view and purchase traditional Mayan arts and crafts. 

Following this, the shuttle turns off the paved highway and onto the dirt road, driving for another 30 minutes through the beautiful forest until arriving at the Jaguar Preserve visitor center/ museum. At the visitor center, you can learn about the history and ecosystems of the park. And after signing in, visitors can begin the deep jungle hike into the preserve.

The Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary is quite large, and since Jaguars are creatures that prefer to stay hidden, your chances of spotting a jaguar are very slim. Unless you count the park sign pictured below, which is seen by everyone as they enter the reserve.

The famous jaguar sign does make a good photo op but before long you’ll turn your attention to the many other beautiful animals and birds that flourish in the reserve.

With your guide’s trained eyes, you are likely to encounter many jungle residents while on the trails. Hikers often see deer, foxes, howler monkeys, and many beautiful birds, all which are truly spectacular. Sometimes you may even get to see a fresh jaguar paw print.

There are lots of trails to choose from, each with their own personality. My favorites include the Rubber Tree trail, the Wari Loop trail, and the Green Knowledge trail. The trails are well maintained with proper signage, but they are in their natural state and not paved.

Trails in the preserve range in difficulty from flat and relatively easy, to steep and strenuous, and each trail passes through the beautiful pristine rainforest leading to an amazing destination.  With so many options, you’ll be glad to have your guide plan a route that fits the interests and abilities of your group, and to explain some of the unique aspects of this incredible ecosystem.  

If you like beautiful waterfalls and enjoy mountain views, chose the Ben’s Bluff trail, which offers spectacular views of the Cockscomb Basin and a secluded jungle swim. Be wary though, this trail can be a bit challenging. Be sure to wear sturdy shoes and long pants. After all, you are going deep into the tropical jungle!

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2. Night Hiking Guide

Yes! The Cockscomb trails can also be explored during the night! In fact, visitors of all ages often ask to do both day and night hikes on the same day, maybe even the same trail, and end up having totally different experiences. Some visitors, however, prefer only hiking the Cockscomb at night, since the temperatures are cooler and the hikes are less strenuous.

During Belize’s dry season, night hikes typically start at 6:45 PM when the sun sets. And during the wet season, the night hikes start at 6:15 PM since the sun sets sooner during this time of the year. Typically, the flatter trails of the easy trails section are great for night hikes. The most popular being the River Path Trail, the Curassow Trail, and the Rubber Tree Trail.

For every night hike, visitors will be given headlamps to spot animals. While they can’t see very far with the headlamps, there are some animals that come near enough to see. Hikers may catch glimpses of bare-throated tiger herons, marine toads, spectacled owls, barn owls, gibnuts, kinkajous, and tapirs. 

They may also see wild pigs, actually, they would most likely only see a pair of small eyes in the darkness. A trained guide can also often spot wolf spiders or tarantulas, and occasionally, snakes. Many more animals can be heard but not spotted, and sometimes, you can even hear a rare jaguar call. 

Although hiking during the night may make you feel a bit on edge because of the darkness, you do not need to worry because this experience is totally safe. We just ask that you relax and take in the jungle as it comes alive with the sounds of nocturnal creatures.

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Know before you go

1. Best time to visit the Cockscomb

At over 100 inches of rain per year, Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary is one of the wettest places in Belize, and often quite hot and humid.  February to May is typically a slightly cooler and slightly drier season, while September to March is the season for bird migrations, where the number of bird species present in the Sanctuary increases.  So February or March may be the best of both worlds.

2. What to wear

The Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary allows for deep jungle hiking. Therefore you will need to wear sturdy hiking shoes and good hiking clothes that will keep you cool and protected. A lightweight long-sleeve shirt and long pants are recommended. Being adequately covered up is best since you want to avoid being a target for bugs. Also, don’t forget to bring a swimming suit or swimming trunks if you decide to do a hike that takes you to a waterfall or natural pool. 

3. What to bring

When hiking in the jungles of Belize, mosquitoes can be a problem, so bug repellent is key to keeping them away. For hot sunny days, sunscreen is a must, and if needed, rain gear for rainy days. Most importantly, bring a water bottle so that you stay hydrated.

4. What’s the cost

The cost of the Cockscomb hiking tour with Hamanasi is $85 USD per person. This includes an experienced tour guide, park-entry fee, refreshments such as water, lunch, and snacks, and towels if you go swimming.  Transportation is included to and from Hamanasi, but if you are not staying at Hamanasi and want to book with us, arrangements can be made for a local pickup elsewhere in Hopkins.

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