Altun Ha and Howler Monkey Sanctuary Tour

Sightseeing  :  Belize  :  Belize  :  Belize City  :  Half-day Tours

Visit the ancient city of Altun Ha, learn the history of the ancient Mayans who built this amazing city, its importance to the region and cities around it and theories of its collapse. Also visit the amazing Howler Monkey Sanctuary where you get up close with the animals in their natural habitat. An hour northward out of Belize City, your disembarkation point, along quaint country roads, secondary rainforest, Creole villages and isolated farms, rises the majestic beauty of the Maya ceremonial center called Altun Ha (rock stone water). Royal priests ruled this site for many centuries, and traded with other Mayan centers in Meso-America. Some 30 years ago, Dr. David Pendergast of the Royal Ontario Museum in Canada, along with his excavation team, discovered a tomb of a priest in the Temple of the Masonry Altars, and in it, a nine and three quarter pound jade carving of the Sun God, Kinich Ahau – a world famous event! Climb prepared stone steps to the stars! Surround yourself with the aura of these ancient stargazers living in the rainforests of Belize. After a delicious Belizean lunch, and your time travel experience of the Maya Civilization, move to the Howler Monkey Sanctuary.

The area is rapidly becoming a popular tourist destination as home of the famous Community Baboon Sanctuary, one of the few conservation facilities in the entire region that is dedicated to the protection of the black howler monkey. The calls of the versatile primates can be heard for miles around and sightings of the animals frolicking in the roadside vegetation are commonplace. There is even a designated baboon crossing marked by and overhead rope ladder bridge that connects two trees on either side of the narrow dirt road. The intelligent creatures traverse the contraption with graceful ease providing invaluable photo opportunities for passers by.