Guanacaste National Park

Come along, on a short hike, with Martin & me as we walk the easy trails of Guanacaste National Park.  It is located on the Western Highway at the turn-off to Belmopan in Belize.

                              

Guanacaste National Park is a 50-acre park in central Belize. It is named after a huge Guanacaste tree that escaped being logged because its trunk divided into three bases, reducing its value as timber.

Admission $1BZ for locals; $5 non-nationals.  We received a personal, verbal orientation to the park from the guide whom we paid our admission fee to - very thorough & helpful.

Immediately once we step on the path we are encompassed in a tunnel-like covering of green leaves and sunshine.  Tho` there are only two miles of trails, we find something to stop, look at, watch or listen to - every step of the way.

                 Huge, old trees that are of such hard wood they don't decay quickly.

              At an overhanging lookout, we can see an old structures - now abandoned.

This is the colossal Guanacaste (Tubroos) tree from which the park takes its name. This tree is truly an impressive sight with its diameter which can be in excess of six feet and hundreds of the hanging vines and epiphytes (a plant that grows on another plant but is not parasitic, such as the numerous ferns, bromeliads, air plants, and orchids growing on tree trunks in tropical rain forests) suspended from the upper reaches of its branches.  * Hey, this blog is educational, too!  =)

                                                      The Belize River

            A young boy is fishing - with string & a hook tied to the end of a plastic bottle.  
                He caught 3 fish in the short time we were at this observation deck.  

                     His sisters were having so much fun swimming, he finally put his "pole" away                                                         and joined them in the river

                          A small stream making its way down to the river.

Philodendron - everywhere on this fallen tree!  And, they are.....  what?  

(See earlier description of "epiphyte." =)

Midway around the second hike we started hearing a consistent sound from up in the trees.  We've heard Howler Monkeys before but these guys were super vocal - they kept at it the whole time we were hiking within range of their sounds.  We never did see them, even when we were right below them.  The trees were too thick with leaves & movement from the wind - but I recorded their calling.  

                                 
                                                            http://youtu.be/a6oOfILCEZ0

There are 9 different species of howler monkey, found throughout the tropical jungles of Central & South America.  Those in Guanacaste NP are black howlers.  The howler monkey is one of the largest species of monkey and can grow to be about 3 feet long.  Despite their size, howler monkeys weigh less than 22 lbs, which allows them to move with more agility through the high trees and hang from branches by their tails when picking fruit.

The howler monkey is thought to have the loudest call of all the primates in the world, being able to project their howling voices up to several miles!  (We agree =)  They move about in troops of around 18 monkeys and spend most of their time sleeping & grooming each other.  They are supposedly one of the least active monkeys as they spend 80% of their time resting.  A howler monkey generally lives to be around 20 years old.  (More education for you, my family & friends!  =)

                                    Some of the other interesting growth

Termite Nest

We were covered in tropical forest the whole way around the National Park.  I kept taking pictures like this because it's so beautiful.

And, lastly... after we left the park we drove out to the countryside just to see more of Belize.  Off the main road, while looking for a fruit greenhouse, we shared the road with this Mennonite farmer, his horses & buggy.  Actually, we often see these in town, as well; this isn't unusual here at all.  Fun times in Belize!  =)