Whether you're a solo adventurer, a family seeking connection, a group of friends craving exploration, or an educator looking for the best place for student environmental education - Monkey Bay welcomes you to a world of discovery.
Our Vision
“We aspire to become the leading provider of immersive educational experiences in Belize while promoting sustainable conservation practices”
Our mission
“Our mission is to empower individuals through immersive educational experiences, fostering a profound understanding of nature while actively supporting Belize's National Protected Area System (NPAS).”
Who We Are
Monkey Bay Wildlife Sanctuary is a non-profit organization that focuses on teaching people about the environment, protecting different kinds of plants and animals, preserving and taking care of the Monkey Bay Wildlife Sanctuary Private Protected Area and the Monkey Bay National Park in Central Belize. Monkey Bay Wildlife Sanctuary was officially recognized as a Private Protected Area on April 22, 1990. After this recognition, the sanctuary started a program in Belize aimed at teaching people about the environment. In 2015, Monkey Bay Wildlife Sanctuary became a registered non-profit organization with the main goal of providing educational programs that bring in money to help manage and support the sanctuary. The sanctuary also provides places to stay for people who want to learn through their study abroad programs at Monkey Bay Wildlife Sanctuary and at Tobacco Caye in the South Water Marine Reserve.
What We Do
Environmental Education
Discover the educational wonders of Belize with us at Monkey Bay! We create custom itineraries for school groups that blend learning with adventure. Students explore Belize's diverse culture and ecosystems, from ancient ruins to coral reefs, while deepening their understanding of their studies. Come join us for an unforgettable educational experience in the heart of Belize!
Fire Management
We don't just explore, but we also work to protect the environment. We team up with the Maya Forest Corridor Fire Working Group to host fire training workshops that help people learn how to manage wildfires effectively. Our hands-on sessions teach about fire behavior, prevention, and control in the special Maya Forest Corridor ecosystem. We also do controlled burns in the savanna to help manage wildfires in a sustainable way and promote responsible fire practices to protect Belize's diverse landscapes.
Parrot Nesting Box Monitoring and Installation
Our commitment includes creating a safe place for many types of birds, like the beautiful yellow-headed parrots, colorful yellow-lored parrots, hard-to-find pigmy owls, and impressive trogons. We place nesting boxes in strategic locations to give important shelter for these different bird species, helping with problems like losing their homes, changes in the environment, and illegal poaching. We carefully watch over nesting to see how well the birds are doing, making sure they stay healthy and keep growing in numbers. You can help support our efforts to protect Belize's special birds by visiting and backing our cause at Monkey Bay.
Where does the name monkey Bay Come from?
The name Monkey Bay originates from when Belize was still a British Colony named “ British Honduras”. There were many logging camps in the country, and one of them was situated on the Sibun River where Monkey Bay Wildlife Sanctuary and Monkey Bay National Park share common river frontage. As we have adapted many of the British customs (except for driving on the wrong side of the road), we have kept the name given from Colonial days. The British name for a bend, or meander with a sand bar along the course of the river is called a “Bay". At this particular area of the Sibun River crossing there were troops of monkeys often observed resting overnight in a large Guanacaste Tree near the "Bay", hence the name “Monkey Bay”.
We are proud members of the following organizations
“Creation was not finished at the dawn of this earth, but creation continues, and we have a lot to do to make the world a better place.”