Established in 1984, Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary is widely recognized to be one of the finest havens for bird-watching in all of Central America. Built on a network of lagoons, swamps, and estuaries, the sanctuary is home to thousands of both native and migratory birds including the boat-billed heron, the snowy egret, the black-collared hawk, the pygmy kingfisher, the rufus-tailed jacamars, and so many more.
Explore the sanctuary with a guide or independently and discover the incredible wetlands filled with a diverse mix of plants and animals. Stroll the "birdwalk", an elevated walkway that stretches about 1km (0.75mi) through the reserve and discover the true nature of Belize.
Be sure to explore the sanctuary by boat to see the plentiful waterbirds in their natural homes and habitats.
The village within the sanctuary, Crooked Tree Village, is located about 3mi (5km) off of the Northern Highway coming from Belize City. The easiest way to reach the sanctuary is out of Belize City by car, about a 30-minute drive. If you are not renting a car, look into tour services out to Crooked Tree.
For more information, visit the wonderfully informative visitors' center, where you will also be expected to pay admission. Be forewarned, though, that they tend to close fairly early in the day, so schedule your visit accordingly.
