Wildlife of Belize: From beach to jungle, and howler monkeys to geckos

Last updated on April 8th, 2019 at 12:30 pm

Though our trip to Belize had so many amazing parts that we will never forget, perhaps one of the best was getting to know and come face to face with many of the creatures we’d only ever seen nature documentaries. The wildlife of Belize (and Guatemala) shows up in the most ordinary places, and all of these creatures contributed an amazing vibrancy to our trip.

From ocean to bay, and from beach to jungle, we got to see a wonderful cross section of the wild inhabitants each of Belize’s many climates and environments has to offer.

Wildlife of Belize: Howler monkeys

Our first actual howler monkey sighting happened in Guatemala on our day trip to Tikal. But each night in our jungle bungalow in Belize, we were awakened by these amazingly loud monkeys, roaring in the distance. Let me tell you, the first time that happens, you WILL sit bolt upright in bed and have no idea what you’re hearing!

This sighting, though, happened after we had descended Tikal’s Pyramid IV, the tallest pyramid in the complex. While we sat at the top, we heard those characteristic roars, and our guide pointed out a family group moving through the canopy down below. He took us down and out of the park that way so we could catch a closer glimpse. Once we got down there, the monkeys’ camouflage hid them from us pretty well. Then, Elmer started mimicking their calls and clapping his hands, and next thing you know, a whole family group dropped down low in the trees to investigate this weird looking monkey in the field hat!!

Tikal howler monkey portrait — Luke should be a howler monkey portrait photographer. Just saying.

Howler monkey on the move toward the camera, Tikal Guatemala — On the move!

Baby howler monkey on a branch, Tikal Guatemala — A) That tail! B) What a cute little one!

Wildlife of Belize: Spider monkeys in the trees

While Spider monkeys didn’t specifically have a spot on our must-see wildlife list, we certainly didn’t protest when our Tikal guide started to make some very obnoxious squeaking noises that drew a group of them a little closer to us out of curiosity. They also frequent (and cause mischief) in the jungles of Belize.

Tikal spider monkey yawning — (Sleepy) spider monkeys in our midst!

Spider monkey sitting in a tree, Tikal Guatemala — Chillin’ like a monkey villain.

Spider monkey looking at the camera, Tikal Guatemala — “Why is that weird bipedal monkey creature looking at me?”

Wildlife of Belize: Lizards in the jungle

One of the up-slash-downsides of everything at Caves Branch Jungle Lodge being exposed is that you get amazing exposure to local wildlife. From monstrously large toads (which I WISH I had snapped a photo of!) to lizards running on their back legs, we definitely crossed paths with a number of cold-blooded friends.

Cute little lizard at Caves Branch in Belize — If you freak this little guy out, he’ll actually run away on his back legs!

Cute little amphibious lizard at Caves Branch in Belize — These little ones just pop up all over the place in the jungle 🙂

Wildlife of Belize: Iguanas

As we walked out of our suite on the first full day in Placencia, I took my time investigating the area, but heard a massive “crrrack! thonk!” behind me. Luke started laughing, so I whipped around, and he pointed at the very large iguana hanging out on the ground. I started to ask where it had come from, and Luke just pointed up. Apparently, the branch the iguana had chosen wasn’t quiiite sturdy enough and had snapped, sending him down right next to us. Poor guy. Lizard life is rough.

Huge iguana at Chabil Mar in Placencia, Belize — This looks like a prime way to spend a day, man.

Wildlife of Belize: Other lizards at the beach

I grew up in Florida, but I certainly don’t remember sizable lizards popping out of the brush at me! The particular one was doing his lizard/statue act, and I about jumped out of my skin when I realized how close he was.

Lizard in the bushes at Chabil Mar, Placencia Belize — A medium sized reptilian jack in the box on the beach

Wildlife of Belize: Fruit bats

When you cave tube in Belize’s Cayo District, you might catch sight of a fruit bat – if you’re lucky and know what to look for. Their “output” is acidic enough that they actually create holes in ceilings of the limestone caves they roost in. So, if you see some seriously nasty black holes in the ceiling, chances are you’ll also find a cute little fruit bat face inside!

Fruit bat roosting in hole in ceiling, Footprint Cave Belize — Sleepy fruit bat roosting in his hole in the ceiling

Wildlife of Belize: Koatamundi

As a kid, watching nature shows and reading books about Central America, I’d heard of koatamundi. Never did I think I’d actually end up almost face-to-face with one! Like a mix of a trash panda (raccoon), a cat, and a monkey, this little guy – who had been foraging in a field before we saw it – moved just as quick on the ground as in the trees. Add to that, he had pretty much no fear of people, so we got to get nice and close.

Tikal koatamundi foraging near trees — Koatamundi foraging near the trees

Koatamundi running, Tikal Guatemala — So close!! Camera barely even had to zoom.

Wildlife of Belize: Scorpion spiders

Y’all, this ish ain’t for the faint of heart. While cave tubing in Belize’s Cayo District, one of our guides snatched one of these suckers up so we could all get freaked out. IT WORKED. In reality, they’re completely harmless, despite the name, but doing anything more than looking what a great big no thanks from both of us.

Scorpion spider found while cave tubing in Belize — Warning: your guide may try to prank you if scorpion spiders freak you out.

Birds of Belize: Toucans

It’s amazing how many people, even in Belize, make Froot Loops jokes, guys. Truly.

We several of these pretties, at Tikal and closer to “home” in Belize’s Cayo District. It wasn’t quite a perfect season for them, as their favorite berries weren’t quiiiite ready for eating, but that didn’t stop them from hanging around and just being toucans 🙂

Caves Branch bird watching keel-billed toucan — Keel-billed toucan in the trees

Tikal Keel-billed toucan closeup — Keel-billed toucan

Birds of Belize: Lessons Mot-Mot

It’s just one bird, right? Y’all, this is a shy, shy little critter. We spotted one’s crest on our Caves Branch bird watching tour, but it skittered away before we could see more. And then, we stumbled upon this one, and our guide was kind enough to take a photo of it using my iPhone and his high-powered scope. With that iridescent head and distinctive tail, it sure is a sight to see!

Caves Branch bird watching Lessons Mot-Mot — A Lessons Mot-Mot in all its glory

Caves Branch bird watching Lessons Mot-Mot in silhouette — Dramatic silhouette of a lessons mot-mot

Birds of Belize: Black-Crowned Night Heron

One of our first “major” bird sightings at Caves Branch, the Black-Crowned Night Heron is, duh, nocturnal and prefers to come out after dark. It appeared dozey when we first saw it, but looking through our guide’s scope (and then zooming in on my shot) revealed this guy staring at us pretty sneakily. I promise, we don’t eat herons!

Bird watching at Caves Branch Jungle Lodge, Black Crowned Night Heron — Someone’s beauty rest was being disturbed… whoops.

Birds of Belize: While-bellied Emerald Hummingbird

We saw these cuties in Belize (flitting around outside our room) and in Guatemala (making great use of the blooms on a tree near the Lost World complex at Tikal). They had just about no fear and were so much fun to watch.

Tikal white bellied emerald hummingbird — White-bellied emerald hummingbird

Birds of Belize: Rufous-tailed Hummingbird

Saw this ADORABLE guy on our bird watching tour at Caves Branch. As we walked along the main path, our guide froze and pointed into the bush, where he was surprisingly easy to see.

Caves Branch bird watching rufous tailed hummingbird — Lovely little rufous-tailed hummingbird

Birds of Belize: Gray-headed Kite

When we started going through our photos to see which ones were keepers, these jumped out at both of us. He vaguely remembered having been excited at the view of one of Tikal’s temples with this lovely raptor in the foreground, but we had no idea what kind of bird it even was. Enter Wikipedia! A few searches for things like “gray raptors in Guatemala” returned a picture that made it obvious that we were looking at a gray-headed kite, which you can easily see throughout Central America, including Belize.

Tikal Gray-headed kite in ceiba tree near Mayan Ruins — Gray-headed kite looking majestic

Tikal gray-headed kite on a ceiba tree — Gray-headed kite on a ceiba tree

Birds of Belize: Pelicans

Maybe a pelican’s a pelican, but if you’re not a coastal native, they’re still pretty damn cool to see. Especially when they yawn, which we didn’t happen to catch here, sadly enough. Just before we went snorkeling off the Silk Cayes, we still got to see the hilarious view of a seagull actually sitting on a pelican’s head.

Pelican in the bay near Placencia, Belize — Pelican in the bay near Placencia

Silk Caye Belize coast seagull sitting on a pelican — That, friends, is a seagull sitting ON a pelican

Sea life of Belize: Nurse sharks

One of the perks of taking a snorkeling tour is the guides know all the best spots to see every kind of wildlife you can imagine. In Belize, they know to take you to a spot where fishermen clean their catches. Nurse sharks LOVE this place because they can scavenge the leftover conch and other bits fishermen throw overboard. And thus, you get a view like this!

Snorkeling with nurse sharks and fish feeding on Silk Caye reef — The nurse sharks are so restless – they never stop moving!

Snorkeling with a nurse shark swimming by — Nurse shark looking for food

Silk Caye snorkeling with nurse sharks feeding — Look at all those nurse sharks feeding!

Sea life of Belize: Loggerhead turtles

We’ve had the good fortune of snorkeling with green turtles near Culebra, Puerto Rico, but where green turtles are fairly shy, loggerheads could NOT care less that you’re close by. Maybe it was just this turtle, which came scooting out from underneath a nearby fishing boat after scavenging for leftovers, but she just floated along, minding her own beeswax and only looking moderately curious about the weird, mask-wearing critters pursuing her.