monkey river trip belize

Monkey River Tour – Everything You Need To Know

• May 26, 2024
• by Belize Hub +

Want to see Howler Monkeys in Belize? We’ve Got Your Destination!

An abundance of visitors come to Belize to see wildlife in a nation so sparsely populated, mile upon mile of rain forest, jungle and preserves keep this wildlife legacy safe for future generations. If asked to pick one animal visitors enjoy seeing most, adults and kids grin when agreeing: “Monkeys!” For North Americans who have never seen a monkey outside a zoo, a Monkey River Tour could be the high point of your travels.

Monkey River Tour

A Monkey River adventure takes travelers deep into the land of Howler Monkeys, primates so loud, they could never hide from predators without giving themselves away. To visit their neighborhood, you’ll first have to journey from Placencia (if you are vacationing in Placencia Peninsula) to Monkey River Village by boat, passing  mangrove swamp and other exotic scenery that includes wild flowers, scaly critters and (if you’re lucky) manatees, since these gentle marine mammals make their homes here among mangrove-filled estuaries.

Why visit Monkey River?

This one-of-a-kind excursion is fascinating and fun for people of all ages. Kids stare wide-eyed at monkeys whose cries far exceed decibels coming from heavy-metal rock bands! Adults learn more about life along a river bank that explodes with color and sounds: birds, animals and plants, all of which co-exist nicely here in southern Belize. Learn about medicinal plants and take a refreshing swim during your tour. You can look forward to Creole cookery prepared by villagers (please bring money for lunch) that is so tasty, even your taste buds will remember your Monkey River Tour.

Where in Belize is it located?

Monkey River Village is located in southern Belize’s Toledo District , in close proximity to towns like Placencia Village and Punta Gorda Town.

The best time to go

Since the monkeys stick around 12 months of the year, humans eager to see them can show up in Belize year-round, too. Given river access that’s required to get to your destination, it stands to reason that if there’s flooding during the green season, the trip could be a bit more thrilling, but that doesn’t mean tours are cancelled just because it rains!

Best way to get here

If you’ve a car, a map and/or a GPS system, your resort host can point you in the direction of the monkeys from anywhere in southern Belize. No worries about parking. There’s not a single car in the village which has only two streets, so it’s impossible to get lost in Monkey River Village. You can also get here by taking a 15-mile boat ride to the mouth of the Monkey River and then hike to the village. If you’re traveling from other areas in Belize, a tour service is your best bet.

Best way to experience Monkey River Tours

The most highly-recommended way to take a Monkey River Tour is to book a registered tour guide who is well-versed in the area’s animals, people and landscape. Wear hiking shoes to avoid surprises and long pants to protect you from bug bites and thorns. If you intend to swim in the river, bring a suit and don’t leave your sunglasses, sunscreen and hat back at your resort in your excitement. You’ll travel by boat and by foot through forest and along trails to reach Howler Monkey nirvana where you can let loose frustrations by howling at the simians. Travelers tell us that shouting at monkeys is better than therapy and these primates never send a bill!

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Hamanasi Adventure & Dive Resort, Belize

The Best of Belize, On & Offshore

Monkey River Boat & Jungle Adventure Tour

Monkey River winds its way through the jungle from the Maya Mountains to the sea. Teeming with birds, fish and the howler monkeys that gave name to the river, this is an easy way to see some of the bounty of this unique ecosystem. On the one hour trip from Hamanasi to Independence Town you will pass through large banana plantations and several small traditional Mayan villages. Near Independence you will board a small boat that will take you through a lagoon and coastal waters where you may spot manatees, dolphins and other sea life. Read More ⋁

More Information

What to Bring:

Sturdy Shoes or Boots

Insect Repellent

Field guide

Other Information:

This tour is not included in our packages – package but may be booked at the listed cost.

Intensity Key:

• Challenging
• Very Challenging

Everyday, Hamanasi offers a barrier reef excursion and an inland excursion based on a preset schedule. These scheduled tours are included in package rates. Tours beyond the daily scheduled tours are not included in package rates but can be booked at the listed cost. All tours are accompanied by a licensed Belizean tour guide and include any permits needed. A PADI professional accompanies all dive trips. More information about our tours is available on our rates and policies pages.

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Room beautifully decorated and clean! The entire staff was extremely helpful & courteous. Food was the best! Tour guides extremely knowledgeable!

“Golden was an excellent guide for birding, we saw a wide variety of birds”

I’ve been to quite a few dive resorts. Hamanasi is hands down, the best so far. Thank you for a wonderful time.

Everything here is perfect for honeymooners and active travelers! Beautiful grounds, tons of interesting tours and good food & drinks to help you relax and enjoy yourself

This is my 6th Belize dive adventure in the past 18 years and my best ALL around experience.

This was the perfect getaway and reunion with best friends. The access to both Diving and Tours cannot be matched

Wonderful warm staff, excellent guides, variety of inland tours, very comfortable rooms

Just keep doing what you’re doing… The Mayan tour history was incredible; the guide was extremely knowledgeable and profoundly connected to his heritage.

Wonderful stay, beautiful surroundings. The staff was unfailingly friendly and accommodating. Adventures were great and well organized!

Overall, great experience! Staff made you feel extremely welcome and tended to your every need. Tours gave you a taste of Belize and the resort gave you a taste of heaven!

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Monkey River Tour

About our Monkey River Tour

The Monkey River is a well-named watercourse in Belize’s southeastern Toledo District that has its outlet in the Caribbean Sea.

The Monkey River tour begins in Monkey River Town, a coastal village located just a short distance from the Placencia Village. From there, participants will board a boat and head upstream to explore one of the most pristine and untouched areas of the country, home to mangrove swamps and verdant jungles teeming with wildlife.

During the journey, an experienced tour guide will provide information about the wide variety of different plants, birds, and animals in the area, including giant iguanas, toucans, manatees, crocodiles, and different plants used for medicinal purposes by the locals.

Once deep into the heart of the jungle, the boat will dock on the banks. Participants will enjoy a light hike through the foliage, learning more about the plants and animals until they reach an area inhabited by black howler monkeys. These animals are renowned for having one of the loudest calls in the animal kingdom, able to be heard more than four miles away.

Although black howler monkeys flourish in this part of Belize, their numbers are dwindling elsewhere in Central America, making this region an important conservation area for these unique animals. Black howler monkeys live in troops of around a dozen individuals dominated by an alpha male.

Despite their name, only the adult males are black in color. Juveniles of both genders and adult females have a whitish-golden fur color with red highlights. Black howler monkeys are vegetarian, consuming a diet of mostly leaves but also some fruit. They have prehensile tails that act like an extra arm, helping them maintain a secure grip high up in the jungle canopy.

Black howler monkeys sleep or rest for up to 70% of the day. Because of the way their tails work with their arms and legs, walking on the ground is difficult for black howler monkeys. Normally, they spend their entire lives in the trees but do occasionally come down to the banks of the river to drink water.

After returning to the boat, participants will have a chance to enjoy a refreshing swim in the river in order to cool off from the heat. On the trip back to Monkey River Town, the tour will pass by several small villages where locals participating in daily tasks and fishing can be observed. Upon returning to Monkey River Town, participants will enjoy a delicious meal prepared onsite by a local family.

What is included:

Private guide, transportation to and from your accommodation, bottled water, lunch

What to bring:

Camera, sunscreen, Insect repellant

What to wear:

Walking shoes, wear comfortable clothing

Photos of our Monkey River Tour

What our clients are saying about our Monkey River Tour tour:

My kids wanted to see monkeys, so where better than the Monkey River? Wow. That boat tour truly takes you to some remote places in the jungle, and it was cool to see the villagers along the way. My kids loved the monkeys, which were super loud (as advertised), but my favorite part was the home-cooked meal. Very delicious and big portions. Great tour if you want to learn more about nature in Belize.

Penny C, USA

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Belize has a large diversity of attractions, with some that can be found in the world’s second Largest Barrier and atolls that supports great Eco system, which lays to the east of Belize. The Belizean Rain forest holds many of these attraction too, such as rivers, caves, majestic wildlife and remnants of a once great Mayan civilization.Located in the Southern part of Belize, lies the quiet  village of Monkey River , where one can gain access to the many sites and wonders found in Belize.

Monkey River Village

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Monkey River Boat and Jungle Tour

The Monkey River Jungle Tour is easily the most popular mainland tour from Placencia!

This popular river is known for its abundant wildlife sightings, Tarpon Fishing, Jungle Walk tours, and Howler Monkeys.

The  Monkey River tour  carries you on a 15 miles boat ride from Placencia to Monkey River village and the mouth of the Monkey River.

On the way, the boat will maneuver through the mangrove estuaries that line the mainland providing opportunities to see  uninhabited cayes ,  Shore Birds , and the  Manatees  that call these estuaries home.

Upon reaching the mouth of the Monkey River at  Monkey River Village , we take a local guide and start your cruise up the river. The river cruise offers opportunities to sight hundreds of different species of  birds ,  crocodiles ,  iguanas ,  Bromeliads  and  orchids , and of course the  Howler Monkeys  form which the river is named. As you cruise up the river your guide will point out many interesting things and answer any questions that you may have.

You can take the opportunity to hike the forest trails at the river edge for a close up look at the howler monkeys as your guide point out the medicinal properties of the surrounding flora and habits of the elusive fauna, or go swimming in the cool and refreshing monkey river.

After the hike, return to the village for lunch at a local restaurant serving mouth-watering creole cuisines. After lunch, and a brief walk around the village observing life in this roommate area of Belize, you will return back to Placencia and the comfort of your accommodation by mid-afternoon.

Duration: 8:00am - 2:00pm

What to Bring: Sturdy Shoes or boots, sun glasses, sun screen, bug repellant, binoculars

Intensity Level: Easy

Minimum: 2 Persons 

Price: $90USD per person

Includes: Hotel transfer, bottled water, lunch, park fees, 12.5% sales tax

Monkey River Tour Images

Other Adventure Tours

Atm cave ( actun tunichil muknal), xunantunich mayan ruin and blue hole tour, jaguar paw zip line and cave tubing, cockscomb basin wildlife sanctuary & jaguar preserve.

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BELIZE MONKEY RIVER TOUR

This Belize freshwater river tour takes you to the South of Placencia to Monkey River Town Belize.

Upon entering the mouth of the river you will witness manatees cruising by, further up the river, you get to see many species of birds such as toucans, making this tour a birdwatcher's paradise.

Its namesake comes from the fact that you will hear the majestic roar of the howler monkeys from a distance, as well as see them swinging from the trees just off the banks of the river.

Much of Monkey River has been declared a Special Conservation Area.

Our Monkey River eco tours cruise further up the river where you will be able to hike over newly cut trails in the rainforest and get a close-up view of many of the animals that call this fascinating river, home, such as crocodiles and iguanas, just to name a few.

Monkey River Tour: Where it is fun to be yelled at!

Tour experience.

8 a.m. return 1:30 p.m.

Includes:  

beach towels, hotel shuttle , p ark fee, and Government tax

For lunch, we dine at a charming local restaurant in the Monkey River Village.

Minimum:  

Price:  .

US$100.00 per person

MONKEY RIVER BELIZE MAP

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Monkey River and Manatee Watch Tour | Get To Know Belize Adventures

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tel: +501 622-5265 -::- email: [email protected] Monkey River Village, Belize

Belize Monkey River Tour & Fishing Trips

Private Local Belize Tours in the Southern District of Toledo of Belize. Experience the Rich Jungle Habitat & Abundant Sea life with Monkey River Totally Wild Tours .

Up-close with Nature!!!

Whenever you are doing our monkey river tour. Placencia or where ever we pick up from, it’s normally where the excitement starts with an early morning boat ride through or near a narrow mangrove path, by our competent captains. With the early morning trade winds blowing through your hair, the recent sunrise and calm sparkling waters, arriving to beautiful monkey river village on the coastline, at the mouth of the Monkey River, will make you feel like you’re in a wonderful dream.

100% Belizean Tour Operator

Better yet, see us in person! We love our customers, so feel free to visit during normal business hours.

Monkey River Totally Wild Tours Belize Monkey River Village, Toledo, Belize

Call: +501-669-5278 or Email: [email protected]

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• Monkey River Tour

The Monkey River Tour is a popular and exciting activity in Placencia, Belize, suitable for families and especially enjoyable for eighth-grade students. This tour offers a delightful combination of a relaxed boat ride, an adventurous jungle hike, and the opportunity to observe manatees in southern Belize. It is an eco-friendly tour that allows you to interact with some of the fascinating creatures that inhabit the jungle. However, please note that while the tour highlights the Howler monkeys, after whom the river and town are named, sightings of these monkeys are not guaranteed.

Throughout the tour, you can expect to encounter a wide variety of plants and animals, providing an enriching experience. From the comfort of your boat, you may spot ospreys, crocodiles, egrets, baboons, lizards, green iguanas, and turtles. What sets the Monkey River Tour apart is the passion and knowledge of the local guide, who eagerly shares information about the surrounding nature. If you choose this tour or any other, we will be happy to make the arrangements to fit your schedule.

Included in your monkey river tour

• Price include: A delicious Belizean Rice and Beans Lunch Special, along with water, sodas, or juice to keep you refreshed. Your passionate local guide will accompany you throughout the journey.
• Departure Time: 8 a.m
• What to bring: sunscreen, insect repellent, and binoculars if you have them (a towel is optional).
• What to wear: Sunglasses, hiking shoes, long pants, and a long or short sleeve shirt for your comfort and protection.
• The Monkey River Tour offers an enjoyable boat cruise upstream and an exciting jungle hike . It is a fun, educational, and adventurous experience. There is a high possibility of encountering dolphins, manatees, tarantulas, Howler monkeys, iguanas, turtles, and various bird species.

Wildlife seen on tour Photo Gallery

Jungle Hike, Wildlife Sightseeing with Manatee Spotting

During the jungle hike, you will have the opportunity to observe numerous bird species, bats, sunbathing iguanas, turtles, and sometimes even crocodiles. Your tour guide will choose a nature trail and guide you through the tropical rainforest. Along the way, the guide will point out interesting features while searching for the elusive Howler monkeys. These small but loud creatures can be heard from miles away, and if you’re lucky, you’ll get to see a few of them. If the river conditions permit, you will also have the chance to take a swim before heading back to the village for a delicious local Belizean lunch.

After lunch, take the opportunity to engage with the friendly villagers and learn about their culture. On the return journey, keep an eye out for the shy West Indian Manatees. Although these creatures are quite timid, they often emerge to take a look around.

Finally, you will return to Placencia , where you can relax for the remainder of the day. This tour is highly recommended and has been featured in many travel guidebooks. It is an extraordinary adventure in Belize that you won’t find on Ambergris Caye.

Monkey River Village

Monkey River Village, located approximately 40 minutes south of Placencia Peninsula in the Stann Creek District, is the departure point for the tour. It is the northernmost village in the Toledo District and sits at the mouth of Monkey River along the coastline. Once a bustling town centered around the banana trade, it is now home to a small population of Creole Belizeans. The tour is led by an experienced guide from the village.

Monkey River Village was heavily impacted by Hurricane Iris, a powerful category 4 storm that passed just a few miles north of the village. It serves as a testament to how both nature and human resilience can overcome and thrive after a major storm. Visiting this village during your Belize vacation will provide you with a profound appreciation for the strength and resilience of the local community.

Enjoy a short cruise through the enchanting mangrove tunnels to reach the mouth of Monkey River. As the boat gently navigates up and down the river, your guide will point out various fascinating wildlife and insects for your observation and learning pleasure.

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Monkey River Village

Located at the mouth of the Monkey River, the village is bordered on the west by riverine forests and is a great place for experiencing the Belizean jungle. 

There are many river tours to choose from, which gives you a chance to see beautiful riverine forests and wildlife in the comfort of a skiff. As you glide by, iguanas dive into the water, troops of howler monkeys race through the trees, birds dart from tree to tree and crocodiles sun along the banks of the river. 

If you’re feeling more adventurous, take a hike through the jungle, where you’ll come across herbal medicines, tarantulas, crocodiles, snakes, howler monkeys and various birds, including toucans and oropendolas. If lucky, you may spot a deer, tapir, or even a jaguar. 

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5 Reasons You Should Visit the Monkey River

There’s a good reason why the Monkey River Belize has the name that it does, but this pristine watercourse in southeastern Belize is home a wide diversity of plants and animals, including the troops of black howler monkeys that gave the river its name.

Here are 5 reasons why you should definitely do a tour of Monkey River :

They are, after all, the prime attraction for tours of Monkey River. Black howler monkeys, known locally as “baboons”, are some of the loudest animals in the world. Their cries can be heard up to three miles (5 km) away.

Despite their name, only the adult males have black fur. Adult females and juveniles of both genders have a whitish, golden fur.

Learn About Wildlife

Monkeys may be the main attraction, but the lush landscape and thick jungle on the banks of the river are home to a wide variety of animals, including birds, giant iguanas, ocelots, tapirs, deer, agoutis, crocodiles, bats, and even manatees.

Tour guides are very knowledgeable about the wildlife in the region, making a tour of the Monkey River a great way to learn more about the flora and fauna of Belize.

Medicinal Plants

Most boat tours of the Monkey River include a brief stop to enjoy a hike through the rainforest. Along the way, the tour guide will point out interesting plants, including those still used by local people to prepare medicinal compounds.

A Great Way to Relax

Boat tours up the Monkey River proceed slowly, allowing visitors to relax and drink in the untouched, natural beauty of the region. Boat tours allow visitors to explore deep into the heart of the Belizean rainforest to access areas that are difficult or impossible to reach by car. And sharing a home-cooked meal with villagers is a great way to learn more about the people of Belize.

If you’d like to enjoy a tour of the amazing Monkey River, contact Barefoot Rentals and Services .

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Things To Do In Belize For Adventure Seekers

B elize is the “Jewel in the heart of the Caribbean basin” located south of Mexico and is the perfect location for an adventurous vacation. Belize has a rich history and many cultural influences that are represented in the country’s excursions. While Belize is a relatively new and smaller country, what it may lack in so-called traditional tourist attractions, it makes up for with incredible biodiversity, culture and adventure. Belize is the spot for cultural exploration, beautiful beach towns, natural wonders and unique adventures.

Whether you want to just chill at the beach, take a culturally rich excursion or get your shop on, Belize has plenty of options. Plan your trip to Belize, a quaint yet cozy country that is known for its lack of crowds and beautiful wildlife.

Explore The Altun Ha Ruins 

Located around 30 minutes north of Belize City, the Altun Ha Ruins site in Belize is a beautiful place to visit for those who packed their tennis shoes and want to experience a scenic cultural excursion. With steep inclines and plenty of stairs, the ruins in Belize are a great outdoor activity for those looking to keep in shape during vacation. The Altun Ha Ruins deliver a gorgeous reward for those that take on the site, which sits just at three square miles. 

There are even Altun Ha tours that delve into how the Mayans invented making chocolate from Cacao nuts sourced from Belizean lands. Accompanied by a knowledgeable tour guide who can highlight the historical importance of the Altun Ha Mayan ruins, it takes about one and a half hours to hike to the top of the structures and explore everything there is to see. 

Experience San Pedro’s Lively Culture

As the most popular tourist town in Ambergris Caye , which is the largest island off the coast of Belize, San Pedro is the perfect place to have an affordable beach stay. With its sandy shores, beautiful accommodations and cool ocean-front breeze, San Pedro provides a relaxing vacation experience. 

Enjoy the Carribean sun, fresh seafood and lounge in beach clubs in San Pedro. The town’s reef is a hub for aquatic excursions like diving and sailing but also is a nice place to sit back and relax. The Hol Chan Marine Reserve and Belize Chocolate Company are popular stops in town that can be paired with informational tours or enjoyed a la carte.

Exceptional Nature Excursions In Belize

Belize has many sites that are perfect for the nature enthusiast. The Monkey River and The Inland Blue Hole and St. Herman’s Cave both provide unique experiences that can be leisurely enjoyed. 

Monkey River is a conservation area that hosts howler monkeys, manatees, and tropical birds and reptiles. After arriving at Monkey River Village, visitors can enjoy a four mile upstream boat ride through the jungle where they can spot wildlife. Once the jungle trail spot is reached, a guide will lead visitors through the trail where they can hear howler monkeys and observe medicinal plants throughout the area.

The national eco-tourism park, The Inland Blue Hole and St. Herman’s Cave, spans 500 acres and is a gorgeous turquoise swimming spot. Home to diverse bird species and native plants, this location attracts visitors that enjoy cave tubing, zip lining, hiking or picnicking. At the 25-foot deep swimming hole, visitors can relax in cool waters or explore the nearby and immense underground cave system with a guide. 

Culinary Adventures

Belize is a wonderland for culinary enthusiasts interested in ethically sourced cuisine. The country is home to the second largest barrier reef and has an abundance of marine life sourced locally. The reef is a natural asset that is highlighted by Belize’s Spanish, West African, and Indigenous culinary influences and thriving culinary heritage. 

Placencia Village’s food scene hosts walking food tours, hands on cooking classes and even rum master classes and beach side coffee experiences. There are also private food tasting tours available in Belize City that explore city landmarks and local flavors. Get a fresh coco-loco drink cut and prepared in front of your eyes before perusing Belize City, the commercial capital and robust hub for travelers.

These adventurous attractions can serve as the perfect day trips during your visit to Belize. Take some time to appreciate the culture and nature of Belize while you are within its borders.