Location: Cayo district Map
Area: 430 km² (106,353 acres)
Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve is a massive nature reserve situated in the Cayo District in the Western Central Belize. Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve covers an area of 430 km² (106,353 acres). This part of Belize was first designated in 1897 by the orders of the government. Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve is one of the most visited travel destinations in Belize. Rain season here usually lasts between July and February. It peaks usually in the autumn months of September and October. Although the water fills the waterfalls and makes them particularly beautiful, rains can make transport and hiking in Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve especially difficult.
Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve has several archeological sites that date back to the Mayan civilization. Most notable sites include Barton Creek Cave. In the ancient times it was an important ceremonial and religious site of the local natives. Mayans believed that it was one of the major entrance sites to the kingdom of the underworld. This river cave extends for at least 4.5 miles (7.2 km), although most of the underworld tunnels remain unexplored.