Because there are healthy populations of certain species of wildlife in Belize,  it is easy (though also illegal) for people to acquire birds and animals which they attempt to domesticate for their own personal pleasure. People are most often unable to tame these animals, or they grow tired of their "pets." The Belize Zoo has played a major role in saving the lives of these animals by providing a new home for these orphans who are most often cant rehabilitated to their natural home in the wild.

The visitors' entrance to the Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary is located at Maya Centre, which is at Mile 15 on the Southern Highway in the Stann Creek District. Situated within the shadows of the Maya Mountains, the sanctuary encompasses some 100,000 acres of tropical moist forest that rises from 100 meter (300 ft) above sea level to approximately 1225 meter (3,675 ft) at the summit of Victoria Peak. The sanctuary is home to numerous members of the cat family and there is also a large population of mammals and birds to support the food chain.

Consisting of some eighteen square miles of basically subsistence farms, the sanctuary exhibits the spirit of coexistence that Belizeans have with nature. Through a grassroots effort, the villagers and landowners have committed to preserving the habitat necessary to insure a healthy population of Black Howler Monkeys.  With assistance from the WWF and the Zoological Society of Milwaukee County, a small natural history museum and visitor's center has been erected in Bermudian Landing, which is the most central location in the sanctuary.

The most notable migratory resident is the Jabiru Stork. With a wingspan of 3-4 meter (10-12 feet), it is the largest flying bird in North America. Luckily, Belize has the largest nesting population of Jabirus in Central America.

Consisting of a large network of inland lagoons, swamps, and waterways, the sanctuary provides both the abundant food sources and the safe resting area that is necessary to support a large and diverse population of birds. When the rains comes in May, many birds leave to return again in November.

It is a pristine tract of karst terrain, honeycombed with unexplored cave systems and teeming with spectacular wildlife.

The attraction of  park is the karstic lake. The lake was a cenote, a collapsed cave system also known as a blue hole. The lake showcased five unique shades of blues hence the name Five Blues Lake. It is believed that the lake was formed as the result of some blockage of an underground water way, which is a normal feature in karstic landscape.

The park is named for the giant guanacaste (tubroos) tree growing near the southwestern edge of the park. In addition to the guanacaste tree, there are numerous other species of trees throughout the park.

Rio On Pools, and the Rio Frio Cave
 and Nature Trail, as well as numerous
 small streams and waterfalls. Besides
 offering magnificent vistas, the cooler temperatures along with a refreshing swim can provide a welcome respite to the travel weary visitors.

Consisting of some 202,000 acres, the area is managed for conservation, scientific research, sustained-yield timber harvesting, nontimber forest product extraction, ecotourism, and educational purposes by the Programme for Belize which is a private nonprofit Belizean organization.

The area consists of broadleaf forest, swamp forest, palm forest, savannah, and marsh. Due to its remote location and the elimination of hunting, many endangered species - Black Howler Monkeys, Central American Spider Monkeys, Jaguars, Pumas, Ocelots, Margays, Jaguarundis, Tapirs, Pecarries, Ocellated Turkeys and Brocket Deer- have found refuge within the Rio Bravo Conservation and Management Area. Also a bird watcher's paradise, ornithologists have recorded over 355 species of birds.

The Blue Hole  is a popular recreational spot, where water on its way from a tributary to the Sibun River, emerges from a collapsed karst sinkhole. The pool, from which the park receives its name, is a beautiful sapphire blue that is about twenty-five feet deep. After a short run through a natural jungle setting, the stream disappears into a large underwater cavern.