Monkey River |
Monkey River Town is about 15 miles
southwest of Placencia by boat (the only practical way to get there). The Monkey
River drains the Bladen and Swasey watersheds, now under protective status for wildlife
protection (the Bladen River is a tributary of the Monkey River).
Monkey River Town was formerly the largest
settlement in the area because of its booming banana industry. (The former
population of Monkey River is the reason it has "town" status rather than
"village" status. Status is based on population, and Monkey River
achieved town status during its banana heydays. Placencia and Seine Bight both are
"villages" even though the population of each of them now far surpasses that of
Monkey River Town.)
Monkey River lost much of its population when
blight destroyed its banana industry (now recovered). Most of the rest of the
population left when the Belize government ceased its rice growing subsidies and a few
greedy local hunters decimated the crocodile population (for their skins).
 Monkey River Town is now a VERY sleepy
little settlement with most people surviving on tourism. Monkey River has one phone
(a community phone) at Alice's Restaurant (a local institution). The phone number is
011-501-6-22014 (06-22014 in Belize).
The Paynes Creek/Monkey River Wildlife Sanctuary
and Punta Ycacos Reserve run from Monkey River Town south to Punta Negra and Punta Ycacos
(again, both accessible only by boat).
Fishing is good for snook, tarpon, snapper and
machaka (a local species) in Monkey River. A virtually unfished landlocked
freshwater lake just south of Monkey River also offers some very good tarpon
possibilities.
On water-based jungle tours, visitors are likely
to encounter Black Howler Monkeys, iguanas, crocodiles and a multitude of tropical birds.
Those who venture into the jungle on foot may also run into gibnuts, deer, ocelots,
peccaries, tapirs, coatimundis, agoutis and possibly jaguars (jaguars are nocturnal, so
chances of seeing one are slim).
Unlooted Mayan ruins are located in the Monkey
River Jungle, but no tourist access has yet been granted by the Belize government.
Monkey River Town as seen
from Monkey River (1999)
Monkey River Town as seen from
the Caribbean Sea (1999) |
Monkey River Beach, 2000
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Looking down into the
center of the Town, 1999
Monkey River School (pre-Iris)
Can You See It?
Kayaking the Monkey River
|
Brian, certified Monkey
River guide, 1999
Community Center (pre-Iris)
Termite Nest in Monkey River
Jungle
Large Bamboo Stand
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