With over 7000 acres
of preserved low and highlands, the Mayflower Bocawina National Park is one of the best choices for leisure or adventurous explorations
MBNP
The National Park...
MBNP
MBNP was established in the 2001, initially with a focus on the Mayflower Archaeological Site. Its purpose was expanded to encompass its natural resources including its ecosystem, biodiversity, flora and fauna and its scenic physical attributes.
Willdlife
What can be seen...
WILDLIFE
The national park offers excellent wildlife observation and birding opportunities. With such the faunal diversity is high and it can be characterized by the diverse fauna that inhabit the national park.
Activities
Things to do...
MBNP
Along with birdwatching and camping for those wishing to visit overnight, MBNP has four hiking trails and several waterfalls known as the Three Sisters Waterfalls.
PROTECTION OF WILDLIFE
The national park offers excellent wildlife observation and birding opportunities as the faunal diversity is high. The MBNP forms part of the Maya Mountain Massif –an area of crucial importance to wildlife conservation, supporting the largest population of jaguars within Belize
PROTECTION OF FLORA
A Rapid Environmental Assessment was conducted within the MBNP and a total of 228 plant species were identified. However, this number is not exhaustive as many more plants, especially herbs remain to be recorded. But at least, some of the more dominant tree species can be expected to have been identified
PROTECTING WATERSHEDS OF FRESHWATER CREEK AND NORTH STANN CREEK
Watersheds play an important role in the formation of biological corridors, survival of endangered species, and help determine the health of the barrier reef. Within the MBNP there are tributaries that form part of the Freshwater Creek, North Stann Creek, and Sittee River.
LIMIT DEFORESTATION FOR AGRICULTURAL PURPOSES
There is evidence of illegal logging taking place in the park. Therefore, the park rangers are the frontline in terms of surveillance and security and as such their primary duty is to maintain a presence at the park and conduct patrols to detect possible encroachment, deforestation, illegal agriculture, logging, and to monitor fires.
PROVIDE INCOME-GENERATING OPPORTUNITIES THROUGH ECOTOURISM FOR BUFFER COMMUNITIES
MBEDG engages the community in economic activities when possible and provides workshops and training exercises for residents to support capacity building. The park also provides employment to community members as Park Rangers and Park Manager.
PRESERVATION FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS
This goal is pursued through activities such as reducing the direct pressures on biodiversity by promoting sustainable use of the buffer area, enhance the benefits to all from biodiversity and ecosystem services, safeguarding the ecosystems, species, and genetic diversity.
- Russ372
If you are in the Hopkins area this is a great hike to explore the NP and a wonderful cascading waterfall
Only a 3 mile out and back but... read more pretty steep with ropes and roots necessary for the last quarter mile up to the top of the falls and a beautiful swimming hole.
February 9, 2020U1449SWgregg
My girlfriend Amy and I went ziplining at Bocawina National Park on Sturday the 28th of December. Our guides Victor and Tony were great! It was our fist time ziplining... read more and Victor and Tony were very thourough in explaining the process and made us feel safe and sound. We zipped through 9 stations and had a blast!! Aside from the rain forrest being beautiful the views were stunning and the experience was awesome. Thanks Victore and Tony you guys weere great and becasue of the experience we plan on gong back for more.
January 1, 2020Joe H
Not sure if I was going to make it to the top . Quite a climb. It was worth the struggle . great pool very pretty. water a little... read more refreshing . could have stayed there ALL day
August 24, 2019Elise G
To give you an idea of how much I loved this park, I visited (from Hopkins) for the last three of four days! Each day, I adventured on a... read more different hike. The trails were well marked and maintained. There was no garbage in sight. The rangers, who signed me in (Darian and Chayton) were both so informative and friendly.
I'd surely recommend wearing sturdy sneakers at the very least. I was happy to have my hiking boots and trekking poles. Each of the visits gave me opportunities to both be in the jungle and have the chance to get refreshed in a pool of water, in a stream or under a waterfall. To that end, bringing a swimsuit is advised.
I trust any hike you do will be magnificent, but I thoroughly enjoyed the trails that led to Lower Bocawina Falls, Ramon Waterfall and Antelope Waterfall. All were exquisite!
Be sure to pack food and water. Bug repellent is critical. Even though the bugs were not disturbing me, I'm so glad I had applied the repellent before my hikes and had extra with me.
Allow for plenty of time for your car ride there, the road is a dirt road with lots of bumps.
I'd visit Mayflower Bocawina National Park again in a heartbeat and highly recommend you visit, too!
February 12, 2025 - V8287GQalexp
The Mayflower Bocawina park is an amazing and accessible preserve. Hiking trails range from mild to hardcore with river and jungle views, water falls, Mayan ruins and incredible flora and... read more fauna all around. A great place to spend a few hours or an entire week.
March 17, 2020
The hike to Antelope Falls is a wonderful adventure. The hike is 1000 feet up. The first third of the hike is relatively flat, the next third is stairs and... read more the last third is climbing on large rocks and roots using ropes to assist you....More
TanyaOkemos
April 21, 2018
We booked this tour through our resort and my husband who wasn't big on the idea of zip lining was pleasantly surprised at how much fun it was! We had... read more such a great time zip lining through the canopy of the rain forest. The guides...More
lashleyb4
August 24, 2018V3425RPcarolineb
Beautiful park. Got to Antelope Falls before anyone else. If you can do stairs or hike this is a moderate hike. Saw Jaguar tracks and lots of cool birds!
... read more /> Came back and started on bird loop - thought it was shorter. Clearly not many people do this hike.
While you can see snakes anywhere, I walked within 1 foot of a large fer de lance (Tommy gah) on this trail near the turnoff to the ruins. We are avid hikers and outdoors people and thought we were looking carefully. It really freaked us out.
I would not do this quieter hike now knowing this especially with kids. I'm sure Antelope Falls is so well travelled that it would be more unusual.
December 22, 2025 - beanfarmer2018
Drove to Bocawina from Hopkins, which is an easy and short drive, to go hiking. Decided to hike the Antelope Falls trail. The trail to the bottom of the falls... read more is a moderate hike and has beautiful views once there. The hike to the pool...More
June 25, 2019
The environment is welcoming. We came here on a retreat and ended up having the treat of a lifetime. The staff is extremely helpful. The ziplining experience was awesome. The... read more waterfall trail is simply amazing. This place is a must visit. The food...exeptional.
KaydeeBZ
August 24, 2018Kim S
Belizean Dreams resort booked this hike to the waterfall. The words they used to describe it, treacherous! That’s definitely fitting. My tour
guide Bruno knew exactly what he was doing... read more & showed us animals & plant life. It rained numerous amount of times during the climb making it even more slippery & dangerous. I’m in shape & the next day I was sore & it was hard. You had to put your whole body into that climb. Literally sometimes I was on all fours. There are some ropes thank god, but u still got to put work in to get up. The climb down was even more difficult than the climb up. The waterfall itself is a beautiful experience. The fish bite at your feet & you can jump from the top. The views from up above are unique & unforgettable. If you have children younger than 16 I would say it’s a no. Also if your older and not in shape I would not suggest doing this. I am so glad I did do it because the pictures are so amazing. Of course accomplishing it also makes you feel good. If you don’t mind getting dirty & working hard do it! More
August 21, 2019
We loved our visit, which was too short! We started at the small Visitor Center where we met Israel - a knowledgeable, interesting, and dedicated park ranger who has been... read more there eight years, and has put a lot of love and creativity into making this...More
Pranavati
February 25, 2019 -
Visited for the day and absolutely loved this park. Did the hike to Antelope Falls with great views towards the Caribbean. Tough, steep but not long. Went towards the Bocawina... read more Falls too and saw armadillos in the forest! Grey fox later as well on the...More
MichaelBurm
January 31, 2019
Unlike my first zip line experience in Alaska, this one put me more in control because I got to brake myself. I also enjoyed the hiking in between rather than... read more going from platform to platform. The guides added humor as they provided information. They were...More
Robin W
March 8, 2019BackRoadBruce
I enjoyed my visit to Mayflower. Park staff was welcoming and helpful. The hiking to Antelope and New Waterfall was rewarding. The view from the top of... read more Antelope Falls is spectacular. The ropes along the steep trail sections were much appreciated. The hike out to New Waterfall is easier and very peaceful. I though the waterfall was beautiful.
After the hiking, a bowl of ice cream at the restaurant at the in park resort tasted extra good. I look forward to returning and hiking the many additional trails in the park. I stayed in Hopkins. The park is a 20 - 30 minute ride away.
February 16, 2022
I suspect you could spend a couple of days exploring the park, but if you can't and you are up for the challenge, I recommend Antelope Falls. From the Visitor's... read more Center it's about a 45 min hike, if it is dry. We walked up the...More
meelays
November 1, 2018 -
Had a few hours as I was driving back to Belmopan. So I stopped in for a bite at the resort. Then I just walked around a bit taking in... read more all the flowers and beauty that is Bocawina. No waterfalls or zip lining this time....More
TravelQ6492QE
August 20, 2018Legen1086
Had an amazing 3 days in the jungle with the crew at Bocawina, a well preserved and almost untouched gem, the staff was amazing and very attentive, Mr. Young has... read more a great touch in service and you can tell the staff and place responds very well to that Wish we had more time, a must do when in south of the country, the Antelope will blow you away Thank you so much for such a wonderful time, see you soon.
August 25, 2019NousWorldTravel
We had so much fun here. The hike to antelope falls is well worth it! The Wild Fig restaurant was great and affordable. The manicured grounds of the resort are... read more nice.
June 30, 2019
Clean, not busy at all. Hiking in the jungles. Don't worry about Jaguars as they mostly hunt at night and the Howler monkeys will warn you. Did not Zip line,... read more but did walk to a waterfall. Big falls, beautiful. You can take a dip in...More
TravelQ6492QE
January 22, 2018