Monkey River jungle wildlife tour from Placencia: howler monkeys

Mangroves, rainforest walk, and the sound of howler monkeys claiming their territory

A 7-hour wildlife tour from Placencia by boat through mangrove lagoons to Monkey River village, then upriver into pristine rainforest with a licensed guide searching for black howler monkeys, American crocodiles, iguanas, and tropical birds. The guide points out medicinal plants used by local bush doctors, and you stop at Miss Alice's Restaurant to order lunch before a manatee watch on the return cruise. Pickup and drop-off in Placencia Village are included; wear shoes that can get wet for the rainforest walk.

Step-by-step itinerary

Boat trip and jungle wildlife walk

• Depart Placencia Village at 08:00 am
• Boat ride along mangrove coast
• Stop in Monkey River Town to order lunch
• Rainforest walk searching for howler monkeys
• Discover native plants and trees
• Spot wildlife like iguanas, crocodiles, and birds
• Lunch at Miss Alice’s Restaurant
• Manatee watch on return cruise
• Return to Placencia

The Experience

The boat leaves Placencia at 8 a.m. and heads along the coast through mangroves, where you'll spot crocodiles, basking iguanas on tree branches, turtles, and herons, kingfishers, parrots and ospreys. The mangrove stretch takes you to Monkey River Town, where you stop to order lunch at Miss Alice's Restaurant—a tradition that supports the village directly. You'll eat on the return trip.

Upriver, your licensed guide leads an easy walk into one of Belize's last pristine rainforests in search of the area's famous black howler monkeys. Their deep, echoing territorial calls are what people come for; hearing them for the first time is something no description quite prepares you for. As you walk, the guide points out native plants and towering trees many of which local bush doctors have used for food and medicine for generations. With luck you may also see gibnuts (known as royal rats), peccaries, agoutis, coatimundis, tapirs, or the elusive ocelot.

On the return cruise to Placencia, keep watch for endangered West Indian manatees. The whole day runs about 7 hours and suits all fitness levels; children need an adult with them. Bring shoes you don't mind getting wet, and depending on the season, long sleeves, long pants and mosquito spray can make a difference.

What’s included

• Boat transport through mangroves and upriver.
• park fees.
• pickup and drop-off in Placencia Village.
• licensed guide in English or Spanish.
• easy rainforest walk led by the guide.
• manatee watch on the return cruise.

Good to know

Easy physical level

Operated by Splash Dive Center Limited (but shown as Splash Dive Shop on Trip Advisor)

Is this one for you?Most Placencia wildlife tours stick to the mangroves or offer a quick village stop. This one takes you into the rainforest itself with a guide who knows where the howler monkeys call, so you hear them instead of just reading about them—that's the difference between a boat ride and an actual encounter.

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Top questions

What kind of monkeys will I actually hear on this tour?

Black howler monkeys live in the rainforest upriver from Monkey River. They communicate with deep, echoing calls to declare their territory, and your guide will lead you into the forest specifically to listen for them—that's the centerpiece of the walk.

Do I need to bring my own lunch or is it included?

Lunch is not included, but you order it at Miss Alice's Restaurant in Monkey River Town at the start of the tour and eat it on the return boat ride. This tradition supports the local village directly.

What wildlife might I see besides the howler monkeys?

American crocodiles, large green iguanas, turtles, and tropical birds including herons, kingfishers, parrots and ospreys appear in the mangroves and along the river. In the rainforest, you may spot gibnuts, peccaries, agoutis, coatimundis, tapirs, or occasionally the elusive ocelot. Endangered West Indian manatees sometimes appear on the return cruise.

How long does the whole tour take?

The tour runs about 7 hours from the 8 a.m. departure in Placencia Village, including the boat ride through mangroves, the rainforest walk, lunch stop and the return manatee watch.

What's included in the price?

Transport by boat, park fees, pickup and drop-off in Placencia Village, and a licensed guide in English or Spanish are all included. Lunch, drinks and any other meals are not.

What should I wear for the rainforest walk?

Wear shoes you don't mind getting wet, since the walk is easy but the ground can be damp. Depending on the season, long sleeves, long pants and mosquito spray can be necessary.