Belmopan Surroundings - Guanacaste National Park

Belize's smallest protected nature reserve, Guanacaste National Park covers 52ac/21ha of land around the confluence of the Belize River and Roaring Creek. The park is named for a giant guanacaste (or tubroos) tree growing near the southwest edge of the protected area.

Guanacaste National Park offers 2mi/3.2km of hiking trails on which an abundance of local plant life and colorful birds can be observed. A deep swimming hole is also found within the park's boundaries. The Belize Audubon Society manages the park.

The Maya used the light wood of the guanacaste tree to make dugout canoes and the tree is identifiable by its wide, straight trunk and broad pods that resemble a monkey's ear. However, the national park's guanacaste, instead of growing straight as most guanacaste do, split very near its base so the tree has three trunks instead of one. The widespread tree hosts its own ecosystem with a variety of plants including bromeliads and cacti.