Altun Ha & Belize Zoo

Altun Ha is only an hour drive from Belize City and the name is literally “Rockstone Pond or to Rockstone Water”. Within one of the temples which is known as temple A-1, a tomb was found called the Green Tomb with nearly 300 Jade objects. Among other valuables were discovered the remains of a Codex, an Ancient book where the Mayas wrote their important events made from the bark of fig trees. The most imposing building at Altun Ha is structure B-4, the Temple of the Masonry Altars standing 54 feet above the plaza. Inside was the body of an elderly priest with several spectacular Jade objects, including a carved Jade head of the Sun God, Kinich Ahau, which stands 14.9 cm high and weighs 9.75 lbs. This Jade head is the largest carved Jade object in the Maya area. The Belize Zoo and Tropical Education Center was started in 1983, as a last effort to provide a home for a collection of animals which had been used in making a documentary film about tropical animals in the Rainforests. Today the Belize Zoo & Tropical Education Center has an area of 29 acres of Tropical Savanna and exhibits over 125 animals all native to Belize. The Zoo keeps animals which were orphaned, born at the Zoo, rehabilitated or sent to the Belize Zoo as gifts from other Zoological Institutions. A visit to the Zoo is the best way to get an introduction to the Wildlife of Belize, and to understand why it is important to protect the habitats that sustain them. The animals live in their natural habitat and this Zoo is very popular. A tapir was born here named April which is now a celebrity.