In this post, we’ll share a guide to the Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve, a protected area home to one of the most unique landscapes in Belize. We’ll cover how to get there, the best tours, the natural attractions you can’t miss and tips for your visit.
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About the Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve
The Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve is a large protected area outside of San Ignacio, in the Cayo District of Western Belize.
The area was designated as a forest reserve in 1944 to protect the population of the native Belizean pine forest. With a vastly different landscape from the rest of this tropical country, Mountain Pine Ridge has a cooler climate, dry pine forests and a rocky, granite terrain.
It is a huge contrast to the steamy tropical rainforest found in other parts of the Cayo District, and it felt so odd to see pine trees in Belize of all places!
Mountain Pine Ridge is most commonly visited as a day trip from San Ignacio, which is what we did. The entrance to the reserve is around 45 minutes from San Ignacio, with individual attractions up to 2 hours away.
You could visit from other destinations around Belize, like Belize City or the Hummingbird Highway, but it would make for quite a long day. It is also possible to stay inside the reserve, and there are some gorgeous accommodation options which I’ll share below.
The unique environment of Mountain Pine Ridge is full of beautiful natural attractions, like waterfalls, natural swimming pools and cave systems, as well as the famous Mayan site of Caracol.
Mountain Pine Ridge Belize map
How to get to Mountain Pine Ridge
There are basically two options to reach Mountain Pine Ridge from San Ignacio:
- 🚙 Self-drive a rental car
- 🚐 Join a tour
Rental car
It’s possible to rent a car in Belize City and drive yourself to San Ignacio if you want a vehicle for your entire stay.
You can also rent a car just for the day from an agency in San Ignacio to visit Pine Ridge. Matus Car Rental, Flames Auto Rental and Cayo Rentals are all well-rated.
We would recommend renting a 4×4, as the roads within the reserve are mostly unpaved and can be very rough in parts (more on this below).
Having a car gives you the freedom to plan your own day trip to Mountain Pine Ridge, choosing which of the sites you would like to visit.
🚙 PLANNING YOUR SELF-DRIVE ROUTE
If visiting the Caracol Mayan ruins is a priority, I would suggest visiting here first, as it is the furthest away. I don’t think you can comfortably squeeze in all the other natural attractions without rushing, but depending on what time you return, you can choose one or two.
If you’re not particularly interested in going to Caracol, I would suggest visiting the natural attractions in the order we did, listed below. We drove to the furthest point of Mountain Pine Ridge first, and worked our way back to San Ignacio:
- Rio Frio Caves
- Rio On Pools (best spot for a picnic lunch)
- Big Rock Falls
- 1,000 Foot Falls (only if you have a proper 4×4)
Tour
If you’re not confident to rent a 4×4 and drive on the rough and challenging roads inside Mountain Pine Ridge (they are pretty hectic in parts!), you can join a tour.
There are two different styles of tour, depending on what your priorities are:
- 🌲 Natural attractions of Mountain Pine Ridge – this tour skips the Caracol Mayan ruins, instead focusing on the natural sights. You’ll be transported to the reserve in a 4×4 vehicle, visiting Rio Frio Cave, Rio On Pools and Big Rock Falls. Lunch is included with rum punch!
- 🛕 Caracol Mayan ruins – this tour predominantly focuses on visiting the ancient city of Caracol. You’ll have a guided tour of the ancient city with your guide, before stopping at the Rio Frio Cave and Rio On Pools on the way back. 4×4 transport from San Ignacio and lunch with rum punch are included.
Both of these tours are run by the fantastic and highly-rated MayaWalk Tours, based in San Ignacio. They get rave reviews and run very high-quality tours around the Cayo District.
Road condition in Mountain Pine Ridge
So how bad are the roads inside the Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve?
The condition of the roads puts a lot of people off visiting and is something you need to understand before you go. Conditions are improving, but parts of the reserve are still tricky to access.
Until recently, the entire area was unpaved roads. In some sections, it was relatively flat, and usually passable by most types of car. But other sections were in terrible condition, with deep ruts, river crossings and steep inclines that became extremely slippery and muddy after rain.
As of 2024, major construction works are taking place, paving the main road through the reserve all the way from the George Prince Highway (that runs through San Ignacio) to Caracol.
A lot of work has been done, and the road is paved almost halfway to Caracol. The sections that are not paved have mostly been levelled and graded, and unless it has rained recently, they’re pretty easy to drive on.
The work is ongoing, and there has been no firm announcement when it will be completed and the entire road will be officially opened. It’s best to check with your accommodation in San Ignacio for the most up-to-date information on the road.
So what does this mean for visitors now? The road has remained open throughout the works so you can definitely use it to access the reserve. There may be some minor delays for work, but it is not a busy area. The main road running through Mountain Pine Ridge is largely in good condition, and will probably be better than you expected.
HOWEVER… Many of the side roads you need to take to access the attractions are still in very poor condition, as well as the final sections of the main road leading towards Caracol.
If there has been no rain at all recently, you can probably tackle the area with a decent-sized car, and some good driving experience. A 4×4 is always recommended, but an SUV would probably be fine.
If there has been rain recently, you should not visit the area without a 4×4. Or, be prepared to walk a while off the main road to reach the attractions as many of the access roads will be impassable.
We didn’t think there had been a lot of rain prior to our visit. We’d had one small shower the day before, but boy did it show inside the reserve! We were under the impression we had rented a 4×4, but we ended up with quite a small SUV, and we really put it to the test.
I was biting my nails hoping we weren’t going to scrape out the bottom of the car and end up with big damage that was going to be costly to fix. Thankfully Brayden has a lot of experience in off-road driving and was able to safely navigate us through some pretty hectic roads. But it wasn’t pleasant! We had to abandon the car early near Rio Frio Caves as the road was so thick with mud there was no way we could have made it.
Tips for your visit to the Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve
- ⏰ When to go – the reserve is open 7 days a week from 7 am – 5 pm. The attractions inside can get busy with locals on the weekends, especially on a hot day. If you can plan your visit for during the week, you should avoid most of the crowds.
- 💰 Cost – there is no fee to enter the reserve, and none of the natural attractions have entrance fees. You will only need to pay to visit the Mayan ruins, Caracol.
- 👮🏽♀️ Checkpoint – there is a checkpoint area at the beginning of the reserve where you need to provide some details to the attendant, and you will be waved through. It’s not always open, so don’t freak out if you just drive through and no one is there. There is no entry fee.
- 🎒 What to bring – anything you need, bring it! There are few (aka none!) amenities inside Mountain Pine Ridge. Pack lunch, snacks and plenty of water. You’ll need swimwear, towels, and sturdy shoes.
5 Things to do in Mountain Pine Ridge
1. Rio Frio Cave
- 📍 Location – on Google Maps here
- 💰 Cost – free
- 🚽 Amenities – pit toilet, picnic tables
- 🎒 Bring with you – shoes for muddy and slippery conditions, and a flashlight (not mandatory but helpful!)
- 🚙 Ease of access – entry road can get very muddy but is walkable if need be
- 🚐 Best tour – Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve from San Ignacio
The Rio Frio Cave is one of the best things to do in Mountain Pine Ridge and is one of Belize’s best caves. This striking limestone cave has a vast 20 metre (65 ft) opening, with an underground river system flowing through it. It’s not quite big enough to go cave tubing, but impressive nevertheless.
You can walk deep inside the cave and admire the impressive stalactite and stalagmite formations. The entire cave system is less than a kilometre long (half a mile), and you don’t need a guide. It’s pretty well-lit from the large openings on either end.
The road to get to the caves can get extremely muddy after rain and become impassable to any vehicles besides a high clearance 4×4.
The good news is, that the entrance to the cave is no more than 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) from the main road, so if you have to park and walk, it’s possible.
We would advise you to drive as far as you’re comfortable to, and pull off and park to the side of the road. If it looks muddy, it is muddy and won’t get any better the further you drive.
At the time of our visit, the entrance road was in such bad condition we couldn’t drive all the way to the official car park, so we pulled off earlier and parked on the shoulder. We were planning to walk along the road, but we saw a sign for the ‘Rio Frio Nature Trail’ which looked like it connected up with the rear entrance to the cave through the forest.
What ensued was a very muddy and very slippery overgrown trail that was slightly complicated. But we did end up at the back entrance of the cave, and with some adventurous spirit, we were able to clamber across the river and rocks, all the way through to the main entrance of the cave.
I’m not sure if this Nature Trail is maintained, and the route we took didn’t seem to match what it said on the map. But I just wanted to let you know that there is an alternative way to enter the cave if you’re up for some adventure and bush-bashing!
We had an incredibly lucky experience leaving the Rio Frio Cave. When we were walking back along the road, I turned around to take a picture of how muddy it was and noticed something concealed behind some grass on the side of the road.
After a closer look, it was a Baird’s Tapir! He was just casually sitting there, and four of us had walked right past him! We left plenty of space but slowly walked backwards to take some pictures, and he sat totally still and wasn’t phased by our presence at all. It was such a special moment, and we know how lucky we were to see Belize’s national animal in the wild. So keep your eyes peeled!
2. Rio On Pools
- 📍 Location – on Google Maps here
- 💰 Cost – free
- 🚽 Amenities – toilet, changeroom, picnic area, lookout
- 🎒 Bring with you – swimwear, towel, lunch or snacks
- 🚙 Ease of access – just off the main road, one of two entrances is in decent condition
- 🚐 Best tour – Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve from San Ignacio
The Rio On Pools are a series of natural swimming holes in the rocky, granite On River. There are pools of varying depths hidden all around the river, with small waterfalls, fun natural slides and large exposed rocks to sunbathe on.
The rocky landscape against the mountains covered in pine trees was totally unexpected, but this was our favourite stop in Mountain Pine Ridge. We had to remind ourselves we were still in Belize, and the dry forest and cool air felt more like something you would find in Australia or the USA.
The water in the river is cold, but the granite rocks heat up in the sunshine, so switching between the two was perfect. This is where we chose to have our picnic lunch, and we found a nice big flat rock to spread out our snacks. Not a bad spot!
There are two entrances to the pools from the main road, which is actually just one road that loops around. At the time of our visit, one of these entrances was crazy steep and not graded at all, but the second entrance was in better condition.
You can park anywhere along this access road, and you’ll see signs pointing towards a short trail that leads you to the river.
If you continue along the road away from the riverbed, you’ll see a large wooden building elevated on a small hill, with a picnic area and a lookout. We preferred to have our lunch on the rocks by the river, but you get a great view of the pools from up here and it’s worth checking out.
3. Big Rock Falls
- 📍 Location – on Google Maps here
- 💰 Cost – free
- 🚽 Amenities – none
- 🎒 Bring with you – swimwear, towel, sturdy shoes, water
- 🚙 Ease of access – unpaved road to car park, steep hike down to the falls
- 🚐 Best tour – Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve from San Ignacio
There are a couple of waterfalls inside the Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve, but Big Rock Falls is by far the most popular. This impressive fall drops 45 metres (150 ft) into a pool below, before cascading over the rocks into a larger, calmer pool and onwards down the river.
It’s possible to swim in the river and underneath the falls if you’re strong enough to reach them!
There are also a few different places to jump into the river. The less nail-biting option is from a big rock in the larger pool away from the falls. The adrenalin-seeking option is some hardcore cliff jumping! Climbing up the side of the rock face inside the pool closest to the fall, and jumping at least 10 metres (30 ft) into the water.
To reach Big Rock Falls you’ll need to drive a few kilometres off the main road until you see a sign indicating the trail to the falls. There is a short walk through a forested trail before you have to descend a few hundred wooden stairs to the riverbank. It is quite steep and can be slippery after rain, so take it easy.
4. 1,000 Foot Falls
- 📍 Location – on Google Maps here
- 💰 Cost – free
- 🚽 Amenities – lookout platform, picnic tables, toilets
- 🎒 Bring with you – nothing needed
- 🚙 Ease of access – treacherous road in very bad condition
- 🚐 Best tour – only visited on private tours
The 1,000 Foot Falls might be one of the only natural attractions where the name actually undersells the site! Despite its title, the falls are actually closer to 1,600 feet (480 m) tall, making this the highest waterfall in not just Belize, but all of Central America!
Although the falls are impressive, it’s not possible to see them up close. The only access is a lookout platform located quite a distance away. The view is undoubtedly spectacular, but it’s important to understand that you can’t reach the base of the falls or swim in them.
It used to be possible to tackle an intense, very long hike down to the base of the falls. But the trail has not been maintained, and it would be a dangerous undertaking now.
The 1,000 Foot Falls are probably the most difficult attraction to access in Mountain Pine Ridge, as the road is in very, very bad condition. Once you turn off the main road, you’ll need to tackle around 14 kilometres (9 mi) on a very steep, rutted and often muddy road. I wouldn’t suggest attempting this one in anything other than a proper 4×4 (not an SUV). Even then, it can become impassable after rain.
Because of the road condition, and the inability to actually get up close to the falls, a lot of visitors skip this site. Ourselves included, as there was no way our little SUV was going to make it up that road, and we didn’t want to risk damaging the car. But seeing the tallest waterfall in Central America would be amazing, and if you’ve got a 4×4, I say go for it!
5. Caracol Mayan Ruins
- 📍 Location – on Google Maps here
- 💰 Cost – $15 BZD
- 🚽 Amenities – toilets
- 🎒 Bring with you – comfy shoes, sun protection, water and snacks
- 🚙 Ease of access – a very long drive on an unpaved road
- 🚐 Best tour – Caracol Maya Ruins Tour Including Rio On Pools, Rio Frio Cave and a Picnic Lunch
The ancient city of Caracol is Belize’s largest and most important Mayan ruins. Hidden deep inside the Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve, Caracol is at least an additional 1 – 2 hours past Rio Frio Cave, the furthest of the other attractions.
At its prime in AD 650, Caracol was one of the most powerful cities in the Mayan world. It is thought to have spanned over 180² kilometres (70² mi), housing more than 150,000 people.
Today, there is an extensive maze of restored structures and plazas, uncovered from the jungle. The highlight of the site is Canaa (aka the Sky Palace), which is still the tallest building in Belize to this day! Standing at 43 metres (143 ft), it’s possible to climb up to the top of Canaa for some epic views over the jungle.
As with other roads in Mountain Pine Ridge, a 4×4 is the best way to reach Caracol, and you should prepare yourself for a bumpy, muddy journey that is significantly longer than the other sights in the area. The road is still not quite finished all the way to Caracol, but it is in much better condition than it has been in the past.
There used to be a risk of robbery on this long stretch of isolated road, and a convoy system was implemented for those self-driving to the site. However in 2024, the security situation seems to have improved, and as far as we could tell, it was possible to drive to the site at any time.
👉🏼 A lengthy drive on rough roads doesn’t sound like your cup of tea? Join the guided tour
Where to stay inside Mountain Pine Ridge
Most people visit Mountain Pine Ridge as a day trip from San Ignacio, but there are a few accommodation options within the reserve, all exceptionally rated.
This can be a beautiful place to base yourself if you’re looking for a nature-focused stay. You’ll have all the attractions of Mountain Pine Ridge on your doorstep, without being too far from San Ignacio to do some of the other activities in the area.
- 💰💰💰💰 Blancaneaux Lodge: the height of luxury, this lodge is a cut above the rest, with exceptional service, gorgeous location and fantastic amenities. They have a range of palm-thatched cabanas around the property, the best ones have decks overlooking the river.
- 💰💰💰 Gaia Riverlodge: this is one of the most beautiful jungle lodges in the entire San Ignacio region. Overlooking a private waterfall and walking distance from Big Rock, you’ll sleep to the sound of the rushing river. Rooms are bungalows scattered around the property hidden in the forest and the on-site restaurant is delicious.
- 💰💰💰 Hidden Valley Wilderness Lodge: the perfect blend of cosy and tropical, drawing from the cooler climate of Pine Ridge with fireplaces in the room, but amplifying the gorgeous tropical vibe of Belize with outdoor showers and lush gardens. It’s a combination that just works! The property has nature trails to a waterfall, a great restaurant and a pool.
- 💰💰 Kane Villas: if you want to self-cater this is the best option in Pine Ridge. The apartment/villa-style rooms are spacious and fully equipped with everything you could need for a few days in the forest. The property has a pool and access to nature trails.
- 💰💰 Pine Ridge Lodge: although one of the more affordable options in Mountain Pine Ridge, don’t confuse this for basic! You’ll be welcomed by the host with open arms, enjoy home-cooked meals, a gorgeous hideaway in the forest and a spacious, well-equipped room.
Mountain Pine Ridge Belize: Worth it?
Would you tackle the bumpy roads to visit Mountain Pine Ridge?
This was one of our favourite activities around San Ignacio, and we honestly felt like we had been transported to another country! This is a different side to Belize that we didn’t expect to find, but absolutely loved.
It is totally worth the somewhat bumpy (albeit improving) drive, to experience this unique landscape and gorgeous natural attractions, without the crowds.
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The Comments
Erika
Thank you so much for putting this together! It was so easy to follow and super informative. I followed the trajectory outlined minus the ruins and 1000 foot falls and was able to get to the spots with ease! Definitely had about a 30 min walk to the Cave due to the mud which but it was ok. Ended with dinner at the Gaia restaurant which was phenomenal.
Sally Rodrick
ErikaHi Erika,
Thankyou so much for your comment and letting me know about your trip. It’s so lovely to hear my guide was helpful, and you had a great day!
Yes, 1000 Foot Falls is a tricky one for anyone I think, so wise move skipping it. Dinner at Gaia sounds fabulous, it’s a gorgeous property and I imagine their food matches. Thanks again for sharing your experience and hope you have an amazing trip in Belize 🙂 Sally x