Monkey River Wildlife Encounters and Manatee Watch
Description
A half hour fun boat ride through the mangroves takes you to Monkey River village where you head upriver into pristine rain forest. Expect to see crocodiles, huge iguanas on tree branches sunning themselves, turtles, and many species of tropical birds. Upriver, your licensed guide will lead you into the rain forest in search of howler monkeys. Nothing you read could prepare you for the adventure of hearing these monkeys for the first time...you just have to experience it! On this mellow hike, your guide will also point out the different plants and trees many of which are used as medicine by local bush doctors. As your hike through the jungle further from the river you may spot gibnuts (now known as royal rat since Queen Elizabeth dined on it), deer, ocelots, peccaries, tapirs, coatimundis and agoutis. Buy a genuine Kriol lunch at Miss Alice’s restaurant in Monkey River before heading out on a manatee watch on the way back to Placencia.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Depart Placencia Village at 08:00 am for a boat ride along the coast zipping in an out of the mangroves. Stop in Monkey River Town to order lunch to be eaten on the return trip. You can expect to see crocodiles, huge iguanas on tree branches sunning themselves, turtles, and many species of tropical birds. Upriver, your licensed guide will lead you into the rain forest in search of howler monkeys which communicate with each other to declare their territory. Nothing you read could prepare you for the adventure of hearing these monkeys for the first time...you just have to experience it! Your guide will also point out the different plants and trees many of which are used as medicine by local bush doctors. You may spot gibnuts (now known as royal rat since Queen Elizabeth dined on it), deer, ocelots, peccaries, tapirs, coatimundis and agoutis. abundant wildlife. Stop at Miss Alice’s restaurant in Monkey River before heading out on a manatee watch on the way back to Placencia.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
We text guests to arrange time and place for pickup. We provide complimentary pickup and drop off along the main road in Placencia Village but charge US$ 10.00 per person for pickup/drop off north of Placencia Village.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Children must be accompanied by an adult.
- Meals are not included - tradition is to support the Monkey River Village buy buying lunch there.
- Wear shoes that you don't care if they get wet - for the mellow walk into the jungle part of the tour.
- Long sleeve shirts and long pants and mosquito spray can be necessary some times of the year.
Reviews(80)
We were picked up from our condo and driven to splash dive. Warmly greeted and introduced to Junior, our guide. He was very friendly and knew all the names of the various birds & mammals we saw. We saw howler monkeys; numerous different species of birds, crocodile and a few manatees too. Fantastic day out, highly recommended.
We had a wonderful tour with Junior! He was incredibly knowledgeable about local animals and plants. We saw so many different species and it was truly a highlight of the trip!
Amy, Thank you for your kind review! We are very happy to hear that you had such a great time on the Monkey River Wildlife Encounters and Manatee Watch tour. Junior truly enjoys sharing his knowledge of the local wildlife and plants, and it’s wonderful to know that his passion helped make the experience a highlight of your trip. Seeing a variety of species along the river always makes the day special, and we’re glad you were able to enjoy so many memorable sightings. We hope to welcome you back for another adventure the next time you visit Belize!
We had wonderful bird and wildlife viewing, from howlers to manatees to herons and ibis. What a beautiful country you have.
Thank you for sharing your Monkey River Jungle Trip and Manatee Watch on Vator. There is no doubt that Belize is Nature's Best Kept Secret!
We saw all the animals and had a fantastic trip.
Thank you for a five star rating and for summarizing in fewer words than I though possible!!!! I hope we will see you down this way again.
Terrific experience with a great guide (JR). The Dive Center folks could not have been nicer. JR was incredible - knowledgeable, friendly, sensitive to our needs, and genuine. I highly recommend going through these folks.
Thank you very much for recommending Splash! I am very happy to hear that you had a terrific experience with us and that JR made such a positive impression. He truly enjoys what he does, and it’s wonderful to know his knowledge, friendliness, and attentiveness to your needs stood out during your time on the water. Your comments about our dive center team also mean a great deal. We work hard to create a welcoming and professional environment for every guest, and it’s rewarding to know that effort was felt. We sincerely appreciate you choosing to snorkel with us and hope to welcome you back to Placencia for another adventure in the future.
Our captain was Junior, picked us up right on time. Had a great trip up to Monkey River, ordered food at Alice’s restaurant, headed up river, Junior did a great job pointing out the local plants and animals along the way. Got to see manatees, several bird species, crocodile, leaf cutter ants, howler monkeys and back to Alice’s for a delicious meal. Then headed back to Placencia with a couple stops to see more manatees on the way. We all had a great time. Would definitely recommend.8
Thank you for sharing your experience with Splash Dive Center on Viator. We are very happy to hear you had such an enjoyable day on the Monkey River tour with Junior. A smooth, on-time pickup and a relaxed run up the coast and into the river always set the tone for the day, and it’s great to know he helped bring the surroundings to life by pointing out the plants and wildlife along the way. Seeing manatees, howler monkeys, crocodiles, birdlife, and even leaf cutter ants in one trip in their natural surroundings makes for a full and memorable outing. We’re also pleased you enjoyed your stop at Alice’s — it’s a special part of the Monkey River experience. Thank you for your recommendation. We appreciate you choosing to explore with us and hope to welcome you back for another adventure on the water in the future.
It was a fabulous day to Monkey Town and up Monkey River. Splash Dive Center took us on an educational boat ride, where we saw so many animals and learned about them & the local plants and their many uses (often medicinal). We took a hike in the rain forest and heard the howler monkeys, along with many birds. The other people on the boat with us were photographers, so we stopped lots to enjoy watching the animals. We also saw a crocodile, manatee, turtles, and so many types of birds. It was a very memorable day! Highly recommend!
Thank you for sharing such a thoughtful review of your Monkey River Wildlife Encounters & Manatee Watch tour with us. We are very pleased to hear that you had such a memorable day exploring Monkey River. It’s always rewarding to know our guests enjoyed not only spotting wildlife — from howler monkeys and crocodiles to manatees and turtles — but also learning about the rainforest ecosystem and the traditional uses of local plants. We’re especially glad the pace of the tour allowed time for photography and quiet wildlife observation. Monkey River offers such a rich and dynamic environment, and taking those extra moments often makes all the difference. Thank you again for your recommendation. We truly appreciate you choosing Splash Dive Center and hope to welcome you back to Placencia for another adventure in the future.
We booked with splash dive center and had junior as our guide he grew up in monkey river town and was very knowledgeable about all the plants and wildlife in the area as well as the history of the town we saw alot of different birds as well as howler monkeys crocodiles and bats. we had a great lunch at Alice's in monkey river town and on the boat ride back we stopped and was lucky enough to see a couple manatee. It was a great experience in belieze and our guide junior was amazing.
Thank you for taking the time to share your experience with Splash at Monkey River. We are very pleased to hear you enjoyed your Monkey River tour with Junior. Growing up in Monkey River Town gives him a unique connection to the area, and it’s wonderful to know his knowledge of the local plants, wildlife, and history added depth to your day. It sounds like you had a fantastic range of sightings — from birds and howler monkeys to crocodiles, bats, and even manatees on the way back. That combination truly makes for a memorable river experience. We’re also glad you enjoyed lunch at Alice’s; it’s always a special stop along the way. We appreciate your kind words about Junior and your recommendation. Thank you for choosing Splash Dive Center, and we hope to welcome you back to Belize for another adventure in the future.
This was an awesome tour Our Guide was extremely knowledgeable. Would highly recommend to anyone. Saw a lot of birds. The Howler monkeys were lazy in the top of tree tops. I was raining, it was understandable. Did see the manatees on the way back. That was a bonus. They tour company did a great job. The lunch was also tasty.
Mary, thank you so much for your kind review! I am really happy to hear you had an awesome day on our Monkey River tour. Even with a little rain, it sounds like nature still delivered! The howler monkeys do tend to lounge high in the treetops during wet weather — conserving energy and staying dry — but we’re glad you were still able to observe them in their natural habitat. And spotting manatees on the way back is always a special bonus! Those moments never get old. We truly appreciate your comments about your guide’s knowledge. Our team takes great pride in sharing the wildlife, ecology, and stories of the river in a way that makes the experience meaningful and memorable. We’re also happy you enjoyed the lunch — a tasty Belizean meal is the perfect way to round out a day on the water. Thank you for the recommendation and for choosing to explore with us. We hope to welcome you back for another adventure soon!
Nearly an hour each way to Monkey Island via bare bones motor boat and a bumpy ride. Stopped on the way to give a head count for lunch, which was not included in the tour price. Only 1 choice - rice & beans, fried plantain, chicken thigh and water for $10US We saw a handful of monkeys overhead, 2 crocs, 4 or 5 iguanas and 1 manatee. Lots of birds. The guide was very knowledgable tho a bit difficult to understand. Overall, the tour was ok. We came back with very achy backs.
Elllen, thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. We truly appreciate hearing both the positives and the areas where we can improve. Monkey River is approximately an hour each way by boat from Placencia. While many guests enjoy the scenic ride through the lagoon and along the coast, sea conditions can sometimes make the journey bumpy. We are sorry to hear you returned with achy backs — your comfort is important to us, and your comments are helpful as we continually evaluate the experience we provide. Regarding lunch, we stop at Miss Alice’s Restaurant in Monkey River Village. Ordering lunch there is an optional part of the program and reflects our commitment to supporting local, sustainable tourism. By visiting and dining in the village, we help contribute directly to the small community’s economy. The traditional Belizean plate (rice & beans, plantain, chicken, and water) is the standard offering, though we understand that additional variety may be appreciated and will keep that in mind. We’re pleased you were able to see monkeys, crocodiles, iguanas, a manatee, and many bird species. Wildlife sightings can vary from day to day, as this is a natural environment, but we always aim to make the outing educational and informative. Thank you as well for noting that your guide was knowledgeable — we will continue working on clarity and communication to ensure the experience is accessible and engaging for everyone. We value your honest feedback and appreciate you joining us. It helps us refine and improve the experience, and we hope to have the opportunity to welcome you again in the future.
