Tour Description
Hidden in a scenic valley in the Cayo District, the 45-acre Belize Botanic Garden is alive with plants from Belize and around the world. The Belize Botanic Garden was registered as a non-profit organization in 1997, after being purchased and cleared as a personal replanting farm project by the late Zimbabwe-born Ken Duplooy and his wife, Judy in 1994.
The Mission of the Garden is to grow, study and promote tropical flora of Belize, while focusing on future botanical development through research, education, conservation, and sustainable agriculture, in addition to providing enjoyment for visitors. Visitors will enjoy the exotic and local flora, tropical fruit trees, a native orchid collection, palms, conservation displays, and plants of the Mayan culture.
Upon entering the Botanic Garden, visitors walk through an area with experimental fruit trees, with some fruit introduced from South East Asia, as potential alternative crops for Belizean farmers. Some include litchi, rambutan, longan, and mangosteen, and are considered ideal alternatives to the traditional citrus and banana. Workshops and presentations will be held to promote these crops, and assistance will be provided to encourage the preparation of a finished product, such as fruit preserves.
The Belize Botanic Garden also focuses on exploring environmentally sound alternatives to agricultural trends, illustrating sustainable land use, alternative crops and organic insect control. Student groups may visit the garden for research or field trips, and opportunities are also available for volunteers.
The gardens are still growing, and to help with development, donations are welcome, with annual membership opportunities. In addition to plant and habitat growth, there are plans to build a Visitor’s Center, Research Laboratories, a nursery, herbarium, classrooms, and a small-scale commercial kitchen.
Cost: US$60.00 per person
