Established in 1944, the Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve is Belize’s oldest and largest protected area, covering an impressive 300 square mile (777 square km) expanse just South of San Ignacio. While most of Belize’s landscapes feature tropical vegetation, this exceptionally scenic reserve is set apart by its magnificent Honduras pine forests, deep ravines, limestone jagged peaks, massive granite outcrops, meandering rivers, and breathtaking waterfalls.This remarkably diverse ecosystem provides a wonderful haven for a wide variety of fascinating wildlife including cougars, jaguars, ocelots, endemic crocodiles, and an abundance of neotropical bird species. Don’t miss the spectacular viewpoint overlooking the Thousand Foot Falls, the tallest waterfall in Central America, and the Rio On Pools, a series of small cascades broken up by large granite rocks that form several delightful swimming holes.