Trekforce and Belize

Trekforce has been regularly running expeditions in Belize since 1996 when Rob Murray-John set-up the first expedition there. Over the years we have worked with many local conservation organisations and government departments and have completed projects in most of the National Parks and reserves.

Fieldbase

Our fieldbase is located in Santa Elena, across the river from San Ignacio, Cayo District, in the West of Belize. The twin towns are the second largest settlement in Belize, after Belize City. It is ideally situated on the Western highway for easy access to Guatemala and the capital, Belmopan, and also the Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve, the Chiquibul Forest and beyond.

Meet our staff working in Belize.

Along with our two Land Rovers, we are a recognisable face around Belize, having placed volunteers in many remote schools, completed projects far and wide and continue to work with important conservation organisations.

Our Legacy

The number of conservation projects in Belize completed by Trekforce Expeditions, and now continued to the same standard by Trekforce Worldwide is immense.

We have worked in some of the most beaufiful and inaccessible areas of Belize, some of which are now protected areas because of the work Trekforce has achieved. Many of the more recent protected areas of Belize such as Mayflower-Bocawina and Elijio Panti have had much of their infrastructure built by Trekforce.

The amount of protected areas in Belize show the scale of the conservation effort in Belize that you could be a part of. 

You can read more about all of Trekforce's projects in more detail in our project archive.

1996 - 1 Project

1. Gallon Jug (Mar 96): Mapping of Maya ruins on behalf of the Conservation Foundation (New York Zoological Society)

1997 - 2 Projects

2. Half Moon Caye (July 97): Pier construction at the Half Moon Caye Natural Monument on behalf of BAS.
3. Bladen (July 97): Erection of signposts on behalf of the Forestry Department, in the Bladen Nature Reserve.

1998 - 6 Projects

4. Crooked Tree (Feb 98):  Tower & boardwalk on behalf of BAS at Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary.
5. Cockscomb (Jul 98):  Research Station on behalf of BAS in the Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary.
6. Paynes Creek (Jul 98):  Boardwalk & floating jetty for TIDE, funded by BHC, DfID small grants scheme.
7. Freshwater Creek (Jul 98):  Visitor Centre for the Freshwater Creek Forest Reserve & Forestry Dept funded by BTB.
8. Half Moon Caye (Oct 98): Post Hurricane Mitch work clearing debris and cleaning schools on Half Moon Caye.
9. Cockscomb (Oct 98): Post Hurricane Mitch clearance work and field latrines on behalf of BAS at Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary. 

    1999 - 5 Projects

10. Aguacaliente (Feb 99):  Visitor/Information Centre, funded by BHC, DfID small grants scheme.
11. Hunting Caye (Feb 99):  Constructed pier and sign for BTB, matching funding with them.
12. Rancho Delores (Feb 99):  Visitor Centre for the Rancho Delores Environment & Development Group funded by UNDP.
13. Las Cuevas (Feb 99):  Fieldwork & trail clearance on 50 Ha Plot, on behalf of the British Natural History Museum Research Station.
14. Paynes Creek (July 99):  Visitor Centre for TIDE, funded by BHC, DfID small grants scheme.

    2000 - 4 Projects

15. Fireburn (Feb 00):  Boardwalk on behalf of Fireburn Community & Wildlife Corridor Survey in partnership with Wildtracks.             
16. La Sierra (Feb 00):  Trail clearance on behalf of the La Sierra Research Station funded by Trekforce.
17. Golden Stream (Feb 00):  Resource Centre for Golden Stream Corridor Preserve & FFI funded by BHC, DfID small grants scheme.
18. Victoria Peak (Feb 00):  Trail clearance, base camp & HLS construction on behalf of BAS in Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary.

2001 - 8 Projects

19. Maya Divide (Feb 01):  Recce of the trail across the Maya Divide on behalf of Forestry Dept funded by Trekforce.
20. Blue Hole (Feb 01):  Infrastructure repair work at the Blue Hole National Park on behalf of BAS.
21. Fireburn (Feb 01):  Multi purpose centre for Wildtracks at Fireburn, funded by PfB and Trekforce.
22. La Sierra (Feb 01):  Trail clearance on behalf of the La Sierra Research Station funded by Trekforce.
23. Abalone Caye (Feb 01):  Ranger Station on behalf of TIDE funded by BHC, DfID small grants scheme, Seacology & Oak Foundation.
24. Rio Blanco (Jul 01):  Visitor Centre on behalf of the Rio Blanco Mayan Association funded by Trekforce
25. Caye Caulker (Jul 01):  Ranger Station on behalf of FAMRACC on Caye Caulker funded by Coastal Zone Management Authority.
26. Sarstoon Temash (Jul 01):  Visitor Centre on behalf of the SATIIM at Sarstoon Temash National Park, funded by BHC, DfID small grants scheme. 

    2002 - 7 Projects

27. Payne's Creek (Feb 02):  Post Hurricane IRIS work reconstructing the Ranger Station on behalf of TIDE funded by The Oak Foundation.
28. Block 127 (Feb 02):  Post Hurricane IRIS work demarcating the boundary/ firebreak of a new National Park on behalf of TIDE.
29. Elijio Panti (Feb 02):  Topographical transects and infrastructure work on a new National Park on behalf of The Itzamna Society.
30. Cockscomb (Feb 02):  Post Hurricane IRIS infrastructure work on the Victoria Peak Trail on behalf of The Belize Audubon Society.
31. Las Cuevas (Feb 02):  Trail Clearance on behalf of Las Cuevas Research Station funded by Trekforce.
32. Billy Barquedier (Jul 02):  Boundary demarcation, access trail clearance, topographical transects in new National Park on behalf of STACA.
33. Mayflower (Jul 02):  Boundary clearance, topographical transects, and footbridge construction in new National Park.

    2003 - 8 Projects

34. Las Cuevas (Feb 03): Construction of Harpy Eagle release box and steps, and wildlife monitoring, for British Natural History Museum Research Station.
35. Rio Grande (Feb 03): Construction of ranger station for TIDE.
36. Elijio Panti (Feb 03): Further trail clearing and palapa construction for the Itzamna Society.
37. LiFeline (Feb 03): Construction of four cages to house small native cats.
38. Indian Creek Trail (Feb 03):  Palapa construction, trail clearance, and cave mapping to improve accessibility for eco-tourism.
39. Mayflower (Jul 03):  Palapa construction, trail clearing and step building for tourist use.
40. LiFeline (Jul 03):  Construction of 2 units to house 4 large cat species, either puma or jaguar.
41. Rancho Dolores  (Jul 03):  Construction of arts & crafts centre, boundary demarcation and platform building for the Rancho Dolores Environmental and Development Group funded by UNDP.

    2004 - 8 Projects

42. Fireburn (Feb 04): Mapping and clearing an ancient Mayan settlement site for Wildtracks and Institute of Archaeology.
43. Monkey Bay (Feb 04): Assisting Wildlife Care in Howler Monkey release programmes & trail infrastructure work to Ceasar Weaser Cave from ICT.
44. Mayflower (Feb 04): Continued infrastructure development in National Park.
45. Bladen (Feb 04): Boundary demarcation and pallapa construction for Forestry & Conservation Department.
46. Elijio Panti (Feb 04): Visitor centre and pallapa construction for The Itzamna Society.
47. Blue Creek (Feb 04): Trail & camp construction through a limestone ridge following an ancient Mayan Trail for Tumul K'in and surrounding communities.
48. Tapir Mountain (Jul 04): Boundary & trail construction for the Belize Audobon Society.
49. Aguacaliente (Jul 04): Visitor centre reconstruction post Hurricane Iris funded by the BHC Small Grant Scheme.

    2005 - 7 Projects

50. Aguacaliente (Feb 05): Boardwalk construction (2,500') funded by the BHC Small Grant Scheme, CARD & Global Green Grants.
51. Maya Divide (Feb 05): Long distance trail clearance from San Jose, Toledo to Millionario, Cayo on behalf of the San Jose Guide Groups.
52. Fireburn (Feb 05): Detailed mapping of Kakantulix Mayan ruin  and geographical mapping of Corozalito on behalf of Wildtracks and Institute of Archaeology.
53. Cockscomb (Feb 05): Boundary clearance and trail work at Juan Branch, Cockscomb Basin for the BAS.
54. Davis Falls (Feb 05): Eco-tourism infrastructure development on the site of the second highest waterfalls in Belize for ‘Friends of the Valley'.
55. Bacalar Chico (Feb 05): Eco-tourist trail and camp development for Green Reef.
56. Cockscomb (Jul 05): Construction of 2 pallapas, fire shelters, latrines, picnic tables and bridges along the Vic Peak Trail for BAS.

    2006 - 5 projects

57. Aguacaliente (Feb 06): Boardwalk construction (2,200') from Visitor Centre to Lagoons
58. Rio Blanco (Feb 06): Data collection and recces south of RBNP for Forestry Department to advise on expansion of the existing National Park
59. Davis Falls  (Feb 06): Construction of a Rangers Station funded by BHC Small Grants Scheme, trail improvements and recces to advise on boundary for a proposed National Park
60. Raspaculo (Jul 06): Assisted the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh with species collection and survey work.
61. Elijio Panti (Jul 06): Further National Park infrastructure work for The Itzamna Society.

2007 - 3 Projects

62. Davis Falls (Feb 07): Construction of a pallapa and renovation of trails & bridges and exploratory transects on behalf of Friends of the Valley for a proposed National Park.
63. Rio Frio (Feb 07): Construction two toilet blocks and renovation of existing tourist infrastructure including a bridge, trail, latrines, picnic area and changing area
64. Elijio Panti (Jul 07): Campsite of pallapa, fire shelter and latrine by a Mayan offering cave, as well as a wash area and water collection system on behalf of the Itzamna Society.