Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary
Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary
4.5
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
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4.5
62 reviews
Excellent
47
Very good
8
Average
4
Poor
2
Terrible
1
Sandy DA
Blacklick, Ohio, United States50 contributions
Nov 2023 • Friends
Took a great boat ride in the rain and recorded 51 bird species during our trip. It was fantastic and lunch afterward was a wonderful way to end the day! Highly recommend a visit, even if not a brder!
Written November 6, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
John M
Portland, OR5 contributions
Jan 2022
We stayed at the Bird’s Eye View Lodge. Excellent lodging, very knowledgeable birding guides. Lots of other activities, including Mayan Ruins. A place worth going back to.
Written January 25, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
narihood
phoenix, az13 contributions
we stayed in this little village, which is supposed to be teh oldest village in belize. we took the morning birding tour on the boat on the lagoon, and it was fun, even though we are not birders we still were amazed at how many varieties of birds we saw, as well as crocodiles, iguanas, etc. the village is very small, we ate at 3J's every day, the food there is limited but amazingly delicious- have the fish and chips, unlike any you've ever had!
Written April 15, 2006
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Tiffy_Bird
La Plata, MD539 contributions
Mar 2019
Although Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary was not on our official itinerary, our guide indulged me and stopped for about 45 minutes. From one waterside spot, we literally saw about 40 bird species in that short time. Several were life birds for me---including the magnificent Jabiru stork. I cannot recommend Crooked Tree enough---especially for birdwatchers. I will definitely return and spend a LOT more time there.
Written January 26, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
msfortune
Pipersville, PA18 contributions
Feb 2018
Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary is a wonderful place to relax and watch birds. Seeing birds is as easy as stepping out of your room and ambling onto the grounds for a look over the lagoon. Jacana, heron, egret, kites, roseate spoonbill, you name it. The food is good and plentiful. The staff was happy to plan trips around the area--the trip to lamanai is a must. We saw the elusive jabiru stork on the way to the ruins. Our drivers were full of information about birds, belize, and local life. It was the highlight of our time in belize. the rooms were were cool and comfortable.
Written August 30, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
elin02
Astoria, NY178 contributions
Apr 2012 • Couples
We stayed in the sanctuary for two nights upon arrival in Belize. We did a bird watching boat tour with our lodge, Crooked Tree Lodge, and had a great time. It was $25 pp with minimum 4 people. This area attracts a lot of bird watchers for it's many species but we came simply to relax and enjoy the wildlife. Knowing nothing about bird watching, we still enjoyed it. We learned a lot about the birds of Belize from our guide and from bird watchers in our boat. Helps to have really good binoculars. The scenery, alone, is enough to enjoy this tour.
Written March 6, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Wade
10 contributions
Dec 2022
This is basically just a small, rundown town on an island in wetlands. Yes, there are waterbirds about, but there's basically no trails or blinds - you just drive or walk around the town's streets. It feels a bit weird to be out with telephoto lenses wandering amongst people's homes (especially when many are just dilapidated shacks, with limited privacy to begin with).
I'm told it's quite different in the dry season, when the surrounding lake waters recede substantially and many shore trails appear. But that's a very narrow window of just a few weeks around March.
A 4WD vehicle with decent clearance is necessary, at least when I was there after some light rain. There were ruts and potholes nearly a foot deep in many of the roads, most flooded with water, and made out of soft mud. Even with the diffs locked I nearly got stuck a couple of times, for lack of traction or from bottoming out.
As someone from California this was extra disappointing because nearly all the species I saw are native & prolific in Californian anyway (e.g. Great Egrets, Snowy Egrets, Blue Herons), where there's much better parks & reserves and amenable weather year-round.
If you're a birder and you're already passing by on the northern highway, this might be worth a brief detour just to try your luck - maybe you'll see something rare. But I wouldn't go here otherwise.
I'm told it's quite different in the dry season, when the surrounding lake waters recede substantially and many shore trails appear. But that's a very narrow window of just a few weeks around March.
A 4WD vehicle with decent clearance is necessary, at least when I was there after some light rain. There were ruts and potholes nearly a foot deep in many of the roads, most flooded with water, and made out of soft mud. Even with the diffs locked I nearly got stuck a couple of times, for lack of traction or from bottoming out.
As someone from California this was extra disappointing because nearly all the species I saw are native & prolific in Californian anyway (e.g. Great Egrets, Snowy Egrets, Blue Herons), where there's much better parks & reserves and amenable weather year-round.
If you're a birder and you're already passing by on the northern highway, this might be worth a brief detour just to try your luck - maybe you'll see something rare. But I wouldn't go here otherwise.
Written December 11, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Happy Traveler
6 contributions
Jan 2020
We took a boat tour on the lagoon and saw over 100 species of birds! Between the lagoon and walking around Beck's B&B its a birders paradise
Written February 20, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
302lovefood
Edinburgh, UK24 contributions
Apr 2019 • Friends
We got to the junction by public bus and then hitchhiked into the sanctuary. It is down a very long, boring, dirty, unshaded road for around 3 miles. It would be awful to walk in the heat! Most people hitch a lift with any locals that are driving past and stop. Buses only leave the village in the morning. We enjoyed seeing some birds on the lagoon but did not feel there was nearly as many interesting birds as the pictures show despite being in April when the birds are meant to be the best. It felt more like walking around a village with very little in it to see or do, rather than a wildlife sanctuary. Sadly the museum was closed the day we were there but it did look very small from the outside. We went to get lunch at the Bird's Eye View Lodge but they don't have a lunch service as such. They just cook food for guests but did offer us rice and beans for US S15 (four times more than we have paid elsewhere). Good place to go if you love birds and are patient to wait for them. Not a good place for people who enjoy lots of entertainment.
Written April 9, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Juicy jinx
6 contributions
Apr 2019
We used a local guide from Belize Tours Unlimited Lyndon and we had a one of a kind experience. We saw a Stork walking around as we rode horseback through the village. Our kids did not want to go home
Written April 6, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi, with whom did you book your birding boat tour? I will be visiting soon and cannot find a clear like to book a tour through the "Visit Crooked Tree" website. Thanks!
Written February 1, 2020
James P
Sunderland, Massachusetts
What is the bird population like in early February?
Written October 20, 2019
Hi Ryan
We are stopping into Belize City on a cruise and we are looking for a tour company that would offer a day birding trip to CTWS. Which tour company did you use to go there? Thanks for your time!
Written January 29, 2017
Is the sanctuary open on Dec 31st and Jan 1st?
Is it possible to organize a boat trip on Jan 1st?
Written December 23, 2016
miltonfarris
Temple Terrace, Florida
Looking for camping information Long Term. Can you provide? I also need to know if Veteran Service dogs are allowed. Thanks
Written September 10, 2016
Looks like there is a bus from Belize City at 10:45 am. Cannot find return times. Can you provide more information? We need to be back to our ship by 3 pm. Thanks for your help.
Written December 29, 2015
Would like to do a trip here as only here for one day .what is the best way of doing it? Can you get a boat from the port or what?!
Many thanks for any help!
Written January 21, 2015
Coming for one day to Belize on a cruise in Feb. Is there anyone who could take us here?
Written January 20, 2015
Any chance of you being on "the Riviera? We would like to do the same!
Written January 21, 2015
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