Shipstern Nature Reserve
Shipstern Nature Reserve
3.8
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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.
3.8
18 reviews
Excellent
7
Very good
4
Average
5
Poor
1
Terrible
1
Adam P
Trowbridge, UK4,766 contributions
Feb 2019 • Couples
Good for early bird watching and forest tour. Great tower overlooking the canopy with fantastic views. The guides are lovely people too. We only had a 2 hour tour instead of the advertised 4, so insisted we pay only 50% which they agreed to.
Written February 14, 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.
Alex S
Deventer, The Netherlands558 contributions
Jan 2016 • Couples
We stayed 4 nights in the Shipstern Nature Reserve and had a special program. In the area around the compound there is not so much to do. There a is a educational trail and a trail that goes to the lagoon, The trail to the lagoon was flooded (jan 2016) and the educational trail was full of musquitos. Not a few, but many of them!!!! On the compound itself it was OK with the mozzies... The best thing to do is walk up the observation tower in the early morning or late afternoon and enjoy the sunrise and sunset. No insects on top of the tower and if you are lucky you will see coatis! The change of seeing a tapir or jaguar are viertually zero and there are currently no monkeys in the reserve. So, what is the attraction of Shipstern? Good question and the answere is difficult. The vegetation is unique, but if you are not a botanist you will not notice. The best things to do are a trip at the lagoon (absolutely quite and beautiful) and a trip the mennonite community Little Belize. Both trips are expensive though.... And plan you trip in Febraury or March when you have a good chance of less or no musquitos! The accommodation in Shipstern is comfortable and the food is good, but the prices are quite steep....
Written June 17, 2016
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.
matrask
Frankfurt, Germany189 contributions
Jul 2014 • Solo
Close to Sarteneja, this large reserves offers some nice trails. Not all of them can be done without a guide and the lagoon boat trip is rather expensive, but the self-guided walks and the butterfly station are nice.
Written August 22, 2014
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.
Dave M
Verona, WI166 contributions
Feb 2020
Four of us stayed here with our birding guide. We were the only ones staying at the reserve and we were treated fantastically. Our hostess and chef (I'd horribly mispell their names so forgive the anonymity) were wonderful. We had some complicated food requests and they handled them with no problem. We had lots of really good, fresh, hot food to eat and fresh juices for breakfast.
They've screened in the outside eating area and that was very nice to eat and relax in. The WiFi worked well for us. The rooms were spacious and had both fans and air conditioning.
The butterfly garden was very interesting.
They've screened in the outside eating area and that was very nice to eat and relax in. The WiFi worked well for us. The rooms were spacious and had both fans and air conditioning.
The butterfly garden was very interesting.
Written February 28, 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.
Skep Tikal
Halifax, Canada149 contributions
Mar 2014 • Family
Joel gave us a tour of the building and it was very interesting. He explained the challenges and successes of the Nature Reserve. This led us to the butterfly house and we caught a couple of good pics of the screen cage and every stage of the butterflies development. (Although Margo set one free by accident) After that there are numerous trails through the jungle where you can see the various ecology levels. We chose the green trail which was about 45 min and led through the woods. It was nice to see all the different types of trees and they were all labeled. We arrived at the observation tower near the end. Unless you're in Sarteneja with nothing to do, or are a botanist in the area its not worth the drive. BZ$10 to get in.
Written March 9, 2014
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.
sharon p
littlehampton51 contributions
Jan 2014 • Solo
I went on an organised birdwatching tour. we spent the first hour walking around the car park because our guide was going off duty and was waiting for his replacement. Eventually we went on a tour through the jungle but saw no birds. we did climb the observation tower which would have been good but it deluged with rain so we ran for cover
Written March 3, 2014
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.
Lawrence B
Edisto Island, SC4 contributions
Feb 2019 • Couples
We did some walking and touring on our own and loved the well marked trails and butterfly house. Bugs were minimal but it is the dry season. We met Wendy, the coordinator of tourism and she was great giving us information not only about Shipstern but about the area, culture and politics. I returned for a longer hike with one of the staff and it was outstanding. A great young man, Louis, who has a passion for birds, nature and Shipstern guided me. We returned again to take a day long tour of the Menonite community. I can't say enough about this experience, meeting Bernhard from Little Belize was the highlight of the trip. Thanks Wendy and everyone at Shipstern for a time we will not soon forget.
Written February 27, 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.
LanSluderBelize
Asheville, NC794 contributions
Aug 2016 • Couples
I've visited Shipstern numerous times over the years. We stopped by briefly on our way to Sarteneja village. Shipstern is now managed by Corozal Sustainable Future Initiative, which also manages Honey Camp National Park. There are some changes under the new management, including newly constructed facilities for groups and lodging (about US$50 double plus 9% hotel tax). Meals can also be arranged. Shipstern is still very much off the beaten path and doesn't get many visitors, but it's great that Belize is able to protect so much of its natural resources in parks and reserves.
Written October 15, 2016
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.
Mzungu_tu
London, UK40 contributions
Feb 2019 • Couples
We booked a sunrise birdwatching tour and were not disappointed. Our guide was charming and very well informed. We did not go far but I know that we saw birds we would have missed our own: Aracaris, trogons etc.
It was great to see the dawn arrive even if we had an early start. There is so much to appreciate - go and see for yourself.
It was great to see the dawn arrive even if we had an early start. There is so much to appreciate - go and see for yourself.
Written February 27, 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.
f_specker
La Paz, Bolivia12 contributions
Jul 2017 • Couples
We've visited Shipstern during the rainy season, at the beginning of July. It's a bumpy bike ride from Sarteneja, but well worth the effort. We were warmly welcomed, and got a great tour of the newly renovated butterfly compound, of the lookout tower - and about the project in general, including a best of from their photo traps. If you're in the area, don't miss the opportunity! Just make sure to wear long clothes, and (AFTER visiting the butterfly compound!) to apply mosquito spray.
Written July 13, 2017
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.
Shipstern Nature Reserve s open or will be open in late April I have called 3 time and sent 5or 6 email with no response
Written February 19, 2018
As far as I know it is always open ,communication there is bad because it’s 3 miles away from village ,.but you can always drop by ,catch a bus to sarteneja village and ask them to drop you off at the reserve
Written June 1, 2019
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