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Mountain Pine Ridge Review

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Mountain Pine Ridge

Category: Nature Preserves, Forests
Location: Mountain Pine Ridge

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Fodor's Review:

17 mi (27 km) south of San Ignacio.

The Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve is a highlight of any journey to Belize and an adventure to reach. It's in the high country of Belize—low mountains and rolling hills are covered in part by vast pine forests and crisscrossed with old logging roads. The higher elevations provide cooler temperatures and, of course, outstanding views. The best way to see this area is on a mountain bike, a horse, or your own feet, not bouncing around in an Isuzu Trooper.

Aside from pines, you'll see lilac-color mimosa, Saint-John's-wort, and occasionally a garish red flower known as hotlips. Look out for the craboo, a wild tree whose berries are used in a brandylike liqueur believed to have aphrodisiacal properties. Birds love this fruit, so any craboo is a good place to spot orioles and woodpeckers.

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