Sarstoon-Temash National Park

Sarstoon-Temash National Park is a wetland reserve in Toledo District composed of various ecosystem types: freshwater sphagnum moss bogs, mangrove swamps, and permanently flooded tropical forests that border the Sarstoon River. Water defines the entire landscape and determines which plants and animals thrive in each zone.

The protected area was established in 1994 to conserve its unique wetland ecosystems and biodiversity. A decade later, the international Ramsar Convention recognized it as a wetland of global significance.

The K'ekchi Maya and Garinagu communities live in the buffer zones surrounding the park and continue their traditional ways of living within this protected landscape. Visitors can observe how these communities maintain their connection to the land and waterways.

The best way to explore the area is by boat, since most sections are only accessible by water. Guided tours help visitors safely navigate the waterways and spot wildlife.

The reserve protects Belize's largest undisturbed stands of red mangrove and the only population of the rare comfra palm found in the country. These two distinctive features make it one of the most ecologically valuable sites in the region.