Set along the banks of the Macal River, beautiful Chaa Creek is a 365-acre nature reserve offering extensive facilities to lodge guests and nonguests alike. Running through the jungle just above the river, the Rainforest Medicine Trail was established by Dr Rosita Arvigo. This project aims to spread knowledge of traditional healing methods and preserve the rainforest habitats, from which many healing plants come. It identifies about 100 medicinal plants used in traditional Maya and/or modern medicine.

Guided tours of the trail operate from 8am to 5pm and cost BZ$10.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby attractions

1. Ix Chel Farms

0.34 MILES

This herbal-cure research center is at Ix Chel Farms, 8 miles southwest of San Ignacio up Chial Rd.

3. Belize Botanic Gardens

1.8 MILES

The magnificent Belize Botanic Gardens, accessed from the grounds of Sweet Songs Jungle Lodge, hold samples of roughly one-quarter of the approximately…

4. Cahal Pech

2.44 MILES

High atop a hill about a mile south of San Ignacio, Cahal Pech is the oldest-known Maya site in the Belize River valley, having been first settled between…

5. Tropical Wings Nature Center

3.02 MILES

This interactive ecology exhibit is aimed at kids, but even adults will enjoy the butterfly house and medicinal gardens. It's on the grounds of The Trek…

6. Green Iguana Conservation Project

3.09 MILES

On the lush Macal Valley grounds of the San Ignacio Resort Hotel, this excellent program collects and hatches iguana eggs, raising the reptiles until they…

8. House of Culture

3.36 MILES

In the former hospital behind the town hall, the House of Culture has regular art, history and cultural exhibitions, as well as being a local meeting…