Shipstern Conservation & Management Area

Sarteneja, Belize, Belize

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Shipstern Conservation & Management Area is a protected nature reserve near the village of Sarteneja in the Corozal District of northern Belize, covering about 21,500 acres of diverse habitats. It centers on the large inland Shipstern Lagoon system and includes dry and moist tropical forests, wetlands, and rare coastal forest types that are found in very few places in Belize and the wider Yucatán region. The area is especially important for wildlife, hosting around 300 bird species as well as animals like jaguar, puma, Baird’s tapir, crocodiles, manatees, and many others, some of which are endangered or uncommon elsewhere. The reserve is home to a popular butterfly farm and breeding center at its entrance, where visitors can see hundreds of tropical species, and it offers guided hikes, bird‑watching tours, night‑walks, and cultural excursions that make it a key eco‑tourism destination in northeastern Belize.