When Protecting Nature Becomes the Adventure

Tourism is one of Belize’s most profitable industries, but what keeps it alive? Beyond the beaches and reefs lies another critical force: conservation. Without it, the natural wonders that attract visitors could vanish. At the Corozal Bay Wildlife Sanctuary, the Sarteneja Alliance for Conservation and Development (SACD) is proving that protecting the environment can also be an adventure. Backing it at full force is the Belize Fund for a Sustainable Future.

From Fishing to Eco-Touring

A northern coastal village, long known for its fishing tradition, is forming a new wave of opportunity. Through Corozal Bay EcoAdventures, fishers, artisans, and families from Sarteneja village are finding new ways to earn a living while also protecting the sea that sustains them. Business Manager of SACD, Diveana Samos, explained, “one of our goals is to promote conservation actions that benefit both biodiversity and people.”

“We want to support the community members because we believe that if the community wins, our ecosystem will win as well,” she added.

The Corozal Bay Wildlife Sanctuary spans roughly 178,000 acres and shelters manatees, dolphins and the country’s only bull shark nursery.

But how does SACD make this conservation initiative work? Through the RioReef Expedition. This eco-tour blends science and tourism while channelling proceeds back into local conservation and community projects.

Where Conservation and Livelihoods Meet

At the heart of the RioReef experience is collaboration. Visitors see firsthand how traditional fishing practices and modern conservation principles come together for sustainability.

Visitors get an intimate look at the traditional “beach trap,” a tunnel-shaped fishing structure made of sticks and stones. Head Ranger Jamayel Verde said this collaboration with local fishers ensures that “sustainability and conservation works hand in hand.” He explained that due to SACD’s close relationship with fishers, they have “already adapted to this process whereby if they find a protected species on their harvest… they will release that.”

Part of the RioReef income supports partner communities, while the rest funds monitoring and research. “The title of the grant that we received was safeguarding both biodiversity mechanisms within Corozal Bay Wildlife Sanctuary,” Samos said. This funding, she explained, supports “water quality monitoring, bird surveys, [and] aerial manatee surveys,” as the area holds one of Belize’s highest manatee populations.

Nature’s Hidden Connections, History, and Heritage

Every part of this ecosystem is intertwined. The rivers feed the bay, the bay nurtures the reef, and together they sustain life both above and below the water.

Verde described how the mangroves along the New River act as nature’s filters. “The river, the bay and the reef connection is that all the impurities that run through the river to the bay, are absorbed by the mangroves,” he said. “The seagrass beds that lie within it… also play their part in cleaning these impurities.”

History also finds its place in this eco-adventure. The Cerros Mayan Temple, one of the tour’s stops, links environmental preservation with cultural heritage. Verde explained, “How do we know that this was a trading center? Because traces of obsidian, jade were found here.” He noted that the presence of obsidian, absent from Belize’s geology, suggests trade connections in the ancient world.

The journey continues to Warrie Bight, where visitors take part in mangrove planting to help restore coastal ecosystems. Samos said, “We can protect mangroves, you can protect the ecosystem at the same time and having something nice and pretty to just sit and relax on.”

Landing in the Caribbean Sea

Before one realises it, freshwater channels flow into the turquoise Caribbean, where the Bacalar Chico Marine Reserve marks the final stop of the expedition.

Here, visitors can snorkel the reef or explore Mayan ruins while learning about research and conservation.

So, can adventure and preservation truly coexist?

SACD believes so. Each stop leaves a lasting message: that nature, culture, and community are all part of one living story. It is a model where conservation preserves the past and simultaneously builds the future.