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Splash
of white in green |
Deep in the Mountain Pine Ridge Reserve, the tallest waterfall
in Belize and all of Central America plummets 1600 feet
off a steep cliff into the densely forested depths below.
Seemingly swallowed up by the green forests at its base
inspired the falls name ~ Hidden Valley Falls. It is also
referred to as Thousand-Foot Falls because of its extraordinary
height.
Upon entering the Mountain Pine Ridge Reserve, visitors
travel along the main road for about 2 miles before making
a turn at the Hidden Valley Falls sign. About 4 miles in
brings visitors to the falls, the lookout point and the
picnic area. Being part of a private reserve within the
Pine Ridge area, a fee of BZ$3.00 is charged to all visitors.
There are restroom facilities as well as a small souvenir
shop on site. The lookout point is several hundreds of yards
away from the actual waterfall but the scenery it provides
is awe-inspiring.
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View
from lookout point |
The pristine white column of water effortlessly falling
into the forest below is like a thin white satin ribbon
running through a steep and forested valley.
All 1600 feet of water falls into a deep pool at its base,
which is not visible from the lookout point. A short trail
around the escarpment is available for those wishing to
experience more awesome views of the lush green valley.
For the more adventuresome at heart, a challenging hike
down the mountainside is offered, with the assistance of
a guide, to swim in the pool at the base of the tallest
waterfall in all of Central America!