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Three
Sisters Falls |
The Mayflower Bocawina National Park, just recently declared
a National Park in 2001, can be found on a feeder road off
mile six on the Southern Highway, just 4 1/2 miles in. The
narrow dirt road shaded by the jungle’s lush canopy
of trees inspires excitement in travelers and hints at the
adventures to be found in the hidden destination covering
over 7,000 acres.
There are three Mayan sites located in the park, all of
which are still under excavation by the Mayflower Archeology
Project. The Visitor Center is still under construction
but the two park wardens, Mr. Guzman and Mr. Peck are always
around to assist and inform visitors about the area. Maps
of the trails and sites are available at the Center as well.
Admission is BZ$10.00. The Mayflower Maya Site is located
just across the road from the Visitor Center and the other
two, Maintzunun and T’au Witz are located a short
distance away from the Mayflower site, through verdant jungle
paths where you may encounter the exotic giant heliconia
flower and sweet bunches of the Banana Musa balbisiana fruits
native to the Mayflower area.
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Bocawina
Falls |
In the four years of the park’s establishment, a bird
list has been developed that amounts to 238 species so far.
Commonly seen are motmots, trogans, great green macaws,
parrots and toucans. Apart from being a bird watcher’s
paradise, the park is also home to an abundant amount of
wildlife including the howler monkey, peccaries, anteaters,
coatimundis, tapirs and the infamous jaguar, whose tracks
are often seen on the many trails in the park.
Three waterfalls, each uniquely different and pristine also
grace the park’s rich character. Bocawina and Three
Sisters Falls are in close proximity to each other and can
be reached through a relatively easy hike into the mountains
on a flat jungle path with slightly steeper inclines closer
to the falls. The soothing sound of the water cascading
down the rocks and falling into the large pools at the bottom
can be heard at least ten minutes before you actually arrive
at the falls. The anticipation of what lies ahead is greatly
gratified when the waterfalls come into view. Antelope Falls,
closer to the Mayan Sites, is a more difficult hike requiring
the use of ropes at times when the path becomes too slippery,
particularly in the rainy season. (Because the Mayan City
was built at the base of this waterfall, it is believed
that it was of some religious significance to the Mayan
People). The steep trail up is again, well worth the effort
when Antelope falls emerges, falling 100 feet above you
into clear, refreshing pools. After the hike, a swim in
the pools provides the most invigorating experience. After
the swim, you can absorb the breathtaking view of the jungle
canopy and straight out to the blue Caribbean Sea from the
mountainside where you stand.
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