Every day at Chan Chich Lodge feels like International Jaguar Day. Hidden deep within Belize’s Maya Forest, our lodge and the surrounding 30,000-acre Gallon Jug Estate form one of Central America’s most important refuges for these magnificent cats.
A Living Sanctuary
For more than three decades, Gallon Jug Estate has protected old-growth rainforest and the wildlife that depends on it. Camera trail images regularly capture jaguars, pumas, ocelots, and tapirs moving through the forest. Because the estate connects to wider protected areas across northern Belize, it helps maintain a continuous wildlife corridor where jaguars can roam freely and safely.
Conservation in Action
Chan Chich Lodge works alongside researchers and rangers to study and protect the animals that live here. Data from camera trails and field observations help track jaguar presence and movement while guiding long-term habitat management. In addition, our sustainable-tourism model ensures that every guest stay directly supports conservation through trail upkeep, ranger patrols, and forest restoration.
The Guest Experience
Guests often ask if they might see a jaguar. While direct encounters are rare, the signs are everywhere. Fresh tracks on morning walks, distant calls after dusk, and camera-trail photos shared by our guiding team. Whether exploring the forest by day or joining a Wildlife Night Drive, visitors experience the same landscape the jaguar calls home. Each moment deepens your connection to this remarkable ecosystem.
A Shared Commitment
Celebrating the jaguar reminds us that protecting one species protects the entire forest. The jaguar depends on healthy habitats and balanced ecosystems, and its presence signals the strength of the Maya Forest itself. Through responsible land stewardship and partnerships in research, Chan Chich Lodge continues to show that conservation and hospitality can thrive together.
Experience It Yourself
Guests can join guided talks with our naturalists, view recent camera-trail footage, and learn more about ongoing research across Gallon Jug Estate.
Whenever you visit, every stay supports the continued protection of Belize’s wild heart – and the home of the jaguar.
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