1,000 Foot Falls Belize

Thousand Foot Falls Natural Monument (TFFNM), established in 2004, covers 1,290 acres and is home to Central America’s tallest waterfall, plunging over 1,600 feet from the Maya Mountains. Managed by Belize Karst Habitat Conservation in collaboration with the Forest Department, TFFNM is part of the Mountain Pine Ridge/Chiquibul/Caracol Complex, one of the largest remaining intact tropical forests in Central America and a critical component of the Maya Mountain Massif. It also contributes to the Selva Maya, a significant rainforest extending across Belize, Guatemala, and Mexico, playing a key role in the Mesoamerican Biological Corridor.

TFFNM protects unique ecosystems and harbors endangered species such as the Scarlet Macaw, Jaguar, Baird’s Tapir, and the Orange-breasted Falcon, which nests on its steep cliffs. As part of Belize’s National Protected Areas System, the monument safeguards biodiversity, supports watershed health, and promotes education and research while prohibiting resource extraction. Surrounding communities, including San Antonio and El Progresso, benefit from eco-tourism connected to the monument. However, TFFNM faces threats from habitat changes, fires, and hurricanes, prompting ongoing conservation efforts to protect its ecosystems and wildlife.