Climbing Victoria

ABOVE: Climbing Victoria Peak is a tad more interesting when most of the way up is through tropical rainforest..

Climbing Victoria Peak is an adventure few Belizeans or visitors get to experience. It's only 3,675 feet high but the going is mostly through tropical rainforest. Visitor Greg Harris shares his experience with us:

Victoria Peak. Anyone who has been off the coast of Belize on a clear day has seen it looming in the distance. Big, tall and impressive. Often shrouded in clouds and until recently thought to be the highest mountain in Belize.. It is a total of 28 KM to the summit from the Jaguar Reserve headquarters.. So the round trip is approx. 40 miles. I would advise doing the hike over over a minimum of 4 nights and 5 days.

With all our gear in our backpacks we hiked from the Cockscomb Jaguar Reserve headquarters for 12 KM to a small camp next to the bank of the Sittee river where we spent the first night. This camp is beautiful. Sitting by the river that evening was a bird watchers paradise. The hike to KM 12 was easy, the trail was recently cleared with very little change in elevation.

The following day Marcos Cucul, Eduardo Pop, Valentino Kzub and I hiked to KM 19. Here the hiking becomes much harder. Even though the distance is only 7 KM the trail is much more arduous than the first day. The trail is in good condition but you start a series of continuous up and down grades of between 20-60 degrees. There are no switch backs. Just straight up and down. Many times just hanging on to trees or roots to maintain footing. We crossed many small streams that are a fine source of good drinking water. The jungle is incredibly beautiful here. No secondary growth, just mature forest with some massive trees. At KM 19 we spent the night in our hammocks, close to a clear, fast running stream. I love going to sleep with the sounds of the jungle.

ABOVE: Our campground at KM 19.

The third day is the most difficult. And the most rewarding. From KM 19 to the top of Victoria Peak at KM 28. Here the trail turns into a real challenge. You start the hike with a 40 minute climb up a 45 degree incline. That gets the heart going. Hanging on to roots to pull yourself up and sliding on your butt sometimes on the way down. But that is just the beginning. It takes about 3-4 hours to reach the true base of Victoria Peak. During those hours it is rough hiking, especially since your are carrying all your gear on your back. But the forest is just incredibly beautiful and the wildlife prolific.. Eduardo saw a Puma on the trail. All I saw was the tail end disappearing into the jungle. And there where Jaguar markings all over.

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