Chasing Waterfalls: Our Family Adventure to Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary
There are some days where everything just clicks. The weather holds, the energy is right, and you find yourself completely immersed in the raw beauty of the wild. That was exactly our experience last week when we packed up the family and headed out to Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary.
It was one of those amazing days where nobody wants to go home, and you find yourself lingering at the water’s edge until the absolute last minute.
Getting There & On The Trail
One of the best parts about living where we do is how accessible these world-class adventures are. Cockscomb is an easy 45-minute drive from our house. Once you pull off the main highway, the road winds into the dense, vibrant Mayan jungle, immediately making you feel like you’ve stepped into another world.
We laced up our boots at the visitor center and hit the trail. We opted for a route that took us on a 45-minute hike into the park, winding through towering cohune palms, listening to the distant call of howler monkeys, and keeping our eyes peeled for any signs of the sanctuary’s famous residents—the jaguars. The hike is the perfect distance for a family: just enough of a challenge to feel like a true expedition, but highly manageable with kids.
Our destination? A spectacular jungle waterfall cascading into a cool, crystal-clear natural pool. The moment we arrived, the hiking boots came off, and we jumped straight into the water to cool down.
The Gear That Kept Us Moving
When you’re hiking into the jungle with family, your gear can make or break the day. You need items that are lightweight, durable, and highly functional. Here is the exact setup we relied on to keep everyone comfortable and dry.
SABE Beach Backpack
This is the ultimate transition piece from coast to canopy. It held everything we needed for the trek without digging into our shoulders. The rugged construction handled the dense brush easily, and the smart storage meant we weren't fumbling around for gear when we reached the falls.
SABE Quick Try Beach Towel
Jungle swimming holes mean wet rocks, damp ground, and plenty of debris. Our quick dry towels were a lifesaver. They dry incredibly fast, pack down small in the bag, and shook off all the jungle dirt and leaf litter instantly when it was time to dry the kids off.
SABE 27oz Water Bottles
The Belizean heat is no joke, especially when you’re moving under the jungle canopy. We kept everyone's water bone-chillingly cold in our insulated bottles. Having ice-cold water waiting for us at the waterfall pool felt like absolute luxury.
PRO TIP: If you are taking your kids on this trek, bring twice as many snacks and double the water you think you need. Because the waterfall pools are so incredible, your kids are absolutely not going to want to leave when it’s time to head back. Having a secret stash of high-energy snacks and cold water is the best way to prolong the fun and keep everyone happy for the return hike.
We stayed until the afternoon shadows started to stretch across the pool, reluctantly packing up our gear only when the snacks finally ran out. If you haven't made the trip into the basin yet, Check out our full video on YouTube pack up your pack, grab the family, and just go. You won't regret it.