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Half a kilometre past Cheers and 300m off the Western Highway is the Monkey Bay Wildlife Sanctuary (tel 820-2032 or 614-7089, mbay@btl.net ), a 44-square-kilometre protected area extending to the Sibun River, which offers birding and nature trails through five distinct types of vegetation and habitat. Adjoining the sanctuary is the Monkey Bay National Park , enclosing a biological corridor which runs south through karst limestone hills to connect with the Manatee Forest Reserve. Facilities include a field research station for student groups, with an excellent library and small museum. Apart from being a relaxing place to stay , either in a bunkhouse (US$7.50) or camping (US$5) on raised platforms under thatched shelters, Monkey Bay is a viable experiment in sustainable living, using solar power, rainwater catchment and biogas fuel for cooking; the food (some of it grown in the station's organic gardens) is plentiful and delicious. Five hundred metres beyond Monkey Bay along the Western Highway is JB's Bar (tel 820-2025, www.jbbelize.com ; US$25-40), with comfortable, well-priced rooms enjoying views over the forested Sibun valley and a restaurant serving Belizean and Tex-Mex food. Just 2km before the turning for Belmopan, a 2.5km track leads off right to the Banana Bank Lodge (tel 820-2020, www.bananabank.com ; US$80-100 including breakfast) on the north bank of the Belize River, with beautifully furnished wood-and-thatch cabanas and superb horse riding.
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