Five Blues Lake National Park is located in a most impressive setting in the forest-covered foothills of the Maya Mountains. It is a pristine tract of karst terrain, honeycombed with unexplored cave systems and teeming with spectacular wildlife. The park was established in 1992 as a showcase for the region's amazing biological diversity and rich cultural heritage. It encompasses over 4,000 acres of prime tropical forest and preserves a wealth of natural and archaeological features.

A notable feature of the park is the karstic lake. The lake was a cenote, a collapsed cave system also known as a blue hole. The lake showcased five unique shades of blues hence the name Five Blues Lake. It is believed that the lake was formed as the result of some blockage of an underground water way, which is a normal feature in karstic landscapes.

In July 2006, park rangers observed that in spite of the heavy rains, the water level in the lake seemed to be receding. On July 20, 2006 fishermen in the area heard a strange noise coming from the lake “as if the lake was crying” after which a huge whirlpool appeared. The fishes began frantically jumping around in the water and the fishermen saw the water in the lake beginning to disappear. After a few days the size of the lake had been significantly reduced. Researchers believed that the debris, clay and other deposits which had created the ‘plug’ to form the lake had dissolved thus causing the water to be emptied from the lake. In geological terms this a “normal” occurrence with karstic lakes but in a human life time is a very rare event.

A variety of nature trails have been established within this 4000 acre National Park.

Belize City Belize Zoo St. Herman's Blue Hole National Park Cockscomb Basin WS Community Baboon Sanctuary

Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary Five Blues Lake National Park Guanacaste National Park Mountain Pine Ridge Rio Bravo Management Area