Climate
The access road is located 5 1/2 miles down the Southern Highway. The gravel Mayflower Road leads 4 1/4 miles directly into the Park Plaza area. You may hike in, and almost anyone passing will pick you up.
Entrance Fee is $5 US per person, per day.
Understand
This park, near Hopkins and Silk Creek, has some partially excavated Mayan ruins, a very small museum featuring information on the dig and local fauna and flora. There are several hiking trails. The trail to Antelope falls is initially flat, and passes a large ruin that is mostly jungle-covered. As it nears the creek it becomes very steep. There are ropes in place at a few spots. The trail is subject to extreme erosion, but easy to see.
Established in 2001, the Park includes areas of Belize's FIRST protected area, the Silk Grass Forest Reserve. Mayflower national Park is co-managed by local stakeholders, Friends of Mayflower, the Conservation Division of Belize Forestry Department and assisted by the Archaeology Department.
The idea of making the area into a National Park first began with the Stann Creek Tour Guide Association. The District was desperate for destinations, besides the barrier reef and the dozens of small cayes off shore. The Association formed a steering committee, with members from other local stakeholder groups Silk Grass Women's Group, the Maya Cultural Group and other interested supporters.
The United Nations Development Programme/Global Environmental Fund gave the first financial assistance. These funds were used to host community meetings and form a basic development plan. The Steering Committee, along with the District's Women's Development Officer, trained 169 stakeholders in preparation for management. Funding for the 20 days training came from Belize's Basic Needs Trust Fund. Subject matter included Small Business Skills, Hospitality Management Skills, Handicraft Training and Conservation of Protected Areas.
Their mission was and is to "protect the bio-diversity of the area and to assist with the alievation of the poverty in the stakeholder base."
Since National Park declaration, Mayflower Bocawina National Park has successfully completed projects funded by UNDP/GEF, Ford Motor Company Foundation, Jaguar Fund, PACT Protected Areas Conservation Trust and BNTF.