Corozal | Orange
Walk | Belize City
Cayo | Stann
Creek | Toledo |
Cayes
COROZAL
Corozal is our most Northern District and is
best known for its Bay area, swimming, fishing, Santa Rita ruin and the Cerros ruin. Both
ruins have a lot of interesting history behind them. Cerros is can be reached by sea and
its about a half hour boat ride... depending on the boat you go on. The cost is about $35
to $50 BZ each. Santa Rita is right in Corozal town and is a pretty small ruin. Corozal is
also known for its entrance to Chetumal, Mexico where a lot of Belizeans go shopping
during festive seasons. Cancun is only about 6 hours drive tops away from Corozal, Belize.
There are a number of little feeder roads that lead to
beautiful swimming spots where the water is so green on some days, you can almost imagine
you are seeing money. ;-) There is also Corozal Museum which holds a lot of
interesting information about the district including the devastating Hurricane Janet that
tore through Belize in the early 1900s. The Town Hall is an interesting place to stop into
also if you are an art lover because there is a mural that pretty much tells the history
of Corozal and summarizes Belize on a whole. In my recent travels, I stayed at the Maya
Hotel with Ms. Rosita Mai who is a very knowledgeable and helpful lady. The hotel sits on
the bay. You can request to have tv or a/c. Its an option if you happen to be passing thru.
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ORANGE
WALK
Orange Walk sits just below Corozal and is
considered to be on some of the higher lands of Belize. It is best known for the ruin of
Lamanai (pronounced La-MAN-ALLI) which is a ruin that stands 112 ft, Cuello and La
Milpa. Cuello is not such an impressive ruin. With the exception of the history behind it,
there is not much to see unless you are an avid archaeologist.
Lamanai on the other hand will astound you. While climbing up you can
sometimes see howler monkeys parked on trees and once I even saw an ocelot almost at the
top. Of course he ran away as soon as he saw me. ;-) The view from Lamanai is like none
I've ever seen. Absolutely spectacular. I was up there with tourists from the United
States and they were in complete awe of what they saw. The climb up is pretty easy except
for one little ladder that feels pretty scary. The climb back down is another story.
However, I have seen tour guides run up the sides and front of this ruin like they were
climbing my back stairs. ;-) It is always amazing to me that Mayans are supposed to be
such short people yet these steps are sometimes pretty steep and also the ruins are so
high. Magnificent people is all I can say to describe them.
This ruin can be reached by boat or by road. The boat ride is
suggested here because the drive is pretty secluded, dusty and bumpy. If you care to fly
thru interesting little villages or passing Mennonites in their
primitive abode then the
road is the way to go. Otherwise, I suggest taking the boat where you can see the
beautiful New River Lagoon both from the boat and from atop the ruin. At Lamanai you can
also see the old sugar mill and the Indian Church. I definitely suggest going with a guide
no matter what you choose to do. When you are without one, you get an
eerie feeling that
someone is watching you and you can't see them. Of course, if you like adventure then go
at it alone. ;-)
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In Orange Walk you can also visit one of
Belize's most impressive lodges ...Chan Chich Lodge. It is accessible by both airplane and
by road. The drive there is also long and rigorous and probably horrible during the rainy
season. The food is absolutely incredible and its one of the perfect getaways. It feels
like a hideout spot when you are there - like no one will ever find you. There are
no words to express the impression this whole area left on me. Little details
throughout the
restaurant, the rest room and bar leave an impression enough for you to want to stay. You
can go horse back riding, swimming in the river and also relax in a small yet refreshing
pool or just chill out in the jacuzzi. It's not for the budget tourist but if you have the
money to spend, its definitely the place to be. Blue Creek is also in Orange Walk and I'd
just encourage you to go there for the scenery. It is a Mennonite community that shows
clearly how they work together and how they work together well. The grass is sooooo green
and well kept you can't help but be impressed. There is also La Milpa which is under
the management of Programme for Belize. Impeccable hospitality and surely a lot to learn
in places like this one. I've learned that a lot of student groups visit La Milpa for
weeks at a time. It is very near the Guatemala Border. The ruins here are not fully
excavated in an attempt to preserve them. There are also different trails and trips that
are made thru La Milpa. You can learn all about Mahogany trees and orchids and so much
more.
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Last but not least, there are areas throughout Orange Walk
where you can go swimming in the Lagoon. One of the better known areas is Honey Camp...
about a half hour drive. There are lots of other little areas. It would SEEM to me that
they are pretty much the same. We stopped in at a couple and found Honey Camp to be
cleanest. The roads in most outer areas can be pretty narrow for those of you who are used
to four land highways etc so be careful if you rent a vehicle. You may be lucky enough to
see one of our Jaguars, hear Toucans and other birds chirping to their hearts delight.
Please love them the way we do. When I visited Orange Walk, I stayed at the Victoria Inn.
Cable tv and air condition or just fan are all available. The hospitality of the girls was
pretty good. The hotel also has a medium size pool in the back. Unfortunately, I did not
get to experience it but it sure looks like a great place to fall into after climbing
numerous ruins. ;-)
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BELIZE
CITY
Belize City is the gateway to this jewel. It is
the main port of entry for all visitors and Belizeans alike. As you can see in the map
above, it pretty much sits in the center and is easy access to almost all districts and
cayes. It is some of the lowest lands in all of Belize and is not the place to be during a
hurricane. ;-) The city itself is a day or two or driving around or walking around.
It is the most modernized part of Belize as far as infrastructure etc. There have been
dramatic changes in the look of Belize in the last few years. Actually, part of why I
moved back home. It was finally up to par. ( how dare I, right? ;-) its ok.
I'm
Belizean... I'm allowed. ;-)
Little day trips can
include trips to Corozal, Orange Walk, Cayo and the Cayes. Anywhere else, I would
strongly
recommend an overnight stay. That leaves us with down south to spend
overnights. You can
also visit Altun Ha and Crooked Tree. Altun Ha is a ruin and is the home to the largest
piece of Jade ever to be found in the Mayan world. It is a little over 30 miles outside of
the City and is a pretty safe drive out there but like everywhere else, you have to be
careful. Crooked Tree is great simply because of the friendly faces you meet when you
arrive and if you take the boat ride to see the birds... you will have to love them. I,
myself, am not a bird lover but when you see the enthusiasm of our locals over the birds
you can help but develop some interest in them yourself.
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BELMOPAN
CAYO
I have found Cayo to be one of Belize's most
interesting districts simply
because there is soooo much to do. Only thing faltering here is the Caribbean sea and
swimming with sharks if that's what you like. Otherwise, there is caving, tubing,
horseback riding, swimming, fishing, ruin climbing, hiking... it just goes on and on
and on. There are numerous hotels to choose from. I was lucky enough to stay at San
Ignacio Hotel which is very near to the down town. It has a pool and the service is next
to impeccable. The rooms are very nice with cable tv and your choice of air conditioning
or fan. If its during the summer, I strongly recommend to go with air-conditioning if you
can afford it because Cayo is way inland is much hotter than the coastal areas.
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The main ruins of Cayo
are Cahal Pech, Xunantunich, and Caracol. They are all very interesting looking especially
Caracol. The drive to Caracol is pretty long but once you get there, it's worth the drive.
There is so much to do in that area, I can't even begin to tell all of them. The road to
Caracol is a bit rough because of all the gravel but it's not bad enough to keep you away.
The drive to Xunantunich, if you are already in Cayo is only about 20 minutes and it
entails crossing the river in a ferry then a drive up a pretty steep hill. The road here is
pretty bad I hate to admit but I'd rather prepare you for what you will see. Luckily the
drive is short so the tediousness of driving up the hill doesn't last long. Cahal Pech
entails going up a pretty steep hill also but I've been told there was an alternate drive
in that I missed. So, when you get there, inquire about the less tedious way to get there.
In Cayo, you can see some of the most beautiful falls. One place that a lot of tourists
go to is Five Sister's Falls. This is a beautiful place to visit and it will astound you.
One thing you must know before you get there is that you will be climbing down many many
stairs before the reach the falls. The climb down is not too bad but when its time to come
back up... WHEW! It will be a work out to last u a week. There is an elevator in place but
last time I checked, it was being repaired. There is a little thatched house at the bottom
where you can relax out the way of the sun. Once you enter the Forestry Reserve, you
should ask about the short cut to Five Sister's Lodge. It's about a 15 minute drive BUT it
entails crossing a little bridge is broken on the right side just a little and if the
rivers are flooding to any extent whatsoever, the water will cover the bridge and minimize
your vision so if you decide to go with the short cut, proceed with caution.
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There are also some nice lodges and resorts in this area. The one I had the privilege
of visiting is Blacaneaux Lodge which is yet another perfect getaway in Belize. The
service is great and the place has a very "country" feel to it. Its not for the
budget traveller but if you have the money to spend, I would
definitely recommend it. The
food is absolutely delicious also.
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This whole area is beautiful. Its full of greens, reds and yellows and although the
roads is mostly stone and gravel, the drive is not a bad one at all. You can also venture
to see 1000 ft. falls which you have to see from a balcony. It's pretty nice and
impressive but somehow I think it is less appreciated because you can't really go near
it... you can't get under it or on top of it. So, it's like you take a long drive just to
see it. For me, it was well worth it. Just a word of caution.
Cayo is probably my favorite district because it is so unhibiting. The people in this
area are generally friendly and hospitable. A great place to eat is Martha's Kitchen which
is in downtown Cayo. Wherever you decide to stay, be sure to ask what there is to do.
I also had the privilege of meeting Florentin Penados at the Butterfly Farm located
pretty near Xunantunich. He can teach a lot and he has a lot of patience. You can contact
him at susa@btl.net or call him at 501-9-32265
Well, that just about sums it up for Cayo. We head South pretty soon and I'll be able
to give you a run down of what to expect.
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STANN
CREEK
There is a lot of infrastructure taking place on the way to Stann Creek in
an attempt to rehabilitate the Humming Bird Highway which is one of the most scenic
highways in Belize. It allows for beautiful views of the Maya Mountains. The town itself
is great for swimming in the sea, going out to the reef, fishing and snorkeling and allows
quick and easy access to Hopkins Village, Placencia, Sittee Village and the Cockscomb
Basin which is a Jaguar Preserve. Hopkins is a lovely little village with great places to
swim and that can also give you a great feel of "village life". One of the nicer
places in Hopkins Village is The Jaguar Reef Lodge. This is a small Lodge that is very
well kept. It is located right on the sea and has some really nice duplex cabanas with
private bath and hot and cold water. It is not for the budget traveller unless you can get
about four or five of you travelling together then perhaps it can work it better that way.
It has a small pool and is surrounded by grainy beach sand and lots of trees and vines
that wrap around the columns of the cabanas. The food is great and the ambiance is
delightful. There are also other places within Hopkins where you can stay. One of
them is Seagull's Nest.
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The town of Placencia is about an hour away from Stann Creek and is a great place to relax
and chill out in the sun. You can eat great food at almost any of the restaurants. It has
a long side walk that stretches for over a couple miles and that can branch you off into
many little restaurants and hotels as you walk along. You can also go snorkeling, fishing,
boat riding, swimming and caye hopping from Placencia. You will see great sunrises and
magnificent sunsets in this area.
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The Cockscomb Basin is an adventure beginning and will take you to see waterfalls,
swimming and tubing in the nearby river and who knows??? perhaps you get to see a jaguar.
;-) If you do go to Cockscomb Basin, ask for Adriana and her husband, who is one of the
best guides in the area.
At this point, I'd just like to remind you that all this information is based solely on my
experience and visits. There are always more things to see and places to be. Always ask
around and if you happen to venture anywhere I have mentioned, please be sure to say that
you heard about them from Chat 'Bout Belize. We'd really appreciate it.
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TOLEDO
Toledo is often known as the
forgotten town, but let me assure you that once you visit Toledo, you will not forget it.
;-) One of the nicest places to stay in Toledo where you are guaranteed great service and
hospitality is Sea Front INN. There really isn't enough I can tell you about this great
establishment except that you should consider it if you visit Toledo. There are a number
of other hotels but this is the only one I had a chance to stay. Please ask around so that
we can generate business for all our hotels.
There are two main ruins in Toledo... Lubaantun and Nim Li Punit. They are
designed differently from all the other ruins I've seen in Belize. The guide at Lubaantun
who at present is Santiago explained to us that these ruins down South were made with sand
stones where as the other ruins up North, West and East were made from limestone. Even the
way they stacked the stones is different. It was in Lubaantun that the Crystal skull was
found and taken from our country by a French man who was visiting with his family on his
daughter's 17th birthday. It is very controversial and is in fact a shame that we do not
own what is rightfully ours.
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When in Toledo, be sure to visit Blue
Creek, Big Falls and Santa Cruz Falls along with the ruins. There are also great marine
experiences awaiting you in Toledo. Ask around when you get there. Blue Creek is home to
one of the most beautiful pools of water I've seen yet which is located alongside Blue
Creek Rainforest Station. The water is blue green and you can go tubing, caving, fishing
and experience the only canopy walk in Belize. The food is great and the whole experience
is wonderful especially for adventure groups and students alike. It is located just about
an hour out of Punta Gorda if not less.
Big Falls is located just about half an hour out of Toledo and if you are heading to Punta
Gorda by road, then more than likely you will pass it. Its mainly beautiful because you
can see an old bridge that sits above a three layer falls and then just above that is the
new bridge. Its a great feeling of progress and change and in the early morning light, the
white where the rocks meet the falls looks like a place for angels to live.
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Santa Cruz Falls is located in Santa Cruz and
lays beyond a very narrow dirt road. It is a beautiful falls to see but it was not as
impressive as Big Falls nor Blue Creek Falls. The road to it also has no signs so it
would be best to question nearby villages of San Antonio or Santa Cruz itself.
There is a delightful butterfly farm
located in Punta Gorda also named Fallen Stones Butterfly Ranch and Jungle Lodge. It is a
quaint little establishment and is run by people who aim to please and impress. You may
contact them at 501-7-22167. Again , please tell them you learned about them from Chat
'Bout Belize.
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CAYES
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