Travel Spots Review

The ruined city of Lamanai can be found in the middle of the virgin forest and the name means “submerged crocodile” in the Maya language. The site is only accessible by boat and with a bit of luck you might actually get to see some crocodiles on the one-hour journey on the New River or in the lagoon on the western shore of Lamanai.

Boats can be rented at Toll Bridge, 4 miles before Orange Walk Town. Lamanai is one of the oldest Mayan settlements, the oldest findings date back to the Preclassic period. A 110 ft high pyramid forms the center of the site, and the ascent will reward you with a spectacular view of the city, the forest and the lagoon. Three temples made of wood and palm leaves once stood on the top platform of the pyramid. If you want to get an idea about Mayan life then visit the small museum which exhibits objects from various eras. Large tourist groups are rare.

Caracol is the largest Mayan center in Belize. This Mayan site, situated in the Reservat Mountain Pine Ridge and in the remote upper Chiquibul Rainforest, was once considered the most extensive – even larger than Guatemalan Tikal.

Although the excavations in Caracol have not been as extensive as in Tikal and other sites, visitors will be able to appreciate the enormous size of the town on a walking tour. The largest pyramid by volume in the entire Maya region is particularly impressive. This pyramid, named Caana, is around 140 feet high and is still one of the tallest man-made buildings in all of Belize. Around 20 plazas are situated around it, on which there are a number of temples. With a bit of imagination and thanks to the continual excavations, you can just about imagine Caracol 1,200 years ago with a good 180,000 inhabitants. Moreover: the name Caracol – meaning “snail” – is derived form the access road leading through the dense rainforest, which winds through the countryside and thus resembles the spirals on a snail’s shell.

Around 31 miles northwest of Belize City, the Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary offers a number of excellent opportunities to observe some of the most fascinating waterfowl populations in the entire country. The region, covering several hundred acres, comprises a network of inland lagoons, swamps and waterways.

During the dry season, thousands of birds gather here and exploit the plentiful food supply. Herons and divers, pelicans and ducks, vultures, falcons and osprey, kingfishers and sea swallows and many other species can be particularly well seen on the around 1-mile long Bird Walk. The Jabiru stalk, the largest flying bird in the western hemisphere with a wingspan of up to 12 feet, is particularly remarkable. However, the variety of landscape also attracts animals such as howler monkeys, coatis, tortoises and crocodiles. Detailed information about the species you may encounter can be found in the visitor center at the edge of the small village Crooked Tree, where you can also rent boats and hire nature guides.