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In the past a refuge for mestizos seeking to escape from Spanish
purges in the Yucatan, Orange Walk district is a wild area,
dominated by deep forest (much being preserved by Programme
for Belize), Mayan ruins, and the largest population of
birds in the country.
Orange
Walk Town, the principal town of the area, is 55 miles or a 75 minute
drive north of Belize City. The town is a mix of Spanish, Maya,
East Indians, visiting Mennonites (who originally emigrated
from the deep south at the end of the US civil war), and Chinese.
Mexican influences remain strong, and you will hear both Spanish,
English and creole spoken.
Passing
through the town is the New River, once an active Mayan
trading waterway, and leading to the stunning Mayan ruins
of Lamanai, on the edge of
the New River Lagoon. The trip to visit these ruins is a marvelous
journey by boat along a river teeming with life, including anhingas,
snail-kites, crocodiles and iguanas sunning themselves,
cormorants, bats and jacanas, and passes communities of denim-dressed
Mennonites.
Set
amongst the jungle are several lodges, such as
Lamanai Outpost Lodge and Chan
Chich Lodge, offering great locations to explore the surrounding
areas. The district has become a very popular destination for birding,
professional and amateur. Belize is part of one of the richest
birding areas of the planet, and Orange Walk with its diverse
habitats records the largest bird list in the country. Around
366 bird species have been recorded in the Lamanai area, and
still rising.
attractions
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Mayan
ruins of Lamanai,
Altun Ha, La
Milpa, Cuello,
and Nohmul
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Boat
trip along the New River to see the wildlife and Lamanai
ruins
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Birding
(see above)
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Exploring
the vast areas of jungle
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Visiting
Orange Walk Town, visiting Godoy's Orchid Garden (more
than 250 species of orchids and bromeliads)
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Fishing
for tarpon in the New River
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Rio
Bravo Conservation area, managed by Programme for Belize
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Lamanai Outpost Lodge
Orange
Walk hotels
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