Belize City and District - The Rough Guide to Belize - page 61

Highway to Dangriga, cuts through untrammelled wilderness, but one of the unique
stops along the way is tiny Gales Point , surrounded by richly diverse wetlands.

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Gales Point
The tranquil Creole village of GALES POINT straggles a narrow peninsula that extends
into the Southern Lagoon, which forms a series of linked waterways between Belize
City and Dangriga. Gales Point lies roughly one mile off the Coastal Road; you can
also reach Gales Point via boat from Belize City (see p.52). Gales Point was originally
settled over two hundred years ago by runaway slaves - “maroons” (from the Spanish
cimarron , meaning wild or untamed) - from Belize City, who found solace among the
mangrove-cloaked creeks and shallow lagoons. A teeming wetland area comprising the
Northern and Southern lagoons , the area is protected as part of the Burdon Canal
Nature Reserve, the largest manatee breeding ground in the Caribbean basin, and
Belize's main nesting beaches of the endangered hawksbill and loggerhead turtles ,
which lie on either side of the mouth of the Manatee River. Wildlife is certainly the
main attraction here, with other rare animals including jabiru storks and crocodiles,
and numerous bird species. The faded but fairly helpful Manatee Lodge (see below) can
set up boat tours of the area, which include everything from manatee-watching,
birding, caving and more.
ARRIVAL AND TOURS GALES POINT

By boat You can travel from Belize City to Gales Point by
boat (from Bz$400, 1-4 people) along mangrove-lined
inland waterways - Haulover Creek, Burdon Canal and
Sibun River. Call ahead to Manatee Lodge (see below) about

arranging boat transport from Belize City.
Tours Manatee Lodge (see below) can arrange for tours
with local guides, for manatee-watching (US$80-100 for
up to four people), birding (US$70) and caving (US$75).

ACCOMMODATION AND EATING
Manatee Lodge Tip of Gales Point Peninsula T 532
2400, W manateelodge.com. Surrounded by the
Southern Lagoon, this colonial-style building roosts at the
peninsula's tip. Some of the rooms have seen better days,
but overall, the place is decently maintained - and they
can set up a wide range of tours in the area. They can also

arrange for boat trips from Belize City, and they occasionally
have canoes and small boats for rent to explore the lagoon.
They also prepare Creole and international meals on
request. Call l ahead , as the lodge sometimes closes for part
of the year. US$80