The north - The Rough Guide to Belize - page 64

The north
Cruise ships regularly pull into Belize City's harbour, and sun-seekers flock to
the cayes, but much of northern Belize still remains largely off the tourist
trail. And for many, that's the great appeal. Swamps, savannahs and lagoons
mix with rainforest and farmland, and for a long time, northern Belize was
largely inaccessible and had closer ties with Mexico than Belize City. Most of
the first settlers were refugees from the Caste Wars in Yucatán, who brought
with them the sugar cane that formed the basis of the Belizean economy for
much of the twentieth century. Indian and mestizo farming communities
were connected by a skeletal network of dirt tracks, while boats plied the
route between Belize City and Corozal. In 1930, however, the Northern
Highway (now called the Philip Goldson Hwy) brought the region into
contact with the rest of the country, opening up the area to further
waves of settlers.

2

The largest town in the north is relaxed Orange Walk , the main centre for sugar
production. Further north, Corozal is a small and peaceful Caribbean settlement
with a strong Mexican element - not surprising, as it lies just nine miles from the
border. Throughout the north, Spanish is as common as Creole, and there's a
distinctive Latin flavour to life - and to the cuisine, which is a tasty mix of
Mexican and Belizean.
Most visitors to northern Belize are here to see the Maya ruins and wildlife reserves.
The largest archeological site, Lamanai , features some of the most impressive pyramids
in the country; it's served by regular boat tours along the New River. Lamanai is also
popular as a day-trip among visitors based in San Pedro or from the cruise ships. Other
sites in the region include Cuello and Nohmul, respectively southwest and north of
Orange Walk, and Santa Rita and Cerros, both near Corozal.
The north is also a haven for wildlife, and is home to the ambitious Río Bravo
Conservation and Management Area , which comprises 378 square miles of tropical
forest and river systems in the west of Orange Walk District. This vast, practically
untouched area, containing several Maya sites, adjoins the borders of Guatemala and
Mexico. The most northerly protected area is Shipstern Nature Reserve , where a large
tract of tropical hardwood forest, mangroves and wetland is preserved with the help of
several conservation organizations.

GETTING AROUND THE NORTH

By bus A variety of bus services regularly ply the Philip
Goldson Hwy (Northern Hwy) and serve most towns in the
north, including Orange Walk and Corozal, with many
continuing on to Chetumal, Mexico.
By car The well-paved, two-lane highway is the main
route to the north; it's also called the Belize-Corozal Rd in

this part of Belize and towns and villages are all well signed
from it .
By guided tour One of the most popular ways to visit the
north is on a tour; several companies (see p.76) operate
group excursions throughout the region, heading to Maya
sites, nature reserves and rivers.

Mennonites in Belize p.71
Chan Chich Lodge and Gallon Jug
Estate p.79

Manatees and monkeys p.81
The Mexican border p.84