The north - The Rough Guide to Belize - page 69

Destinations Belize City (8 daily; 1hr 30 min); Benque Viejo
(1-2 daily; 4hr); Chetumal (8 daily; 30min); Indian Church

near Lamanai (3 weekly Mon, Wed & Fri at 3.30pm; 2hr);
Sarteneja (4 daily; 2hr).

ACCOMMODATION
Orange Walk has a range of accommodation options, including several smart, well-appointed hotels that
are considerably more affordable than elsewhere in the country, as the town is still well off the visitor trail.
As elsewhere in Belize, hotels are often the best source for up-to-date information on area tours,
and can arrange trips.

2

D'Victoria Hotel 40 Belize-Corozal Rd T 322 2518,
W dvictoriabelize.com. This concrete hotel just south of
the town centre is painted from top to bottom in blazing
pink, and has sparsely furnished but cle an roo ms with a/c,
along with a decently maintained pool. US$75
Ì Hotel de la Fuente 14 Main St T 322 2290,
W hoteldelafuente.com. One of the better choices in
Orange Walk, with airy rooms with a/c and fridge along
with thoughtful extras like a coffeemaker with
complimentary coffee. The hotel has a range of rooms,
from basic doubles to larger suites. Also on offer are
comfortable cabins on the banks of the New River (10min
away via complimentary shuttle), where you can enjoy
river views from your private porch. The riverfront premium
cabin h as a full kitchen and is i ideal for families. Doubles
US$35 , suites US$65 , cabins US$80 , premium cabin
US$130

Lamanai Riverside Retreat Lamanai Alley T 302
3955, E [e-mail]. The simple
rooms may be no-frills, but the riverfront location makes
up for it. Wake up to birds chirping and the gentle rush of
the riv er. The open-air restaurant serves decent local
cuisine. US$40
Orchid Palm Inn Belize-Corozal Rd T 322 0719,
W orchidpalminn.com. This family-run, central hotel has
well-kept rooms with a/c, refrigerator and coffeemaker -
plus there's complimentary fruit and coffee in the lobby.
The fr iendly staff can guide you to good eating spots in
town. US$60
St Christopher's Hotel 10 Main St T 322 2420,
W stchristophershotelbze.com. This colourfully painted
hotel has basic but well-maintained a/c rooms with
wooden furnishings, most with access to a bal cony. Ex plore
the leafy grounds that slope down to the river. US$50

EATING AND DRINKING
Orange Walk menus reflect the town's proximity to Mexico, with a blend of Belizean and Mexican cuisine, from seafood
enchiladas to fragrant conch soup. Though most restaurants are casual - with basic furnishings and simple menus - the
highlight is the freshness of the dishes, including catch-of-the-day seafood and newly picked fruits and vegetables. Orange Walk
is also home to a variety of food stands , dotted on the main streets, which sell everything from baked goods to tropical fruits.

El Establo Bar & Grill Philip Goldson Hwy, about
2 miles north of Orange Walk T 322 0094. Cheerful
restaurant, decorated with old photographs and antiques,
with a menu of both Belizean and Mexican specialities -
and sometimes a mix of the two - from huevos rancheros
and pork salpicon to conch soup; mains Bz$7-$10. Daily
10am-10pm.
Ì Nahil Mayab Santa Ana St, at Guadalupe
T 322 0831, W nahilmayab.com. This is one of Orange
Walk's most popular restaurants - and for good reason.
Relax on the leafy outdoor patio or the handsome dining
room and enjoy Maya-inspired dishes like ke'ken (Bz$16),
salted pig's tail in tomato sauce, and pok chuc (Bz$18),
grilled pork with beans and pico de gallo . The chefs also

excel at seafood - try the coconut seafood soup (Bz$25)
and the curry snapper (Bz$22). Mon 10am-3pm, Tues-
Thurs 10am-10pm, Fri & Sat 10am-11.30pm.
Panificadora la Popular 1 Bethias Lane T 322 3472.
For a cheap and filling breakfast, try the pan dulces (sweet
bread and pastries; Bz$2-7) and fresh bread at this long-
established bakery. Mon-Sat 6.30am-8pm, Sun hours
vary, but generally 8am-noon & 3-6pm.
Paniscea Restaurant Main St, at Las Banquitas
House of Culture T 623 7200. Take in riverside views at
this outdoor restaurant with an international menu,
including smoked pork chops, seafood and a good array
of vegetarian dishes. Mains Bz$10-20. 11am-midnight;
closed Tues.

Maya sites around Orange Walk
The Maya sites in northern Belize (with the notable exception of Lamanai) may not be
as monumentally spectacular as those in Yucatán, but they've been the source of very
important archeological finds. The area around Orange Walk has among the most