Introducing Northern Belize
Northern Belize is probably the most passed-through region in the country. Many travelers save themselves a small chunk of change by flying into Chetumal or Cancun in Mexico and bussing straight down into Belize City and out to the cayes. Their general take on the transitory sojourn is less than complimentary. ‘Flat terrain, farmland and uninspiring towns, ’ some have said. To these travelers, we say, ‘Have fun in San Pedro!’
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Are they gone yet? Excellent!
Now we can talk about the beautiful, chilled-out stretch of Belize that the masses miss entirely, keeping paths un-beaten, and hotel and food prices close to half that of the rest of Belize.
Northern Belize comprises two districts: Corozal and Orange Walk. From the road down from Mexico, the terrain of both appears to be mostly farmland and sparse jungle, with attractions for tourists thin on the ground. While the Northern Hwy lacks the gorgeous curves and panoramic vistas of the Hummingbird or Southern Highways, off this main road lie a plethora of places to explore, including pretty fishing villages, pristine jungles and ancient Maya cities.
Then there’s the food! With its close proximity to Mexico, cuisine in Belize’s north is far more colorful and diverse than it is down south; if you’re ready to trade stew beans, rice and rum for ceviche, empanadas and tequila, you’ll definitely want to head north.
Beautiful, inexpensive, untouristy and tasty: in a nutshell, that’s northern Belize!
Last updated: Feb 17, 2009
Thorn Tree forum discussion
Recent posts
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RE: 3 weeks - Belize and Honduras?
by RayZor 14 November 2009
Flying into Cancun, stopping in a choice of places like Tulum, Playa del Carmen maybe taking in some of the Mayan ruins, on the way into…
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Re: Accommodation Recommendations for Northern Belize?
by alliefox 05 November 2009
Last time I was in the northern part of Belize a few years ago I stayed at Mark Antony's which was a pretty decent [hotel in Corozal|http:/…
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Blogging Live from Central America
by mikeinmagog 26 October 2009
Hi, everyone. This comes from Orange Walk, Belize. I'll be traveling through the northern part of CA until mid-December, taking photos…
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Northern Belize
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Our Top Picks For Northern Belize
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1 Lamanai
Taking a riverboat tour through the jungles and winding up at the magnificent Maya ruins of Lamanai
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2 Corozal Town
Hanging out in the saltwater breezes and Spanish colonial charm of Corozal Town
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3 Cerros
Enjoying the panoramic ocean views from atop the pyramid at the beachfront Maya ruins of Cerros
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4 Rio Bravo Conservation & Management Area
Enjoying exceptional birding and wildlife watching at the Rio Bravo Conservation & Management Area
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5 Sarteneja
Chilling in the laid-back fishing town of Sarteneja
Our favourite Northern Belize Blogs (beta)
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Cold Beer, Old Temples and Curious Jaguars – Belize City, Belize
Blog: Trans-Americas Journey - 6 July 2010
Belize only produces one domestic beer–the ubiquitous and tasty Belikin. But that one beer has a fantastic label featuring the terraced rocky hulk of an ancient Mayan temple on most bottles. You can even visit the “Belikin Temple” which is actually the 54′ high Temple of the Masonry Altars in Plaza B of the Altun Ha archaeological site. Altun Ha is a modern Mayan name (the city’s original name is unknown) for a very old place.
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Bird Brains and Rocks in Our Heads – Crab-Catcher Lagoon and Lamanai Mayan Ruins, Belize
Blog: Trans-Americas Journey - 29 June 2010
Belize is teeming with wildlife and the remains of ancient Mayan cities. The two go particularly well together just up the New River from Orange Walk Town where the bird-rich Crab-Catcher Lagoon laps at the doorstep of the fascinating rocky remains of a major Mayan city. Crab-Catcher Lagoon is 28 miles long and, at times, it feels more like a winding river with its many arms and channels–some of them dredged and created by the Mayans as a way to bring water to their city at Lamanai.
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Jungle Surprises – Northern Belize
Blog: Trans-Americas Journey - 22 June 2010
We were in a hurry. The border crossing from Chetumal, Mexico to Corozal, Belize was painless, however, it still took longer than we anticipated to get to the border and then get across it. With dusk approaching we drove through Orange Walk Town, made our turn toward a village called Yo Creek then high-tailed it north toward Chan Chich Lodge, jouncing over increasingly pot-holed dirt roads interspersed with even more brutal sections of eroded-pavement (there’s a reason most lodge guests fly in).
