The New River boat ride to the Lamanai Ruins

Orange Walk, Belize was not in my original travel plan but after the trip to Tulum with Monique and Itamar, I decided to continue on the way with Monique and see what the little town was all about. The primary reason people go to Orange Walk, is not Carlos Pizzeria, it is to take the boat trip up the New River to the Lamanai Mayan Ruins. According to our knowledgeable boat driver/guide, Melvis, the New River is more of a lagoon than a river by Belizian standards. The 30+ mile boat ride was a slow nature ride, we saw many jungle birds, turtles, large fish and crocodiles. The boat cruised past the country's rum distillery and a massive Mennonite community. (Yes, Mennonites in Belize, they came fleeing war and religious persecution in Germany almost 100 years ago and today provide more than half the dairy consumed in Belize.) The boat was a great way to see Belize from another angle.

Hiking to the ruins was slow as we stopped to learn the history of Lamanai(submerged crocodile) and Spanish presence in Belize. Apparently, when the Maya abandoned Lamanai they buried the buildings and many of the ruins at the site were still buried today. Leaving certain portions of the site under excavation. The temples were very impressive, the construction and artwork were intricate and as we learned, changed over time. The High Temple sits above the jungle line and if you climb the narrow and steep stairs to the top you can see for hundreds of miles.

On the boat ride back from Lamanai our guide gave everyone rum punch and beer. Maybe I haven't traveled enough but I have never gotten to drink on a tour. The local rum was very tasty. Shortly before our boat docked, we stopped at a tree where spider monkeys were playing. The monkeys were not afraid of the boat and one jumped on board to get a banana. He then sat right in front of me to eat it. The Jungle River tour to Lamanai was a wonderful spontaneous decision.