Lamanai

Lamanai

We will be spending the day at the Lamanai Mayan site, located northwest of Belize City on the New River Lagoon. Lamanai, meaning Submerged Crocodile, is located in the Orange Walk district on the New River Lagoon. After breakfast we drive to New River where catch a boat to take us approximately 50 kilometers up the New River to the Mayan ruins. This leisurely boat ride will provide us with the opportunity to see many birds, such as black-collared hawk, northern jacana, mangrove swallow, olive-throated parakeet, American pygmy kingfisher, limpkin and purple gallinules, and the chance to catch a glimpse of the rare jabiru stork. We may also see orchids growing along the banks of the river, and other types of wildlife such as the endangered Morelete’s crocodile and green iguana. After arriving at Lamanai, a site that was inhabited from 1500 BC until well after 1492 AD, we will have the chance to explore the more than 50 impressive structures spread over the Archaeological Reserve. The ruins are often located deep in the rainforest and are connected with a good trail system. The forest provides an excellent habitat for red-lored parrots, blue-crowned motmots, collared aracari, keel-billed toucans, lineated and pale-billed woodpeckers, and black-headed and violaceous trogons. In addition, Yucatan black howler monkeys are usually seen or heard here. Later in the afternoon, we will boat back to Orange Walk Town and return to our hotel in time for dinner.