Lamanai & river cruise

The Mayan site of Lamanai, one of Belize’s largest ceremonial centers, is located on the banks of the 30 mile long New River Lagoon, in the Orange Walk District, north of Belize City.

      With one of the longest occupation spans in the Mayan World, Lamanai was occupied continuously for over 3,000 years from 1500B.C. to A.D. 1675.

      Eight major plazas; a ball court with the largest known ball court marker; a well-preserved mask of a Maya ruler emerging from a crocodile headdress; a 108 foot tall pyramid, one of the largest Preclassic structures in the Maya area; an intricately carved stelae depicting the ruler “Lord Smoking Shell”, are focal points at the site. Found also at the site, are remains of a Christian “Indian Church”, which revealed that in 1544, the Spaniards had built a church on top of a Maya temple. An excellent site museum with pottery vessels, flints and figurines many with representations of crocodile, indicating that the crocodile was very important to the people of Lamanai.

      On the way to the site, visitors enjoy a scenic boat ride along the New River Lagoon, during which Morelet’s crocodiles, various species of birds, turtles, and bats can often be seen. See also, a local Mennonite community. While at the site, enjoy being serenaded by Black Howler Monkeys