5 Can’t-Miss Things to do in Orange Walk, Belize

November 5, 2024
by denidimchev@webohub.com +

things to see and do in orange walk belize

Do you love surprises? If you’re nodding your head yes, include Orange Walk Belize, a small district with big tourism perks, next time you fill your itinerary. Orange Walk is not like the party meccas tourists usually pick; rather sites and experiences will pique your curiosity and keep you engaged, whether you intend to spend your entire vacation there or you’ll just visit for a day or two.

Often referred to as an explorer’s playground because there’s a unique mix of commercial interests, ancient Maya ruins and sport-focused activities, plenty of people come to Orange Walk simply because it’s a foodie heaven where diverse cuisines merge to make the town a gourmet’s paradise. In other words, stay away if you don’t intend to bring your appetite and taste buds.

You’re welcome to read travel books, scour the Internet and ask friends what they recommend you put on your Orange Walk itinerary, but in case their lists fall short of a comprehensive menu of things to do and see, our 5 suggestions could be the highlights of your stay.

1. Eat up. Treat yourself to Orange Walk-style tacos filled with onion, cabbage, chicken, pork or all of the above. If tacos aren’t your thing, try pibil, an authentic Maya dish made by slow-cooking and hearth-searing whole pigs that cook so long, meat falls off the bone. Taste the light side of Orange walk by indulging in ceviche or salpicon and if you’ve room for dessert, keep this in mind: Belize has been called the chocolate capital of the region.

2. Visit Lamanai Maya archaeological site where you can work off some of the food you just consumed. Located along the New River Lagoon shore, you can reach this ruin by either boat or car. On your way, enjoy side shows put on by area wildlife. And in case you enter a trivia contest back home, knowing that the Maya name Lamani translates as “Submerged Crocodile” could cement your reputation as a brainiac.

3. Explore the New River Lagoon itself. It is one of the nation’s top birdwatching spots, so bring binoculars and your birding guidebook. This river was critical to Belize trade for centuries and it’s the longest river within Belize boundaries as well as being nation’s largest body of fresh water. Look for blue-crowned matmots, turtles, iguanas, bats and, of course, crocodiles.

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4. Honey Camp Lagoon offers visitors a beach experience that can’t be surpassed. Once ground zero for Maya ceremonies and rituals circa 1000 AD and 1500 AD, you likely won’t find artifacts or sacrificial remains, but the lush beach gives visitors an opportunity to chill out and use their imaginations while digging their feet into the sand.

5. Can’t get enough Maya history? La Milpa Archaeological Reserve adds to your understanding of centuries of occupation by Mayans whose civilization was one of the most advanced in the hemisphere. There are 24+ plazas to stroll; each one is hidden amid lush forest that gives visitors an idea of what life was like during the occupation of this ancient society.

What’s next? Visit Ice Break in Orange Walk where homemade ice creams are the talk of the town. You may not be familiar with flavors like sugar corn, peanut, sour sop and craboo, but remember that you’re in Orange Walk to discover surprises and enjoy guilty pleasures. When you’re asked which flavor you’d like to try, you won’t be the first visitor to sample several of them!