Alicia & Neil
Travels
Belize
In January of 2026 we travelled to Belize. Jungle, Mayan ruins, beaches and birds, Belize has it all in a very small country, see map below. With less than half a million people it takes just 3-4 hours to travel from one end to the other. The map below gives an idea of our travels.
Birdseye View Lodge
We began our tour at Birdseye View Lodge on the edge of a large lagoon and the primary reason to visit to do a boat tour on the lagoon. This is a prime birding location and in the Birds Section we will show some of the birds we saw here. Below shows the lodge from our boat. The Green Iguanas that are up to 6 feet long and climb high in the trees to eat leaves. Finally the Howler Monkeys that came right down to the ground, something they don't usually do. Following that are the archelogical sites of Lamani and Altun Ha. At the end of our vist we were taken to the Xunantunich ArcheologicalSite and left it at San Ignacio. All these activities were organized by the Lodge. We were very happy with the organization by the lodge.
Lamani Archeological Site
The fastest way to Lamani is by boat, an interesting trip in itself. See the turtle and crocodile that are found in this area. As you approach you can see the tip of the ruins in the jungle. There are a number of pyramids as you stroll through the site ending in the tallest one with a view to the river.
This really is in the jungle.
View shows that these ruins are actually in a jungle.
Altun Ha Archeological Site
About an hour drive from our lodge were these ruins. Not a very large site but where they did find the largest jade carving, this is a replica below, plus some of the ruins.
Sun God, Kinich Ahau head.
Temple of the Masonry Altars in the center at back, 55M high.
Xunantunich Archeological Site
To get to Xunantunich you need to cross the river on the ferry shown. I think this is part of the experience but this ferry is propelled by a person turning a hand crank. I just can't help but how tiring this must be as it is steady tavelling between the 2 sides. Xunantunich is a larger site with a couple of plazas. You can climb the pyramids and look across the site and right to Guatamela.
Ferry crossing the river is cranked by hand.
Taken from Plaza 1 courtyard.
Backside view showing stairs.
Taken from the top of the pyramid facing Plaz1 in the distance.
After our Xunantunich visit we headed over to Crystal Paradise Resort. Here we did a canoe trip down the river, trips to the Spanish Lookout (a mennonite farming settlement with open grassland, fields, sloughs and forest areas) and the Mountain Pine Ridge reserve. We also visited Tikal and Caracol Archeological sites. All of these activities were organized by the Resort which were well organized.
Crystal Paradise Resort
Tikal Archeological Site
From San Ignacio Belize it is 1/2 hour to the Guatamela border. There we had to go through customs and join a Guatamelan tour company for the 1.5 hours trip to Tikal Archelogical site. This is more than an archelogical site it is a huge nature reserve in the jungle with many birds and animals. The archeological site is absolutely huge and it was well worth the trip.
Watch this video.
Main Plaza.
Temple of the Masks in the back, temple of Great Jaguar to the right,
Another view of the main plaza.
This just shows that Tikal really is in the jungle.
This photo is taken from the top of a pyramid showing other pyramids poking out of the jungle.
Eating Sapodilla fruit
Caracol Archeological Site
Caracol is the largest Mayan site in Belize. It located very close to the Guatamelan border and there were past problems and for a time you could only travel with a military escort. We also read that the road is not paved and should only be accessed by 4X4. All of this information is outdated. There is a newly paved road right to the sight. There is armed security at the site but there was at Tikal as well. We at no time felt unsafe.
These ruins are remote and it still takes time to get there. It is not as "developed" as some other sites but this all means no large crowds and I would recomend a visit. Most do it together with a visit to the Rio on Pools.
We wanted to show that this really in the Jungle and not as developed.
Again in the jungle.
Plaza near ball court A.
On pyramid in Central Acropolis.
First view of the main plaza with Cana.
This is the largest structure in Belize. It looks smaller than ones at Tikal but this is deceiving. It is much wider and you cannot see the top here.
This is what you cannot see from the ground. It is an entire complex on top of Cana.
WE are at the top of the puramid you saw in the previous photo.
Caye Caulker
After our time at Crystal Paradise Resort we ended our visit with a couple of days on the Caye. We did a boat tour around and I can say this is a very small island and it is already very developed and getting more developed. It was still a relaxing time before returning to Canada.
We took this image from the roof facing one way. See the water.
Same spot facing the other way. You acn see the water and how narrow the island is and how developed it is.
Stingrays come to this beach every evening.
Right up to the people.
Beautiful sunset from the beach.
One of the reasons we went to Belize was to capture bird images. Click Here if you are interested in birds.