A complete holiday at Belize’s Corozal Town

Corozal Town is the capital of Belize’s Corozal District. This northern town is situated some 84 miles from the capital Belize City and has the borders of the neighboring country, Mexico, in a close range for around 9 miles.

The town is home to some 8,100 residents and has seen devastations in the last millennium, with the most tragic one being 1955’s Hurricane Janet, which led to massive damages.

The location of the city is quite unique as it is situated between two beautiful rivers, the Rio Hondo and the New River. Besides, the town is also rich with the Mayan heritage and artifacts and ruins are being discovered even today. The economics of the town is centered along livestock production and sugar cane farming; however, the tourism and real estate industries are the changing faces of the economy.

Some attractions of the town are the Government buildings, the banks, the Clock Tower, and two churches. The town serves as the perfect base for day trips to the famous Chetumal area as well as the beaches of neighboring Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula. Besides the several wildlife sanctuaries and Mayan ruins are best covered from here.

Let’s go through some of the attractions of the place

Santa Rita:
It is believed most of the present day city is built over the ancient Maya trading city Santa Rita. The history is evident all over the place. The Santa Rita also is the highest point in Corozal. Only one of the original ancient buildings still exists today and is open to the public for exploration.

Cerros:
This spot is another easily accessible part of history, which dates back to 400 BC. Cerros can be reached via a short 15 minute boat ride from Corozal and is used as a picnic spot by most in the present day.

Lamanai:
This ancient Mayan site is situated on the banks of the New River and is ranked as the country’s most prominent ceremonial centers. Reaching the place is more than just fun as the 26 mile boat journey allows one to explore crocodiles, camouflaged bats, turtles and the Jesus Christ Bird, which can be seen walking on water.

Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary:
This sanctuary is the place to be if you are looking for cashew trees in addition to the Black Howler Monkey, freshwater turtles and Morelet’s Crocodiles. Besides, bird watching is a very common sight here.

Community Baboon Sanctuary:
This sanctuary is all about 8 villages coming together for a noble cause, to protect the Black Howler Monkey. The sanctuary provides one with the best views of this monkey breed. Besides, there are guided tours thorough the area.

Sarteneja & Shipstern Nature Reserve:
The beautiful fishing village of Sarteneja is all about a breathtaking 40 minute boat ride. However, 3 km prior to the village, lies the huge Shipstern Nature Reserve, which is spread over a massive 22,000 acres of land covering mangrove swamp, water-logged jungles and savannah. The reserve also possesses its own breeding center for butterflies.

Let’s go through some of the questions which may be on your mind.

How do I reach Corozal?

The town can be reached via air. You can take a scenic flight from the capital Belize City. This short flight stops at San Pedro and Ambergris Caye before reaching Corozal. Overseas residents can enter the country’s capital via the Philip S. W. Goldson International Airport.

Besides air, there are other options as well, there’s a water taxi from San Pedro and takes around one and a half hours.

The Northern Highway can reach you to the place as well. It takes around 2 hours from the capital.

Residents of the US and Canada can enter the country without a visa. However, visitors belonging to other countries have to compulsorily carry a visa.

Where do I stay during my Corozal trip?

The town has a number of accommodation options at affordable prices. The more popular landmarks are Tony’s Inn and Mirador Hotel.

Which is the best time to visit Corozal?

The region enjoys a tropical climate and the place is also prone to hurricanes especially in the month of August. Hence, keeping all these factors in mind, it is recommended you visit the place during the dry months of December through April as these months are very sunny and ideal for a holiday.

In conclusion, Corozal is the place to be. It is full of ruins and natural beauties in abundance in additional it also provides a glimpse of neighboring Mexico. So, what are you waiting for, just go ahead and plan your trip to this wonderful town.