24 hours in the Cayo District, Belize
It’s still early when I wake up and the soothing sound of the waterfall fills my lovely, comfortable cabaña. I jump out of bed, put on my running shoes and set off for a lovely morning run in stunning surroundings. I watch the surroundings come to life, the birds singing their first songs of the day and the sun shining gently through the trees. I’m in the beautiful Cayo District in the interior of Belize.
It’s as if I’m on an island
Yesterday I crossed the border from Guatemala into Belize and found myself in a completely different world. Although Belize is connected to the mainland, you immediately get the feeling that you’re on an island. The atmosphere is relaxed, men with dreadlocks stroll through the streets and even here in the interior, it feels as though I can sense a gentle sea breeze. We’re taken to the Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve in the heart of the Cayo District. Before long, the driver turns off the tarmac road and we continue along a dirt track. The sun is setting fast, turning the sky pink and orange. After an hour, we arrive at Gaïa Riverlodge, right in the heart of the reserve – a breathtaking location.
When I wake up the next morning, I think back to the lovely evening. Dinner was delicious and we rounded off the evening in the hotel garden around a cosy campfire. After my morning run, I stroll through the garden back to my cabaña. I’m surprised by the flowers in bloom and a hummingbird flitting about in search of nectar. I feel wonderfully relaxed and privileged.
Remarkable Mayan temples and caves
After breakfast, it’s time to explore the area. We’ll drive to Barton Creek, one of the many caves found in this region, which were once used by the Maya people for various rituals and ceremonies. The cave is tucked away in lush greenery at the foot of an idyllic pool. It is not possible to visit the cave on foot, as it is a 1.5-kilometre-long meandering river. At the entrance to the cave, we board our canoes, switch on our headlamps and begin to paddle slowly towards the cave. As we paddle deeper into the cave, our guide tells us about the impressive geology, archaeology and Mayan history of these caves. For a brief moment, we switch off all our torches and are enveloped in pitch darkness, knowing that this cave was used by the Maya thousands of years ago. Truly special!
One of my favourite Mayan sites
In the afternoon, we’ll visit Xunantunich. This site is also steeped in Mayan history. You simply can’t avoid it when visiting Guatemala and Belize, but that’s far from a bad thing. The history of this civilisation is truly impressive. This archaeological site was a real surprise to me and, without a doubt, one of my favourite Mayan sites that I’ve seen during my travels through Latin America. It was very peaceful, and the six large plazas with 25 temples are very well maintained. We decided to climb the largest temple, after which we were rewarded with a magnificent panoramic view of the site and the surrounding Cayo District. I take this scene in and savour this special area for a little while longer, as the next day we’ll be travelling on through this little paradise in Central America.
Fancy a trip of Belize?
Would you like to organise your own trip of Belize and visit the Cayo District? Then do have a look at the itineraries we’ve put together for inspiration. You can book these tours directly, but we’d also be happy to put together a personalised itinerary based on your wishes and ideas.
Do you have an immediate question? Then feel free to contact us. Call +31 73 610 62 04 or send an e-mail to info@sapapanatravel.nl. We are happy to help.