It's affectionately called " Sugar City " locally. Located about 55 miles north along the northern Highway, Orange Walk is a drive of about 65 minutes from Belize City . The country's only tollbooth signals the entrance to Orange Walk Town , and after paying the small toll of about US.35cents, one immediately notices two distinctive sites: the scenic New River with its tour guide operators hugging its banks and the smokestacks of the sugar mill. Sugar, though, no longer reigns supreme in Orange Walk. In addition to the economic boost from ecotourism, there has been agricultural diversification in recent years. This, for example, has seen the recent introduction of fields of soybean planted. The year 2002 saw farmers who had diversified into soybean production looking to harvest two million pounds for the year. Orange Walk is also important for its production of dairy products, citrus fruits, beef and rum production.

The Orange Walk District, with a population of just under forty thousand, is Belize 's third largest populated district and is much more than sugar, soybean and honey country. Orange Walk provides exotic places to visit. The sights and sounds of nature abound here, either at the famous Mayan ruins of Lamanai and Cuello, or at various places along the New River for the jungle river adventurer. And, with over 400 species of birds recorded in this district, more so than anywhere else in the country, the Orange Walk District is truly a birder's paradise.

And, of course, if one wants to continue further north after enjoying Orange Walk, 30 miles away is the border town of Corozal and the Free Zone for visitors bent on shopping.

Rio Bravo Conservation and Management Area

The Rio Bravo is managed by Programme for Belize , a nonprofit organization with offices in both Belize and the United States . The government has approved a management program for the reserve that includes low-impact tourism, approved agricultural projects and limited and controlled logging on certain portions of privately-owned lands that adjoin but are not actually on the reserve. The reserve covers 280,000 acres. It is a tropical forest area that is home to all of the Belizean cats (jaguars, puma, ocelot, margay and jaguarondi) and numerous other animals, including both howler and small monkeys, gray foxes, king vultures, and over 80 species of bats. Over 400 species of birds reside in the area's forests, as well as over 200 varieties of trees and 250 different kinds of orchids. Along one trail is located what some claim is the largest mahogany tree in Belize (the country's national tree is the mahogany).

Visitors to the Rio Bravo area can find accommodations at Programme for Belize . Programme for Belize has two field stations in the area. La Milpa Field Station sleeps 46 in four cabanas (eight units each with private baths) and a 30-bed dormitory. The Hillbank Field Station is on New River Lagoon; it is a forestry research center which sleeps 38 in two cabanas (four units each with private baths) and a 30-bed dormitory. Forest and marine ecology student programs are conducted often.

Accommodations are also available at Chan Chich Resort, a beautiful lodge which is built in the center of what was once the plaza of a Maya town. The resort's cabanas are surrounded by thick tropical forest. Visitors who walk the nine miles of marked trails that have been cut in the surrounding jungle have an excellent chance of seeing parrots, toucans and innumerable other species of birds, as well as foxes, deer and monkeys. An occasional bird watcher has even been surprised by a jaguar sleeping in the middle of the trail; visitors often see cat tracks on rainy days. There are several unexcavated Mayan ruin sites near the resort, some of which have been raided by looters. Today, the Archeology Department is more effective at raising public awareness on preservation of sites. This goes hand in hand with the immense leap in tourism, which is now one of the pillars of the economy next to agriculture. The combined efforts of the stakeholders in these industries have resulted in Mayan sites preservation and restoration efforts.

Besides the nature trails, bird watching and visits to ruin sites, visitors can arrange for guided horseback rides from the stable in the village of Gallon Jug, eight miles away by road from the resort. Canoeing down the river is also an option. A bike ride through the area on the dirt road from Chan Chich through Gallon Jug, which winds through the jungle between several small villages, is a good way to spot animals. Infrared cameras set up at strategic locations in the jungle near Chan Chich to monitor the movements of the animal population regularly photograph jaguars, pumas and ocelots.

It's a three and a half hour drive from Belize City to Gallon Jug and Chan Chich, but it's a beautiful drive on an all-weather road which takes you through a wide variety of scenic terrain. An alternative is to arrange private charter to Gallon Jug, which has a landing strip (the regular scheduled airlines don't land there.)

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Lamanai

The Mayan ruins of Lamanai are located in a two-square mile area at the edge of a lush forest reserve. Reaching the ruins is an excursion in itself; the preferred route is to travel by boat up the New River for about an hour and a half. Blooming orchids and other flowers are abundant along the bank, as are many birds and animals, including a growing population of howler monkeys. The boat trip begins near the highway, past the toll booth and many qualified and friendly guides are available. If reaching Lamanai by vehicle, one travels for and a hour and a quarter from Orange Walk, winding through the villages of Yo Creek and San Felipe. Lamanai is believed to have been occupied from approximately 1500 BC through 1650 AD. It was still inhabited when the Spanish arrived in the 16 th century. Archeologists believe that Lamanai's main temple was built around 100 BC.

Lamanai translates to "submerged crocodile"; records kept by Spanish missionaries indicate that Lamanai was probably the name of the ancient city. Many artifacts depicting crocodiles have been found at the site. Lamanai has one of the tallest buildings found in the Mayan world (112 feet) and the views from the top are breathtaking. Several hundred buildings have been uncovered, as well as royal ball courts. Lamanai is one of the most important Mayan sites in Belize . On your rather vigorous climb to the top of the ruins, you will see a variety of flora and fauna; of particular note is the strangler fig tree which engulfs cohune palms; while this destroys the cohune tree, it becomes a habitat for thriving bird life.

Tours of Lamanai can be arranged by local travel agencies or your hotel. Additionally, the Lamanai Outpost Lodge offers 18 rooms, 24-hour power, hot water, private baths, fans, and meeting facility for 32. The lodge is within walking distance of the major Mayan site. Tours can also be arranged for spotlight night river safari, as well as archeological and other research education programs.

Birdwatching

With its unusually diverse habitats, the Lamanai area is a must for professional ornithologists or casual bird watchers. 366 bird species have been recorded at Lamanai, and this figure is expected to reach 409 shortly. The uncommon nocturnal Yucatan nightjars, as well as the long-tailed hermit hummingbird, have been spotted at the Lamanai Outpost lodge. Cruising the New River by boat to the Lamanai ruins is also a birder's paradise. The waterway teems with bird life. Rare birds abound, like the roseate spoonbills, sun grebes and long-necked anhingas. Near the mouth of the lagoon is a large ceiba tree with a huge nest, home to a five-foot jabiru stork, the largest bird in the country which has a nine-foot wingspan.

Chan Chich Lodge also offers delights to birders. Colors abound: the blue-crowned motmot, the brightly colored flocks of ocelated turkeys or the emerald toucanet are only some of the birds visitors will see.

And naturally, Programme for Belize , with over 400 recorded species, also offers world class birding. "A Field Guide to the Birds of Belize" by Jones and Gardner will help visitors familiarize themselves with many of the species to be seen. The Gallon Jug Conservation Society, the Belize Audubon Society, the Lamanai Field Research Center or any of the lodges mentioned here also appreciate field notes from visitors who record rare, unexpected sightings. Near Orange Walk Town too is the Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary which is home to many species of birdlife, including herons, egrets and the famous jabiru stork.

Cuello

The Mayan ruin site of Cuello is located about four miles from Orange Walk Town , close to the Cuello Rum Distillery, which carries the name of the ruin. Archeologists who have studied findings made at the Cuello site have determined that Cuello was occupied as far back as 2600 BC. Unusual and unexplained findings at Cuello include stingray spines in large numbers, pots placed over the heads of dead bodies and evidence that a large number of people were killed at the location around 400 BC

Orange Walk Town

Orchid lovers can tour the Godoy's Orchid Garden near Orange Walk Town . The farm distributes orchids to many Belizean resorts. Legal formalities are required to import orchids into the United States . Godoy's contains more than 250 different species of orchids and bromeliads; naturally, this collection includes Belize 's national flower, the Black Orchid. Cruising the New River by boat from Orange Walk to the Lamanai Mayan ruins also affords the opportunity to see bromeliads, orchids and snake cactus flourishing along the way.