Orange Walk Town

Northern Belize sugar-country town used as the river gateway to the Maya ruins of Lamanai.

Orange Walk is the main town in northern Belize, in the heart of sugar cane country. It's an agricultural and commercial hub rather than a tourist attraction, but it's the starting point for one of the more rewarding day trips in the country: the boat trip up the New River to Lamanai.

Lamanai is among the most atmospheric Maya sites in Belize — temples rising out of dense jungle beside a lagoon, with wildlife (crocodiles, monkeys, toucans) often visible along the river route. The boat journey takes about 1.5 hours each way, and tour operators in Orange Walk run regular trips. Lamanai has occupation evidence spanning over 3,000 years, and some temples were still in use after the Spanish arrived — making it unusual in Maya archaeology.

Orange Walk is easily reached by bus from Belize City on the Northern Highway (about 1.5 hours).

Guide

Getting There

Orange Walk Town sits on the Northern Highway, 92 km north of Belize City. Buses on the Belize City–Chetumal route pass through frequently throughout the day; the journey from Belize City takes around 1.5 hours. The same buses continue north to Corozal (another hour) and the Mexican border at Santa Elena. There is no railway. Most travellers arrive by bus or in rental cars; the highway is well maintained and straightforward to drive.

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Things to Do

Orange Walk Town is a quiet sugar-industry centre on the New River in northern Belize, and its main draw for travellers is access to Lamanai — one of the most impressive Maya sites in the country, reached by a scenic boat trip up the river through wildlife-rich lagoons. The town has a small colonial-era museum and a pleasant riverside, and serves as an easy stopover between Belize City and the Corozal border crossing into Mexico.

Guide

When to Go

The dry season from November to April is the most comfortable time to visit. Lamanai and the river trip are more pleasant in dry weather, and wildlife is easier to spot in the vegetation when it is not raining. February and March are particularly good: the weather is dry and hot without being oppressive.

The wet season (May–October) brings afternoon downpours that can make the jungle trails at Lamanai muddy and the river trip less enjoyable. The town itself is fine year-round. Sugar harvest (November–May) makes the surrounding roads busy with cane trucks but adds to the working character of the place.