New Belize District - Lonely Planetmedia.lonelyplanet.com/shop/pdfs/belize-5-belize... · 2013. 11....
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Why Go? What a contrast is the district that shares its country’s name! Belize District comprises 1600 sq miles at the heart of the country, and includes its largest population center and some of its most pristine tropical bush. Belize City gets a bad rap for its impoverished areas, some of which are plagued by crime and violence. But the seaside city also embodies the country’s amazing cultural diversi- ty, its neighborhoods packed with people, restaurants and shops that represent every ethnicity. A few miles out of the city center, the gritty Caribbean urbanism crumbles, revealing a landscape of vast savanna that stretches to the north, dense tropical forest to the west, and lush marshland to the south. There is plenty to see and do in Belize District – so much that a week-long visitor could spend their entire vacation here, sampling the coun- try’s Maya heritage, Creole culture and luxuriant wildlife, all within an hour’s drive of the city. When to Go Belize District offers a few notable cultural events that might lure visitors outside of the normal tourist season, be- tween January and April. In May the village of Crooked Tree goes nuts for a weekend during the annual Cashew Festival. In September Belize City engages in two weeks of festivities starting on National Day (September 10), including a huge carnival parade, bands, parties, music and dancing. Belize District Best Places to Eat ¨ Celebrity Restaurant, Belize City (p60) ¨ Dit’s Restaurant, Belize City (p60) ¨ Amigos, Monkey Bay (p77) Best Places to Stay ¨ Crooked Tree Lodge, Crooked Tree (p71) ¨ Maruba Resort Jungle Spa, Maskall Village (p70) ¨ Black Orchid Resort, Burrell Boom (p66) ¨ Belize Zoo Jungle Lodge, Belize Zoo (p75) Belize City.................... 52 Along the Northern Highway ....................... 65 Community Baboon Sanctuary .................... 67 Rancho Dolores ........... 68 Along the Western Highway ........ 72 Old Belize .................... 72 Hattieville .................... 73 Belize Zoo .....................74 Monkey Bay ................. 76 Along the Coastal Road ................77 ©Lonely Planet Publications Pty Ltd
Transcript of New Belize District - Lonely Planetmedia.lonelyplanet.com/shop/pdfs/belize-5-belize... · 2013. 11....
Why Go?What a contrast is the district that shares its country’s name! Belize District comprises 1600 sq miles at the heart of the country, and includes its largest population center and some of its most pristine tropical bush.
Belize City gets a bad rap for its impoverished areas, some of which are plagued by crime and violence. But the seaside city also embodies the country’s amazing cultural diversi-ty, its neighborhoods packed with people, restaurants and shops that represent every ethnicity.
A few miles out of the city center, the gritty Caribbean urbanism crumbles, revealing a landscape of vast savanna that stretches to the north, dense tropical forest to the west, and lush marshland to the south. There is plenty to see and do in Belize District – so much that a week-long visitor could spend their entire vacation here, sampling the coun-try’s Maya heritage, Creole culture and luxuriant wildlife, all within an hour’s drive of the city.
When to GoBelize District offers a few notable cultural events that might lure visitors outside of the normal tourist season, be-tween January and April. In May the village of Crooked Tree goes nuts for a weekend during the annual Cashew Festival. In September Belize City engages in two weeks of festivities starting on National Day (September 10), including a huge carnival parade, bands, parties, music and dancing.
Belize District
Best Places to Eat¨¨ Celebrity Restaurant,
Belize City (p60)
¨¨ Dit’s Restaurant, Belize City (p60)
¨¨ Amigos, Monkey Bay (p77)
Best Places to Stay¨¨ Crooked Tree Lodge,
Crooked Tree (p71)
¨¨ Maruba Resort Jungle Spa, Maskall Village (p70)
¨¨ Black Orchid Resort, Burrell Boom (p66)
¨¨ Belize Zoo Jungle Lodge, Belize Zoo (p75)
Belize City.................... 52Along the Northern Highway ....................... 65Community Baboon Sanctuary .................... 67Rancho Dolores ........... 68Along the Western Highway ........ 72Old Belize .................... 72Hattieville .................... 73Belize Zoo .....................74Monkey Bay ................. 76Along the Coastal Road ................77
©Lonely Planet Publications Pty Ltd
Belize District Belize District Belize District
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S E AC A R I B B E A N
Belize Harbour
na
River
Beliz
e
New
Riv
er
River
North
DISTRICTCOROZAL
STANN CREEKDISTRICT
DISTRICTCAYO
DISTRICTORANGE WALK
DISTRICTBELIZE
Dangriga
WALKORANGE
Strike
ManateeGales Point
LuckyTree
Crooked
DoloresRancho
LandingBermudian
BoomBurrell
BELIZE CITY
Ladyville
Santana
Maskall
Sand Hill
Hattieville
La Democracia
Shipyard
EcoparkAdventure &
Bacab
CenterCTWS Visitors
Visitor's CenterCBS Museum &
Wildlife SanctuaryMonkey Bay
Wildlife SanctuarySpanish Creek
ReserveForestSibun
Monkey BayNational
Park
88º30'W
18º00'N 18º00'N
17º30'N
17º00'N
17º15'N
17º00'N
17º15'N
88º15'W
88º15'W
17º45'N 17º45'N
17º30'N
88º30'W
LagoonSouthern
LagoonCox
LagoonNorthern
LagoonRiverNorthern
BeachCucumber
Old Belize &
Stann CreekNorth
ern
Riv
er
Sp
Creek
Black
Cre
ek
ish
Sibu
n
Can
al
Bur
don
AirportInternational
Philip Goldson
ManateeForest
Reserve
Sibun ForestReserve
nhe
rN
ort
Hwy
Old
Hw
y
Coastal
Hwy
Hummingbird Hwy
Northern
Hwy
Western
Northern H
wy
Jungle SpaMaruba Resort
Belize Zoo
Altun Ha
SanctuaryTree Wildlife
Crooked
SanctuaryBaboonCommunity
5 miles010 km0
Belize District Highlights1 Getting a first-hand introduction to all of the native species at the Belize Zoo (p74)
2 Spending a night surrounded by the roar of howler monkeys at the Community Baboon Sanctuary (p67)
3 Cruising the lagoon and marveling at the birdlife at Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary (p71)
4 Admiring the jungle view from atop the Temple of the Masonry Altars at Altun Ha (p69)
5 Indulging in an afternoon of luxurious pampering in the jungle at the Maruba Resort Jungle Spa (p70)
