Mayan Ruin Reserves: Santa Rita, Cerros and Lamanai

Entrance of Santa Rita Mayan Reserve

One thing Belize is full of are historical sites, landmarks and ruins. The three sites we have visited so far - Santa Rita, Cerros and Lamanai - are Mayan archaeological dig sites, now officially marked as "reserves" instead of "ruins". There was a small entrance fee ($5/person US) at the first two mentioned, but we also got a bit of a tour and some educational anecdotes during the visits. And of course we took tons of photos!

To the Top!

First stop was the Santa Rita site in Corozal. This one is in right inside the city limits of Corozal and there is not an extensive road trip involved. It's only about a mile, give or take, from the town bus station/central market.

The cool thing about these "reserved" ruins is that you can walk on, in and around them without much hesitation. The construction is such that even a stick of dynamite only scratches the surface (so said the tour guide regarding one of the earlier excavations of the site).

Somebody took a tumble

You can tell the preservation/restoration of the site is well-built and sturdy. Even if some of the heights were terrifying to me. Not that I thought I would fall, but that I thought Cailey or Nate would fall. Or drop their phones to a shattered rock grave. But, thank goodness, no such hazards did occur.

Next up was a trip across Corozal Bay to the Cerros site. This one was A LOT larger than the Santa Rita site. You needed to follow the maps they had at the visitor center to really know where you should be headed. This one was lush with trees and bushes... and mosquitoes... so many mosquitoes! We really didn't stay too long because we forgot our bug repellent. :(

View from top of a temple across the bay to Corozal Town

These trees were humming with mosquitoes.

Our trip to Lamanai was much more successful. This time, we went prepared with plenty of bug spray, water and rations to keep us going.

We went on a full guided tour for this one. We took a sight-seeing boat ride from just outside of Orange Walk to the Lamanai site. Cailey even handed a banana to a monkey!! It was super cool!