Hi! I studied abroad in Belize in 2016, and could recommend places near where I stayed. I wasn’t near the beach at all-- I lived in Orange Walk Town, which is in Northern Belize. The north isn’t particularly well known for tourism (its main industry is sugar cane), but Orange Walk Town has several good and affordable hotels to stay in. I stayed at the D*Victoria Hotel, which had lovely accommodations, and is right downtown, so you’ll feel like you’re in the center of town life. Orange Walk might be a good home base to explore parts of the North and Central Belize!
Here are my recommendations/thoughts for Orange Walk Town:
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There’s all sorts of good food in Orange Walk-- you’ll find the best authentic Belizean tacos at any taco stand along Queen Victoria Ave, which is the main drag. For somewhat upscale dining, try Nahil Mayab. For the most authentic taste of Orange Walk, visit Luigi’s. The Lamanai Riverside Retreat also has a restaurant right on the New River, which provides great wildlife watching-- especially alligators!
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You’ll find that Orange Walk is surprisingly multicultural. There’s Mayans, Mestizos, Garifunas, and even German-Speaking Mennonites! You’ll also find lots of stores and restaurants owned and run by Chinese and Indian immigrants.
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The Banquitas House of Culture is small, but worth the visit!
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Belikin Beer is truly the Beer of Belize. You can find it nearly anywhere-- be sure to try the chocolate-flavored beer at least once!
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The people of Orange Walk are very kind and curious about visitors. You’ll get lots of “Welcome to Belize!” and “How do you like Belize?” from random people on the street.
There are several places near Orange Walk that you could visit, including:
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The Cuello Rum Distillery, which is just outside town. If you coordinate with the distillery beforehand, you might could get a tour of the distillery as well as the Cuello Mayan ruins on the distillery’s property! (I am writing a forthcoming AO article about these ruins.)
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My absolute main suggestion is for you to visit the Lamanai Mayan Ruins, which can easily be accessed from Orange Walk via car or boat down the New River. Via boat is an experience you’ll never forget!
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The Belize Zoo, which is actually an animal sanctuary, is a fantastic place to see Belizean wildlife up close. It’s in the Cayo District (Central Belize), which is about a two hour drive from Orange Walk.
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If you love outdoor adventures, you’ll love the Nohoch Che’en Cave Tubing. I’m not an outdoors-y person and totally expected the experience to be campy, but it was so beautiful and memorable. The caves are also in the mountains of the Cayo District, and is very near the Belize Zoo.
If you do use Orange Walk as your base, I highly recommend using Jungle River Tours to get you to any of the places I listed here. It’s three brothers, Antonio, Wilfrido, and Herminio Novelo, who are all very kind and knowledgeable.
Three additional places that I haven’t been to that might be interesting:
I know this has been awfully long-winded, but I sure hope this helps! Please feel free to let me know if you have any questions.