http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Belize/Orange-Walk-District/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from Central America Caribbean , Belize , Orange Walk District en-us Sun, 12 Oct 2008 05:56:15 BST Sun, 12 Oct 2008 05:56:15 BST Well crossing the border to Belize turned out to be a miniadventure. We were too late to get a bus across so had to get a taxi from Chetumal in Mexico to the 'frontera'. After exiting the mexican bit we crossed to the Belize side and got our stamps said adios to the taxi driver and then realized that it was half nine at night there was nobody about and we were standing outside the Belize borde http://www.travelblog.org//Central-America-Caribbean/Belize/Orange-Walk-District/Orange-Walk/blog-330879.html From Playa del Carmen I took a bus down to the Mexican border and changed onto a Belizean bus to take me across the border which was a completely painless experience. The change from Mexico to Belize was immediately noticeable Belize was certainly more rustic and had a Carribean feel to it not that I've ever been there. The racial mix was also noticeable too it is a complete melting pot wi http://www.travelblog.org//Central-America-Caribbean/Belize/Orange-Walk-District/Orange-Walk/blog-329911.html We left Mexico on Saturday morning and crossed the border by bus to Belize. Border crossing was a painless experience and after a very slow journey on the Belizean side the bus likes to stop randomly about every 50m or whenever someone feels like getting on or off we arrived in Orange Walk about 6pm.Orange Walk is a tiny little town that feels a bit like you are in some american western movie... http://www.travelblog.org//Central-America-Caribbean/Belize/Orange-Walk-District/Orange-Walk/blog-200559.html As soon as the border is crossed no before the difference is evident. First a greater mix of races then signs in English then everybody speaking English and the Queens head on the money.It took a while getting the truck across. We waited with the workers who were coming home from work and shopping expecting the bus or a ride.And finally joy of joys we drove into the night with the prospect of http://www.travelblog.org//Central-America-Caribbean/Belize/Orange-Walk-District/Orange-Walk/blog-193185.html It is hot in this countryGood thing we expected that so its not a huge shock. Lets see quick summary. We got into Belize city early afternoon yesterday and took a 25 nonnegotiable it says so right on the official sign ride into town to the bus station. There is no ticket counter because you pay the driver right on the bus. No ticket counter means no one to ask questions. Good thing the sch http://www.travelblog.org//Central-America-Caribbean/Belize/Orange-Walk-District/Orange-Walk/blog-171245.html This weekend we found ourselves at the La Milpa Field Research station. The station is part of a large conservation trust and run by The Program for Belize partnered with the Mass Audobon Society. The site is run off of the power grid through solar pv panels and all the sewage is composted. The bus ride was about 5 hours as we had to drive all the way to Belize City before we could head north http://www.travelblog.org//Central-America-Caribbean/Belize/Orange-Walk-District/Orange-Walk/blog-124403.html After San Ignacio we went to Orange walk in the north of Belize. This was recommended as a great adventure. It wasnrsquot Another boat journey through lots of mangroves and small estuaryrsquos but this time on a speed boat fairly exciting and then we pulled up outside more Mayan ruins Lamanai. The main difference with these is that they are the oldest ruins in the Mayan empire and they al http://www.travelblog.org//Central-America-Caribbean/Belize/Orange-Walk-District/Orange-Walk/blog-107858.html River boat tourWe arranged to take a boat tour up the New River to another set of Mayan ruins Lamanai. The boat trip up river took about half an hour. Our drivertour guide Javier expertly navigated us through the seminarrow river at about 30mph When we arrived we had a few minutes before our tour began. Before we headed back along the paths we were able to see a couple of Black Howler Monk http://www.travelblog.org//Central-America-Caribbean/Belize/Orange-Walk-District/Orange-Walk/blog-77098.html