Lamanai Eco Tours Ltd.
The Gateway to Lamanai Archaeological Site
RIVER EXPEDITION
The New River, also Rio Nuevo, is a river in northern Belize. As the longest river that is entirely confined to Belize, it drains primarily the eastern part of the Orange Walk District during its north-northeasterly course and empties into Chetumal Bay.
The river forms also the New River Lagoon, the largest body of fresh water in Belize, just east of the Maya temples of Lamanai. The New River is a habitat to numerous types of fish, birds, as well as crocodiles, and manatees, and is the source of drinking water for various other fauna living in the exotic jungle which it borders.
The New River, known to the Maya as Dzuluinicob ("foreign men") was one of the main arteries used by the conquering Spaniards and missionizing friars as they attempted to penetrate the forests of the Maya lowlands.
In addition, the marshlands around the lagoon support many species of water birds and wildlife, including crocodiles and manatees. Lamanai is spread out along the west bank of the New River Lagoon at a point where the New River flows from the lagoon on its 80-mile journey, north to Chetumal Bay and the Caribbean Sea. Our tour to the Lamanai Archeological site is a combination of a scenic tour through the New River and the New River Lagoon with the final destination being the mayan site of Lamanai.
Sittings on one of our river expeditions include the locals fishing for food, crocodiles sunbathing, manatees feeding, howler monkeys, iguanas, and various species of birds and other wildlife.
The New River also serves as the main means of transportation of sugar which is milled in the Orange Walk District and transported via barges from the sugar factory to Belize City where it is exported.
For a fun-filled educational family day, one can rent a boat with one of our experienced captains/guides and meander aimlessly down the New River at one's own pace passing through the town of Orange Walk while having a cocktail of your choice, fishing, and enjoying the sites simultaneously.
