Cruiseship Tour - Lamanai Tour

Upon leaving Belize City, we drive for 1 hour North to Orange Walk where you board a river boat for 1 hour Jungle Safari on the New River Lagoon. On the way to Lamanai we learn about the Mennonites, we spot Crocodiles, Water Birds, Orchids, Bats, Iguanas and Flora and Fauna and see the Howler Monkeys at the Archaeological site. Lamanai is the most historic of all the Mayan sites in Belize as it has the longest known history of occupation in the Maya area. Lamanai was occupied for nearly 3000 years and had contact with the Spaniards that arrived around AD 1544. It also has evidence of the first sugar mill built by the British around AD 1800. The name Lamanai means ” Submerged Crocodile” as is evident in the glyphs of stela nine. A tour of Lamanai takes you through the Jungle and to the Mask Temple which is adorned with a headdress representing a crocodile. The tallest temple stands at 33 meters high (113 feet) known as N10-43 with spectacular views of the Rainforest and it’s surroundings. The Mayas at Lamanai dominated the area and were active in trading with other powerful city states and were excellent sea and river navigators as is evident in their trading routes. Lamanai was actively trading cocoa and other goods and bringing Jade from as far as the Montagua Valley in the highlands of Guatemala.