Welcome to Orange Walk

The second largest city in Belize, with a population of less than 20,000, Orange Walk is more like a town than a city.  A friendly, working class place, most of the folks that live in Orange Walk Town work in the sugarcane industry. Whether they are cutting sugarcane out in the hot fields or helping process the cane in factories in Orange Walk this is one town in Belize where tourism is of far less importance than agriculture. Founded as a logging town on the New River because valuable mahogany from nearby forests could be easily transported along the waterway to the coast, once the trees ran out, Orange Walk, Belize switched to the crop that gave this town its name. As sugarcane became more valuable than citrus crops, though, although the town’s name stayed the same, fields of sugarcane replaced the groves of oranges trees that used to grow along the New River. Visitors to Orange Walk, Belize will drive through fields of this important crop on their way and also won’t help but notice some of the Mennonite farmers in town that work the surrounding lands. Visitors will also find that there is plenty to see and do on day trips to sites near Orange Walk, Belize.

 

Transport to Orange Walk

Orange Walk, Belize is situated in northern Belize, about a one or two hour drive from Belize City. Most visitors to Orange Walk arrive by rental car after a flight to the Belize International Airport. With a rental car, getting to Orange Walk, Belize from Belize City is fairly easy and straightforward as there are many signs to this important town along the northern highway. Visitors to Orange Walk, Belize can also arrive by expensive although quick shuttle service from the airport, or by slower public buses. Buses to Orange Walk, Belize leave from the Belize City bus terminal throughout the day and take about two hours to get there. 

 

Hotels in Orange Walk

 Despite Orange Walk not attracting as many tourists as some other areas of Belize, this town has a pretty good variety of accommodation available. Budget travelers visiting Orange Walk, Belize can stay at the centrally located Akihito Hotel, Lucia’s Guesthouse, or stay just outside of Orange Walk, Belize at Victor’s Inn. The largest number of hotels offer rooms for mid-ranged prices. Most of these are small, family run options for accommodation such as the D’Victoria, Gami’s, the more upscale Hotel de la Fuente, La Enramada Cabanas, the Orchid Palm Inn, and the Saint Christopher’s Hotel. Some of the lodging in Orange Walk, Belize also have diners available for guests and non-guests alike. One of these with a good diner in the Come n Dine Motel found at the edge of Orange Walk, Belize.    

 

Attractions near Orange Walk

The Mayan Ruins of Lamanai

See our entire Lamanai section for information.

 

The Mayan Ruins of Altun Ha

Visitors to Orange Walk, Belize who would like to explore one of the less frequently visited Mayan ruins of the classical period can do so by traveling about thirty miles southeast of Orange Walk, Belize, to the ruins of Altun Ha. This Mayan site is for the more adventurous tourists staying at Orange Walk, Belize as, depending upon road conditions, a visit to the site may require a two hour walk from the village known as Lucky Strike. Tourists staying at Orange Walk, Belize who hire a qualified guide will save time in getting to Altun Ha and will also learn more about this formerly important Mayan city. Over 10,000 Mayans are thought to have resided in the twenty-five square mile city of Altun Ha near Orange Walk, Belize. Excavations that have revealed numerous jade and obsidian items, and crafted goods from the city of Teotihuacán found 100s of miles to the north in Mexico indicate that Altun Ha was at one time an important site for trade. The large temples that must have overlooked plazas bustling with business at Altun Ha, are now quietly climbed by tourists on day trips from Orange Walk, Belize.

 

Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary

 Situated around twenty-five miles (17 kilometers) south of Orange Walk, Belize, the Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary is a wonderful place to easily see some of the more prolific wildlife  species that make Belize their home. The Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary near Orange Walk, Belize was established in 1984 to protect the nesting and feeding grounds of the Jabiru and hundreds of herons, egrets, ducks, Morelet’s Crocodiles, and other wildlife that reside in the wetlands. The most famous residents of the sanctuary are the Jabiru Storks. These huge, white wading birds with thick black and red necks have become rare in much of Central America but are still fairly common and easy to see in the Orange Walk area of Belize because of the Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary. Situated on a large lagoon, in addition to protecting an extensive area of wetlands that are important for many aquatic birds, the lagoon and sanctuary help regulate the water supply for much of the area near Orange Walk, Belize.

 

Rio Bravo Conservation and Management Area

The largest private reserve in Belize, the Rio Bravo Conservation and Management area in the Orange  Walk district protects and manages over 400 square miles of marsh, savannah, and tropical moist forest. A remote, mostly roadless area southwest of Orange Walk, Belize and situated near the Mexican border, this is one of the wildest areas of Belize. The combination of its remote location and difficulties in cultivating the landscape have helped preserve the tropical ecosystems of the Rio Bravo Conservation Area, and make it the most likely place to see wild jaguars in the Orange Walk district of Belize. Indeed, the Rio Bravo Conservation Area in Orange Walk, Belize is thought to protect one of the largest populations of jaguars in Central America. Its rich, tropical habitats also protect populations of other wild felines such as ocelots, jaguarundis, and margays, well over 300 bird species, boa constrictors, and other wildlife.

 

Although much of the Rio Bravo Conservation Area in Orange Walk, Belize is essentially roadless wilderness and thus inaccessible, there are two field stations where visitors can stay to experience this wild area. The La Milpa research station has basic, clean, eco-friendly lodging in the heart of the conservation area. For visitors to Orange Walk, Belize who are looking for tropical jungles filled with wildlife, staying at the La Milpa station is a pretty good bet. Black Howler and Spider Monkeys are common, the huge, rare Harpy Eagle has been seen here, and night walks may yield sightings of a jaguar. The other option for access and accommodation to the Rio Bravo Conservation area of Orange Walk, Belize is at the Hill Bank Station. The cabins at Hill Bank in the Orange Walk district of Belize are similar to those of La Milpa, are also found near wild tropical forest, but also provide access to the wetlands of the New River Lagoon. The organization that manages the conservation area, Programme for Belize, can make arrangements to both stations including transport from Orange Walk, Belize. More adventurous folks can also drive to the conservation area from Orange Walk, Belize with a rental car along rough, unpaved roads.

 

Dining in Orange Walk

 Sometimes working class towns have some of the best food around. Although creative, gourmet dishes aren’t the strong point of such places, delicious, wholesome, home cooked food often is and Orange Walk, Belize is no exception. In Orange Walk, Belize many of the residents eat snacks and dishes such as tacos, enchiladas, rice and beans, lunch plates, hot sandwiches and more right out on the street from vendors who often prepare and sell their cuisine from pushcarts that are set up as roadside stands. Although visitors to Orange Walk, Belize need to use their common sense when snacking and dining at such outdoor, mobile, mini-diners (like obviously not eating at carts where flies appear to be the main customers), hygiene at such small eateries is generally good. If it weren’t, residents of Orange Walk, Belize would not be dining so often from pushcarts on the street.

For visitors to Orange Walk, Belize who would rather not feast on street food, Orange Walk, Belize also has a fair number of tasty restaurants. One of the nicest in Orange Walk, Belize for atmosphere is the Lamanai Riverside Retreat. Located near the river, this is one of the nicer restaurants in Orange Walk, Belize in terms of the view and service. Another nice, family run place in Orange Walk, Belize is the Nahil Mayab. Serving delicious, basic Belizean fare, the Nahil Mayab in Orange Walk, Belize also has a playground for the kids. Some of the other quality diners and restaurants in Orange Walk, Belize are Juanita’s, The Come n Dine, and La Hacienda. There is also good Chinese cuisine in Orange Walk, Belize served at the OK Restaurant and Lee’s.

Nightlife in Orange Walk

 A working class town, Orange Walk, Belize is not known for its nightlife. Visitors won’t find anything like the dance clubs or quirky, karaoke bars such as those found on the cayes or coastal tourist towns. They will find a few bars though, that are good places to become immersed in the local culture of Orange Walk, Belize and meet residents of this town. Visitors that frequent local establishments should expect to drink rum-based drinks since most of the rum in Belize is distilled at Orange Walk and is the spirit of choice among residents.

 

Shopping in Orange Walk

 

Since tourism does not play a major role in the local economy of Orange Walk, Belize, this town doesn’t offer very much in terms of shopping for visitors. Although small souvenirs can be found in a few of the stores in Orange Walk, Belize, shopping time is better spent at other sites that have more of a focus on tourism. Nevertheless, for visitors who would like to bring home Belizean rums or sugar cane products, Orange Walk, Belize is the place to purchase these items as the local economy is mostly dependent upon manufacturing such products.

 

Weather in Orange Walk

 Like most areas of Belize, the weather in Orange Walk is generally hot and fairly humid with daily averages of around 80 degrees (28 c). Orange Walk, Belize tends to feel somewhat hotter than coastal areas and the cayes because it lacks the welcoming, refreshing breeze that comes off of the Caribbean Sea. Although it may lack that constant breeze, not being located on the coast also means that Orange Walk, Belize is less likely to witness the Caribbean Sea breeze grow into the frightening, gale force winds of a hurricane. When it does rain in Orange Walk, Belize, this is usually in the form of afternoon storms during the months of June to November. At other times of the year, Orange Walk, Belize has plenty of sunshine and little precipitation.