Lamanai: River Tour Or Self Guided?

Lamanai is a unique Mayan Ruin accessible by boat ride to and see loads of wildlife like crocodiles, monkeys and birds. It's the third-largest ruin in Belize.

As the main attraction in Orange Walk, Lamanai is an incredibly unique tour in the area. The archeological site is accessible by boat and by car.

Here's what this short guide includes 👇:

Visitor Essentials

Location

Orange Walk District

Opening Hours

8AM–5PM

Entrance Fee

$12.50 USD

Tour Cost

$75.00 USD

Tour Duration

2 hours

Essentials

Water, sunblock, comfortable shoes

Tour Guide

Not mandatory

Amenities

Restroom facilities, parking, souvenir store

But wait, how do we even say Lamanai? Well, it's actually exactly as it sounds.

How To Get To Lamanai

The two main ways of getting to Lamanai is by boat and by car. The boat tour is 1.5 hours away from Orange Walk while the car ride takes roughly the same time from Orange Walk. The river tour has more wildlife spotting while the car ride passes through traditional communities.

1. 🚤 River Tour By Boat
2. 🚗 Self Guided By Car

Lamanai River Tour

From Belize City/Airport, the easier way to get to Lamanai is by booking a river tour. The tour guide provides transportation to Orange Walk District (1.5 hrs) by shuttle and then to Lamanai (1.5 hrs) by boat.

This is what the tour includes:

Lamanai By Car (Self Guided)

Lamanai can be reached by road as well. From Belize City/Airport, drive north towards Orange Walk Town via Northern Highway. From Orange Walk Town, there are two roads to Lamanai.

1. The first road passes through the villages of Guinea Grass and Shipyard which is recommended if you are interested in visiting a local Mennonite community. This road is not paved and mostly dirt road. View map route.

2. The second road passes through the villages of Yo Creek, San Lazaro, Trinidad, August Pine Ridge and San Felipe. This road is fully paved with a few bumpy sections. View map route.

Why It’s Worth Visiting

Facts About Lamanai

1. 🗿 The Archeological Reserve encompasses 958.5 acres of land in Northern Belize.
2. ⏳ Lamanai has one of the longest occupational periods with more than 3000 years.
3. 🏯 The High Temple is the third-largest Mayan ruin in Belize measuring 108ft (33m).
4. 💧 Mercury was discovered under the Ball court (Also found at Caracol Mayan Ruin).
5. ⛪️ Remnants of Spanish churches and a colonial sugar mill are viewable at the site.

What To Expect

• drive through small local villages
• fun jungle boat tour along river
• unique and interesting temples
• wildlife like birds and crocodile
• local souvenir shops at the site

Wildlife At Lamanai

Helpful Information

About Author

Everything written on this blog is based on first-hand experience or knowledge as a local living in Belize. No fluff, just honest information.