Corozal Travel Guide
Travel to Corozal - Northern Belize, with a touch of Mexico
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Corozal Town, a seaside community sitting on the Bay of Chetumal just below the Mexican border, has a population of approximately 9,000 people.
Corozal is a pleasant, relaxed and breezy town that makes an excellent base for exploring northern Belize and a popular stop-off point for those travelling to and from the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico. It closely resembles a Mexican town with its Plaza, Palacio Municipal (town hall) and large church, and yet the atmosphere is unmistakeably Caribbean.
One does not have to travel far for places of Mayan interest, with Santa Rita being located on the outskirts of town and The Cerros Maya Archaeological Reserve just south of the town, reached by a 20 minute boat ride.
Corozal has wide, tree-lined streets, parks, and an attractive old market building located on the foreshore. There are the remains of a small fort from the Caste Wars near the main plaza. The Corozal Museum, housed in the beautiful 19th century customs house, is also worth a visit featuring artefacts, antiques and religious statues that outline Belize's rich history, as well as a new collection from local people that includes Mayan crafts and clothing.
Refugees fleeing from the civil war between Mestizos and Indians in Mexico built the town in 1849, naming it after the cohune palm, a symbol of fertility. Long before that however, this area was home to the Mayans, and their ruins can still be visited here.
Many visitors wish they had longer to spend in Corozal, as there are several things to do in the surrounding area. It is right alongside the coast, is just below the Mexican border, is located between two attractive rivers, the New River and Rio Hondo, and has a strong Mayan heritage coupled with the combined culture of Latin America and West Indian.
Attractions in Corozal
Close to Corozal are two Mayan archaeological sites, both overlooking the sea.
On the northern outskirts of the town is the Santa Rita site, which has the ruins of a Mayan ceremonial centre, and across the bay is the Cerros site, which was a major coastal trading centre during the pre-Classic period (350 BC-250 AD). Cerros, abandoned 1,700 years ago, lies serenely in the jungle, only inhabited by jaguars, tapirs, and around 250 species of birds.
The Shipstern Nature Reserve is of similar character to the countryside of Cerros, only in much greater abundance.
Activities in Corozal
Popular activities available locally include fishing for bonefish, tarpon, or deep-sea fishing or hiking in the Shipstern Nature Reserve.
Relaxing
Enjoying the cool offshore breeze, overlooking the Caribbean, while sitting in one of Corozal’s many grassy areas.
Getting Around
The drive there from Belize City for the 85 miles (137km) along the Northern Highway takes 1 1/2 - 2 hours.
There are also domestic flights with Tropic Air and Maya Airways, the flight lasting about 30 minutes.
There are also several buses a day to and from Belize City.
In town, taxis are available.
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