The Lamanai ruins in Belize are among the most fascinating Mayan ruins in Central America, full with a ‘Masks Temple’ that has large stone faces carved into the muse. It appears to be like like one thing from Indiana Jones!
Lamanai means ‘submerged crocodile’ and it was settled by the Mayans for 1000’s of years. Excavation was solely began within the Seventies, and it continues in the present day.
You’ll be able to go to Lamanai fairly simply on a day journey from locations like Orange Stroll, Belize Metropolis, and even San Pedro in Ambergris Caye. Alongside the way in which, you get to get pleasure from a river boat journey by the jungle, with the sounds of tropical birds and howler monkeys within the tree tops.
This journey information will clarify tips on how to get to Lamanai Belize, what to see on the Mayan ruins, greatest tour packages to make use of, and the whole lot else you could know earlier than you go!
Finest Lamanai Excursions
Top-of-the-line methods to go to Lamanai is with a day tour bundle.
In the event you’re coming from Belize Metropolis or the cruise port, Viator has a high-rated Lamanai tour with a river boat cruise, wildlife watching, and the entire greatest Mayan temples at Lamanai.
The worth features a native Belizean information and driver, lunch, park charges, and resort pickup and drop-off from Belize Metropolis, the cruise port, or the airport.
We’ve used Viator for many excursions and actions all over the world, they usually’re nice. Extremely advisable!
E book Now: Lamanai Tour From Belize Metropolis / Cruise Port
The place Is Lamanai Situated? How To Get There
Lamanai is positioned in northern Belize, close to the New River, and you will get there by both automobile or boat.
The closest important city is Orange Stroll, however it’s also possible to go to Lamanai on a day journey from anyplace in northern Belize, together with Belize Metropolis, Ladyville, Los Lagos, Caye Caulker, or San Pedro in Ambergris Caye.
In the event you’re driving to Lamanai with a automobile, it’s about 1 hour from Orange Stroll city, or greater than 2 hours from Belize Metropolis. The space is definitely not very far, however the roads close to Lamanai are filth and gravel, they usually’re not in nice situation. 4-wheel drive is advisable, particularly within the wet season.
Lamanai excursions usually go to the archaeological web site by boat as a substitute of automobile. That is essentially the most enjoyable and fascinating option to do it, since you get to chill out and benefit from the river views, whereas additionally expecting birds and different wildlife.
The boat journey to Lamanai takes about 45-60 minutes, and it’s one of many nice issues about coming right here, for my part!
Lamanai Mayan ruins — the Masks Temple!
Lamanai Ruins: What To Count on
There are 5 essential temples at Lamanai, with a little bit of strolling between each. It additionally has a small museum with some Mayan artifacts, and a nineteenth century sugar mill that was swallowed up by a strangler fig tree after being deserted.
Most Lamanai excursions will begin with the Jaguar Temple after which go to the Royal Complicated, Ball Courtroom, and Excessive Temple, earlier than ending on the Masks Temple after which heading again to the customer middle.
In whole, you’ll stroll about 1.5 kilometers (1 mile) all through the day, though it’s unfold out over the course of about 2 hours, so it doesn’t really feel like an excessive amount of in any respect. Many of the strolling is flat and straightforward, however in case you select to climb the temples then that may be a bit extra strenuous.
There may be loads of wildlife to be seen at Lamanai Archaeological Reserve — bats, howler monkeys, spider monkeys, crocodiles, iguanas, tarantulas, unique birds, and lots of other forms of animals name this place their residence. You may even see a jaguar in case you’re fortunate.
You’ll hear the howler monkeys earlier than you see them. They’re very loud! We encountered a bunch of them within the treetops close to the primary temple, and at first they gave the impression of one thing a lot greater and extra harmful, however the monkeys are literally innocent.
Spider monkey within the treetops (© Flickr / J Robson)
• Jaguar Temple
The Jaguar Temple is mostly the primary temple you’ll cross on a tour of the Lamanai Mayan ruins.
It’s a pyramid-shaped temple with 7 ranges and a peak of virtually 30 meters (100 ft), making it the second tallest at Lamanai. In truth, the bottom of the temple continues to be partly underground, but when it’s totally excavated it will really be the tallest constructing at Lamanai.
Some excursions climb the Jaguar Temple, though ours didn’t. It will get its title from two blocky stone masks carved into the entrance of the temple that should signify jaguars, though I assumed they regarded extra like crocodiles myself.
Archaeologists have found some hidden caches on this temple containing jade masks and different Mayan artifacts. Very fascinating!
Jaguar Temple
Masks element on the Jaguar Temple
One other view of the Jaguar Temple
• Excessive Temple
The Excessive Temple is the tallest monument at Lamanai, and on the time it was constructed, it was almost certainly the tallest constructing of the Mayan world!
It has a peak of 33 meters (108 ft), making it about as tall as a contemporary 10-story constructing. Spectacular. It’s nonetheless one of many greatest Mayan buildings in Central America.
You’ll be able to often climb to the highest of the Excessive Temple, though it was closed for restoration work once I was there. The highest has wonderful panoramic views of the jungle cover!
It’s a tricky climb so watch out and take it sluggish. A few of the steps are awkward and uneven.
Excessive Temple — the tallest Mayan temple at Lamanai
• Masks Temple
Final, however not least, there’s the Masks Temple of Lamanai, which was my favourite a part of the entire place, though it’s one of many smaller temples of the bunch.
That is one other temple that you could climb for the views on prime, however essentially the most distinctive factor in regards to the Masks Temple must be the large stone faces carved into the muse, which is the way it will get its title.
The masks are virtually 4 meters tall they usually’re meant to signify an historical Maya king sporting a crocodile headdress. I really like this type of stuff! There are two masks, with one on either side of the temple’s entrance.
The Temple of Masks
In response to archaeologists, the stone faces on the Lamanai Masks Temple had been added by the Mayans someday round 400 AD, which is sort of 600 years after the remainder of the temple was constructed.
They discovered a tomb contained in the temple that held the stays of a person, with jade and shell artifacts. A second tomb for a girl was discovered close by.
These could have been former rulers at Lamanai, however nobody is aware of for positive.
Fairly face!
The Masks Temple of Lamanai
• Entrance Charges*
- Foreigners: $10 BZD ($5 USD)
- Locals: $5 BZD
*Lamanai excursions often embrace the park charge within the whole worth, so it’s already taken care of.
• Opening Hours
The Mayan ruins are open seven days every week, daily of the 12 months, from 8 AM to five PM.
Finest Time To Go to The Lamanai Ruins
The most effective time of day to go to the Lamanai ruins is within the morning, that manner you may keep away from the worst warmth. Excursions usually begin with an 8 AM pickup, which ought to put you on the ruins by about 10 AM.
You’ll be able to go to Lamanai at any time of 12 months, however usually the most effective time to go to is throughout the dry season in Belize, which runs from December to Might. The months of February, March, April, and Might are particularly sunny in Belize, and also you aren’t more likely to run right into a wet day presently of 12 months.
Through the moist season it’s nonetheless doable to go to Lamanai, however you’re extra more likely to encounter rain. The moist season runs from June to November in Belize.
Lamanai ruins
Closeup of the most effective stone face at Lamanai
Is Lamanai Secure?
Sure, Lamanai is fairly secure. Though the nation of Belize doesn’t have an ideal security file, I’m not conscious of any crimes or violent incidents in opposition to vacationers within the Lamanai space.
I carried my Fuji digicam and took a number of photos on the Mayan ruins, however I stored it hidden discreetly in my bag once I was strolling round on the customer middle and different public areas the place I didn’t want to make use of my digicam.
If you’d like some further peace of thoughts, you might additionally convey a hidden journey belt (like this one on Amazon) and put a few of your valuables in it. That’s what I did with my telephone, money, and bank cards on my first go to to Belize.
Different Ideas For Lamanai Belize
- The place To Keep: If you wish to keep close to the Lamanai Mayan ruins, there are a number of small visitor homes within the city of Indian Church, such because the Lamanai Outpost Lodge. You may also discover loads of snug inns in Orange Stroll city.
- What To Put on: Costume for the tropics! Temperatures may be scorching and humid right here within the daytime, so that you’ll need to have light-weight summer time clothes. I wore shorts and flip flops. Sneakers are usually not required for climbing the temples, however may be useful. Simply bear in mind to decorate modestly since Lamanai is a vital place for the locals.
- Bug Spray: I didn’t discover any bugs or mosquitoes at Lamanai throughout the dry season, however it’s nonetheless a good suggestion to use bug spray simply in case. That is very true in case you go to close to the moist season, while you’re more likely to see extra bugs. There could also be some danger of Dengue or Chikungunya from mosquitoes, however Malaria isn’t a problem on the Lamanai Archaeological Reserve.
- Bogs: There are clear public bathrooms on the entrance to the park, close to the customer middle, proper after you get off the boat at Lamanai. You gained’t discover any bogs on the ruins themselves, so that is the most effective place to maintain enterprise earlier than and after seeing the ruins.
- Snacks & Drinks: There are small retailers on the park entrance the place you should buy snacks, drinks, or souvenirs from the Lamanai Archaeological Reserve.
- Cell Service: There may be some cell service on the Lamanai park if you could make a telephone name or ship a textual content message.
Welcome signal on the entrance
Is Lamanai Price It?
Sure, for my part Lamanai is completely value it, whether or not you’re a cruise passenger or simply occur to be touring in Belize or a neighboring nation!
I believe these are among the most original and fascinating Mayan ruins in Central America. The historical past, structure, and wildlife are all improbable.
Lamanai is properly preserved and it appears like a film set. All of for this reason I’d price it as a bucket record exercise.
Extra Central America Journey Ideas
Thanks for trying! I hope you loved this journey information for the Mayan ruins of Lamanai in Belize.
Don’t overlook to take a look at my different journey weblog posts for Central America and South America earlier than you go!
Glad travels!