Take Your Trip to Belize One Step More Exciting: Transferral & Touring Services!

The Lamanai Archaeological Reserve is a 2-sq mile forest that encompasses the ancient Maya site of Lamanai and is located in northern Belize in the Orange Walk District on the west bank of the New River. Adjacent to the reserve is a small rural village of just over 250 very friendly and welcoming residents called Indian Church Village.

The reserve is managed by Belize's Institute of Archaeology and the cultural and natural wonders of this area are all protected. There are over 900 structures with a half of dozen or so which have been restored and consolidated during the government run Tourism Development Project that ran from about 2000 to 2003. This is an incredible site because it boasts well over 2,500 years of unbroken occupation. Unlike other major city-states Lamanai did not suffer from the decline or collapse that Tikal, Copan, Palenque and other Maya cities suffered during the Classic period around AD 850. In fact, Lamanai flourised after this time.

Lamanai can be reached by road or a better route is to access the site via the New River, it takes approximately an hour on the river to reach the site. During which time you will see many different species of water birds and possibly a Morelets' Crocodile (a docile fresh water species). You will enjoy a picnic lunch and spend a few hours seeing Black Howler Monkeys, toucans, Guanacaste trees, and many other fascinating natural wonders of Lamanai!