This
page is sponsored by BelizeRivers.org,
a membership organization for the protection through
the promotion of the rivers of Belize. The President
of the organization is Austrian national, computer
engineer and adventurer Ms. Regina Angela Firek
from Vienna, Austria who became so concerned about
the rivers of the world and the future of fresh
water on the planet that she initiated her own
rivers movement.
http://www.belizerivers.org
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With
my more than able Belizean guide Luis, together we departed the
local pier at the Corozal Bay Hotel located along the shoreline
in the Belizean town of Corozal at just past eight in the morning..
Loaded down with a full tank of fuel as well as a cooler of selected
beverages and food from the hotel's restaurant, we headed out
across the bay on a sun filled day.
In
a matter of minutes we reached the mouth of the New River at the
south end of Corozal Bay. The New River is most noted for the
ancient Maya archeological site far upstream at Lamanai. However,
littered with tall swaying trees along the river's edge, I found
the section of river between Corozal Bay and the town of Orange
Walk to be far more lush than the section I have traveled years
before from Orange Walk to the Lamanai site.
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cable ferry across the New River, north of Orange Walk,
Belize. |
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The
particular day Luis and I traveled the New river, we were fortunate
enough to spot not only abundant bird life but also what appeared
from the deck of our boat to be two Cayman crocks sunning nearby
to a handful of Howler Monkeys chattering amongst the trees. Just
before we reached the ferry which allows road travel to continue
across the New River towards Progresso and on to the remote fishing
village of Sarteneja, my guide noted that a sailboat had recently
attempted to make its way to the Lamanai archeological site. However,
once they reached the ferry, they were forced to re-chart their
course due to the overhanging power lines which were simply to
low for their sailing mast.
For
Luis and I, we had no problems with the power lines. But we
were forced to lift the boats motor prop from the water due
to the ferry cable which lies in wait just under the water line
of the New River. In fact, we made it almost to the toll road
bridge just outside the town of Orange Walk before we were forced
back towards Corozal Bay due to the fact that Luis did not have
a backup fuel tank. All in all I found the New River trip extremely
rewarding and hope to return soon with ample fuel to ply the
waters all the way to Lamanai.
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Travel
along the New River of Belize.
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The
mouth of the New River near Corozal town. |
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