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Cayo District
Includes Why Go? Belmopan ...... 154 Cayo District is Belize’s premier adventure and eco-activity Hummingbird Hwy. . .. 160 region. The lush environs of the Wild West are covered with Actun Tunichil jungle, woven with rivers, waterfalls and azure pools, and Muknal...... 164 dotted with Maya ruins ranging from small, tree-covered San Ignacio...... 165 hills to massive, magnificent temples. Cahal Pech, Xunan- tunich, El Pilar and the mother of all Belizean Maya sites, Cristo Rey & Chiquibul Roads . . . . 174 Caracol, are all in Cayo. Travelers leave the coast and head inland to tube through Mountain Pine river caves, zip-line over the jungle canopy or horseback ride Ridge Area...... 178 through the Maya Mountains. From a base at San Ignacio Caracol...... 180 or Belmopan, tour operators can easily get your adventure Bullet Tree Falls . . . . . 182 started. This region teems with nature too, from botanic San José Succotz gardens and butterfly houses to primeval jungles and rain- & Around...... 185 forests, where the only thing coming between you and the wildlife is a pair of binoculars. Accommodations range from camping and budget hos- Best Places to Eat tels to some of the most luxurious jungle and mountain lodges in Belize. Head to Cayo with a sense of adventure and ¨¨Running W you won’t be disappointed. Steakhouse (p172) ¨¨Benny’s Kitchen (p186) ¨¨Blancaneaux Lodge (p179) When to Go ¨¨Guava Limb Cafe (p172) ¨¨Jan–Mar Sun-drenched days, cooler nights and dry roads make these months a great time to explore Cayo. ¨¨Corkers (p156) ¨¨Apr & May The height of the hot, dry season. ¨¨Jun–Nov Plenty of rain and muddy roads. Best Places to Sleep ¨¨Black Rock Lodge (p184) ¨¨San Ignacio Resort Hotel (p170) ¨¨Ian Anderson’s Caves Branch Jungle Lodge (p161) ¨¨Trek Stop (p186) ¨¨El-Rey Hotel (p154)
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Highlights
District District
Cayo Cayo
0 10 miles 10
0 20 km 20
88º30'W
ct GDistrict High89º00'W lights
Cayo Distri 152