©Lonely Planet Publications Pty Ltd

Cayo District

Includes  Why Go? ...... 154 is ’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. , Xunan- tunich, and the mother of all Belizean Maya sites, Cristo Rey & Chiquibul Roads . . . . 174 , 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 . . . . . 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)

(Augustine)

Sibun Gorge Sibun

(2820ft)

Douglas D'Silva Douglas

Forest Reserve Forest

Granite C Granite airn

Sittee River Sittee

Reserve ío

R

On

V aca Forest aca

17º00'N

Pools

lining and exploring a a exploring and lining (3126ft)

17º00'N

(3346ft)

C airn Privassio

tubing, jungle zip- jungle tubing, Baldy B Baldy eacon

Coom

Sibun a

Reserve

) Cave- ) 159 (p

k n

ree Rd C

National Park National

Archaeological Archaeological

airn C

Cooma

Eligio Panti Eligio

Foot Falls Foot

Caves

Caves Branch Branch Caves Reserve River Carmen del

Nojkaaxm een

Mencos

Thousand

Forest

Benque Viejo Benque

Hwy

Nohoch Che’en Che’en Nohoch San Antonio San

Melchor de Melchor

River 5 Cave

Sibun

Rd Succotz

Creek

Creek ird

b g

n Hummi Branch . cave dramatic

San José San

Xunantunich Barton

to Cris

in Belize’s most most Belize’s in

Rey

G

Chial R Chial d eorge Price eorge

Nature R Nature

eserve Mopan

National Park National

Serious spelunking spelunking Serious

Barton

H

Tapir M Tapir ountain

Cristo Rey Cristo

w

Blue Hole Blue d

Muknal ) ) 164 (p

y

Muknal R

l

Cahal Pech Cahal Tunichil Actun Tunichil Tunichil Actun

4

ibu

R Actun

Santa Elena Santa iver San Ignacio San

. ruins Maya

Jungle Lodge Jungle

hiqu

Esperanza

C Caves Branch Caves

remote and ancient ancient and remote

Tree Falls Tree

Central Farm Central

Roaring

Ian Anderson' Ian

s

Bullet

Georgeville Exploring these these Exploring Village

Beliz

Archaeological Reserve Archaeological

Ontario Highway Saan Caracol

) ) 180 (p

3

Unitedville

Village Caves Branch Caves Yim

Hummingbird e

Teakettle Nohoch Che'en Nohoch River . highway

Creek Hope

Mount Flora and Fauna and Flora

region’s most scenic scenic most region’s

El Pilar El Private Paradise Private BELM O P A N

Lookout

Reserve for Maya for Reserve

The Leslies’ Leslies’ The

along the the along Belize

Spanish El Pilar A Pilar El Belmopan Airport Belmopan rchaeological

Creek

DISTRICT coastal Southern Southern coastal Art Box Art

Roaring

G eorge Price H Price eorge

w y CAYO Park

between Cayo and and Cayo between

National National

Bridging the gap gap the Bridging

G uanacaste

DISTRICT Highway ) ) 160 (p

BELIZE

Hummingbird Hummingbird

2

. Saturday

racia c a L Demo Bank Lodge Bank

during market day on on day market during Banana

B

e

l i

ze

town, especially especially town, River

this traveler-friendly traveler-friendly this

Belize City (32mi) City Belize ) Hanging out in in out Hanging ) 165 (p

San Ignacio San

1

Highlights

District District

Cayo Cayo

0 10 miles 10

0 20 km 20

88º30'W

ct GDistrict High89º00'W lights

Cayo Distri 152