©Lonely Planet Publications Pty Ltd 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) 152 T T T T C C C DISTRI DISTRI DISTRI CAYO CAYO CAYO ights L IGH H istrict G D 89º00'W 88º30'W 0 20 km Cayo 0 10 miles District Highlights 1 San Ignacio (p165) Hanging out in Belize City (32mi) this traveler-friendly town, especially River elize during market day on Banana B Saturday . Bank Lodge La Democracia 2 Hummingbird BELIZE Highway (p160) DISTRICT Bridging the gap Guanacaste National between Cayo and CAYO Park George Price Hwy coastal Southern Roaring Art Box DISTRICT Creek Belize along the El Pilar Archaeological Spanish The Leslies’ Belmopan Airport El Pilar Reserve for Maya Lookout Private Paradise BELMOPAN region’s most scenic Flora and Fauna Mount highway . River Hope Teakettle Creek Nohoch Che'en e Village Yim Hummingbird Caves Branch 3 (p180) Unitedville Caracol Beliz Ontario Saan Highway Archaeological Reserve Exploring these Bullet Georgeville Village Roaring Ian Anderson's remote and ancient Tree Falls Central Farm Caves Branch Esperanza C Maya ruins . San Ignacio hiqu Jungle Lodge iver Santa Elena Actun 4 R ibu Actun Tunichil Cahal Pech Tunichil l Muknal (p164) y R Muknal GUATEMALA w d Blue Hole H Cristo Rey Tapir Mountain Serious spelunking Barton National Park Mopan eorgeChial Price Rd Nature Reserve in Belize’s most G Cristo Rey dramatic cave . Xunantunich San José Barton Branch Hummin Creek gbird Succotz Rd Creek Cave Sibun 5 Melchor de San Antonio River Nohoch Che’en Benque Viejo Forest Hwy Mencos Nojkaaxmeen Thousand Caves Branch del Carmen Reserve River Eligio Panti Foot Falls Caves Archaeological Cooma Cairn National Park Cree Rd Reserve (p159) Cave- n k Cooma Baldy Beacon Sibun tubing, jungle zip- Privassio Cairn lining and exploring a 17º00'N (3126ft) (3346ft) Vaca Forest Pools 17º00'N R On Reserve ío Sittee River Granite Cairn Forest Reserve Douglas D'Silva (2820ft) (Augustine) Sibun Gorge.