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Lamanai Maya Site & the New River Safari 
The Lamanai day tour is one of the most interesting tours in Belize . A 45 minute
drive up the Northern Highway brings you to Tower Hill, where you
board a river boat and head up the New River . While traveling the many
little creeks and lagoons, it is easy to encounter hawks, kites, falcons or a
monkey or two. At the entrance to the New River Lagoon, the ruins of Lamanai
(Maya for submerged crocodile) rise into view. The ruins of Lamanai,
one of Belize 's largest ceremonial centers, are located on the banks of
the 30 mile long New River Lagoon in North Central Belize. With one of
the longest occupation spans in the Maya World, Lamanai has been
continuously occupied for over 3000 years. While touring this site,
huge masks depicting dead rulers and gods seem to materialize out of
the rainforest, amid the chatter of bid-life and the haunting call of the
Howler Monkeys. Your guide will point out the Copal and Ramon trees,
which were of great importance in ancient times. The Lamanai
Archaeological
Reserve also contains a museum, the remnants of
two 16th century
Spanish churches and a colonial sugar mill that was
established in 1860. Set in
tropical forest and providing spectacular
views from several of its large temples,
Lamanai provides a unique
experience in the culture of the Maya and the biological
diversity of
a tropical forest.
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