The ruins of Lamanai IN Belize are among the most fascinating Mayan ruins in Central America, with a masked temple with huge stone faces carved into the foundation. This looks like something out of Indiana Jones!
Lamanai means “submerged crocodile” and this riverside area was colonized by the Maya thousands of years ago. Excavations began only in the 1970s and continue to this day. Some temples are even open to climbing, so you can enjoy a panoramic view from the Top!
You can visit Lamanai quite easily on a day trip from places like Orange Walk, Belize City or even San Pedro at Ambergris Caye. Along the way, you can enjoy a riverboat ride through the jungle with the sounds of tropical birds and howler monkeys in the treetops.
In this guide you will learn how to get to Lamanai Belize, what you can see in the Mayan ruins, the best tourist packages and everything you need to know before you go!
The best Lamanai circuits
One of the best ways to visit Lamanai is to take a day trip.
If you are coming from Belize City or the cruise port, Viator offers a highly appreciated Lamanai tour with a riverboat ride, wildlife watching and the best Mayan temples in the area.
The price includes a local Belizean guide and driver, lunch, parking fees and pick-up and drop-off at Belize City hotels, cruise port or airport.
We have used Viator for many tours and activities around the world, and they are excellent. Highly recommended!
Where is Lamanai located? How to get there
Lamanai is located in northern Belize, near the New River, and you can get there by car or boat.
The nearest major city is Orange Walk, but you can also visit Lamanai on a day trip from anywhere in Northern Belize, including Belize City, Ladyville, Los Lagos, Caye Caulker or San Pedro in Ambergris Caye.
If you are going to Lamanai by car, it is about 1 hour from Orange Walk Town or more than 2 hours from Belize City. The distance is actually not very far, but the roads near Lamanai are gravel and gravel, and they are not in good condition. All-wheel drive is especially recommended during the rainy season.
Visits to Lamanai usually go to the archaeological site by boat rather than by car. This is the most fun and interesting way to do it, because you can relax and enjoy the view of the river while keeping an eye on the birds and other wild animals.
The boat ride to Lamanai takes about 1 hour and this is one of the great things to come here in my opinion!
Lamanai Ruins: what to expect
There are 5 main temples in Lamanai, between which there is a little walking. It also has a small museum with some Mayan artifacts and a 19th century sugar mill that was swallowed by a strangler fig tree after it left.
Most Lamanai tours start with the Jaguar Temple, then head to the royal complex, the ball court and the high temple before ending at the temple of the mask, then return to the visitor center.
All in all, you will run about 1.5 kilometers (1 mile) throughout the day, although this will stretch over a period of about 2 hours, so it doesn’t seem like too much at all. Most of the walking is flat and easy, but if you choose to climb the temples, it can be a little more tiring.
There are many wild animals to see in the Lamanai Archaeological Reserve — bats, howler monkeys, spider monkeys, crocodiles, iguanas, tarantulas, exotic birds and many other animal species inhabit this place. You might even see a Jaguar if you’re lucky.
You will hear the howler monkeys before you see them. They are very noisy! We met a group of them in the treetops near the first temple, and at first their roar sounded like something much larger and more peril, but they are actually harmless monkeys.
