The
Cayo District is approximately
65 miles west of Belize City. It is the country's second
largest district, with a population of approximately fifty-four
thousand people. The Cayo District is the Belizean
western frontier (you'll be able to do more horseback riding
here than in any other part of the country). It's reached via the
Western Highway, which begins on the outskirts of Belize City at the
intersection of Central American Boulevard and Cemetery Road.
A one-hour
ride from Belize City gets you to the capitol
city of Belmopan, whose
downtown market area is a pulsating, thriving bus terminal with connections
to every part of Belize. Both English
and Spanish are widely
spoken in Cayo.
The landscape changes into hilly
jungle and farmland near
San Ignacio, a lively little
town on the Macal River. Besides
being home to the nation's capital, the Cayo District,
covering around
two thousand square miles of verdant landscape, has
some of the most scenic attractions in Belize: clear, meandering
rivers, lush jungles, green hillsides, thundering waterfalls
(right), huge cave systems, two of Belize's most important
Mayan archaeological ruins,
and a pine ridge forest just
waiting to be explored and experienced. It's rich with wildlife and
a favored destination for ecotourists.
The Cayo District is a wonderful hub
for hiking, horseback riding and canoeing.