INFO ON COROZAL

COROZAL TOWN, CONSEJO, SHIPSTERN, SARTENEJA. Nestled along Corozal Bay, the town of Corozal is a beautiful; haven of tranquility. The lovely fishing village of Sarteneja is a forty-minute boat trip from Corozal Many talented shipwrights hail from this quaint village. Santa Rita in the northern part of town is where a large Maya civilization thrived during the late Postclassic. Blending together a dose of old world charm and Spanish flavor, the colorful ambience of Corozal unfolds like pages from a story book. Rare birds and prolific fishing waters tell only part of the story…Just nine road miles away from Mexico, this quaint seaside town is endearing and decidedly serene. Curling gracefully around the turquoise waters of Corozal Bay, it is an ideal spot to spend a few days away from the tourist hustle and bustle. Visitors will discover and enchanting tropical Haven cooled by gentle Caribbean breezes, and the perfect ambience for relaxation and tranquility. A stroll through town unveils the multinational blend of friendly residents in this seaside community. Mestizo, Maya, Creole, Garifuna, Coolie, Mennonite, Asia and a hint of Mexican highlight its cultural background. Cozy seaside resorts and colorful homes spread out along the waterfront Rich in exotic colors and scents, the nearby market is full of ripe mangoes and papayas, juicy pineapple, tangy star fruit and hot habanero peppers.

Farther along the shore, you can't miss the brightly colored steeple of the Corozal Museum, a beautiful 19th century Customs House. Another worthwhile museum in Corozal is Window to the Past (Khirkee to Guznara) displaying East Indian folk culture.

Close to town are ancient Maya sites overlooking the sea. Gaze across Corozal Bay for a glimpse of the Cerros ruins, which stand above the distant peninsula. Cerros was the first Maya trading center built on the seaside in 50 B.C.Today it is a serene, majestic site in the jungle, inhabited by jaguars, tapirs and 250 species of birds.

Within the town itself, the Maya site of Santa Rita is a short, easy climb for a wonderful panoramic view of the region and Cerros. The pyramid tops the remains of a Maya city that dominated the area for more than 2,00 years.

Sights and sounds of nature's tenants are close at hand in Corozal. Wildlife abounds and bird-watching is exceptional in the mostly uninhabited forests and wetlands around the bay. Storks, boat-billed herons, egrets, frigate birds, pelicans and cormorants are numerous in these wetlands and along the shore. Aztec parakeets, bright-orange orioles and yellow kiskadoos fly around mahogany trees; hummingbirds flit around the hibiscus outside your window. Manatees (almost in the bay) can be spotted from the sea wall in town. Take a boat ride on the turquoise bay and be met by playful dolphins. Ferry service from South End Corozal now takes visitors and their vehicles over New River with an opportunity to visit Copper Bank (10 minutes away), Progresso (15 minutes), Warrie Bight, Shipstern Nature Reserve, Sarteneja (11/2 hours) and near-by small villages. The ferry provides 24 hr. service. Water taxi to San Pedro Town Ambergris Caye, passenger only is about 2 hrs.

Corozal is a gateway to the Mundo Maya of Belize. An enchanting boat ride along the New River will bring you to Lamanai, "city of the submerged crocodile", one of the country's major sites.

How about exploring across the border? Local taxi drivers will expedite your crossing of the border getting you an extra stamp in your passport in the process. In Chetumal, the Mexican border town, visit the newly built Museo de la Cultura or trade at the Corozal Free Zone.

Off to the islands? Corozal is a 20 minute commuter flight to the island of San Pedro Town, Ambergris Caye.

It is no wonder visitors come back and make it their home-away-from-home. They like the healthy climate of this clean safe, English-speaking little town in the heart of Central American tropics. They come to retire and build that perfect garden they've always dreamed pf. Others just relax and enjoy the breeze.

With its exceptional location between the two scenic rivers, the New River and Rio Hondo, and because of its tremendous Maya heritage, Corozal has achieved the perfect union of two cultures. The West Indian beat mixes marvelously with a Latin melody, like the waves of the Caribbean Sea caressing the shores. This is a captivating destination where you'll be compelled to kick back, relax and stay.