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Corozal Bay is located adjacent to Corozal Town, in northern Belize, Central America. The  Mayan ruins of Cerros are located across the bay from Corozal Town. The town is off the radar of most mainstream tourists, which makes it an ideal spot from which to explore the prehistoric roots of the area.

The site of Cerros is relatively easy to reach from Corozal Town itself, with both boat trips and road routes available. Travelling to the site on foot is a 10-mile trek, however, on dirt roads and tracks. Taking a boat trip is by far the simpler, if less adventurous, option.

Habitation on the site of the ruins dates back to 400BC, though the urban development of the site did not begin in earnest until around 50BC. Prior to that date, the site was a small village, where the main subsistence industries were fishing and farming, supplemented with some trading. The fertile soil and rich seas in the region made Cerros and Corozal Bay a prime spot for a settlement.

The progression of the site from a village to a more urban environment coincided with a cultural change, as the Maya in the area began to experiment with the idea of kingship as a political structure. The economy of the area around Corozal Bay also began to become wealthier and more productive around this time. The inhabitants of the site buried their homes, and replaced them with an impressive array of public squares and large temples.

The process of urbanisation seems to have come to something of a halt in about 100AD, however. The last of the town’s impressive structures date to around that time, with many of the other temples and plazas seeming to have fallen into disuse prior to that date. The population started to decline fairly rapidly at around this time, too, and new construction projects were limited to the periphery of the site.

The entire settlement seems to have been entirely abandoned by around 400AD, and was not found again until 1900. That was when amateur archaeologist Thomas Gann made note of some mounds, which he assumed were ancient ‘look-out points’. Gann was an Irish doctor, raised in England, who discovered and documented many Central American archaeological sites, while working as district medical officer in British Honduras for 25 years from 1894.

His noting of the mounds drew attention to the site, but archaeological work did not begin in earnest at Cerros until 1973. Since then, several impressive structures have been excavated. Ball courts, temples and pyramids can all be explored at the site now by visitors.

Several impressive masks, used for religious rituals by the Maya, were also discovered on the site. Burials have also been found, as well as several dwelling places. Much of the site still remains to be excavated.

Corozal Bay offers plenty of opportunities to rest and recuperate after a trip to Cerros, especially if visitors have walked to the site and back along the gravel track. There is a decent selection of places to eat for such a small town. Travellers can enjoy local Indian and Mexican restaurants, as well as pizza parlours.

As well as visiting the archaeological sites in the area, visitors can also relax by taking boat trips to nearby islands. Many of the boats leave from the local town pier, Thunderbolt Dock in Corozal Bay. There is also a good range of shops in Corozal Bay, selling a variety of souvenirs and local items, as well as more general goods.

The best thing to do when visiting Cerros is to take a walk around the site, which should give a good idea as to what is the history and attraction of this area. Close to Cerros is another Maya site, Santa Rita Corozal located on the Santa Rita Hill. This is believed to have been the important Maya city of Chetumal, and visiting here is a nice way to complement a trip to Cerros, while staying in Corozal Bay.

Taking a trip to Cerros (Maya ruin in Corozal) is well worth doing. Corozal Bay itself is a charming town, which is somewhat remote, giving visitors the chance to sample a genuine slice of life in Belize. They can also see some of the deepest historical roots of the country, while enjoying an invigorating jungle adventure.

If you are looking for a beautiful, relaxing place to escape the pressures and stresses of daily life, Corozal Town, Belize is a great option. The Corozal Town location is just nine miles from the border of Mexico and just 84 miles from Belize City. The location of Corozal Town makes it easy to explore lots of different places and scenery during your vacation. Staying in one of the great Corozal Bay resorts is a terrific way to recharge your batteries and renew your spirit. Corozal Bay offers gorgeous scenery and a variety of outdoor experiences, cultural events, dining, night life and more. Corozal Bay offers luxurious resorts to make enjoying your stay effortless, pampering and one of a kind.

To understand why Corozal Town is so unique, you have to learn a little history and information. In 1848 while the Mayan Indians were rebelling and uprising against the Spaniards in the nearby Yucatan, refugees of the conflict fled to the northernmost part of Belize and established Corozal Town. The war, also known as The War of the Castes, began as a war against the Spaniards but evolved into a fight against the Mestizos as well. The Mestizos were a people of half Spanish and half Indian descent and the war between the three factions forced thousands of people to flee their homes and seek refuge in Corozal Town.

The influx of thousands of refugees seeking shelter from the raging wars led the then magistrate of the town, James Blake, to allow the refugees to settle the land and he helped them establish crops of sugar cane so they could support themselves and enjoy a stable, secure livelihood in their new homeland. With a diverse ethnic mix and cultural backgrounds, the new Corozal Town inhabitants brought with them varied languages, religious viewpoints, family structures and cultural practices, traditions and beliefs. From Catholicism to Maya folklore and Yucatec Mayan speakers to Spanish speakers, Corozal Town was a melting pot that provided shelter, security and a new lease on life for the refugees who sought a life free from the Castes War that raged all around them.

To maintain their safety and preserve their new way of life, Corozal Town’s residents became a garrison town and in 1870, Fort Barlee was built to help safeguard the town and its inhabitants. Today, the brick constructed corner supports of Fort Barlee surround the post office complex across from the town’s central square.

Another great attraction in Corozal Town are the ruins of Santa Rita. Santa Rita is a pyramid site that sits atop the remains of a once powerful Mayan city that ruled the ancient Mayan world for more than 2,000 years. Burial sites in Santa Rita have yielded jewelry and other artifacts that help scholars put together the many remaining puzzle pieces of this once mighty, powerful and industrious civilization.

Across the Corozal Bay stand the mounds of Cerros, the first coastal trading center of the Mayans. Cerros is considered one of the most important sites of the late preclassic Mayan civilization as it was the first experiment with kingship in the Maya world. Ballcourts, plazas, temples, canals and other minor structures can be explored in the ruins and offers visitors a one of a kind experience that can help them see how the great Mayas once lived, worked, worshiped and played.

Whether you want to reconnect with your ancestral roots, explore new territories, get an insight to history or simply luxuriate in the beauty and splendor of Corozal Bay, Corozal Town offers a unique travel experience that will delight visitors of all ages and activity levels. With beautiful resorts, a location that makes getting there easy, a rich and diverse cultural history, archaeological sites that offer a glimpse into the past and a crystal clear bay that welcomes you to relax, enjoy and unwind, a vacation to a resort in Corozal offers everything you need to truly enjoy a well deserved get away.

For hundreds of years, Corozal Town and Bay have welcomed visitors, settlers and people of all races, ethnicity and cultures. Answer the siren call of the beautiful bay and plan to spend your next vacation in timeless Corozal Town.

With winter blanketing the country, thousands of Americans are interested in spending their time somewhere warmer, where they can enjoy the festivities in an environment that they feel would better match it. Many may immediately consider the Caribbean, but there are still some destinations that can provide travellers with a much more exclusive experience. In Central America, travellers are strongly encouraged to visit Belize, which features all of the attractions of the Caribbean, but on a more local level. When you want the holiday away from a holiday, Corozal is a great spot to vacation. Corozal Bay, in particular, is one of the prime attractions available in Belize. The landscape feels as though it comes out of a fairy tale, with gorgeous, lush rain forests, shimmering white sand beaches, and natural lagoons. Any number of vacation activities can be enjoyed from several of the beachfront towns. Accommodations around Corozal Bay are particularly comfortable as well, with rooms available for just about all types of visitors. Consider some of the following things that you can enjoy as you plan your quiet dream vacation.

Beach Visiting

All along Belize’s gorgeous coast is an attractive archipelago of bright islands, which are known as cayes. These scenic little locations contain a wide variety of different natural wonders, and are home to a series of quaint beach towns. All of these locations can be visited through the local carrier, known as Tropic Air. In San Pedro, there are streets so narrow that the residents drive in golf carts. Around the stunning area is barrier reef system that extends along the coastline of the town, to an incredible distance of over two hundred miles. Along the beachfront are numerous little excursion boats, bars, restaurants, and dive shops, all of which can provide visitors with things to do and sights to see. Another island, Placencia, can be the opposite of what San Pedro provides. It has just a few docks and developments, and features miles of gorgeous beaches, with a few small hotels for your personal enjoyment. They can be the most relaxing vacation this side of Corozal Bay.

Adventuring

For travellers who are not interested in sitting back and just enjoying the sights and sounds at Corozal Bay, there is always a more active approach to be taken around the mainland. Visitors can start with a little bit of cave exploration all around Belize, with river tubing a particularly attractive prospect at Caves Branch Jungle Lodge, located in Cayo. Here, vacationers can rappel over caverns and float around an underground river on large inner tubes. People interested in a more intensive hiking experience will also have plenty of options. They can explore over twenty thousand acres of gorgeous, protected jungle landscapes, maneuvering through forests at the Shipstern Wildlife Reserve, located in Corozal Bay. They can trek over to Antelope Falls or follow many of the panoramic rain forest trails at Cerros Caye. The options are limitless, and visitors are encouraged to free up their itineraries in order to make the most of their adventuring stay.

Diving

Finally, if you are a fan of diving and exploring underwtaer treasures, the entire Belize area can be your treasure trove. Diving is world class at Belize, and there are numerous beautiful places that you can visit just to get to know the depths a little bit better. The Hol Chan Marine Reserve located off of San Pedro features over 160 beautiful species of fish, along with over 40 types of coral ecosystems. You will have the pleasure of swimming alongside nurse sharks and stringrays as you explore the underwater wildlife and terrain. Caye Caulker is a favorite getaway for many locals, and it is famous for its coral reef diving spots. The South Water Caye Marine Reserve, can be another stunning diving option. If you want a quieter and more personal type of swim, you can always visit the Splash Dive Center in Placencia. For those who would rather enjoy whale shark diving excursions, they can visit Gladden Spit and see where the day takes them. For absolute diving enthusiasts, an overnight trip to the Great Blue Hole submarine sinkhole is highly recommended, as it has been ranked among the world’s top ten best dive locations by Jacques Cousteau.

Located in the Corozal district of Northern Belize, Corozal Bay is a crystalline inlet of the larger Chetumal Bay off the Caribbean Sea. The estuary is a poplar tourist destination in Central America due to its proximity to Mexico. Known for its fascinating Mayan ruins and luxurious resorts, Corozal Bay is only eight miles (thirteen kilometers) south of the Mexican border.

Corozal enjoys an excellent location as it is a short drive from Chetumal City, the capital of Quintana Roo, Mexico, and many historical sites on the Yucatan Peninsula. Nestled between the beautiful Hondo and New Rivers, Corozal Bay is home to the Commercial Free Zone, a major business sector that features casinos, hotels, shopping centers, and wholesale markets. This commercial area is known locally for its bargains, drawing visitors from all over the region.

Many tourists come to this part of Belize to visit archaeological ruins, and one of the most extensive sites, Cerro Maya, is located across the bay in Chetumal. While a portion of the city is submerged in water, one can enjoy a sensational view of its intricate canal system from one of many ancient temples and pyramids located at the site. Another ancient city, Santa Rita, sits on the northern border of Corozal.

Early History — Ancient Maya and European Colonial Eras

The Mayan ruins of Santa Rita and Cerro Maya have provided extensive historical data about the Corozal Bay area. Pottery and artifacts from these sites testify that the Maya began populating the bay during the Preclassical Period, which spanned from 2000 BC until the third century AD. Santa Rita had been a rich agricultural area around 1000 BC, while Cerro Maya served as a major sea trade route through which the Maya obtained most of their jade and obsidian stones. The ruins of Cerro contain stunning examples of Mayan architecture despite the fact that this city did not last very long. Changes in sea trade routes during the early Classic Period led to the early decline of this magnificent citadel.

The Spanish began to colonize Central America after the tenth century, but Belize escaped much of their influence at the time because the area was not a rich source for gold and other resources. British and Scottish traders began to build small colonies and develop logging and slave trades in Belize in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. After 1836, Central America was no longer under Spanish rule, and the British began to administer this area. Belize became an official British colony in 1862, and more British investors began to take an interest in its mahogany industry, which flourished until the Great Depression. As the English established more colonies in Belize during the mid-nineteenth century, refugees began to immigrate across the border from Mexico to escape the ravages of the Yucatan’s Caste War. These expatriates were the original founders of Corozal Town.

Cradle of Mestizo Culture

Many refer to the area as the “heart” of Mestizo culture. Today, more than half of the residents of Corozal Bay are Latino or Mestizo, a distinct ethnicity created from centuries of cultural blending among the Maya, Colonial Spanish, Mexicans and Latin Americans. Belizean history and legend states that the first Mestizo children were born in the sixteenth century to Gonzalo Guerrero, a shipwrecked Spaniard whom the Maya enslaved and later revered as a powerful war leader, and Zazil Ha, daughter of the Mayan Lord Nachan Can. Guerrero was one of the first Europeans to immigrate to Belize, and he is one of the most important historical figures in Central America.

Visitors to Corozal can enjoy numerous Mestizo cultural events throughout the year, including the pre-Lent Carnival, which is a festive week of parades, music and dancing akin to the New Orleans Mardi Gras celebration. The Posada is a Christmas tradition spanning nine nights that celebrates the legendary journey of Joseph and Mary before Jesus’ birth. Mestizos also celebrate their own version of the Day of the Dead festival called “Dia de Los Finados”.

Today, the laid-back residents of Corozal Bay welcome visitors from all over the world. With its glorious views of the Caribbean, fascinating cultural events, and unique attractions, this scenic inlet may be one of the best “hidden gems” on the Yucatan Peninsula. Visitors are not limited to the sights of the Corozal district since many other points of interest are located within a short drive or boat ride from the bay, and the mild climate makes this area one of the most desirable travel destinations in Belize.