Corozal

Corozal was founded in 1848 by refugees from the Caste War in the Yucatán and it is still the most Mexican-feeling town in Belize, Spanish-speaking, laid out around a plaza on a bay, and quiet. Hurricane Janet flattened it in 1955, so most of the buildings are post-war, but the town hall holds a large mural by Manuel Villamor tracing the region's history. On the edge of town sits Santa Rita, a small Maya site built over by the modern town, and across the bay at Cerros are the remains of a late Preclassic trading centre with temples now partly eroded by the sea.

History

Much of the town stands over an ancient Maya city, sometimes called Santa Rita and perhaps the town of Chactemal, and Corozal itself was founded in 1848 by refugees from the Caste War of Yucatán; between 1848 and 1856 more than 10,000 refugees crossed the Rio Hondo, raising the town's population to 4,500, and the magistrate James Blake let them settle land in the district, where they introduced sugar cane. The town became a garrison with a fort, Fort Barlee, and Hurricane Janet badly damaged it in 1955, after which it was largely rebuilt (Wikipedia, Corozal Town).

Highlights

• The town hall mural - Villamor's history of the region in one room.
• Santa Rita - a small Maya site on the town's edge.
• Cerros - a Preclassic trading site across the bay, reached by boat.
• The bayfront - a long quiet seafront with almost no development.

When to go

December to April is the dry season. Cerros is reached by boat across the bay or by a rough road that is difficult after rain. Corozal is a stop on the way to or from Mexico rather than a destination.

Good to know

There is not a great deal here and half a day covers it; most travellers pass through to or from Chetumal. Cerros is eroding into the sea and access depends on the water and the road. Santa Rita is small and largely built over. The bay is not swimmable in most spots.

Nearby

The Mexican border is fifteen minutes north; Sarteneja is across the bay.

Key facts