Corozal:
The town and district of Corozal borders Chetumal, Mexico and shares many cultural similarities. There are two ruins close to Corozal town (Santa Rita and Cerros), lagoons, fishing and a good road that leads to the 22,000 acre Shipstern Nature Preserve, a wonderful birding destination that also boasts all five species of cats. The Government of Belize has enacted attractive perks for retirees who have been settling in nearby Consejo Shores.

Orange Walk:
The river boat trip to Lamanai ruins is an extremely popular outing. Day tours to Lamanai emanate from San Pedro, Caye Caulker and Belize City. The New River is alive with manatees, crocs, river otters and waterbirds. You may even see a jabiru stork along the 25 mile waterway to the expansive New River Lagoon and the ruins. Lamanai is both visually and historically impressive. Lamanai was first settled by the Mayas in 1500BC and concluded one of the longest continuous occupations in 1640AD. Archaeologists figure that at one time, the population exceeded well over one million people. You will almost certainly hear, if not see, howler monkeys. Their quieter, more active cousins the spider monkeys, share the ruins with them and a plethora of other wildlife.

Extended stays are possible at an award winning lodge that abuts the ruins. Their residen tarchaeologistst, primatologist and ornithologist make for fascinating conversations and they are very generous with the information they have gathered.