Travel Belize: Lamanai Village Medicine Walk & Creatures of the Night!
Travel Belize: Lamanai Village Medicine Walk & Creatures of the Night!
WAVEJourney Explores Lamanai Outpost Lodge!
Jungle Dawn Hike
Day 4:
Jungle Dawn Hike – We woke up early (5:10 am) for the 5:30 am jungle dawn hike with naturalist, Nathan Forbes, and a couple of guests from London. After meeting Nathan at the reception area our small group walked in the dark (with just the light from our headlamps) towards the Maya ruins.
Travel Belize: Maya Ruins Near Lamanai Village
It was a warm and still morning with nobody else around. The jungle had not yet awoken. We arrived at the Maya temples just as the sun was rising, and while we admired these incredible structures we eagerly listened to Nathan describe the various animals, insects and flora that inhabited the area.
Howler Monkey
Then the Jurassic Park sound effects started… the Howler monkeys were awake and making their presence well-known. It had been a very interesting couple of hours spent observing the jungle come to life.
After a short boat ride back to the lodge from the old dock at the Maya ruins we went to breakfast – coffee, fruit bowl, grapefruit juice, omelet with potatoes, toast, and bacon.
Eduardo Take Us On A Medicine Walk
Our next activity was at 9 am, a medicine walk and Maya village tour with Eduardo – a local 22 year old with a wonderful smile and great personality. This event lasted about 4 hours and included a walk with Eduardo – where he explained the various plants that we saw and their medicinal properties. We got to pick, smell and taste a number of plants and shrubs and Edurado had us chew on one that numbs your mouth (the locals use it for toothache). Did we mention Eduardo also has a great sense of humor?
Making Corn Tortillas from Scratch
Next we went to a restaurant/shop in the village (where we bought beer the first day we arrived) and learned about making corn tortillas by hand (and from scratch). Then it was time to make chicken tamales – too much fun.
Making Tamales in Lamanai Village
Once our cooking lesson was finished it was time to eat. Lunch was a delicious meal of chicken and onion soup with rice, empanadas, and tamarind fruit juice.
Lunch at Lamanai Village Store
Empanadas
Arriving back at the lodge around 1 pm we again tried to check email, but without any success – internet is sporadic at best. The remainder of the afternoon was spent hanging out and chatted with a group of birders from the USA. They were absolutely loving the large variety of exotic birds and all the activities Lamanai Lodge offered.
Dinner Is Served At Lamanai Outpost Lodge in Belize
As we had signed up for the Creatures of the Night walk at 7:30 pm (probably a good thing we left this activity until the last night of our stay), we had a quick dinner first before again meeting with Nathan Forbes.
Travel Belize: Lamanai Village Medicine Walk & Creatures Of The Night!
During the 2 hour night walk we encountered scorpions, tarantulas, lizards, bats, snakes, and ants – quite creepy!
– Click here to read Day 3 at Lamanai Outpost Lodge
If you go:
– View WJs Lamanai Outpost Lodge Photos
