Highlights
- 140 miles race
- Over 100 cyclists
- Biggest cycling race in Belize
About Event
Annual Cross Country Cycling Race in Belize
Initiated in 1928, the Cross Country Cycling Race has evolved into a symbolic and traditional aspect of Belize. In the early days of 1928, curious and enthusiastic Belizeans took it upon themselves to travel west of the country on their bikes through bumpy, unpaved, dirt roads. From this expedition to San Ignacio Town, the famous annual Cross Country Cycling Race was born after the first award was given to the fastest racer. Approximately ninety years later, it has been one of the biggest and most anticipated cycling races of the year by spectators and cyclists.
Every year, experienced and amateur cyclists join the race in hopes of breaking the national record for the fastest time and winning coveted prizes. Starting at 6:00 a.m., each participant’s stamina and skills will be put to the test as they speed from Belize City to San Ignacio Town and make their return to Belize City.
2023 Cross Country Cycling Race in Belize
Let the festivities continue! As we approach Easter time, Belizeans and travelers all over the world are anticipating the annual Cross Country Cycling Classic being held on Holy Saturday, April 8, 2023. Like the La Ruta Maya Canoe Race, the Cross Country Cycling Race is locally and internationally recognized as one of Belize’s most vigorous and competitive races. Audiences from all over Central America, South America, North America, and, even, Europe come to Belize to witness cyclists competitively pedal themselves to victory from Belize City to San Ignacio Town and back. Hosted for nine decades and counting, this is an intensive hundred and forty miles race to be completed by the cyclists in just a few hours.
Why you should watch the Annual Cross Country Cycling Race in Belize?
As early as 5:00 a.m., those living closer to Belize City, where the race starts, gather at the side of the George Price Highway to cheer on the cyclists as they race their way to San Ignacio Town. Excitement and loud cheering will be heard all along the highway. Join the Easter festivities and witness another momentous race. There’s no other perfect time to start Belizing!!
Suitable for:
Kids Teens Adults Families Groups Couples Seniors
What to bring?
- Water & Other Refreshment
- Sunglasses, Hat, or Umbrella
- Camera
- Sunscreen
- Excitement & Enthusiasm
4/8/2023 | 5:50 AM | The race will start at BTL Park, Newtown Barrack, Belize City at 5:50 a.m. with a lead out from starting point unto Freetown Rd., across Belcan Bridge unto Central American Blvd, Lord Ridge Cemetery unto the George Price Highway, where the official start takes place in front of Leslie's Imports. | 4/8/2023 | 11:45 AM | The race will then travel to San Ignacio Town around Columbus Park and return to Belize City via Central American Blvd. over the Belcan Bridge unto Princess Margaret Drive, passing KHMH, the Marion Jones Sporting Complex and the Hour Bar, unto Newtown Barrack finishing in front of the BTL Park. The winners start crossing the finish line at around 11:45 A.M. |
Venue:
Belize City - San Ignacio Town
Address:
Belize City - San Ignacio Town
Start Location:
Belize City Start location for event.
End Location:
San Ignacio End location for event.
Is Transportation provided?:
No
Transport Info.
Important Transportation/Pickup Information
Watchers can witness the race along the George Price Highway. Viewers often gather at BTL Park in Belize City and Columbus park in San Ignacio Town. If you do not reside along the race route, you can travel via bus, personal vehicle, rental/shuttle/charter before the road is closed off.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, after the race, the George Price Highway will be opened to the public and regular tours can be conducted. If you have booked your tour on belizing.com, ensure that the specified date is confirmed by your guide and that the tour will be conducted after the race.
If you do not live along the race route (Belize City, along the George Price Highway, San Ignacio), the you can travel to a location where the race can be viewed by bus, personal vehicle or rental/shuttle/charter. To book a rental/shuttle/charter, browse through a wide selection on belizing.com:
(shuttle) https://belizing.com/Shuttles/
(rental/charter) https://belizing.com/RentalsCharters/
Since the George Price Highway will be blocked for the race, it is recommended to travel to a preferred location a day prior to the race.
No, viewers often gather at the BTL Park, sidewalks of the selected roads, on the side of the highway, and Columbus park to watch the cyclists in action.
Yes, at the parks and along the route, there will be vendors on carts and shacks selling refreshments.
Places
Downtown Belize City is riddled with historical remnants of a different time when Belize was only known as British Honduras. One of these time capsules is the well-known Swing Bridge ... morewhich connects the north and south side of the city and is known to be the only bridge in the world still operated by hand. With the Haulover Creek tributary passing underneath to branch into the Caribbean Sea, the bridge was first erected in 1818 when it was only a wooden bridge. Later, it was replaced in 1859 and eventually replaced by a metal bridge in 1923.
Initially known as “The Grand Belize Bridge,” the swing bridge is a popular tourist attraction with a great view of all the sailboats and pelicans surrounding the site. While it has been through a few facelifts, the historic Hurricane Hattie and taken its toll through time, it is still operated today during very special ceremonies.
Type of Attraction: Landmark
Belize City is the former capital of Belize and is still the most populous city in the country. It is located on the coast of the Caribbean Sea and is a major gateway to Belize. The ... morecity is home to a variety of attractions, including shopping centers, conference facilities, and hotels.
Belize City is also a great place to experience Belizean culture. The city is home to a variety of museums, art galleries, and cultural centers. Visitors can also enjoy a variety of restaurants, bars, and clubs in Belize City.
If you are looking for a vibrant and exciting city to visit in Belize, Belize City is the perfect place to go!
Through the bustling city, you can still enjoy scenic views of the Caribbean Sea or explore the historical archaeological site, Altun Ha.
Features: Phone Service, Restaurants, Parking, Car Rentals, ATM services, Banks, Sports Bars, Night Clubs, Public Parks, Market, Coffee Shops
Destinations
Destinations/Attractions Nearby
Tours & Shuttles
The trip to the zoo is approximately 45 minutes from Belize City. We will do pickup from any location in Belize City upon your request. The journey takes us onto the George Highway ... moreand drives for about 25 miles in our comfortable air condition vans.
This combo tour includes a trip to the Belize Zoo & a tour of St. Herman's Blue Hole National Park. The tour starts in Belize City, we will take 40 minutes to drive to the Belize ... moreZoo. The second tour will be to St. Herman Cave. We will pass through our country's capital Belmopan. Lunch in Belmopan can be provided upon request. St. Herman Cave is a 40-minute drive from the Belize Zoo.
Departs From: San Ignacio Town
WHAT TO EXPECT Visit the most important Mayan site in Guatemala: Tikal. Come and learn about the Culture, Anthropology, and Archeology of the most important Maya Site in the country. ... moreDiscover the secrets and ways of living of one of the most enigmatic civilizations in the history of humanity.
TOUR PLAN
DAY 1
Tikal Tour We'll pick you up at your hotel in San Ignacio and we'll go to the border where we'll help you with your customs procedures. Your Tikal Go Guide will be waiting for you at the Belize customs exit to start this adventure.
After an hour and a half on the way, we'll arrive at Tikal, the city of voices where we will visit the Grand Jaguar temple, Temple IV the tallest one, Temple II, Temple V, and the most hidden places of this incredible city. We will also discover the Rainforest, and see some of the more than 300 species of birds, monkeys, insects, and centenary trees that now live in the old Mayan city.
After Lunch, you will have free time before checking in at your hotel in Tikal National Park
Hotel Jungle Lodge Tikal
DAY 2
Sunrise Tour We will start really early at 4 am our tour guide will be at your hotel to start the Sunrise tour from the highest temple in Tikal: TEMPLE IV. During our walk to the temple, we will have time to see the sky and understand how important was astrology for Mayas. We can’t promise to see the sun but we are sure this was the early morning of the Mayas so don’t be angry if is a bit foggy that is part of the adventure.
After Sunrise we will return to the hotel to have breakfast. You can choose to return to San Ignacio at 11:00 or after Lunch. We can also add a Stop in Flores for lunch (for an extra fee). Ask us about that option.
Departs From: San Ignacio Town
Enjoy a close encounter with Guatemala’s vibrant wildlife on this full-day bird-watching tour in the Maya Biosphere Reserve. With the help of an expert private guide, visit bird-watching ... morehotspots like Ixpanpajul Nature Park, Tikal, or Yaxha, and have a chance to spot more than 400 different bird species, including the famous.
Your professional guide will take you across the border into Tikal National Park in Guatemala and lead you on a fascinating tour of the sprawling archaeological complex. Round-trip transport from your Belize hotel and all park fees are not included.
Highlights
Full-day bird-watching tour from Belize
Enjoy bird watching, at Tikal Park or Yaxha Park Spot and identify rare and native birds with an expert guide from the Perfect tour for nature lovers!
This private tour can be customized to your interests and ensures you’ll receive personalized attention from your guide
What You Can Expect
This tour offers round-trip transportation from your hotel or airport to the park.
The admissions are also included and you will be accompanied by a bird-specialized guide.
Lunch includes great grilled beef with rice, salad, tortillas, soup, and dessert.
Drinks are not included with lunch only 1 bottle of water per person during the tour.
Do not miss this great adventure and explore with us the wonders of the Mystery Green World.
Some destinations for sightings are Tikal, Ixpanpajul, Yaxha, and Lake Petén Itza.
ASK FOR MORE INFO THIS TOUR IS TOTALLY PERSONALIZED
Departs From: San Ignacio Town
WHAT TO EXPECT
Visit the most important Mayan sites in Guatemala: Tikal and Yaxhá. Come and learn about Culture, Anthropology, and Archaeology and live one of the best adventures of ... moreyour life.
Discover the rainforest and forget about everything else while you will walk in these incredible Maya Cities.
Take this tour and jump into the Maya Civilization to understand more about our history
TOUR PLAN
DAY 1 We will meet you at 11 am at your place in San Ignacio and drive to the Guatemala and Belize Border. After the customs procedures, we will start the adventure heading to the city of Yaxhá. We will have lunch first and then full of energy we will start the tour. Yaxhá is a contemporary city to Tikal, smaller but no less important, in your tour you can visit the Central Plaza, the Ball Field, the Temple 216, and the Twin Pyramids Complex, and you can immerse yourself in the virgin forest that surrounds.
After the Tour, we will go to our hotel in Tikal National Park.
DAY 2
We will start really early at 4 am our tour guide will be at your hotel to start the Sunrise tour from the highest temple in Tikal: TEMPLE IV. During our walk to the temple, we will have time to see the sky and understand how important was astrology for Mayas. We can’t promise to see the sun but we are sure this was the early morning of the Mayas so don’t be angry if is a bit foggy that is part of the adventure. After Sunrise we will have breakfast and continue with the archaeological tour that we will finish around 11 am. You will have to relax and at 15.00 we will move to Flores Island
Overnight in Flores
DAY 3 We will give a free day in Flores to discover the island. Around noon we will be back in San Ignacio.
Departs From: San Ignacio Town
Caracol Mayan Temples was discovered in 1938 by loggers, located deep within the Chiquibul Forest Reserve now it is the most extensive Maya site in Belize and one of the biggest in ... morethe Maya World.
Caracol Mayan Temples is a Classic Period urban center that spread out over 55 square miles with an estimated population of 180,000 people. Caracol’s enormous central core area covered 15 square miles and was linked together by more than 20 miles of “sacbeobs” (causeways) that radiated outward from its epicenter. The temple “Caana” rises 42 meters above plaza level and to this day is the largest man-made structure in Belize.
Departs From: San Ignacio Town
Step back in time to explore the mysteries of the Maya during this 8-hour visit to Yaxha, one of the largest urban centers of this ancient culture.... more
Spend the day wandering through the fascinating ruins of this sprawling ceremonial complex on the shores of Lake Yaxha, occupying a total area of 92 square miles (237 square kilometers). During your exploration, you’ll check out the Big Astronomical Complex, Avenue of the Pilgrims, and Twin Pyramid Complex, plus much more.
Highlights:
Explore the Mayan archaeological site of Yaxha Visit the wealth of ancient structures like the Big Astronomical Complex situated on a 92 square mile (237 square kilometers) site Discover the different epochs of Mayan culture and buildings, including its early classic period from AD 250 – 600 Learn about Mayan ceremonial practices and building techniques What You Can Expect Yaxha View The city was located on a ridge overlooking Lake Yaxha. The name of the city derives from the Mayan for “blue-green water”. It is a notable survival of a Classic period place name into the modern day.
The Yaxha kingdom is estimated to have covered an area of 237 square kilometers (92 sq mi) and to have had a peak population of 42,000 in the Late Classic period. The Yaxhá-Nakum-Naranjo circle is considered the “best-kept secret of the Maya World”, it covers a total area of 37.160ha and is part of the Reserve Maya Biosphere. To the west is the Tikal National Park, and north is the Biological Corridor Tikal-Mirador-Rio Azul. Arrival at the Interpretation Centre Yaxhá.
The tour includes the visit of Astronomical Minor Complex, Avenue of the Pilgrims, Square Columns, Patio IV of the South Acropolis, Big Astronomical Complex, Residential Group, Watery Avenue, group Maler, North Acropolis, Plaza of The Birds, The Causeway, Twin Pyramid Complex and the Temple of the Red Hand (structure 216).
Departs From: San Ignacio Town
This is a waterfall lover's dream! There are 3 waterfalls on this trip: The unnamed waterfalls, the Rio Frio Waterfall, and the Twin Waterfalls. These beautiful waterfalls are located ... moreup in the Vaca Reserve which is about 8.5 miles on the Hydro Road which is about one hour drive from downtown San Ignacio. This is my favorite place in Belize!!
From the time you get on the pontoon boat on your way to the waterfalls, you will be engulfed by the beautiful scenery of the river gorge. While enjoying the scenery we travel slowly on the river bank trying to find some wildlife. Some days we see a lot, and some days we don’t see anything. Hence the reason I do not guarantee wildlife but the great adventure, scenery, and waterfalls will always be there. However, you will see images of the wildlife we encounter on the trip many times, however, the wildlife is not guaranteed as it is not a zoo.
You can get to the location where the pontoon boat is waiting for us in two ways. One, you drive all the way down to the river bank. Two, you can hike the recently built trails that pass through the jungle while learning about some of the traditional edible and healing plants that were used and are still used by the Mayas.
Depart for a day of Mayan historical adventure to see some of the finest Maya Ruins in Belize. The drive through the hummingbird highway and the western villages of Belize is a cultural ... moreexperience with first-hand views of the Mayan mountains, orchards, colorful homes, schools, and marketplaces.
Xunantunich is located in the Cayo District across from Benque Viejo Road near the village of San Jose Succotz just a few miles from Belize’s western border with Guatemala. At the village of San Jose Succotz, we cross over the Mopan River using a hand-cranked ferry. From the other side of the river, it’s a mile uphill to the site, which can be accessed on foot or in a vehicle.
Xunantunich Mayan ruin, also known as the “Maiden of the Rock” is the second tallest Mayan ruin in Belize. The largest pyramid, El Castillo stands 130 feet high above the main plaza and offers an impressive panoramic view of the Cayo District, Guatemala, and the Mopan River. The site has been largely excavated and has a well-appointed educational museum.
Experience an authentic Belizean lunch in the immediate area of the ruins.
Situated at 1600 feet above sea level (one of the highest located sites of the southern uplands region) with no natural water body close by, it remains a mystery why such a huge population ... morecenter like Caracol evolved where it is. However, the close proximity to both extremely hard stone and copal, two commodities highly prized by the Mayas may help explain this enigma.
At the heart of the site lies the massive pyramid of Caana (Sky Palace) which is now almost fully restored and reaches a height of over 135 feet. From the top, you can enjoy breathtaking panoramic views over the forest-clad mountains.
The drive to the site in the early morning occasionally allows guests to take a glimpse of tapirs, jaguars, or ocelots, as they break their forest cover to cross the road. The sprawling site contains huge Ceiba, Mahogany, and Sapodilla trees and is superb for birding (the rare Keel-billed Motmot is one of the many residents of the site). Wildlife such as Howler and Spider monkeys, Ocellated Turkey, Coatimundi, Gibnut, and Grey Fox are often sighted while quietly wandering along the site’s causeways or along trails connecting the plaza groups.
|