Sarteneja is a fishing village located on the tip of Sarteneja peninsula. The name means " hole in a flat rock" or well. This village which is built over an archaeological site, was founded in the nineteenth century by Yucatecan immigrants who traded with Chetumal and other Mexican ports by boats.

In 1955, Sarteneja was completely destroyed by Hurricane Janet, leaving only the school and Health Department buildings. Today Sarteneja has about 1500 to 2000 residents who are mainly boat builders , lobster fishermen and farmers with Spanish being the primary language.

Shipstern Nature Reserve just outside Sarteneja village is a 22,000 acre sanctuary founded in 1988 which protects the area of tropical moist forest. The Shipstern Lagoon is a habitat for nearly every variety of bird in Belize. Two hundred species of birds have been recorded at Shipstern Reserve as well as 60 species of reptiles and amphibians.

The reserve is best known for its 200 species of butterflies at the Butterfly Breeding Center. The Center exports pupae to European and Japanese butterfly houses and the profits are used for the reserve. The Blue Morpho Butterfly and a number of the Heliconius family are bred at the center.

Sarteneja is a small picturesque village with a few amenities such as restaurants and hotels. Guides and boats for trips to the Shipstern reserve and nearby waterbird nesting sites are available. The water all along the coastline is shallow and lined by rich mangrove forests. A few cayes lie nearby that support waterbird colonies. Manatee are very common in the Sarteneja waters.

Many small villages dot the country-side of the Corozal District. This is one of the least developed parts of Belize and is not easily reached except by day-long drives in a car or bus. Small, colorful villages such as Chunox lie on the road out of this northeastern part of the country on the road to the Orangewalk District.