Erleben Sie den Nervenkitzel und das Abenteuer der La Ruta Maya Belize River Challenge
March is synonymous with one event above all others — the Belikin La Ruta Maya Belize River Challenge. Steeped in history and tradition, the four-day endurance race sees expert paddlers, novices, and thrill seekers take on the Old Belize River in all her glory. Dozens of canoe teams from Belize and abroad paddle the snaking 180-mile-long river, once an important transportation and trading route for the ancient Maya.
Das Rennen beginnt in den Ausläufern der Stadt San Ignacio und wird im Morgengrauen an den verschlafenen Ufern des Macal-Flusses ausgetragen. Die ikonische Hawkesworth-Brücke in der Stadt ist voll mit Schaulustigen, die sich einen frühen Blick auf das Ereignis gesichert haben. Um 7:00 Uhr morgens ertönt ein ohrenbetäubender Jubel am Flussufer, als das Signalhorn den Start des Rennens und einer aufreibenden Reise ankündigt. Jetzt beginnt die Aufregung!
For a few brief hours, the George Price Highway is trooped with vehicles carrying support crews, families, friends, and adventurers looking to secure a close-up view of the action at the next lookout point. One doesn’t have to be a sports enthusiast to enjoy the festivities. The fun of it all comes from debating who will be the day’s winner, taking in the quaint charm and beauty of the stops along the way and the shared merriment that fills the air over the four-day weekend.
Following the La Ruta Maya is an off-the-beaten-path way to see and experience Belize as a local. The race ends on the first day, close to midday at the Banana Bank River, a popular swimming spot just a few minutes away from the capital city of Belmopan. The surrounding grounds turn into a camping soiree with barbecue on a grill and ice boxes filled to the brim with drinks as campers pitch their tents for the night. On the second day and third days, the canoe teams make their way to Double Head Cabbage and Burrell Boom, respectively. Both villages are nestled in the heart of the Belize River Valley. Here you’ll find the best rice and beans you ever had, along with a bounty of other Creole dishes and treats.
On the fourth and final day, if you’re not awakened to the sounds of howler monkeys, it is the shared excitement of spectators gathering to send off their favorite teams on the last leg of the journey. The race culminates in Belize City, where the Belize River meets the Caribbean Sea. Spectators gather to see the first canoe sightings and who will be the first to cross the finish line. Making it to the end is a celebration not only reserved for the official winners, but for each participant who can proudly say they endured the strenuous La Ruta Maya Belize River Challenge.
The La Ruta Maya Canoe Belize River Challenge first started in 1998 as an awareness-raising initiative promoting the historical and environmental importance of the Belize River. Since then, it has grown into one of Belize’s major sporting traditions with male, female, and mixed teams of all ages competing in the various categories.
Wenn Sie in San Ignacio oder in der Nähe des Belize River Valley sind, sollten Sie nicht ausschlafen, sondern dieses spektakuläre Ereignis miterleben.
The Belikin La Ruta Maya River Challenge takes place on the long weekend, which observes the National Heroes and Benefactors’ Day, on 9th March.
